| OCR Text |
Show 572 CAPT. G. E. SHELLEY O N [May 3, 47. CISTICOLA RHODOPTERA. Cisticola rhodoptera, Shelley, Ibis, 1880, p. 333. Usambara hills. The type specimen is the only one I have yet seen of this species. 48. MELOCICHLA MENTALIS. Drymoica mentalis, Fraser, P.Z.S. 1843, p. 16. Melocichla mentalis, Cab. J. f. 0. 1878, p. 221. Usambara mountains. Dr. Hildebrandt collected this bird at Kitui in Ukamba. The only other locality I am aware of for this species is the Gold Coast. Two specimens collected by Dr. Kirk agree well with skins in my own collection from Fantee. 49. SAXICOLA CENANTHE. Saxicola cenanthe, Linn., Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 220; Gurney, Ibis, 1881, p. 125. Usambara hills ; Usambara mountains. The Common Wheatear was first collected in East Africa by Dr. Hildebrandt, near the Adi river in Ukamba. This species ranges throughout North Africa, and extends southward on the east coast to tbe Pangani river, and on the west coast to the Gambia. 50. SAXICOLA SHELLEYI. Saxicola shelleyi, Sharpe, new ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 246. Ugogo. Dr. Kirk has sent me three specimens (a, b, c), which differ considerably in their plumage, although all collected at the same time of the year. As this species is but little known, I shall give a short description of the plumage of these specimens, as well as of two others (d, e) from the Zambesi, collected by Dr. Bradshaw and also in my own collection. In all the general plumage is black. Spec, a has the forehead and crown white slightly shaded with brown, and with indistinct brown stripes down the centres of the feathers ; the wing-coverts, with the exception of a few of the outer ones, are white ; the primary- and greater wing-coverts broadly tipped with black ; the basal half of the outer scapulars edged with white. Spec. b. Forehead, crown, and chin slightly mottled with white feathers ; wings as in spec, a, only with the black tips to the primary-and greater wing-coverts slightly broader. Spec. o. Entire chin and throat white, the feathers narrowly tipped with black, forming irregular bars; the centre of the chest mottled with white ; wings as in spec, a, excepting that the black ends to the greater wing-coverts gradually disappear towards the innermost ones, which are entirely white. Spec. d. Similar in plumage to spec, c, but with the white feathers |
