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Show 1873.] OF THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 619 Hab. N. E. A F R I C A : delta of Nile southwards to Cairo and the Fayoom (Shelley, Von Heuglin); Soudan (Knoblecker). E. A F R I C A : Zanzibar (Kirk, Von der Dechen) ; Mosambique (Sperling). S. A F R I C A : Zambesi (Kirk); Transvaal (Ayres); Graham's Town (Atmore). W . A F R I C A : Cape Lopez (Verreaux, Mus. R. B. Si) ; Ibadan (Hinderer) ; Accra (Haynes) ; Fantee (Ussher) ; Cape Pal-mas (Fraser) ; Grand Bassam (Thomson) ; Casamanze ( Verreaux) ; river Gambia (Laglaize, Mus. Brit.). Very great differences are to be observed in specimens of Centropus senegalensis, even from the same locality. Thus some are dull olive-brown on the back and wing-coverts, against which the rufous wings stand out in clearer relief. All Egyptian specimens that I have seen are like this, and this would seem to indicate a specific distinction for C. eegyptius; but this I cannot at present allow, for I have exactly similar specimens from the Gambia, Fantee, and Gaboon. Owing to m y specimens not being sexed, I am unable to state whether this is a sexual difference or merely one of age; but I think it may very possibly be the male bird. In this group of Cuckoos the female is generally the larger and finer bird; and from what mv friend Captain Marshall has told m e about the Indian Centropi, the males are more numerous than the females, which may account, in the case of C. senegaleusis, for the rarity of the bright rufous birds. But it is by no means improbable that this brown plumage is a seasonal dress, as I have one or two specimens which seem to be intermediate between the two forms. As to C. Burchelli, I believe I am right in uniting it to C. senegalensis, as I did in m y catalogue, as I can see no difference between South-African and Fantee examples. I subjoin the measurements of a series, which will show that size is no specific character. No. 1. 2. 3! 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Locality. River Gambia. Accra. >> ,, ,, j? Fantee. Sudan. Graham's Town. Transvaal. River Gambia. ji Accra. Fantee. Cape Lopez. Egypt. ,j j? Authority. Mus. R. B. S. G. E. Shelley. Capt. Haynes. J. Smith. u G. E. Shelley. JJ Mus. R, B. S. Knoblecker. T. C. Atmore. T. Ayres. L. Laglaize. ?» G. E. Shelley. H. T. Ussher. Verreaux. Mus. G. E. Shelley. j> ?» Long. tot. 14-2 13-8 14*5 13*5 15-0 13-7 13-5 151 160 14-0 14*8 14-7 160 14*8 14-8 16-0 16-5 16-5 16-0 Ala*. 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-4 •6-4 6*3 6-2 6-4 6-8 6-3 6*7 6-45 6-8 6-45 6-5 6-9 7-0 7-1 71 |
