Penthetria laticauda suahelica van Someren,
1921c:
121 (Nairobi River).
Now Euplectes ardens suahelicus (van Someren,
1921). See van Someren, 1922a: 151; Hartert,
1928: 194; Moreau and Greenway, 1962: 73;
Craig, 1993b: 141–143; Zimmerman et al., 1999:
547–548; Dickinson, 2003: 726; Fry and Keith,
2004: 239–242; and Craig, 2010: 144–145.
HOLOTYPE: AMNH 727204, adult male,
collected on the Nairobi River, Kenya, on 4
April 1917. From the V.G.L van Someren
Collection via the Rothschild Collection.
COMMENTS: In the original description,
van Someren designated as type of suahelicus
a specimen in the Rothschild Collection
bearing the above data. Only one specimen
collected on that date came to AMNH with
the Rothschild Collection, and it bears a
Rothschild type label. In the description, van
Someren gave the range as East Africa, and
later (van Someren, 1922a: 151) included the
following localities in suahelicus: Kerio,
Kirimiri, Elgon, Kisumu, Maraquet, Elgeyu,
Burnt Forest, Kikuyu, Narobi, and Ukamba.
The following specimens came to AMNH
with the Rothschild Collection and are
considered paratypes of suahelicus. Burnt
Forest, AMNH 727199–727201, two males,
one female, 15–22 September 1918; Nairobi
Plains, AMNH 727202, 727203, males, 2 June
1918; Nairobi or Nairobi River, AMNH
727205–727208, three males, one female,
January–September 1917; Kirimiri, AMNH
727214, male, 17 April 1917, all from the van
Someren Collection. Also Kikuyu, AMNH
727217, male, February 1919, collected by
H.J. Allen Turner; and AMNH 727218, male,
3 December 1894, collected by O. Neumann.
Because van Someren worked in the Rothschild
Collection, these last two specimens
would have been available to him and so are
treated as paratypes.
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni van Someren
Smithornis capensis meinertzhagenivan Someren
Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni van Someren, 1919: 24 (Nyarondo). Now Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni van Someren, 1919. See Keith et al., 1992: 8, and Lambert and Woodcock, 1996: 187. HOLOTYPE: AMNH 553272, sex not noted, collected at Nyarondo (= Lerundo), 00 09N, 34 51E (Chapin, 1954: 686), Kavirondo District, Kenya, on 11 March 1917, by H. J. Allen Turner. From the Meinertzhagen Collection via the Rothschild Collection. COMMENTS: Nyarondo is the type locality given in the original description; Lerundo is the collecting locality given on the label. Hartert (1928: 224) gave the type locality as “Lerundo, Nyarondo.” R. Dowsett (in litt.) has pointed out to us that van Someren (1920: 95) equated the two localities in his description of Dicrurus elgonensis and that the coordinates cited above and given by Chapin for Lerundo are the correct ones. Dowsett (in litt.) also pointed out that Chapin (1954: 715) may have misread Nyando for Nyarondo, because the coordinates he gave for Nyarondo, 00 07S, 35 08E, are too far south and lie on the Nyando River. In the original description the sex was given as adult male. The sex is not noted on the original field label, although the specimen is in adult male plumage.
Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni van Someren, 1919: 24 (Nyarondo). Now Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni van Someren, 1919. See Keith et al., 1992: 8, and Lambert and Woodcock, 1996: 187. HOLOTYPE: AMNH 553272, sex not noted, collected at Nyarondo (= Lerundo), 00 09N, 34 51E (Chapin, 1954: 686), Kavirondo District, Kenya, on 11 March 1917, by H. J. Allen Turner. From the Meinertzhagen Collection via the Rothschild Collection. COMMENTS: Nyarondo is the type locality given in the original description; Lerundo is the collecting locality given on the label. Hartert (1928: 224) gave the type locality as “Lerundo, Nyarondo.” R. Dowsett (in litt.) has pointed out to us that van Someren (1920: 95) equated the two localities in his description of Dicrurus elgonensis and that the coordinates cited above and given by Chapin for Lerundo are the correct ones. Dowsett (in litt.) also pointed out that Chapin (1954: 715) may have misread Nyando for Nyarondo, because the coordinates he gave for Nyarondo, 00 07S, 35 08E, are too far south and lie on the Nyando River. In the original description the sex was given as adult male. The sex is not noted on the original field label, although the specimen is in adult male plumage.
New Excavations at the Middle Stone Age Cartwright's site, Kenya
New Excavations at the Middle Stone Age Cartwright's site, Kenya
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) is significant inhuman evolution as it marks the beginning of modem human behavior. This includes symbolism, self adornment, trade networks and regional differentiation in technology (McBrearty and Brooks 2000).These developments may coincide with the emergence of our species, Homo sapiens. The term MSA was coined by Goodwin and Van Riet Lowe (1929)for stone tool complexes that did not contain characteristic Early Stone Age (ESA) tools such as hand axesnor typical Later Stone Age (LSA) ones such asmicroliths. The MSA is found inter-stratified between the ESA and LSA at numerous sites in Africa. While the term was initially invented for southern African archaeological material, it was soon realized that differences existed even here. Goodwin and Van Riet Lowe (1929) proceeded to divide the material into "industries" and "variations". Thus came into existence the terms Still bay Industry, Glen Grey Industry, Pietersburg Variation and Howieson's Poort Variation, among others (Vogelsang 1998; Kleindienst1967). Some of these terms persist while others have fallen from use. Other MSA industries in Afiica include the Lupemban in East-central Africa (Clark1970,1988; McBrearty 1 992), and the Aterian, and Nubian Complex in Northern Africa (Kleindienst2000; Van Peer 199 1).Cartwright's site (GsJj 75)GsJj 75 lies on the Kinangop plateau between the Aberdare ranges and the Rifi valley, over looking Lake Naivasha (0' 35' 50" S, 36' 27' 30" E) at anelevation of 2420 m. The Malewa River and its two tributaries, the Kitiri and Turasha Rivers drain theplateau. The vegetation was predominantly tussock grassland during Quaternary times but modem farming activities have altered the landscape to include pasture grass and exotic trees (Hamilton 1982;Bemun and Njoroge 1999). GsJj 75 is an MSA site attributed to the pseudo-Still bay industry by Leakey(1931), and dated to 440 ka (Evernden andCurtis1965). This date has not been generally accepted, largely because the stratigraphic relationship of the sampled volcanic tuff and artifacts found at the site cannot be reconciled (McBrearty and Brooks2000). The site however remains an important focus for understanding the chronology of the MSA. The oldest securely dated MSA sites are >285ka old and are found in the Kapthurin Formation of Kenya(Deino and McBrearty 2002).The technology of MSA artifacts at GsJj 75,has not been adequately described. Cartwright's and Wetherill's (GsJk 12) sites are dated by 40K/39A(rP Otassiumargon) to 440 ka and 557 ka respectively.The ages of industries termed "Pseudo-Stillbay" andStillbay in Kenya are still unclear. These sites include GvJm 16, Malewa Gorge and Prospect Farm(Anthony 1967). The Pseudo-Still bay artifacts from GsJj 75 described by Leakey (I 93 1, 1936), housed at the National Museums of Kenya, include points, tools diagnostic of the MSA but they were from surfacecollections. Artifacts collected by Allen Turner in 1929 are also housed at the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi but this collection is highly selected and comprised only of formal tools. Preliminaty work on the Kiuangop plateau was carried out in two seasons of three weeks each in2001 and 2002 (Figure 1). In 2001, I surveyed the greater part of the North Kinangop plateau with the aim of relocating Cartwright's and Wetherill's sites and discovering new MSA sites. Wetherill's site was relocated but it had been destroyed by fanning activities. Cartwright's site was found to be in part intact and a controlled surface collection was carriedout in an area of 3 by 3 m (Figure 2). All 94 artifacts in this 9 m2 area were collected. Three rock shelters were also found in the vicinity of the site, two with LSA material on the slopes overlooking the Kitiri River and GsJj 77, located 800 m north west of Cartwright's site. The rock shelter GsJj 77, lies on the edge of the escarpment and contains LSA artifacts on the immediate slope. Fieldwork in the summer of 2002 focused on mapping Cartwright's site, measuring stratigraphic sections and excavating a geological trench (Figure2). Art&@ considered diagnostic of both the LSA and MSA lie on the eroded, gently sloping sm face. A stratigraphic sequence of 13 superimposed units was observed. With the exception of a paleosol, all are tuffaceow units (Figure 3). The paleosol is probably developed on a volcanic unit. Under low magnification, some tuff samples appear to contain feldspars, which are necessary for dating but further analysis is needed to ascertain if the tuffs are datable. Additional uncontrolled surface collections in 2002 were mostly carried out in the area 25 m northeast of geological trench ddl (Figure 2). This section of the site was fairly intact in 2001 but on returning in 2002, considerable erosion was found to have exposed more artifacts. However, slope collapse makes the stratigraphic origin of these artifacts difficult to determine. Many points were found but their provenience can only be established with further excavation. A large crescent was found here. A second crescent was recovered when clearing the slope of debris near geological trench. These large crescents recall those of the Mumba and Howieson's Poort industries that are found in terstratified within the MSA at Mumba, Tanzania (Mehlman 1989) and Klasies River, South Afiica (Wurz 1997). Crescents are part of the LSA tool repertoire and are thought to represent tool miniaturization attributed to specialization. Ambrose and Lorenz(1990), argue that microlithic elements in the MSA at Klasies River Mouth are an adaptation to scarce resources during cold and conditions. This model has not been tested for the Mumba industry. Geological trench ddl is 2 m by 5 m and reveals an occupation horizon consisting of a clayey paleosol containing artifacts. The paleosol has well developed root casts and a carbonate layer at its base(Figure 3). None of the artifacts appears to be rolled, and the presence of micro debitage <1 mm in width suggests that little disturbance has taken place (Schick1992). Several types of obsidian were observed among the artifacts and samples of obsidian debitage collected for geochemical analysis. Analysis of both in situ and surface material was carried out at the National Museum of Kenya laboratory in Nairobi. A total of 102 artifacts werere covered hm in situ context in the occupation horizon. Maximum artifact dimension averages 3.5 cm.None are larger than 6 cm and smaller class sizes are well represented (Figure 4). The 2002 excavated sample contains only 5 points, and 25 more were selected for analysis from the surtilce collection of Allen Turner housed at the National Museum of Kenya. Thirty pointed tools were analysed for symmetry, angle and intensity of retouch. Some points are symmetrical, bifacial, with flat invasive retouch and basal thinning indicating that they may very well have been hafted. Sub-triangular points with unifacial retouch are also present. While they have been retouched to an apex, they have steep angles and noninvasive retouch. A few points have serrated edges. Some points that are symmetrical, bifacially flaked with invasive retouch and have basal thirming qualify as projectiles. It can be argued that not all the tools that fit the definition of points were used as projectiles. Tools that have high retouch angles and are subtriangular may have been used as scrapers (see Wbdnath and Dibble 1994).
Birds named after Grandad
Turner's eremomela
The Turner's eremomela (Eremomela turneri) is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but now placed in the family Cisticolidae.
It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
White-headed mousebird
The white-headed mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) is a bird belonging to the mousebird family, Coliidae. It is found only in east Africa where it occurs in southern Somalia and parts of Kenya with its range just extending into southern Ethiopia and northern Tanzania. It inhabits arid bushland up to 1,400 metres above sea-level.
It is 32 cm long with the long, graduated tail accounting for over half of this. The plumage is mainly greyish with black and white barring on the back, neck and breast. It has a white crest, crown and cheeks. There is a white stripe down the back which becomes visible when the bird flies. Around the eye is a patch of dark, bare skin. The bill is bluish-white above and buff below. In juvenile birds, the throat and breast are buff. The northern subspecies (C. l. turneri) is darker than the southern form (C. l. leucocephalus).
The contact call is a scratchy chattering and the bird also has a descending song.
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS FROM LAMU AND DISTRICT
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS FROM LAMU ANDDISTRICT, MADE BY MR. H. J. ALLEN TURNERIN APRIL 1916.By V. G. L. VANSOMEREN,M.B.O.U.
The following is a list of the birds collected by Mr. H. J. Allen Turner during his safari to Lamu and district. The collection contains 836 skins, representing 128 species, and was made in April 1916.
In some few cases I have been unable to determine the exact sub-species to which they belong, owing to want of material with which to compare them and to lack of literature. Such birds will be sent home for further study. The entire collection, with the exception of the European migrants and a few examples of African species, has been placed in the Society's Museum and is available for study. As far as possible the order followed and nomenclature is that of Reichenow in his ' Vogel Afrikas.' LARlDlE Larus Hemprichi, Bruch. Hemprich's Gull. ~ 1. Manda Island. A not fully adult bird, showing traces of second plumage. In heavy moult. Gelochelidon nilotica, Hasselg. Gull-billed Tern. ~ 1, c! 1. Lamu and Manda. The female is in almost full plumage, while the male is in complete winter dress. 1'hey were collected within a few days of one another, during April. Wings 315 and 313 mm. Sterna bergei, Lcht., ~ 2, c! 1. Sterna media, Hors£., ~ 9, c! 2. Yellow-billed Terns. Manda Island. These birds are all in winter plumage. CHARADRIIDlE Glareola pratincola fulliborni. African Red-winged Pratincole. ~ 4, c! 8. Lamu and Manda. According to Hartert (Nov. Zool. Tring. 1916) the Pratincoles found on the East Coast of Africa as far south as Natal belong to G. p. luZZiborni. All the birds of this series obtained belong to one species. Cursorius temmincki, Sw. African Red-capped Courser. ~ 9, c! 7. Coast of mainland. A certain amount of variation in the richness of the coloration on the breast exists, but on the whole the series is uniform. A very young bird, in first plumage, was shot May 11, 1916. Charadrius Geoffroyi, ~ 1, c! 2. Manda Island. One male is in almost full summer plumage, while the other is still in winter dress. They were collected between April 6 and 9.
Oharadrius mongolicus, Pall. ~ 1, ~ 4. Lamu and Manda. These birds agree in every way with the description of O. mongolus, and not O. pyrrhothorax. They have the lateral upper tail coverts white with grey-brown spot midway on the shaft. Oharadrius hiaticula, L. Ringed Plover. ~ 1, ~ 3. Mombasa and Manda Island. The males are in full breedingplumage; the wing measurements vary from 122- 129 mm. Oharadrius pecurius. Sand Plover. ~ 3, ~ 10. Manda Island, M'koi and Lamu. This series included birds in all stages. Oharadrius marginata. ~ 1, ~ 1. Manda and Lamu. The male is in full dress. Squatarola helvetica, L. Grey Plover. ~ 3, ~ 2. Manda and Lamu. Although all these birds were collected at almost the same time, they show gradations from full summer plumage to full winter. They were collected in March. Stephanibyx inornatus, Swains. Lesser Grey-breasted Plover. ~ 2, ~ 2. Lamu and M'koi. Wing measurements vary from 160 to 184 mm. (Edicnemus vermiculatus, Cab. African Stone Plover. ~ 4, ~ 6. Lamu. The birds in this series are remarkably uniform in colour and size, with the exception of one quite young speCImen. Dromus ardeola, Payk. Crab Plover. ~ 3, ~ 3. Lamu and Manda. An immature female in first dress was collected in April. Numenius arquatus, L. Curlew. ~ 7, ~ 8. Manda Island. The great difference in size between adult males and females is well illustrated in this series. The largest bird has the bill 180 mm. on the straight and the smallest 125 mm. Numenius phmopus, L. Whimbrel. ~ 3, ~ 3. Manda Island. Terekia cinerea, Guld. Yellow-legged Plover. ~ 2, ~ 1. Lamu and Manda. These birds are just coming into full plumage. Tringoides hypoleucus, L. Common Sandpiper. ~ 3, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda. Birds.in soiled and dull plumage.
Tringa arenaria, L. Sanderling. ~ 2, <! 8. Lamu and
Manda. These birds, collected during the first two weeks of
April, show every grade of plumage from the almost full winter
to the half summer dreS's.
Tringa subarquata, Gould. Curled Sandpiper. ~ 8, <! 6.
Manda Island. This series, collected towards the end of April,
included birds in practically full summer to full winter plumage.
Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little. Stint. ~ 2. Mombasa.
Both birds in full winter dress.
Totanus nebularius, Gunn. Green Shank. ~ 4. Manda
and Lamu. One male is in full dress and has the head and
neck streaked with black and the breast spotted with triangular
marks. It is considerably larger than the others.
TURNICIDlE
Turnix lepurana. Butten Quail. ~ 1. Manda Island.
ARDEIDlE
Herodias gazetta. Lesser Egret. ~ 2. M'koi. A young
bird and a fully mature male.
COLUMBIDlE
Vinago Wakefieldi, Sharpe. Coast Green Pigeon. ~ 1,
<! 4. Manda Island and Lamu. Wing measurements vary
from 145 to 154 mm.
Turtur semitorquata, Rupp. Grey-vented Dove. ~ 2.
Manda Island and M'koi.
Chalcopelia chalcospilos. Green-fllpotted Dove. ~ 2. Lamu.
Rather paler than birds from the highlands, but not varying
III sIze.
(Ena capensis, 1. Cape Long-tailed Dove. ~ 2. Manda
Island and Lamu.
Pternistes Humboldti, Peters. Black-breasted Francolin.
~ 1. M'koi. An adult male in full plumage.
Francolinus Grantii, Hartl. Grant's Bush Francolin. ~ 9,
<! 7. M'koi, Manda, Mombasa, and Lamu. In this series
there are no birds which approach the so-called F. Kirki in the
amount of speckling on the breast and under surface.
ACOIPITRES FALCONIDlE Kaupi/alco monogrammicus, Tem. Bearded Sparrow Hawk. !? 2, ~ 2. Mombasa and Lamu. All adult birds. Accipiter minnulus tropicalis. Pigmy Sparrow Hawk. !? 1. M'koi. A single specimen which does not differ from birds from Nairobi District. Melierax poliopterus, Cab. Barred Sparrow Hawk. !? 1. M'koi. In almost full plumage. Circaetus cinereus. White-bellied Eagle. !? 1. M'koi. STRIGES Strixflammea maculata. African Barn Owl. !? 1. Manda.. An adult bird in fair condition. The under surface is spa.ringly spotted. CUCULIDlE Centropus superciliosus. Hackled-neck Cuckoo. !? 1, ~ 5. Mombasa and Lamu. Tbese birds are somewhat smaller than inland birds. Coccystes iacobinus. Lesser Crested Cuckoo. !? 1, ~ 3. Manda Island and M'koi. Chrysococcyx cupreus, Bodd. Golden Cuckoo. !? 2, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda Island. Chrysococcyx klassii. White-breasted Emerald Cuckoo. !? 2. Manda Island. COLIIDlE Colius striatus, sub. sp. (?). White-throated Coly. !? 8, ~ 8. Manda Island, M'koi, Lamu, and Mombasa. Tbe coast Co]y is undoubtedly separable from the inland form, being much paler generally, and having a whitish throat. C. Grant notes this in Ibis, July 1915, p. 403. Colius macrourus macrourus? Red-billed Coly. !? 3, ~ 2. Manda and Lamu. These birds are decidedly paler than birds from Kisumu and Uganda and generally smaller, and are thus nearer to typical C. macrourus than to C. m. pulcher.
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS Campothera pallida, Reich. Pale Spotted Woodpecker. ~ 8, ~ 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. Somewhat like C. nubica, but generally paler and having the white spots on the crown much larger. Dendropicus tuscescens massaicus, Neum. Massai Pigmy Woodpecker. ~ 1, ~ 2. Mombasa and Manda. Dendropicus Hartlaubi, Malh. Hartlaub's Woodpecker. !j? 2, ~ 2. Lamu and Mombasa. CAPITONIDlE Barbatula pusillus affinis, Reich. Little Red-fronted Barbet. ~ 3, 0 5. Lamu and Manda Island. A small race agreeing with specimens obtained inland. CORACIIDlE Coracias garrulus, L. European Roller. ~ 1. Lamu. In full plumage. Coracias caudatus caudatus. Long-tailed Roller. ~ 1, ~ 3. Lamu and M'koi. Identical with inland birds. Coracias caudatus lorti, Shelley. Green-breasted Longtailed Roller. ~ 2, ~ 7. A good series in which the characters are constant in all but one specimen, which appears to approach typical C. caudatus in coloration. It is of interest to note that this bird and the preceding were found in large numbers in the same localities. ALCEDINIDlE Ceryle rudis. Pied Kingfisher. ~ 1, ~ 1. Manda. Halcyon chelicuti. Hooded Kingfisher. ~ 1, ~ 4. Lamu. Halcyon leucocephalus. Brown-bellied Kingfisher. ~ 3, ~ 11. Lamu and M'koi. These birds are rather darker on the crown than birds from Victoria Nyanza, and have the throat pure white, a large patch of red-brown on the shoulder joint, and a line of the same colour separating the grey of the head from the black of the mantle. They can, however, be matched with a bird from Simba.
Halcyon orientalis. White-breasted Kingfisher. ~ 2, ~ 1. Mombasa and Manda Island. MEROPlDlE Melittophagus pusillus cyanostictus, Cab. Yellow-throated Bee-Eater. ~ 3, ~ 8. Lamu and Mombasa, M'koi. C. Grant states, Ibis, 1915, that the type locality of Cabanis' bird is Mombasa. These specimens, therefore, must belong to M. p. cyanostictus, and not M. p. Sharpei, Hartert. Birds from Nairobi and farther inland are paler on the under surface, and have the blue superciliary stripe distinct and extending well on to the forehead and joining its fellow of the opposite side. These birds are not M. c. meridionalis. Merops superciliosus. Green Bee-Eater. ~ 12, ~ 15. Lamu. Merops nubicus. Carmine Bee-Eater. ~ 6, ~ 6. Mombasa and Lamu. Birds in first plumage were obtained. UPUPlDlE Rhinopomaster schalowi, Neum. Slender-billed Wood-hoopoe. ~ 2, ~ 4. Manda Island and Mombasa. One male from Manda Island is abnormal in that the amount of white on the wing extends to all the secondary coverts, and many of the lesser coverts are greyish. CAPRIMULGIDlE Three specimens were obtained, referable to C. fossei, C. frenatus, C. (?). CYPSELIDlE Tachornis parvus mychrous, Reich. Palm Swift. ~ 4, cJ 3. Lamu. These birds appear to be identical with birds collected at Morogoro, G.E. Africa. HIRUNDINIDlE Hirundo rethiopica, Blan£. Red-fronted Swallow. ~ 6, ~ 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. This series shows birds
in all stages from young just from the nest to fully adult birds. Average wing measurement 108-110 mm. MUSCICAPIDlE Bradornis pallidus murinus, Finsch. Lesser Grey Shrike Fly-catcher. ~ 8, e! 18. Mombasa, Manda, M'koi, and Lamu. Similar in coloration and measurements to birds procured in North Kavirondo and Kisumu, distinct from others obtained on Elgon, Kisumu, and Naivasha to Nairobi-these latter being larger and greyer. Muscicapa griseola. Spotted Fly-catcher. ~ 8, e! 1. Mombasa. Balis puella, Rchw. Lesser Pied Fly-catcher. ~ 1, e! 4. Mombasa. The female shows a slight wash of brown on the chin. Balis orientalis, Heugl. ~ 1, e! 1. Manda and M'kio. Tchidrea suahelica, Reichw. Paradise Fly-catcher. ~ 1, e! 8. Mombasa, M'koi, and Manda Island. The males seen and procured were all of the grey-and~white form. No brown specimens were observed. LANIIDlE Pomatorhynchus senegalus. White eye-browed Bush Shrike. ~ 4, e! 8. Mombasa, M'koi. No specimens were seen on the islands. Pomatorhynchus Jamesi mandensis. Striped-headed Bush Shrike. ~ 2, e! 8. Manda and Lamu. Birds from Manda agree with those from Lamu. They are pale greyish on the head and on the under-surface of the body. Nicator gularis, Finsch. Brown-throated Olive Shrike. ~ 1, e! 1. Manda Island. Chlorophoneus sulphureapectus chrysogaster. Orange- breasted Shrike. ~ 8, e! 7. Manda Island and M'koi. On the whole a much brighter bird than those found inland, but certain specimens from Kisumu come very near to being just as intensely coloured .. Laniarius funebris. Black Shrike. ~ 4, e! 3. MaI!4._ Island and M'koi. Wings vary from 88-92 mm. '~r
Laniarius sublacteus. Lesser Pied Shrike. ~ 1, ~ 2. Mombasa and M'koi. Dryoscopus affinis. Coast Puff-backed Shrike. ~ 5, ~ 9. Lamu, Manda Island, and M'koi. Melanonotus hypopyrrhul. Grey-headed Giant Shrike. ~ 5, ~ 14. Manda Island and Lamu. The amount of chestnut on the breast varies in intensity, as also does the size of the bill. Lanius caudatus. Long-tailed Shrike. ~ 6. M'koi. Lanius minor. Lesser Grey Shrike. ~ 1. Manda. Lanius collurio. Red-backed Shrike. ~ 2. Manda Island and Lamu. DICRURIDlIll Dicrurus ater assimiZis. Drongo Shrike. ~ 8, ~ 5. Lamu and M'koi. ORlOLIDlE Oriolus roletti, sub-species. Black-headed Oriole. ~ S, ~ 10. Lamu and Manda Island. These birds are uniformly smaller than birds of inland districts, and have wing measurements of 128 mm., as against 130-142 of Nairobi and Uganda specimens. Their call is distinct from that of inland birds. STURNIDlE Buphaga erythrorhyncha. Red-billed Ox-bird. ~ S. M'koi and Lamu. Cinnyricinclus Verreauxi. Verreaux' Purple Starling. ~ 1. M'koL Lamprocolius melanogaster. Black-bellied Starling. ~ 5. M'koi and Manda Island. A young male in partial moult was procured April 22, 1916. PLOCEIDlE Ploceus kersteini. Yellow-breasted Black Weaver. ~ 1. ,i.u.mu. Very few seen. The specimen
Ploceus melanoxanthus, Cab. Black-backed Weaver. ~ 5,
C! 11. Lamu, Manda Island, and Mombasa. Some youngish
males are very near to P. nigricollis in colour of the mantle,
which is olive black instead of velvet black.
Ploceus nigriceps. Black-headed Weaver. ~ 1. Mombasa..
Ploceus bojeri. Coast Golden Weaver. ~ 3, C! 11. Manda
Island, M'koi, and Mombasa. The colour of the head varies
considerably in the males, as also does the half-collar on the
upper breast.
Pyromelanaflammiceps. Red-mantled Whydah. ~ 5, C! 2.
Mombasa and M'koi. All the birds are in partial moult.
Urobrachya Hildebrandti, Sharpe. Coast Red-shouldered
Whydah. C! 2. Mombasa. In off plumage. These birds
have wings of 92 mm.
Spermestes scutata. Lesser Green-headed Manakin. ~ 3,
C! 6. Manda and Lamu. These birds lack the purplish green
spots on the flanks found in S. cuculatus.
Hypargos niveoguttatus. Black-bellied Fire Finch. <! 1.
Mombasa. A male in full breeding plumage.
Pytelia melba. Fire-throated Finch. ~ 2, C! 4. Lamu
and Manda Island. The red of the throat is very limited,
not extending on to the upper breast except in one brightly
marked specimen in which the red extends well on to the
breast.
Estrilda minor. Lesser Grass Finch. ~ 1. Mombasa.
Lagonosticta brunneiceps. Fire Finch. ~ 1, C! 1. Mombasa.
Not so brightly coloured as inland birds.
Lagonosticta rhodoparia. Rosy-headed Fire Finch. C! 1.
Mombasa. This specimen is rather worn.
Urceginthus bengalus, Sp. Coast Crimson-eared Grass Finch.
~ 3, C! 5. Manda, Mombasa, and Lamu. These birds are much
bluer than birds from up-country and have the crimson earspot
much more limited in size. The females have the cheeks
and throat washed with blue, thus differing from U. b. brunneagularis.
Vidua 8erena. Pin-tailed Whydah. ~ 2, C! 4. Lamu
and Mombasa.
Passer gongonensis, R. Coast Sparrow. ~ 3, C! 13. Mombasa,
Lamu, Manda Island, and M'koi.
Poliospiza Reichenowi. Reichenow's Yellow-rumped Grey Serino ~ 2, e! 3. Manda and Lamu. These appear to be similar to up-country birds. Serinus icterus. Grey Checked Serino ~ 1, e! 3. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. All possess grey cheeks, the grey extending to sides of the head on to the nape. They are distinct from S. icterus barbatus. Anomalospiza imberbis. Thick-billed Weaver Finch. ~ 1, e! 1. M'koi. A pair of these rare and interesting finches was procured; they agree with specimens procured at Kisumu and near the Athi River. MOTACILLIDlE Motacilla Raii. Yellow Wagtail. ~ 8, e! 16. Lamu. Birds in all stages of plumage were obtained up to the end of April. Anthus Nicholsoni. Slender-billed Pipit. ~ 2, e! 4. Manda and Lamu. Anthus rufulus cinnamomeus. Buff-breasted Pipit. ~ 8, e! 13. Manda, Lamu, and M'koi. Macronyx croceus. Yellow-breal;ted Lark. ~ 1, e! 2. Mirafra Fischeri, Reich. (?). Coast Castenet Lark. ~ 2, e! 3. Lamu and Manda Island. Rather pale birds. PYCNONOTIDlE Phyllastrephas mombasa, Shell. Mombasa Yellow Bulbul. ~ 2, e! 1. Lamu and M'koi. It is interesting to note that birds from Nairobi district referred to in this species are rather larger and more brightly coloured than coast birds. Phastrephas placidus, Shell. Grey Bulbul. ~ 3. Lamu and M'koi. Andropadus insularis, Hartl. Coast Olive Bulbul. ~ 3, e! 5. Mombasa, Lamu, and M'koi. Pycnonotus barbatus miorus. Yellow-vented Bulbul. ~ 1, e! 2. Mombasa.
ZOSTEROPIDlE Zosterops lateralis, Reich. Pale-breasted White-eye. ~ 8, ~ 4. Lamu and Mombasa. So far as I can ascertain, these birds are identical with birds of Kenia district and those found in Nairobi. Reichenow refers Manda and Lamu birds to this species. NECTARINIIDlE Anthreptes hypodilla, Jard. Yellow-breasted Sunbird. ~ 3, d' 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Chalcomitra acik requatoralis, Reich. Red-throated Sunbird. d' 1. Mombasa. I was surprised to find that this specimen belonged to this species, and not to either C. Bunten or C. gutturalis. Chalcomitra Verreauxi Fischeri, Reich. Fischer's Grey Sunbird. ~ 4, d' 5. Manda Island. Chalcomitra Kirki, Shell. Kirk's Black Sunbird. ~ 5, d' 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. Cinnyris albiventris, Strick!. White-bellied Sunbird. ~ 4, d' 10. Manda Island and Lamu. Cinnyris microrhynchus, Shell. Lesser tricollared Sunbird. ~ 2, d' 5. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. SYLVIIDlE Cisticola semifasciata, Reich. (?). Pallid Grass Warbler. ~ 3, d' 4. Manda Island, Lamu, and Mombasa. Somewhat like the next species, but paler. Cisticola lugubris (?). Brown-headed Grass Warbler. ~ 2, d' 2. Mombasa and Lamu. Apalis avocincta, Shp. Grey-headed Tree Warbler. ~ 1, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda Island. 'li~ Prinia mystacea (?). White-eyebrowed Grass~. ~ 8, ~ 2. Mombasa and Manda Island. Sylvietta Fischeri, Reich. Fischer's Bush-creeper. d' 2. Manda. A pale bird without any greenish wash on the mantle.
KIKUYU 'ITHATHI' 261 Sylvietta minima, Grant. Coast Green-backed Bush-creeper. ~ 2, ~ 2. Manda. A small species having the mantle washed with a decided green. Cameroptera pileata, Reich. (?). Pale-bellied Wren Warbler. ~ 2, ~ 4. Manda and Lamu. This is a small species having the head brownish, the mantle green, and the under surface creamy, with the flanks washed with greyish. It is distinct from inland birds. TURDIDlE Turdus tephronotus, Cab. Streaky-throated Thrush. ~ 7, ~ 10. Mombasa, Lamu, Manda, and M'koi. Crateropus squamulatus, Shell. Scaly-feathered Babbling Thrush. ~ 1, ~ 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Argya rubiginosa Heuglini, Sharpe. Brown Babbling Thrush. ~ 5, ~ 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Geocichla Fischeri (?). Buff-breasted Babbler. ~ 1. Lamu. Cossypha Heuglini, Hartl., rufescens (?). Rufoufl-breasted Cossypha. ~ 3, c! 2. Mombasa and Lamu. These birds are distinct from birds of Nairobi district. Their call note and song is distinct. Cichladusa guttata, Heugl. Spotted Babbler .. ~ 3, ~ 5. Mombasa, M'koi, Lamu, and Manda. Erythropygia leucoptera, Rupp. Pale-breasted Babbler. ~ 2, ~ 1. Lamu and Manda.
The following is a list of the birds collected by Mr. H. J. Allen Turner during his safari to Lamu and district. The collection contains 836 skins, representing 128 species, and was made in April 1916.
In some few cases I have been unable to determine the exact sub-species to which they belong, owing to want of material with which to compare them and to lack of literature. Such birds will be sent home for further study. The entire collection, with the exception of the European migrants and a few examples of African species, has been placed in the Society's Museum and is available for study. As far as possible the order followed and nomenclature is that of Reichenow in his ' Vogel Afrikas.' LARlDlE Larus Hemprichi, Bruch. Hemprich's Gull. ~ 1. Manda Island. A not fully adult bird, showing traces of second plumage. In heavy moult. Gelochelidon nilotica, Hasselg. Gull-billed Tern. ~ 1, c! 1. Lamu and Manda. The female is in almost full plumage, while the male is in complete winter dress. 1'hey were collected within a few days of one another, during April. Wings 315 and 313 mm. Sterna bergei, Lcht., ~ 2, c! 1. Sterna media, Hors£., ~ 9, c! 2. Yellow-billed Terns. Manda Island. These birds are all in winter plumage. CHARADRIIDlE Glareola pratincola fulliborni. African Red-winged Pratincole. ~ 4, c! 8. Lamu and Manda. According to Hartert (Nov. Zool. Tring. 1916) the Pratincoles found on the East Coast of Africa as far south as Natal belong to G. p. luZZiborni. All the birds of this series obtained belong to one species. Cursorius temmincki, Sw. African Red-capped Courser. ~ 9, c! 7. Coast of mainland. A certain amount of variation in the richness of the coloration on the breast exists, but on the whole the series is uniform. A very young bird, in first plumage, was shot May 11, 1916. Charadrius Geoffroyi, ~ 1, c! 2. Manda Island. One male is in almost full summer plumage, while the other is still in winter dress. They were collected between April 6 and 9.
Oharadrius mongolicus, Pall. ~ 1, ~ 4. Lamu and Manda. These birds agree in every way with the description of O. mongolus, and not O. pyrrhothorax. They have the lateral upper tail coverts white with grey-brown spot midway on the shaft. Oharadrius hiaticula, L. Ringed Plover. ~ 1, ~ 3. Mombasa and Manda Island. The males are in full breedingplumage; the wing measurements vary from 122- 129 mm. Oharadrius pecurius. Sand Plover. ~ 3, ~ 10. Manda Island, M'koi and Lamu. This series included birds in all stages. Oharadrius marginata. ~ 1, ~ 1. Manda and Lamu. The male is in full dress. Squatarola helvetica, L. Grey Plover. ~ 3, ~ 2. Manda and Lamu. Although all these birds were collected at almost the same time, they show gradations from full summer plumage to full winter. They were collected in March. Stephanibyx inornatus, Swains. Lesser Grey-breasted Plover. ~ 2, ~ 2. Lamu and M'koi. Wing measurements vary from 160 to 184 mm. (Edicnemus vermiculatus, Cab. African Stone Plover. ~ 4, ~ 6. Lamu. The birds in this series are remarkably uniform in colour and size, with the exception of one quite young speCImen. Dromus ardeola, Payk. Crab Plover. ~ 3, ~ 3. Lamu and Manda. An immature female in first dress was collected in April. Numenius arquatus, L. Curlew. ~ 7, ~ 8. Manda Island. The great difference in size between adult males and females is well illustrated in this series. The largest bird has the bill 180 mm. on the straight and the smallest 125 mm. Numenius phmopus, L. Whimbrel. ~ 3, ~ 3. Manda Island. Terekia cinerea, Guld. Yellow-legged Plover. ~ 2, ~ 1. Lamu and Manda. These birds are just coming into full plumage. Tringoides hypoleucus, L. Common Sandpiper. ~ 3, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda. Birds.in soiled and dull plumage.
Tringa arenaria, L. Sanderling. ~ 2, <! 8. Lamu and
Manda. These birds, collected during the first two weeks of
April, show every grade of plumage from the almost full winter
to the half summer dreS's.
Tringa subarquata, Gould. Curled Sandpiper. ~ 8, <! 6.
Manda Island. This series, collected towards the end of April,
included birds in practically full summer to full winter plumage.
Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little. Stint. ~ 2. Mombasa.
Both birds in full winter dress.
Totanus nebularius, Gunn. Green Shank. ~ 4. Manda
and Lamu. One male is in full dress and has the head and
neck streaked with black and the breast spotted with triangular
marks. It is considerably larger than the others.
TURNICIDlE
Turnix lepurana. Butten Quail. ~ 1. Manda Island.
ARDEIDlE
Herodias gazetta. Lesser Egret. ~ 2. M'koi. A young
bird and a fully mature male.
COLUMBIDlE
Vinago Wakefieldi, Sharpe. Coast Green Pigeon. ~ 1,
<! 4. Manda Island and Lamu. Wing measurements vary
from 145 to 154 mm.
Turtur semitorquata, Rupp. Grey-vented Dove. ~ 2.
Manda Island and M'koi.
Chalcopelia chalcospilos. Green-fllpotted Dove. ~ 2. Lamu.
Rather paler than birds from the highlands, but not varying
III sIze.
(Ena capensis, 1. Cape Long-tailed Dove. ~ 2. Manda
Island and Lamu.
Pternistes Humboldti, Peters. Black-breasted Francolin.
~ 1. M'koi. An adult male in full plumage.
Francolinus Grantii, Hartl. Grant's Bush Francolin. ~ 9,
<! 7. M'koi, Manda, Mombasa, and Lamu. In this series
there are no birds which approach the so-called F. Kirki in the
amount of speckling on the breast and under surface.
ACOIPITRES FALCONIDlE Kaupi/alco monogrammicus, Tem. Bearded Sparrow Hawk. !? 2, ~ 2. Mombasa and Lamu. All adult birds. Accipiter minnulus tropicalis. Pigmy Sparrow Hawk. !? 1. M'koi. A single specimen which does not differ from birds from Nairobi District. Melierax poliopterus, Cab. Barred Sparrow Hawk. !? 1. M'koi. In almost full plumage. Circaetus cinereus. White-bellied Eagle. !? 1. M'koi. STRIGES Strixflammea maculata. African Barn Owl. !? 1. Manda.. An adult bird in fair condition. The under surface is spa.ringly spotted. CUCULIDlE Centropus superciliosus. Hackled-neck Cuckoo. !? 1, ~ 5. Mombasa and Lamu. Tbese birds are somewhat smaller than inland birds. Coccystes iacobinus. Lesser Crested Cuckoo. !? 1, ~ 3. Manda Island and M'koi. Chrysococcyx cupreus, Bodd. Golden Cuckoo. !? 2, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda Island. Chrysococcyx klassii. White-breasted Emerald Cuckoo. !? 2. Manda Island. COLIIDlE Colius striatus, sub. sp. (?). White-throated Coly. !? 8, ~ 8. Manda Island, M'koi, Lamu, and Mombasa. Tbe coast Co]y is undoubtedly separable from the inland form, being much paler generally, and having a whitish throat. C. Grant notes this in Ibis, July 1915, p. 403. Colius macrourus macrourus? Red-billed Coly. !? 3, ~ 2. Manda and Lamu. These birds are decidedly paler than birds from Kisumu and Uganda and generally smaller, and are thus nearer to typical C. macrourus than to C. m. pulcher.
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS Campothera pallida, Reich. Pale Spotted Woodpecker. ~ 8, ~ 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. Somewhat like C. nubica, but generally paler and having the white spots on the crown much larger. Dendropicus tuscescens massaicus, Neum. Massai Pigmy Woodpecker. ~ 1, ~ 2. Mombasa and Manda. Dendropicus Hartlaubi, Malh. Hartlaub's Woodpecker. !j? 2, ~ 2. Lamu and Mombasa. CAPITONIDlE Barbatula pusillus affinis, Reich. Little Red-fronted Barbet. ~ 3, 0 5. Lamu and Manda Island. A small race agreeing with specimens obtained inland. CORACIIDlE Coracias garrulus, L. European Roller. ~ 1. Lamu. In full plumage. Coracias caudatus caudatus. Long-tailed Roller. ~ 1, ~ 3. Lamu and M'koi. Identical with inland birds. Coracias caudatus lorti, Shelley. Green-breasted Longtailed Roller. ~ 2, ~ 7. A good series in which the characters are constant in all but one specimen, which appears to approach typical C. caudatus in coloration. It is of interest to note that this bird and the preceding were found in large numbers in the same localities. ALCEDINIDlE Ceryle rudis. Pied Kingfisher. ~ 1, ~ 1. Manda. Halcyon chelicuti. Hooded Kingfisher. ~ 1, ~ 4. Lamu. Halcyon leucocephalus. Brown-bellied Kingfisher. ~ 3, ~ 11. Lamu and M'koi. These birds are rather darker on the crown than birds from Victoria Nyanza, and have the throat pure white, a large patch of red-brown on the shoulder joint, and a line of the same colour separating the grey of the head from the black of the mantle. They can, however, be matched with a bird from Simba.
Halcyon orientalis. White-breasted Kingfisher. ~ 2, ~ 1. Mombasa and Manda Island. MEROPlDlE Melittophagus pusillus cyanostictus, Cab. Yellow-throated Bee-Eater. ~ 3, ~ 8. Lamu and Mombasa, M'koi. C. Grant states, Ibis, 1915, that the type locality of Cabanis' bird is Mombasa. These specimens, therefore, must belong to M. p. cyanostictus, and not M. p. Sharpei, Hartert. Birds from Nairobi and farther inland are paler on the under surface, and have the blue superciliary stripe distinct and extending well on to the forehead and joining its fellow of the opposite side. These birds are not M. c. meridionalis. Merops superciliosus. Green Bee-Eater. ~ 12, ~ 15. Lamu. Merops nubicus. Carmine Bee-Eater. ~ 6, ~ 6. Mombasa and Lamu. Birds in first plumage were obtained. UPUPlDlE Rhinopomaster schalowi, Neum. Slender-billed Wood-hoopoe. ~ 2, ~ 4. Manda Island and Mombasa. One male from Manda Island is abnormal in that the amount of white on the wing extends to all the secondary coverts, and many of the lesser coverts are greyish. CAPRIMULGIDlE Three specimens were obtained, referable to C. fossei, C. frenatus, C. (?). CYPSELIDlE Tachornis parvus mychrous, Reich. Palm Swift. ~ 4, cJ 3. Lamu. These birds appear to be identical with birds collected at Morogoro, G.E. Africa. HIRUNDINIDlE Hirundo rethiopica, Blan£. Red-fronted Swallow. ~ 6, ~ 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. This series shows birds
in all stages from young just from the nest to fully adult birds. Average wing measurement 108-110 mm. MUSCICAPIDlE Bradornis pallidus murinus, Finsch. Lesser Grey Shrike Fly-catcher. ~ 8, e! 18. Mombasa, Manda, M'koi, and Lamu. Similar in coloration and measurements to birds procured in North Kavirondo and Kisumu, distinct from others obtained on Elgon, Kisumu, and Naivasha to Nairobi-these latter being larger and greyer. Muscicapa griseola. Spotted Fly-catcher. ~ 8, e! 1. Mombasa. Balis puella, Rchw. Lesser Pied Fly-catcher. ~ 1, e! 4. Mombasa. The female shows a slight wash of brown on the chin. Balis orientalis, Heugl. ~ 1, e! 1. Manda and M'kio. Tchidrea suahelica, Reichw. Paradise Fly-catcher. ~ 1, e! 8. Mombasa, M'koi, and Manda Island. The males seen and procured were all of the grey-and~white form. No brown specimens were observed. LANIIDlE Pomatorhynchus senegalus. White eye-browed Bush Shrike. ~ 4, e! 8. Mombasa, M'koi. No specimens were seen on the islands. Pomatorhynchus Jamesi mandensis. Striped-headed Bush Shrike. ~ 2, e! 8. Manda and Lamu. Birds from Manda agree with those from Lamu. They are pale greyish on the head and on the under-surface of the body. Nicator gularis, Finsch. Brown-throated Olive Shrike. ~ 1, e! 1. Manda Island. Chlorophoneus sulphureapectus chrysogaster. Orange- breasted Shrike. ~ 8, e! 7. Manda Island and M'koi. On the whole a much brighter bird than those found inland, but certain specimens from Kisumu come very near to being just as intensely coloured .. Laniarius funebris. Black Shrike. ~ 4, e! 3. MaI!4._ Island and M'koi. Wings vary from 88-92 mm. '~r
Laniarius sublacteus. Lesser Pied Shrike. ~ 1, ~ 2. Mombasa and M'koi. Dryoscopus affinis. Coast Puff-backed Shrike. ~ 5, ~ 9. Lamu, Manda Island, and M'koi. Melanonotus hypopyrrhul. Grey-headed Giant Shrike. ~ 5, ~ 14. Manda Island and Lamu. The amount of chestnut on the breast varies in intensity, as also does the size of the bill. Lanius caudatus. Long-tailed Shrike. ~ 6. M'koi. Lanius minor. Lesser Grey Shrike. ~ 1. Manda. Lanius collurio. Red-backed Shrike. ~ 2. Manda Island and Lamu. DICRURIDlIll Dicrurus ater assimiZis. Drongo Shrike. ~ 8, ~ 5. Lamu and M'koi. ORlOLIDlE Oriolus roletti, sub-species. Black-headed Oriole. ~ S, ~ 10. Lamu and Manda Island. These birds are uniformly smaller than birds of inland districts, and have wing measurements of 128 mm., as against 130-142 of Nairobi and Uganda specimens. Their call is distinct from that of inland birds. STURNIDlE Buphaga erythrorhyncha. Red-billed Ox-bird. ~ S. M'koi and Lamu. Cinnyricinclus Verreauxi. Verreaux' Purple Starling. ~ 1. M'koL Lamprocolius melanogaster. Black-bellied Starling. ~ 5. M'koi and Manda Island. A young male in partial moult was procured April 22, 1916. PLOCEIDlE Ploceus kersteini. Yellow-breasted Black Weaver. ~ 1. ,i.u.mu. Very few seen. The specimen
Ploceus melanoxanthus, Cab. Black-backed Weaver. ~ 5,
C! 11. Lamu, Manda Island, and Mombasa. Some youngish
males are very near to P. nigricollis in colour of the mantle,
which is olive black instead of velvet black.
Ploceus nigriceps. Black-headed Weaver. ~ 1. Mombasa..
Ploceus bojeri. Coast Golden Weaver. ~ 3, C! 11. Manda
Island, M'koi, and Mombasa. The colour of the head varies
considerably in the males, as also does the half-collar on the
upper breast.
Pyromelanaflammiceps. Red-mantled Whydah. ~ 5, C! 2.
Mombasa and M'koi. All the birds are in partial moult.
Urobrachya Hildebrandti, Sharpe. Coast Red-shouldered
Whydah. C! 2. Mombasa. In off plumage. These birds
have wings of 92 mm.
Spermestes scutata. Lesser Green-headed Manakin. ~ 3,
C! 6. Manda and Lamu. These birds lack the purplish green
spots on the flanks found in S. cuculatus.
Hypargos niveoguttatus. Black-bellied Fire Finch. <! 1.
Mombasa. A male in full breeding plumage.
Pytelia melba. Fire-throated Finch. ~ 2, C! 4. Lamu
and Manda Island. The red of the throat is very limited,
not extending on to the upper breast except in one brightly
marked specimen in which the red extends well on to the
breast.
Estrilda minor. Lesser Grass Finch. ~ 1. Mombasa.
Lagonosticta brunneiceps. Fire Finch. ~ 1, C! 1. Mombasa.
Not so brightly coloured as inland birds.
Lagonosticta rhodoparia. Rosy-headed Fire Finch. C! 1.
Mombasa. This specimen is rather worn.
Urceginthus bengalus, Sp. Coast Crimson-eared Grass Finch.
~ 3, C! 5. Manda, Mombasa, and Lamu. These birds are much
bluer than birds from up-country and have the crimson earspot
much more limited in size. The females have the cheeks
and throat washed with blue, thus differing from U. b. brunneagularis.
Vidua 8erena. Pin-tailed Whydah. ~ 2, C! 4. Lamu
and Mombasa.
Passer gongonensis, R. Coast Sparrow. ~ 3, C! 13. Mombasa,
Lamu, Manda Island, and M'koi.
Poliospiza Reichenowi. Reichenow's Yellow-rumped Grey Serino ~ 2, e! 3. Manda and Lamu. These appear to be similar to up-country birds. Serinus icterus. Grey Checked Serino ~ 1, e! 3. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. All possess grey cheeks, the grey extending to sides of the head on to the nape. They are distinct from S. icterus barbatus. Anomalospiza imberbis. Thick-billed Weaver Finch. ~ 1, e! 1. M'koi. A pair of these rare and interesting finches was procured; they agree with specimens procured at Kisumu and near the Athi River. MOTACILLIDlE Motacilla Raii. Yellow Wagtail. ~ 8, e! 16. Lamu. Birds in all stages of plumage were obtained up to the end of April. Anthus Nicholsoni. Slender-billed Pipit. ~ 2, e! 4. Manda and Lamu. Anthus rufulus cinnamomeus. Buff-breasted Pipit. ~ 8, e! 13. Manda, Lamu, and M'koi. Macronyx croceus. Yellow-breal;ted Lark. ~ 1, e! 2. Mirafra Fischeri, Reich. (?). Coast Castenet Lark. ~ 2, e! 3. Lamu and Manda Island. Rather pale birds. PYCNONOTIDlE Phyllastrephas mombasa, Shell. Mombasa Yellow Bulbul. ~ 2, e! 1. Lamu and M'koi. It is interesting to note that birds from Nairobi district referred to in this species are rather larger and more brightly coloured than coast birds. Phastrephas placidus, Shell. Grey Bulbul. ~ 3. Lamu and M'koi. Andropadus insularis, Hartl. Coast Olive Bulbul. ~ 3, e! 5. Mombasa, Lamu, and M'koi. Pycnonotus barbatus miorus. Yellow-vented Bulbul. ~ 1, e! 2. Mombasa.
ZOSTEROPIDlE Zosterops lateralis, Reich. Pale-breasted White-eye. ~ 8, ~ 4. Lamu and Mombasa. So far as I can ascertain, these birds are identical with birds of Kenia district and those found in Nairobi. Reichenow refers Manda and Lamu birds to this species. NECTARINIIDlE Anthreptes hypodilla, Jard. Yellow-breasted Sunbird. ~ 3, d' 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Chalcomitra acik requatoralis, Reich. Red-throated Sunbird. d' 1. Mombasa. I was surprised to find that this specimen belonged to this species, and not to either C. Bunten or C. gutturalis. Chalcomitra Verreauxi Fischeri, Reich. Fischer's Grey Sunbird. ~ 4, d' 5. Manda Island. Chalcomitra Kirki, Shell. Kirk's Black Sunbird. ~ 5, d' 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. Cinnyris albiventris, Strick!. White-bellied Sunbird. ~ 4, d' 10. Manda Island and Lamu. Cinnyris microrhynchus, Shell. Lesser tricollared Sunbird. ~ 2, d' 5. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda Island. SYLVIIDlE Cisticola semifasciata, Reich. (?). Pallid Grass Warbler. ~ 3, d' 4. Manda Island, Lamu, and Mombasa. Somewhat like the next species, but paler. Cisticola lugubris (?). Brown-headed Grass Warbler. ~ 2, d' 2. Mombasa and Lamu. Apalis avocincta, Shp. Grey-headed Tree Warbler. ~ 1, ~ 2. Lamu and Manda Island. 'li~ Prinia mystacea (?). White-eyebrowed Grass~. ~ 8, ~ 2. Mombasa and Manda Island. Sylvietta Fischeri, Reich. Fischer's Bush-creeper. d' 2. Manda. A pale bird without any greenish wash on the mantle.
KIKUYU 'ITHATHI' 261 Sylvietta minima, Grant. Coast Green-backed Bush-creeper. ~ 2, ~ 2. Manda. A small species having the mantle washed with a decided green. Cameroptera pileata, Reich. (?). Pale-bellied Wren Warbler. ~ 2, ~ 4. Manda and Lamu. This is a small species having the head brownish, the mantle green, and the under surface creamy, with the flanks washed with greyish. It is distinct from inland birds. TURDIDlE Turdus tephronotus, Cab. Streaky-throated Thrush. ~ 7, ~ 10. Mombasa, Lamu, Manda, and M'koi. Crateropus squamulatus, Shell. Scaly-feathered Babbling Thrush. ~ 1, ~ 4. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Argya rubiginosa Heuglini, Sharpe. Brown Babbling Thrush. ~ 5, ~ 7. Mombasa, Lamu, and Manda. Geocichla Fischeri (?). Buff-breasted Babbler. ~ 1. Lamu. Cossypha Heuglini, Hartl., rufescens (?). Rufoufl-breasted Cossypha. ~ 3, c! 2. Mombasa and Lamu. These birds are distinct from birds of Nairobi district. Their call note and song is distinct. Cichladusa guttata, Heugl. Spotted Babbler .. ~ 3, ~ 5. Mombasa, M'koi, Lamu, and Manda. Erythropygia leucoptera, Rupp. Pale-breasted Babbler. ~ 2, ~ 1. Lamu and Manda.
Mr. H. J. Allen-Turner. OBITUARY
OBITUARY
As we go to press we very deeply regret to announce the death of Mr. H. J. Allen-Turner. Mr. Turner was closely associated with the Society from its inception and was a member of committee and vicepresident for many years. When the Natural History Society started the first Nairobi Museum in 1911 Allen-Turner prepared the initial exhibits, and from then on he was intimately associated with the work of the Society and of the three successive Museums. Mr. Allen-Turner
first came to Kenya in 1908 as chief taxidermist to the Smithsonian Institution Expedition led by Colonel, later President, Theodore Rooseveldt. He is deeply mourned by a widow and four children. A detailed obituary will appear in our next Journal.
February, 1954. OBITUARY H. J. ALLEN TURNER 111 Although Allen Turner only joined the permanent staff of the Coryndon Museum in 1941,he had been associated with the organisation of Museum Services in Nairobi from the very beginning.
The first Museum in Kenya was a small building - now pulled down - which stood near the present Kingsway Police Station. It was built for the East African Natural History Society in 1911, and was very small. Turner, who had only been in the country a few years prepared many of the first exhibits. From then on Turner collected for the Museum in all branches of its work, and again and again prepared exhibit specimens. When- the second Museum, which is now the C.LD. Headquarters, was built, he again co-operated in the preparation of the new Museum for opening, and added many more exhibits to it, while keeping so much in the background that few people reaij6ed the extent of his work.
When the Coryndon Memorial Museum building was put up and the Society transferred its collections there in 1929and gave up its other building, Turner again played a big part in arranging the exhibits, and added to them on very numerous occasions, from that time onwards.
As a field collector Turner was outstanding. His powers of observation and his knowledge of so many branches of Natural History so extensive, that again and again he was able to collect specimens new to science, which might otherwise have passed unnoticed for many more years. To him was due the discovery of the rare water porcupine in Nyanza Province, to him the honour of finding birds and insects new to science, to him we owe the discovery of not a few important prehistoric sites. In botany tooalthough not a botanist-he was always on the lookout for new and rare plants, and found not a few that had previously escaped notice.
As a museum technician Turner was especially skilled in plaster casting and his reproductions of fish and reptiles is unsurpassed. He also was excellent at making models from photographs and drawings, and his handmade models of the first Coelocanthe and of various extinct fossil fishes have been, before now, mistaken for casts, when in fact they were merely created from photographs.
With his passing Kenya has lost a man who did more for the advancement of its Natural History than any single other person. L. S. B. LEAKEY.
On November 27th 1953 Henry J. Allen Turner passed away at the age of 77 years. Allen, as everybody knew him, was a dearly beloved character known throughout the Colony, and also to many naturalists outside 112 Obituaries. VOL. XXII Kenya. His general field knowledge was considerable, as he had collected for most of the great museums all over the world.
Turner came to the Colony in 1909 as a taxidermist to Messrs. Newland and Tarleton, the Safari outfitters, in order to take charge of the trophies of the Roosevelt expedition which was led by the late Colonel Roosevelt and his son, Kermit Roosevelt. When Mr. Edmund Heller stayed on Turner accompanied him as collector and taxidermist, and the great collection of\East African specimens now in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington, owes a tremendous lot to his care and skill. For many years Turner collected for many of the big museums, and he was renowned for the beautiful condition in which his specimens were despatched.
It is not generally known that for several years he ran a nursery garden on the Kinangop, and introduced into Kenya many of the bulbs, flowering shrubs and fruit trees which we now take as a matter of course.
His association with the Natural History Society dates back to its inception; he was intimately bound up with its development and was one of its most loyal supporters. When the embryo'tflUseum started in 1911,Turner prepared the birds and mammals which formed the nucleus of the present collections of the Coryndon Museum. He saw and actively participatEd in the move to the original drill hall; then to the present Coryndon Memorial Museum; and finally in the crowning glory of the new extensions. It was a great day when he saw these halls opened to the public by His Excellency the Governor; and I know how deep were his feelings that he should live to see his hopes so worthily fulfilled. I remember that after the crowd had gone that evening, he and I were quietly walking through the new Churchill Hall and he turned to me and said : "You and I never expected to see this day, but we have and I am content" : - a tribute to his beloved Museum.
Turner's real love was fishes, and his work in modelling these creatures was supreme. For those who follow him he has left the exhibits in the Churchill Hall as a lasting tribute to his artistic skill. To my mind, much of his work in modelling lizards - and particularly frogs - cannot be equalled anywhere else in the world.
From early days he sat in at the councils of the Natural History Society, and he was for many years a Vice-President. In the early years he was a great fighter for the preservation of the fauna and flora of the Colony, and never ceased to press forward the need for National Parks, in committee, when on delegations to the Government, or in the Press. His satisfaction was deep when National Parks became a part and parcel of the Colony.
Many a lady visitor to the Museum expressed the opinion that Turner was "a dear", and that word thoroughly expressed his character. He was indeed "a dear"; but he was also a sturdy fighter if ever the future of his Natural History Society, his Museum, or his birds and animals were in danger.
Natural History suffered a great los~ on the death of Mr. H. J. Turner in November last and it is felt that a few personal reminiscences may be of interest to his many friends.
My first acquaintance with Allen .Turner started over 30 years ago. After leaving school I made a trip round Africa with my mother and stayed a considerable time in Nairobi. During that period some time was spent in assisting Dr. van Someren in the development of the first small Museum belonging to the Natural History Society situated near the Norfolk Hotel. One day a large man dressed in riding breeches and leggings with a wide hat and wearing not inconspicuous side whiskers called at the Museum. He asked me if I was interested in beetles. In reply I said that there were few forms of life for which I had a higher regard, and he expressed delight. He then produced several cartridge boxes containing a fine collection of beetles which he had made at Kakamega in 1915 and subsequently when doing war work on Lamu and Manda-"Islands. These insects were in excellent condition and had been very carefully preserved. Allen Turner then said that he would like to give me this collection if I would take an interest in it and have them named and worked out. The collection W2.S later taken by me to London and was returned to this country when I came here permanently to live in 1926. It is now in the Coryndon Museum collection. This was the beginning of our friendship and co-operation in the collection of Coleoptera which lasted until his death.
At that time and for some later years, Allen Turner was employed by Sir John Ramsden and was for some time Manager of the Naivasha Creamery. In 1932when the so-called "Gold rush" occurred at Kakamega, Allen Turner, H. L. Geeson and myself went together to try our luck at this new venture. We duly pegged an area of land on one of the most attractive sights in an area situated on Kuhu Hill overlooking the Yala River. After a great deal of enthusiasm had been expended, our results were very similar to the majority of prospectors. We saw no gold whatever but did not lose a great deal of money. After Geeson and I had returned to Nairobi to our normal occupations, Turner remained at Kakamega but needless to state the only acquisitions made were some very interesting insects new to the Museum collection. A year later the British Museum sent an expedition to collect on certain East African mountains and their first objective was the Aberdare range. We all stayed at Turner's house which w"s situated by the Naivasha Forest Station and we accompanied the expedition during their trip over the mountains. It is an interesting fact that, although most of the members of the expedition were young men in their early twenties, Allen Turner who was then probably in his early sixties always led the way. This was by no means easy going as it rained almost continuously and the ascent of the Aberdare Mountains, although short, is, through the bamboo zone much steeper and much harder going than similar areas at the same altitude on Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
After a year or two Allen Turner was given a job at the East African Pavilion which was opened at the Johannesburg Exhibition. This he enjoyed very much and I am sure added greatly to the interest of visitors by his stories of the early days in East Africa.
A further important expedition which Allen Turner accompanied was one organised by the East African Natural History Society to the Chyulu Hills. Here the expedition stayed for five or six weeks, and conditions were not made more comfortable by the fact that all water had be carried some six or seven miles.
Soon after the last war started in 1939,Allen Turner joined the permanent Staff of the Coryndon Museum as taxidermist and general preparator. Here he remained doing the work he loved until the last illness before his death. His work is well-known to many visitors by the beautiful coloured casts of fishes which are exhibited in the Fish Hall.
Although Turner was a general field naturalist of high standing, in later years his greatest interest was in adding to the collection of insects and he always showed a particular affection for the Coleoptera. Many new species of beetles discovered by him have been named after him and it always gave him particular pleasure to see the large number of insects bearing the name "turneri" in the collection. Although his knowledge of entomology was confined mainly to observation in the field, he had a wonderful eye for a "species" and often when out collecting he would remark on picking up an insect he felt this was something new either to Science or to the collection. He was a true Cockney by birth and was always a genial companion on safari, his unfailing sense of humour and kindly spirit were a continual joy to all those who had the pleasure of being with him on these occasions.
After a long illness he died at the age of 77 and his loss to East African natural history is irreparable. A. F. J. GEDYE.
As we go to press we very deeply regret to announce the death of Mr. H. J. Allen-Turner. Mr. Turner was closely associated with the Society from its inception and was a member of committee and vicepresident for many years. When the Natural History Society started the first Nairobi Museum in 1911 Allen-Turner prepared the initial exhibits, and from then on he was intimately associated with the work of the Society and of the three successive Museums. Mr. Allen-Turner
first came to Kenya in 1908 as chief taxidermist to the Smithsonian Institution Expedition led by Colonel, later President, Theodore Rooseveldt. He is deeply mourned by a widow and four children. A detailed obituary will appear in our next Journal.
February, 1954. OBITUARY H. J. ALLEN TURNER 111 Although Allen Turner only joined the permanent staff of the Coryndon Museum in 1941,he had been associated with the organisation of Museum Services in Nairobi from the very beginning.
The first Museum in Kenya was a small building - now pulled down - which stood near the present Kingsway Police Station. It was built for the East African Natural History Society in 1911, and was very small. Turner, who had only been in the country a few years prepared many of the first exhibits. From then on Turner collected for the Museum in all branches of its work, and again and again prepared exhibit specimens. When- the second Museum, which is now the C.LD. Headquarters, was built, he again co-operated in the preparation of the new Museum for opening, and added many more exhibits to it, while keeping so much in the background that few people reaij6ed the extent of his work.
When the Coryndon Memorial Museum building was put up and the Society transferred its collections there in 1929and gave up its other building, Turner again played a big part in arranging the exhibits, and added to them on very numerous occasions, from that time onwards.
As a field collector Turner was outstanding. His powers of observation and his knowledge of so many branches of Natural History so extensive, that again and again he was able to collect specimens new to science, which might otherwise have passed unnoticed for many more years. To him was due the discovery of the rare water porcupine in Nyanza Province, to him the honour of finding birds and insects new to science, to him we owe the discovery of not a few important prehistoric sites. In botany tooalthough not a botanist-he was always on the lookout for new and rare plants, and found not a few that had previously escaped notice.
As a museum technician Turner was especially skilled in plaster casting and his reproductions of fish and reptiles is unsurpassed. He also was excellent at making models from photographs and drawings, and his handmade models of the first Coelocanthe and of various extinct fossil fishes have been, before now, mistaken for casts, when in fact they were merely created from photographs.
With his passing Kenya has lost a man who did more for the advancement of its Natural History than any single other person. L. S. B. LEAKEY.
On November 27th 1953 Henry J. Allen Turner passed away at the age of 77 years. Allen, as everybody knew him, was a dearly beloved character known throughout the Colony, and also to many naturalists outside 112 Obituaries. VOL. XXII Kenya. His general field knowledge was considerable, as he had collected for most of the great museums all over the world.
Turner came to the Colony in 1909 as a taxidermist to Messrs. Newland and Tarleton, the Safari outfitters, in order to take charge of the trophies of the Roosevelt expedition which was led by the late Colonel Roosevelt and his son, Kermit Roosevelt. When Mr. Edmund Heller stayed on Turner accompanied him as collector and taxidermist, and the great collection of\East African specimens now in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington, owes a tremendous lot to his care and skill. For many years Turner collected for many of the big museums, and he was renowned for the beautiful condition in which his specimens were despatched.
It is not generally known that for several years he ran a nursery garden on the Kinangop, and introduced into Kenya many of the bulbs, flowering shrubs and fruit trees which we now take as a matter of course.
His association with the Natural History Society dates back to its inception; he was intimately bound up with its development and was one of its most loyal supporters. When the embryo'tflUseum started in 1911,Turner prepared the birds and mammals which formed the nucleus of the present collections of the Coryndon Museum. He saw and actively participatEd in the move to the original drill hall; then to the present Coryndon Memorial Museum; and finally in the crowning glory of the new extensions. It was a great day when he saw these halls opened to the public by His Excellency the Governor; and I know how deep were his feelings that he should live to see his hopes so worthily fulfilled. I remember that after the crowd had gone that evening, he and I were quietly walking through the new Churchill Hall and he turned to me and said : "You and I never expected to see this day, but we have and I am content" : - a tribute to his beloved Museum.
Turner's real love was fishes, and his work in modelling these creatures was supreme. For those who follow him he has left the exhibits in the Churchill Hall as a lasting tribute to his artistic skill. To my mind, much of his work in modelling lizards - and particularly frogs - cannot be equalled anywhere else in the world.
From early days he sat in at the councils of the Natural History Society, and he was for many years a Vice-President. In the early years he was a great fighter for the preservation of the fauna and flora of the Colony, and never ceased to press forward the need for National Parks, in committee, when on delegations to the Government, or in the Press. His satisfaction was deep when National Parks became a part and parcel of the Colony.
Many a lady visitor to the Museum expressed the opinion that Turner was "a dear", and that word thoroughly expressed his character. He was indeed "a dear"; but he was also a sturdy fighter if ever the future of his Natural History Society, his Museum, or his birds and animals were in danger.
Natural History suffered a great los~ on the death of Mr. H. J. Turner in November last and it is felt that a few personal reminiscences may be of interest to his many friends.
My first acquaintance with Allen .Turner started over 30 years ago. After leaving school I made a trip round Africa with my mother and stayed a considerable time in Nairobi. During that period some time was spent in assisting Dr. van Someren in the development of the first small Museum belonging to the Natural History Society situated near the Norfolk Hotel. One day a large man dressed in riding breeches and leggings with a wide hat and wearing not inconspicuous side whiskers called at the Museum. He asked me if I was interested in beetles. In reply I said that there were few forms of life for which I had a higher regard, and he expressed delight. He then produced several cartridge boxes containing a fine collection of beetles which he had made at Kakamega in 1915 and subsequently when doing war work on Lamu and Manda-"Islands. These insects were in excellent condition and had been very carefully preserved. Allen Turner then said that he would like to give me this collection if I would take an interest in it and have them named and worked out. The collection W2.S later taken by me to London and was returned to this country when I came here permanently to live in 1926. It is now in the Coryndon Museum collection. This was the beginning of our friendship and co-operation in the collection of Coleoptera which lasted until his death.
At that time and for some later years, Allen Turner was employed by Sir John Ramsden and was for some time Manager of the Naivasha Creamery. In 1932when the so-called "Gold rush" occurred at Kakamega, Allen Turner, H. L. Geeson and myself went together to try our luck at this new venture. We duly pegged an area of land on one of the most attractive sights in an area situated on Kuhu Hill overlooking the Yala River. After a great deal of enthusiasm had been expended, our results were very similar to the majority of prospectors. We saw no gold whatever but did not lose a great deal of money. After Geeson and I had returned to Nairobi to our normal occupations, Turner remained at Kakamega but needless to state the only acquisitions made were some very interesting insects new to the Museum collection. A year later the British Museum sent an expedition to collect on certain East African mountains and their first objective was the Aberdare range. We all stayed at Turner's house which w"s situated by the Naivasha Forest Station and we accompanied the expedition during their trip over the mountains. It is an interesting fact that, although most of the members of the expedition were young men in their early twenties, Allen Turner who was then probably in his early sixties always led the way. This was by no means easy going as it rained almost continuously and the ascent of the Aberdare Mountains, although short, is, through the bamboo zone much steeper and much harder going than similar areas at the same altitude on Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
After a year or two Allen Turner was given a job at the East African Pavilion which was opened at the Johannesburg Exhibition. This he enjoyed very much and I am sure added greatly to the interest of visitors by his stories of the early days in East Africa.
A further important expedition which Allen Turner accompanied was one organised by the East African Natural History Society to the Chyulu Hills. Here the expedition stayed for five or six weeks, and conditions were not made more comfortable by the fact that all water had be carried some six or seven miles.
Soon after the last war started in 1939,Allen Turner joined the permanent Staff of the Coryndon Museum as taxidermist and general preparator. Here he remained doing the work he loved until the last illness before his death. His work is well-known to many visitors by the beautiful coloured casts of fishes which are exhibited in the Fish Hall.
Although Turner was a general field naturalist of high standing, in later years his greatest interest was in adding to the collection of insects and he always showed a particular affection for the Coleoptera. Many new species of beetles discovered by him have been named after him and it always gave him particular pleasure to see the large number of insects bearing the name "turneri" in the collection. Although his knowledge of entomology was confined mainly to observation in the field, he had a wonderful eye for a "species" and often when out collecting he would remark on picking up an insect he felt this was something new either to Science or to the collection. He was a true Cockney by birth and was always a genial companion on safari, his unfailing sense of humour and kindly spirit were a continual joy to all those who had the pleasure of being with him on these occasions.
After a long illness he died at the age of 77 and his loss to East African natural history is irreparable. A. F. J. GEDYE.
City Park Cemetery
TURNER-H J Allen
|
TWO RARE EAST AFRICAN ANIMALS
TWO RARE EAST AFRICAN ANIMALSBy H. J. ALLEN TURNER
The last two months, October and November 1913, I have spent collecting natural history specimens along the southern edge and round the scattered areas of the Kakumega forest. Perhaps the most remarkable of the little known animals 1 These names, of which the first means donkey, and the second, cow, doubtless refer to the great bulk and somewhat clumsy build of the fish.
obtained is the potto (Perodicticus lbeanus). The East African potto is represented in the British Museum by one specimen (the type), which was obtained by Mr. Robin Kemp from near Mumias and described by Mr. Oldfield Thomas in 1910; in the Smithsonian Institute the species is represented by four specimens collected by Mr. Edmond Heller some two years ago. This animal is extremely difficult to obtain owing to its nocturnal habits and the inaccessible forests it inhabits. It Seems to lead a solitary life, as on no occasion did I find more than one in a tree, but obtained my specimens here and there, often miles apart. Getting about and searching in these forests is very hard work, chiefly owing to the number of fallen trees, which in faUing have opened up air spaces in which an almost impenetrable growth of a kind of nettle springs up. Here the heavy growths of wild vines reach down from the tree tops to the undergrowth. In these vine-covered trees round these openings I found most of thepottos. I do not think these animals ever leave the trees, a live specimen making poor progress over a flat surface. Their movements are very slow at all times, and if frightened they ascend a branch slowly or hide their heads between their fore limbs. They assume remarkable attitudes and appear to be broader than they. are long. They rest with the hind quarters drawn up and the head tucked in between the fore legs. In this position the vertebrre behind the head present a series of spines which do not penetrate the skin; for, in skinning, a cavity, but no hole, is left in the skin which the sharp points of the vertebrre pull out of. I suppose they sleep with their heads towards the tree trunk .. I think the scent glands of this animal help to keep their would-be enemies away, for they are very objectionable. The fur of the upper parts is dark grey near the skin and for three parts of its length tipped with pale brown showing a drab brown surface which is sprinkled all over with whitetipped hairs which increase in numbers towards the shoulders where they end abruptly, giving place to black-tipped hairs on the shoulders and head, forming a well-marked line in some specimens and less distinct in others-while a sprinkling of long hairs, which stand erect on the neck and head, give the VOL. IV.-No. 8.
animal a grotesque appearance. The underparts are greyish white. The young are born pure white, and one only at a birth. The food is also very remarkable, and it took me some time to find out what it was: all the stomachs of specimens obtained were examined and all contained the same semi-fluid substance like boiled tapioca with only tiny specks of insect remains and minute particles of some red-skinned fruit. I also found in one some particles of small bird's egg-shell, but more than 90 per cent. of the stomach contents in all cases was this sticky white jelly which I afterwards found to be gum. My living specimen, which has been eight weeks in captivity, seems to be doing well on gum soaked in water with just a little banana and other fruit. These animals have remarkable strength; when they hold on to anything it is difficult to make them let go. Their hands are very human in shape, the thumbs are large, but the index finger is rudimentary and like the galagos. They have one claw on the first toe of hind foot. The animal in captivity shows the most extraordinary strength of limb, being able to extend itself horizontally to full length while holding by its hind feet to an upright branch. In feeding it will as often as not hang head down wards, holding the fruit or other food in its paws. In this same locality I shot several specimens of another rare animal, the large scaly-tailed flying squirrel. This remarkable animal is diurnal and amuses itself when nobody is about by gliding like an aeroplane across openings and old clearings in the forest. They are extremely timid, and when frightened lie flat on trunk or large branches of trees, with limbs and flying membrane extended, their colour making them invisible at even a short distance. The sharp scales on the tail must be for the purpose of holding them up after alighting from a flight. They seem always to alight on the well-exposed lower perpendicular part of a tree with legs extended, the scales on the tail giving them time to get a grip with their feet before falling. It is extremely difficult to make them leave a tree in which they have taken refuge. I found it necessary to send a boy
THE CHEMOS IT 127 up into the tree to dislodge them. Then they would make a. flight of as far as 150 yards. Their food seems to be entirely of leaves, but they chew it so thoroughly that it is hard to tell. THE CHEMOSIT By A. BLAYNEY PERCIVAL Amongst the weird $nimals that have been reported from various parts of British East Africa is the chemosit or chimiset , or Nandi bear. This animal was referred to by Mr. Robley in his paper on ' Some Unidentified Beasts,' where he quoted Mr. Geoffrey Williams' account of it. I have heard of it from several people who have resided in the neighbourhood of the Nandi forests, as well as from the local natives. The stories vary to a very large extent, but the following points seem to agree. The animal is of fairly large size, it stands on its hind legs at times, is nocturnal, very fierce, kills man or animals. In most stories the resemblance to a monkey of sorts is very noticeable, but the fact that the animal is nocturnal, a point on which all native accounts agree, at once makes this impossible. There is only one account that I know of in which the animal has been killed, and that comes from the Maraquet district; it is said that at one time one of these animals was so bad that great preparations were made to kill it, and at last it was killed by a party of men who put a dummy man in the doorway of a hut and sat inside and waited till the animal came and tried to take the dummy; it was then shot with arrows. This is supposed to have happened fairly recently. Personally, I am quite in the dark about the beast, and am still a; bit doubtful about its existence as a new animal. During my many years in Africa I have investigated so many stories of this sort and in the end found that the real
The last two months, October and November 1913, I have spent collecting natural history specimens along the southern edge and round the scattered areas of the Kakumega forest. Perhaps the most remarkable of the little known animals 1 These names, of which the first means donkey, and the second, cow, doubtless refer to the great bulk and somewhat clumsy build of the fish.
obtained is the potto (Perodicticus lbeanus). The East African potto is represented in the British Museum by one specimen (the type), which was obtained by Mr. Robin Kemp from near Mumias and described by Mr. Oldfield Thomas in 1910; in the Smithsonian Institute the species is represented by four specimens collected by Mr. Edmond Heller some two years ago. This animal is extremely difficult to obtain owing to its nocturnal habits and the inaccessible forests it inhabits. It Seems to lead a solitary life, as on no occasion did I find more than one in a tree, but obtained my specimens here and there, often miles apart. Getting about and searching in these forests is very hard work, chiefly owing to the number of fallen trees, which in faUing have opened up air spaces in which an almost impenetrable growth of a kind of nettle springs up. Here the heavy growths of wild vines reach down from the tree tops to the undergrowth. In these vine-covered trees round these openings I found most of thepottos. I do not think these animals ever leave the trees, a live specimen making poor progress over a flat surface. Their movements are very slow at all times, and if frightened they ascend a branch slowly or hide their heads between their fore limbs. They assume remarkable attitudes and appear to be broader than they. are long. They rest with the hind quarters drawn up and the head tucked in between the fore legs. In this position the vertebrre behind the head present a series of spines which do not penetrate the skin; for, in skinning, a cavity, but no hole, is left in the skin which the sharp points of the vertebrre pull out of. I suppose they sleep with their heads towards the tree trunk .. I think the scent glands of this animal help to keep their would-be enemies away, for they are very objectionable. The fur of the upper parts is dark grey near the skin and for three parts of its length tipped with pale brown showing a drab brown surface which is sprinkled all over with whitetipped hairs which increase in numbers towards the shoulders where they end abruptly, giving place to black-tipped hairs on the shoulders and head, forming a well-marked line in some specimens and less distinct in others-while a sprinkling of long hairs, which stand erect on the neck and head, give the VOL. IV.-No. 8.
animal a grotesque appearance. The underparts are greyish white. The young are born pure white, and one only at a birth. The food is also very remarkable, and it took me some time to find out what it was: all the stomachs of specimens obtained were examined and all contained the same semi-fluid substance like boiled tapioca with only tiny specks of insect remains and minute particles of some red-skinned fruit. I also found in one some particles of small bird's egg-shell, but more than 90 per cent. of the stomach contents in all cases was this sticky white jelly which I afterwards found to be gum. My living specimen, which has been eight weeks in captivity, seems to be doing well on gum soaked in water with just a little banana and other fruit. These animals have remarkable strength; when they hold on to anything it is difficult to make them let go. Their hands are very human in shape, the thumbs are large, but the index finger is rudimentary and like the galagos. They have one claw on the first toe of hind foot. The animal in captivity shows the most extraordinary strength of limb, being able to extend itself horizontally to full length while holding by its hind feet to an upright branch. In feeding it will as often as not hang head down wards, holding the fruit or other food in its paws. In this same locality I shot several specimens of another rare animal, the large scaly-tailed flying squirrel. This remarkable animal is diurnal and amuses itself when nobody is about by gliding like an aeroplane across openings and old clearings in the forest. They are extremely timid, and when frightened lie flat on trunk or large branches of trees, with limbs and flying membrane extended, their colour making them invisible at even a short distance. The sharp scales on the tail must be for the purpose of holding them up after alighting from a flight. They seem always to alight on the well-exposed lower perpendicular part of a tree with legs extended, the scales on the tail giving them time to get a grip with their feet before falling. It is extremely difficult to make them leave a tree in which they have taken refuge. I found it necessary to send a boy
THE CHEMOS IT 127 up into the tree to dislodge them. Then they would make a. flight of as far as 150 yards. Their food seems to be entirely of leaves, but they chew it so thoroughly that it is hard to tell. THE CHEMOSIT By A. BLAYNEY PERCIVAL Amongst the weird $nimals that have been reported from various parts of British East Africa is the chemosit or chimiset , or Nandi bear. This animal was referred to by Mr. Robley in his paper on ' Some Unidentified Beasts,' where he quoted Mr. Geoffrey Williams' account of it. I have heard of it from several people who have resided in the neighbourhood of the Nandi forests, as well as from the local natives. The stories vary to a very large extent, but the following points seem to agree. The animal is of fairly large size, it stands on its hind legs at times, is nocturnal, very fierce, kills man or animals. In most stories the resemblance to a monkey of sorts is very noticeable, but the fact that the animal is nocturnal, a point on which all native accounts agree, at once makes this impossible. There is only one account that I know of in which the animal has been killed, and that comes from the Maraquet district; it is said that at one time one of these animals was so bad that great preparations were made to kill it, and at last it was killed by a party of men who put a dummy man in the doorway of a hut and sat inside and waited till the animal came and tried to take the dummy; it was then shot with arrows. This is supposed to have happened fairly recently. Personally, I am quite in the dark about the beast, and am still a; bit doubtful about its existence as a new animal. During my many years in Africa I have investigated so many stories of this sort and in the end found that the real
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