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Hartert states that the adult bird has the legs and feet yellowish brown, Bocage gives them as 
ashy greenish, Beichenow as greenish grey, Fischer greenish brown, and Blanford as. pale yellowish 
olive. 
The present species of Boiler inhabits Northern and Central Africa, ranging on the eastern side 
from Abyssinia down to the Transvaal, and on the western from Senegambia to Angola. 
Mr. Blanford met with it in Abyssinia only in the subtropical region of the Upper Lebka and 
Anseha valleys, where it was abundant; Des Murs writes {1. c.) that it was met with in March 1841 
on the Hanse and in June on the banks of the Faggaze, and according to von Heuglin [1. c.) it 
“can scarcely be called a resident in N.E. Africa. It inhabits chiefly the wood region, and we 
observed it in Takah, the districts of the Bogos, in the Abyssinian lowlands, in Senaar, Kordofan, and 
on the White Nile. According to Antinori it appears in the Djur territory between the middle of 
April and the middle of May. During the rainy season (June to September) we found it more 
numerous in the Bogos country than in any other portions of Africa we visited, and in July Ave shot 
fledged young there.” According to Finsch and Hartlaub, Verreaux’s statement that it occurs in Nubia 
is wrong. Sir John Kirk says that it is locally distributed in the Zambesi Begion and observed but 
rarely near Tete, but it was frequently seen in the river-valley at Chibisa on the river Shire. Hildebrandt 
records it from Duruma, Nicholson from Dar-es-Salaam, and Fischer from Zanzibar, Takaungo, Lamie, 
Bagamayo, and Nguru, According to Captain Shelley it is found in the Matabeli country; Ayres records 
it from the Transvaal; Jameson obtained it on the Umvuli river in Mashoonaland, where, he states, 
it was very scarce, and Mr. Oates met with it near the Umvungu river in November. Finally, I 
may remark that Capt. Shelley records it from Tagani. 
In Central Africa Boehm states that it was common early in the rainy season, but left altogether 
towards the end of it. Capt. Speke shot a female with an egg ready for exclusion, in October, at 
Usaramo ; and Canon Tristram received it from Newala, between the coast and Lake Nyassa, from the 
Bev. S. Weigall, who informed him that it was common there. On the west side of the African 
continent it is found in Senegambia; Pel obtained it on the Gold Coast, Sharpe records it from 
Fantee, and Governor Ussher Avrites {1. c .):—“ This bird, unlike its congener E. gularis, is usually 
observable only on the plains of Accra and in the eastern districts of the Gold Coast. It is generally 
found in pairs, and in full plumage presents a handsome appearance. Its habits appear to be similar 
to those of the Boilers in general. It is not so shy as E. gularis^ and perhaps not so common.” 
According to Messrs. Shelley and Buckley it is plentiful a short distance inland from Accra, but has 
not been met with near Cape Coast Castle, where its place appears to be taken by E. gularis. 
Beichenow records it from the Cameroons and Gaboon, and Hartert obtained it in the Niger Beniie 
district, where it was not uncommon, he says, at Loko deep in the bush in open spots. Sharpe 
records it from the Congo, and it was obtained by Monteiro off Mangue Grande in Angola and by 
Mr. Toulson at Loanda; but Professor Barboza du Bocage says, probably rare in Angola, as it Avas 
never sent by Anchieta, who, however, obtained it in Benguela, and records it from Caconda and Cagaco. 
Begarding its habits, von Heuglin writes {L c .)“ In its general habits and in its loud cry 
it is essentially a Boiler. It .affects the dry tree-tops of large woods alongside the river-beds and on 
the borders of openings, where it is usually seen in pairs, and it frequents loftier trees than the Blue 
Boilers. It captures insects, especially Coleoptera and grasshoppers, Avith great dexterity from its resting- 
places. Its flight is SAvift in spite of its heavy appearance,-and it follows with ease a passing butterfly. 
I 2 
