Ol)c "Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

January, 192:7. No. 28.

CONTENTS.

Page.

Remarks upon the History of the Nandi till 1850, by G. Wj.

B. Huntingford, (with Map) ... 8

On the origin of various tribes of Kenya, by 0. L. Bolton 11

Origin of the Masai (Criticism of Cardale Luck’s Treatise),

by I. Q. Orchardson ... ... 19

An Elephant tragedy. M, E. R. Hockliffe 24

Balance Sheet, 1920 ... 26

Editor ©p Journal:

Dr. V. G. L. van Someren.

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I

u

Ot)e Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

January, 1927. No. 28.

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M*°e

0'YjNO

REMARKS UPON THE. HISTORY OF THE NANDI TIHL 1850.

By G. W. B. Huntingford.

The reconstruction of the- early history of a primitive people is
based, not upon documentary evidence, but upon their ancient
monuments, traditional lore, place-names, and, to a certain extent,
their language. The existing tribes of east Africa possess few ancient
monuments of their own— such remains as occur belong to a now
vanished people — and the Nandi, who are essentially a pastoral tribe,
and not adapted to the labour necessary to produce lasting works, can
point to none, neither in their present territory, nor in areas formerly
occupied by them, nor in the lands of other tribes of this sub-group.
We are thus left with their traditional lore, place-names and language
as sources of information. With their origin we are not here con-
cerned; such facts as are known or conjectured will be found in Mr.
A. C. Hollis’s work, ‘ The Nandi: their language and folk lore \ p.I;
in his work on the Masai, p, iii ; and in a paper by the present writer
entitled 4 On the connection between Egypt and the Masai-Nandi
group ’ in Ancient Egypt, pt. 1, 1926, p. 10.

We thus start where tradition begins. The Lako, a Nandi tribe
now living on Mount Elgon, say that they and the Nandi once lived
on Mount Kamalinga, forty-five miles north-west of Elgon. (C. W.
Hobley in the Journal of the Anthrop. Inst., 1903, p. 332.) From
this place they moved to Elgon, and while settled there, split up into
more or less separate divisions. (It is perhaps significant that there
is no true Nandi word for 4 tribe/ the word used in Suk, pereris,
having the appearance of being a distortion of the Masai ol-orere.)
The first seceders appear to have been the Suk, who broke off at a
time when the group language was in a very unformed state, having
then no definite article, a peculiarity still retained in Suk. I am
aware that Mr. Beech (The Suk, p. 2) gives a somewhat different
account of the origin of the Suk; he says, “ the old men are
unanimous in declaring that there 4 always wTere two original Suk
tribes living on the Ellgeyo escarpment "... Fugitives and
adventurers from Sambur, Rudolf, Moiven, Karamojo, and Nandi
intermarried with the two original tribes, and thus the Suk nation
was evolved.’*

I admit there is a considerable admixture of 4 foreign ’ blood in
the Suk; but this appears to have come in since the secession from

3

Elgon, and the linguistic evidence points to the Suk being a primitive
tribe of Nandi, who still retain their primitiveness.

At a somewhat later period, i.e., after the adoption of a suffix
equivalent to our definite article, the tribes 'who now compromise the
eastern Nandi moved away, this branch being now represented by the
Endo or Chep-bleng (still rather primitive), the Tuken or Kamasya,
the Marakwet and the Keyu or Elgeyo. Another branch moved south-
wards and settled in the districts now called Lumbwa and Sotik; this
comprises the Kipsikis or Lumbwa, the Puret or Buret ( = mist) and
Soot or Sotik. The people who call themselves Terik, and who are
called Nyanyori by their Bantu neighbours, now settled west of Nandi,
are perhaps an off shot of the Kipsikis branch.

While these migrations were in progress, part of the original stock
stayed on Elgon, where they are still found; they comprise the Kony,*
Sapeiny or Sabei, Lako, Pok, Mbai and Sabaut; a seventh tribe is
mentioned by Mr. Hollis (Nandi, p. 2) under the name of Kapkara,
which seems to be an error, since Kapkara is a district of the Sabei
country, and the tribe — names of this sub-group do not begin with
the prefix kap ( = ka-ap, house, place or family of; the name
Kapkolosia, which might be quoted as an exception, is a sort of nick-
name given to (1) the Terik, (2) the Bantu Kavirondo in general by the
Nandi.)

Up to this time, the tribe now called Nandi had not been formed.
The traditional Nandi account is that the first settlers in their country
came from Elgon, and formed the Kipoiis clan; this name possibly
means ‘ the spirits,’ and the name of one of these settlers is
recorded as Kakipoch. He is said to have settled in the emet (country)
of Aldai in south-western Nandi, and gave his name to a geographical
division (pororiet). The site of his grave is still shown on Chepilat
hill in Aldai, and is marked by the stump of an ancient olive tree ;
the account of his burial is that his body was laid on ox-hide, together
with his possessions, and left for the hyaenas. Kakipoch ’s people
were joined by a few Kipsikis, who were followed by people from the
other branches. The Nandi account of the formation of their 17 clana
is that four came from the Elgon and Lumbwa groups, viz. the Kipoiis,
Kipamwi, Kipkenda and Kipiegen ; one wholly from Elgon, the
Kipkokos; five from the Elgon and Elgeyo groups, the Kipsirgoi, Moi,
Bokom, Kiptopke and Kamwaike ; four from the Lumbwa branch
alone, the Tungo, Kipaa, Kipasiso and Kapchemuri or Chemur; and

* Commonly, but wrongly, called Elgoni. The plur. of this word
in the Kony dialect is ’t-Kony (a Masai form, where T = il,
not el.)

4

the remaining three from the Lo-’sekelae Masai, viz., Kipkoiitim
(partly also from Elgon), Talai, the medicine-men's clan, (partly also
from Kamasya) and Toiyoi. The historical order of the clans is
probably somewhat as follows : Kipoiis, Kipkokos, Kipamwi,

Kipkenda, Kipiegen, Tungo, Kipaa, Kipasiso, Kapchemuri Kipsirgoi,
Sokom, Moi, Kiptopke, Kamwaike, Kipkoiitim, Toiyoi, Talai.

The Nandi were originally called Chemwal, by which name they
are still known to the Suk (Chemwel), and to the Masai (il-Tengwal).
Their country is said to have been called Chemngal (Hollis, Nandi,
p. 99); it is possible that this name contains the Turkana word ngaal,

‘ the camels ’, and it may be connected with the tradition which
accounts for the origin of circumcision in Nandi, which is that a man
called Kipkenyo ( — ‘ the man of old ’) came from a country called Do,
which was to the east of the Uasin Gishu plateau (or Angata na-nyokye,

4 the red plain ’), and settled in the pororiet of Kakipoch, and tjiere
circumcised his children, because his brothers and sisters ‘ ‘ all died
when they reached puberty, so Kipkenyo decided when he had a
number of children of his own to ‘ change ’ them all at this age. He
therefore circumcised them, and as none of his children died, the
Nandi followed his example.” (Hollis, Nandi, p. 99). Sir Charles
Eliot has suggested, with some probability, that this rite may have
been borrowed from camel-riding Muhammadans. (Hollis, Nandi,
p. xv.) He quotes Sir H.. H. Johnston (Uganda Plotectorate, p. 760)
as saying that none of the Nile races, who form one side of the ancestry
of the Nandi, circumcise when free from Muhammadan influence.

The Settlement of the Nandi Country.

The determination of the stages of the settlement of the Nandi
country is a matter of some difficulty. We have seen that Kakipoch
and his people chose the part now called Aldai, in S.W. Nandi. It
seems to be a fact that the Nandi tribes avoided open plains, such as
the Uasin Gishu plateau (where there are no Nandi place-names of
historical value), which was perhaps not occupied by the Masai when
the first Nandi left Elgon, as no traditions have yet come to light of
encounters between the Masai and Nandi at this period. The Nandi
came from a mountainous country, and settled themselve in wooded
and semi-mountainous districts. The eastern tribes chose the hilly
region of the Elgeyo and Kamasya escarpments, and Kapcherangany
hills, and even Lumbwa ” though a low district relatively to Nandi,
is not a plain like the Rift valley, and is very uneven.” (Hollis,
Nandi, p. xv.)

Southern and western Nandi, to which the first settlers went, is
very hilly. Wfestem Aldai is a country of deep, precipitous river-

5

valleys, very rocky, but with fertile soil between the -masses of rock.
Soiin, the former eastern emet of Nandi, is a mountainous district,
containing the Tindiret hills, which are well wooded. To the west
and south of these areas are the Nandi escarpments. North and
central Nandi consists of shallow river- valley 8, with wide undulating
water-sheds, moderately well wooded, except on the east, where, how-
ever, the name Masop points to the former presence of forests. The
land rises a little on the west, to descend again in an escarpment to
Kavirondo; it merges on the east into the Uasin Gishu plain. Bocky
hills appear in the north, the most prominent of which are Sangalo,
Kapiyet, and the ranges of Sarura, Kipyonget (or O-sorongai) and
Kamulat-Kaptepe (the latter better, though wrongly, known as
Kibolos). In this part, and particularly in the north, are found in
great numbers the ruins of hut-circles, of stone and of earth, which
are called by the Nandi 4 mukowanisiek and which are ascribed by
them to the 4 Sirikwa ’, who, it seems, were really a division of the
Uasin Gishu Masai, and whose name appears to have been taken by
the Nandi as a general term for 4 the people who were before us * (just
as in England prehistoric remains are often called 4 Druidical ’ by the
ignorant.) With the question of who this people was we have no
concern here (see the Journal of the Ei. Africa and Uganda Nat. Hist.
Soc. Jan. 1926, pp. 24, 25.) but one thing is certain, and that is, that
these circles (and other antiquities) are the remains of a people who
preceded the Nandi. Whether they had gone before the Nandi arrived
in Aldai, we cannot say definitely; but such remains do not occur* in
the area first settled by the Nandi, and it is possible that there were
still some 4 Sirikwa ’ left in the north, enough to prevent the Nandi
from attacking them till they had consolidated their position, and
proved themselves formidable enough to drive them out. Mr. Hollis
says (Nandi, p. 2) 44 I do not consider it at all certain that the Nandi
country has been inhabited by the Nandi tribe for more than a few
generations.” A reasonable length of time to allow for the settlement
of the country may be taken to be about 250 years, which is nearly 5
circumcision cycles of the Nandi fa cycle is about 7| years), and gives
us the last quarter of the XVIIth century, or 1675 — 1700 as an
approximate date for KakipocE’s settlement. The hut-circles of north
and central Nandi are, therefore, at least as old as this, and probably
older.

Assuming, then, that the last quarter of the XVIIth century is a
tolerably approximate terminus a quo , we may work from that period
in attempting to reconstruct the stages of the settlement. The first
part to be settled, we know, was the south ; it certainly formed more

* Except on the escarpment itself.

6

or less the present emet of Aldai on the west, and probably the former
emet of Soiin on the east; and it may be conjectured that the first
pororosick were Kakipoch in Aldai and Tuken in Soiin. The presumed
limit of this settlement is shown on the map by the red dotted line
drawn from Kapwareng eastwards through Kosoiua. During the
XViilth century, as the tribe grew, it advanced northwards, and
occupied the emotinuek (pi. of emet) of Chesume, Em-gwen and
Masop; at the same time, more pororosiek were formed. It is possible
that in this period, the Nandi may have come into contact with the
* Sirikwa *, if any of them were left; we have, however, no traditions
of this. The final expansion of the tribe was about the beginning or
middle of the XIXth century, when the southern part of Warefig
and the lower Kipkaren valley were occupied.

During the early part of the XIXth century, the Nandi came into
contact with the Uasin Gishu Masai. (The Masai were at the height
of their power about 1800-1850). A story recorded by Mr. Hollis
(Nandi, p. 106) called 1 How the Masai were first repulsed by the
Nandi,’ begins with the words “ at the time when the Masai occupied
some of the Nandi grazing-grounds.” It is not certain how much
stress can be laid on this excerpt, but it seems to imply that north and
eastern Nandi were not permanently occupied by the Masai. It also
confirms the evidence offered by certain Masai place-names in eastern
Nandi, which indicate that the Masai had temporary possession of a
strip of Nandi roughly 5 miles wide; the names in question are, from
N. to S., ’N-dalat, in location 3; Lo-’l-keringeti (‘the of the ditch’)* in
loc. 2; ’N-dulele (‘ the solanum campylanthum plant ’) in loc. 3;
Ol-o-goliet in loc. 3; Lo-’l-menengai (‘ the of the corpses ’) and
’N-dupeneti in loc. 5; and Ol-lesos in loc. 6, the latter on the border.
These names are now used as district (koret) names by the Nandi.
The place called Lo-’l-menengai takes its name from the numerous
stone cairns there, which the Nandi call ‘ makuonik,’ and which they
say (with great probability) are the graves of Uasin Gishu Masai who
were killed in battle, not with the Nandi, but with other Masaif These
cairns also occur in ’N-dupeneti. That these cairns are Masai can
hardly be doubted, in face of the tradition; and we know that the
Masai erect cairns in certain cases. (Hollis, Masai, p. 305). The
inference to be derived from these cairns is that the Masai occupation
though not permanent, was yet of some length, perhaps 50 years. It
is probable that they were driven out about 1850, since about that
time the Uasin Gishu Masai were attacked by the En-aiposha
(Naivasha) and Kisongo Masai, and destroyed, the remnant being
annihilated by the Nandi. “ Another branch called ’D-osigella or
Segelli [Lo-’sekelae] took refuge in the Nyando valley but were wiped
out by the Nandi and Lumbwa.” (Hollis, Nandi, p. xv.) It was from
these that the Nandi obtained their system of rule by medicine-men.

7

Formerly Nandi comprised six emotinuek or counties, which contained
15 pororosiek as follows :

Soiin : Kamelilo, Kapchepkendi, Tuken.

Aldai : Kapianga, Kapsile, part of Kakipoch.

Masop : Koileke, parts of Kapchepkendi and Kapkiptalam.

*or, ‘ of the fort.’ fThe ’L-Aikipyak, according to some.

Wareng: Parts of Kaptumoiis and Kakipoch.

Em-gwen : Kaptumoiis and Kapsiondoi,

Chesume : Tipingot, Cheptol, Kimngoror, Kakimno and Murk
ap Tuk, or Kapwareng.

At the time of the British administration of the country in 1896* the
area embraced by these divisions extended from the Tindiret hills, to
about the present limit near Chepilat, and included a large part of the
plain below the escarpment on the south through which the railway
now runs, which is still called Soiin by the Nandi. On the east and
west the boundary has remained more or less unchanged; while on
the north, it extended approximately to the Murkusi river. In 1906,
after the close of the Nandi War, the whole of the emet of Soiin
comprising the Tindiret hills and the uat land to the south, was cut
off from the tribe ; which necessitated a re-distribution of the
pororosiek , which are now divided as follows:

Soiin : none.

Miasop : Kapkiptalam (part of), Koileke (part of.)

Wareiig: Tipingot (part of), Kapchepkendi (part of), Kamelilo,
Kakipoch (part of).

Em-gwen: Kaptumoiis, Koileke, (part of), Kakipoch (part of),

Kapchepkendi (part of), Kapsiondoi, Tuken, and Kapkiptalam
(part of).

Aldai : Kapsile, Kapianga, Kapchepkendi (part of), Kakipoch

(part of), Tipingot (part of).

Chesume: Kakimno, Cheptol, Kimngoror Murk’ ap Tuk’,

Tipifigot (part of).

Besides these, there are a number of smaller divisions called koret
(pi. korotinuek) which almost correspond to our * parish and still
smaller ones called siritiet (pi. siritaiik) which may be compared, in
point of size, to our ‘ tithing or 4 township

* The first station was at Kipture, some 4J miles east of Kapsabet,

8

The Nandi Systems of Government.

The modern system of ‘ orkoinotet ’ or rule by an orkoiyot
(medicine man) is a recent development, and was borrowed direct
from the Masai. Previous to this, the government seems to have
been in the hands of hiruogik or councillors (sing, kiruogindet, from
iruoch (to consult). As we have no definite information as to the
system pursued prior to 1850 — 'the approximate date of the
introduction of the orkoinotet — it may be of service to review briefly
the methods used by other kindred tribes.

(1) The Suk. “ The Suk have no chiefs whatever of their
own, though two of them have been created Government head-
men. Each village is a family, having its old man at the head.
Clusters of villages collect round one of these old men, who may
be celebrated for his wisdom or wealth or both, and he is hence-
forth distinguished from the others by the name ki-ruwok-in or
adviser. He, however, has no real authority, and the young men
seldom trouble to obey him unless it suits their own purpose to
do so. There is no word for i chief * ... It follows
necessarily that there is no hereditary succession.” (Beech,
Suk, p. 6).

(2) The Endo. ” This tribe have apparently four chiefs (i.e.
in 1910) . . . Offenders against the decrees of these are brought
before an assembly of all or any one of the sections. Judgment
is passed after the eJders have expressed their opinion. A black
and white goat skin is worn by the chief. No other may wear it.
A chief if dying points out his successor. If he fails to do so.
his successor is appointed by general election.” (ib, p. 36).

(3) Turkana. The Turkana have “ two grades of chiefs:

(1) Lemurok or medicine men; (2) Lekatuknok or advisers. These
two grades exist side by side . . . Lemurok are hereditary.”

(ib. p. 36).

(4) Etn-jemusi. “ There is a supreme chief with supreme
power; but judgment is usually passed in accordance with the
opinion of a council of elders. If a man disobeys a chief, he is
beaten. If he continually does so, he is expelled from the tribe.
The chief’s son succeeds.” (ib. p. 37).

(5) Kony. The Kony have three divisions, called Kiporitiek,
Kipsaratuk and S'omekek, over each of which is a chief called
mgoriondet (pi. mgorenik ) under whom are sub-chiefs (mgorenik
che mingechen). In 1923, the three chiefs were called Arap
Kieptek, (Kiporitiek), Arap Kasisi (Kipsaratuk) and jArap
kiepkwony (Somekek). These chiefs may or may not be orkoiik;
of the three named above Arap Kieptek alone was.

9

(6) Keyu. The Keyu appear to have a system of councillors

(Kiruogik); they have no other word for 4 chief.’

The tribal authority, such as it is, is thus seen to have grown
from the adoption of an old man as ‘ family elder ’, which is still
seen among the Nandi, who in each district have a poiyot ap oret,
the clan elder, and for each family group a poiyot ap kokwet. The
word kokwet has three meanings: neighbour,’ ‘small place of

assembly ’, and ‘ family group The family groups are distinguished
by tree-names, such as Simotuet , Teldet, Choruet , Mokoiyuet (all
species of fig), Tepeswet (Croton sp.), Kakoruet (Erythrina tomentosa),
Kipuimetyet , Kimoluet (Yangueria edulis), Mopet (Dolichandrone
platy calyx), Kipsakchat (Bauhinia reticulata), etc. The fig-trees seem
to predominate. The simotuet (nr. F. elegans) is regarded “ as almost
sacred ” (Hollis, Nandi, p. 87), and a species of fg, generally teldet
or choruet , is chosen as the council tree (kdpkiruoget) of the district
elders ; the fig-tree, in short, is regarded with special favour, almost
with reverence as it is all over Africa and India (A. Werner, The Native
Races of British Central Africa, 62, 63.) and as it was in ancient
Eigypt. The predominance of the ‘ council-tree species ’ as a family
name, and the meanings of the word kokwet support a theory that
whatever it is now, the kokwet arose from the grouping of a few
neighbours — probably related — round a tree for various social purposes,
and that the poiyot ap kokwet arose in the same way as the Suk
kiruwokin. These ‘ family elders ’ may originally have been called
kiruogindet, and as they acquired more power, ceased to be ‘ family
counsellors ’, and became ‘ district councillors ’. The lesser officers
were called kiptaiyat (pi. kiptaienik) who were in charge of a koret;
and olaitoriot (pi. olaitoriniki who were over a sirieiet , and were
responsible to the council of the kiruogik. The olaitoriot has dropped
out of use now as an official title, and is used to mean ‘ rich man ; the
kiptaienik are retained by Government.

About 1850, however, the Masai system of orkoinotet was intro-
duced. The Masai word for medicine man is ol-oiboni (from bon to
make medicine); the word taken by the Nandi to denote the office
was orkoiyot (pi. orkoiik). This term was not a new one, but had been
in use earlier (Kony, orkoandet ; Suk, werkoiyon ), and had more or less
the meaning of the Swahili mganga, “ a native doctor, medicine
man — , the recognized representative of superior knowledge on all
subjects mysterious to the native mind, and regarded with respect, fear
or toleration accordingly.” (Madan’s Swah.-Eng. Dictionary, s.v.)
Mganga.) It was distinct from the other species of witch-doctor, which
dealt in black magic, and corresponds to the Swahili mchawi (N.
ponindet ; Suk, ponin).

These new orkoiik formed a clan of their own, called Talai, to
which all orkoiik belong. The head of the clan is also the chief of the

10

tribe ; he foretells the future, interprets omens and is generally regarded
as one possessing supernatural powers. His position is hereditary. Under
the orkoiik a dual system of councillors was instituted. The orkoiyot
appointed a motiot (pi. maotik) in each pororiet, and the people
appointed a kiruogindet. The kiruogik were responsible to the
orkoiyot through the maotik.

The Nandi have thus had two separate systems of government
which have become mingled. But it cannot be said that there is or
ever has been any tribal authority which can enforce obedience to
its orders. The orkoiik have more power than the older kiruogik had ;
it is not, however, the power of constituted authority, but the
influence which results from fear. Such control of the country as
there is is really in the hands of the * circumcision age ’ ( pinda) in
power, the members of which are always the youngest generation of
warriors. The orkoiyot and his men have no constituted authority
over these, but from their position as powerful medicine men, they
possess a certain degree of influence.

ON THE ORIGIN OF VARIOUS TRIBES OF KENYA AND
UGANDA OTHER THAN BANTU.

(A reply to Mr. C. C. Luck's essay on the origin of the Masai,
Journal for August, 1926.)
by C. L. Bolton.

Mr. Luck has put forward two theories in his essay

(1) That the Masai are the actual descendants of the half
tribe of the Manasseh from the west of Jordan, and the1 Nandi of
Moab.

(2) That many proofs exist of the influence of the ancient
world civilisation of Egypt-Mesopotamia on central Africa.

Dealing with theory No. 1, the following arguments against it

are submitted.

I. Linguistic. Sir C. Eliot had put the case against a Semitic
origin for the Nilotic languages in his Introduction to Hollis’ book
The Nandi ”. His arguments have not been answered, and the
identification of a few place and clan names, which are in some cases
open to criticism, e.g., Masai from Manasseh, is not of great weight
when balanced against his case. All the Nilotic languages appear to

11

be of common origin. If the Masai derive from Manasseh, it is
probable that a proud and fairly civilised tribe like Manasseh would
retain their whole language and not merely a few place and clan
names. In that case all the Nilotic languages derive from Manasseh,
but Sir C. Eliot’s arguments prove that they do not. Alternatively
Manasseh adopted the Nilotic language, i.e., that of an uncivilised
and primitive savage tribe in preference to their own which is very
unlikely.

II. The chosen race argument applies to practically any nation,
which, from its prowess in war, considers itself the leading race in a
district. The Kshatriya castle in India, ancient Eome, Spain in
America in the 16th Century, the Turks, the Germans in 1914, the
English and the inhabitants of “ Gods own country ” all exhibit this
very common tribal trait.

III. Physical. Is there any shred of evidence physically of
Semitic blood in the Masai-Nandi? A Semitic cross tends to fat, not
to the slim sinbwy physique of these tribes. Neither hair, features
nor coloration are in the least Semitic. Judging by anthropological
research in Europe, there has not been sufficient time for the enormous
physical change to have taken place from the Manasseh physique to
the Masai-Nandi physique from the date given by Mr. Luck to the
present day.

IY. The Nandi group are usually regarded as of common blood
with the Masai. Mr. Luck suggests M'oab as their source, but gives
no evidence of a Moabite migration to central Africa. If Chemosit
derives from a Moabit God, why does he rank as a devil amongst the
Nandi? Presumably because he is of Egyptian and not Moabite origin,
having become a devil in Egypt. Also Mr. Luck shows that the torm
he is given by the Nandi is due to their misunderstanding an Egyptian
drawing.

V. Practically all the evidence ingeniously collected by Mr.
Luck points direct to Egyptian influence, and it is a priori more likely,
that such influence would have made itself felt from Egypt itself,
and not from Canaan or a Canaanitish tribe in Egypt, e.g.,

(1) The identification of Ngai with Ai of Sumer and Hathor of
Egypt.

(2) The good Black and evil Bed God.

(3) The allusion to herves as bulls,

(4) The pariahdom of the smith caste.

(5) The Chemosit vide paragraph preceding this.

(6) The Dinet and Didity legends are more reminiscent of Eigypt
or Mesopotamia than of a hilly country like Palestine.

12

(7) The circumcision ceremonies.

Further evidence may be submitted

(a) The habit of spitting for luck and as a greeting is common
amongst Mediterranean races to which the early Egyptians
belonged.

(b) The dislike of swine.

(c) Bewitching by means of anything that has proceeded from
the body of a person.

(d) Dislike of using given names from fear of bewitchment.

(e) The sun worship of the Nandi.

(f) May not the word LTOibon be derived, from the Egyptian
word for snake and wizard. This suggestion is made on the
authority of a work of fiction, the writer not being acquainted
with the ancient Egyptian, so it may be merely ridiculous.

VI. Mosaic Traditions.

Sir G. Elliot throws doubt on the authenticity of Marker’s
researches, but this seems unfair. It will be noted that the tradition
of the food is not confined to the Jews, and that the Masai Ten
Commandments are quite different to the Mosaicones. Also the intro-
duction of Chemosit as an angel points to two different legends having
been mixed up. When we remember the intense racial pride of the
Jew, it is unlikely that Manasseh would have allowed their national
traditions to deteriorate into the state in which they are found
amongst the Masai, nor would knowledge of them be confined to a few
families; they would have been retained and taught as a heritage of
which the whole tribe would have been proud. There are three possible
explanations of these traditions.

(1) That they originated in Eigypt before the Jews left the
country and were adopted by the Jews, and that from Egypt they also
reached central Africa.

(2) That they were introduced by Mahomedan raiders from
Somaliland.

(3) That Jewish traders carried them up the Nile valley and
that they reached the Masai together with the Egyptian traditions
from that source. This appears the most likely explanation and is
borne out by the form in which they exist i.e., that among the Geyu
where Musana removed the King’s people sounds as if it came from
Egypt, as a Jew would not have spoken of the people removed as
being the property of the king of Eigypt.

It will be seen from the above that all that can legitimately be
deduced from the evidence is that the central African tribes, the

13

Masai, Nandi, Kikuyu, Wakamba and Kitosh were subject to
influence from the old world civilisation of Egypt, and in the case of
a few families to Jewish tradition. There is no proof of actual descent
from any Jewish or Canaanitish tribe. The history of the Aryan
controversy shews that common language and common religion are
not a proof of common blood and a consideration of the spread of
the English language and the Christian or Mahomedan religion at
the present day will convince anyone of this.

The writer believes that from a consideration of the evidence
collected by Mr. Luck and from other sources that an alternative
theory can be put forward as to the origin of the Masai, Nandi, and
of other E. African tribes.

The country between the Sahara and the Red Sea and Indian
Ocean forms the only bridge between South Africa and North Africa
and Eurasia open to non-seafaring races. In such an area we may
expect to find a mixture of tribes and hybrid tribes of mixed blood
from the countries on either side of the bridge.

Difficulties of water and food render mass migrations very unlikely
since the present dessication of Africa. This area contains various
groups of tribes with which we will deal in order.

(1) The Bantu are evidently of one origin with the Bantu of
South Africa.

(2) The Somali-Galla group. According to Herodotus, Somali-
land Eritrea and at least part of Abyssinia were inhabited in his day
by Macrobian Ethiopians, whilst the Nile valley was inhabited by
Ethiopians with a king at Meroe. Between Meroe and Egypt there
was constant communication and migration, but the Macrobians were
a virile independent race, who were never conquered by Egypt nor
Persia. When Cambyses went against them, he had to gat guides
from Meroe as no Egyptians were capable of guiding him. The
Macrobians are described as men of fine physique, living on boiled
meat and milk, unacquainted with wheat or bread, regarding physical
strength and courage as a criterion of fitness to rule, independent,
clever, and from their long isolation and ignorance of the civilised
world, contemptuous of foreigners civilised or otherwise. They had
no wish for foreign conquest and were quite content to remain
isolated, free and ignorant of civilisation. These same traits are
retained by the modern Somali. A race of this type capable of
retaining independence and not ambitious of conquest would probably
retain its country for thousands of years and there is no evidence
to prove that the present inhabitants are not the lineal descendants of
the Macrobians merely altered by their religion and possibly with a
dash of Arab blood. The Galla would be colonists of the same stock
who worked their way southwards.

14

(3) The Nilotic Negroes. The extreme blackness of these people,
their primitive organisation, the difficulty of access to their country
and the fact that they do not circumcise which according to Herodotus
the Meroe Ethiopians did point to their isolation in their present dry
hot country for several thousands of years. It is suggested that their
language together with that of the Masai-Nandi is borrowed from a
common source to be discussed later and that the Madi dialect is
their primitive tongue.

(4) The Masai-Nandi. We have seen that tradition connects
these people, with Egypt. There is also evidence of Bantu influence
(a) The spirit worship of ancestors by the Nandi ; (b) The idea in their
folk tales of the great wiliness of the hare Brer Babbit; (c) Their
marriage customs and the employment of women in agriculture ; (d)
The reverence paid to the hyaena as a walking family tomb. Neither
Eilgoyn Kitosh nor Waguishu would skin a hyaena shot in a trap on
this farm and all were loath to handle the body except a Mahomedan
boy. Each tribe said it would be desecrating their father’s grave.

Language. — The languages of this group are not those of a very
primitive pastoral race. There are many adjectives; the colours are
not merely those of cattle; the numerals may not be merely loan-
words from Galla; they may derive from an older source from which
the Galla have also taken them; medicine is fairly advanced vide the
number of parts of the body and diseases; the general vocabulary of
verbs and nouns is fairly extensive. There are signs of Bantu influence
e.g. the root Wend to go for a walk Nandi and Elnda to go in Bantu;
the root sut to carry Nandi and Sut to catch hold of in Kitosh. The
Nandi use M before B, e.g., Mbaret the garden and before K, e.g.,
Mkonget the hoe (Elgoyn Masai) and N' before G, e.g., Ngotiot the
giraffe and before Y of which there are numerous examples. It would
seem that the Bantu find it easier to use these prefixes and it is
extremely probable that a hybrid Bantu race using an alien tongue
would do the same, more particularly if Bantu by the female side, as
the children would learn their mother’s pronunciation.

Physique.— These tribes resemble the Bantu as much as, if not
more than any other native race. Now that the Eako and Goyn [Is
not Hollis wrong in calling them Kony. They call themselves Elgoyn
and a Nandi driver of the writer’s said the Nandi used to call them
Koyn. Hollis never came into actual contact with them so he may
have been misled] have abandoned their traditional style of hair-
dressing it is difficult to distinguish them from Kitosh or even
Waguishu except by their slimness and more wiry build. The writer
has a Uasin Guishu Masai on the farm who looks just like a Durban
Zulu. His “ndugu” is an undersized ugly man with a Kitosh wife. The
Kitosh affirm that the Masai have been in the habit of taking Kitosh

15

women as wives, but that the Kitosh have never taken Masai women.
This shews that the Nandi group are not above marrying Bantu
women. The contempt of the Masai for the ‘‘Meg” is not incompatible
with their being half-breed Bantu as it is notorious that a half-caste
is always more contemptuous of the lower race in his ancestry, than a
pure blooded man of alien race is. The Kipsigis and Nandi are more
liable to malaria than the Bantu, but the Lako and Groyn are not.
Either the former have lost their immunity from living on higher
plateaux or the latter have attained it by living in more malarious
districts.

It is suggested that the -evidence given points to the Masai Nandi
being of Bantu blood crossed by a race from Egypt. The writer
believes that the Automoli of Herodotus are the race in question.

The Automoli . — The writer disagrees with Mr. Luck’s deductions
as to the Automoli. Herodotus states that they went to the King at
Meroe, and therefore if we regard the Somalis as descended from the
Macrobians, obviously the Automoli never reached Somali country
at all. It is far more likely that they reached the upper waters of the
Blue Nile and from there westwards to F'ashoda.

There is no evidence of their being Canaanites. The half tribe of
Manasseh could not possibly furnish 240,000 troops fit for enrollment
as mercenaries in a standing army. At the time of David’s census,
when Israel was most flourishing Israel and Judah could only muster
1,300,000 males capable of service. Of this total half Manasseh would
supply not more than 100,000 and of these not more than 40,000
would be of the right age and physique for enrollment as mercenaries.
P'ossibly if there was a Jewish colony at Elephantine there were
Jewish sutlers in the commissariat of the Automoli, from whom the
M* saic traditions reached certain Masai families.

Herodotus expressly states that the Automoli took no women or
children with them. The soldier’s reply to the king was typical of reck-
less youth with no regard for home ties and seems to have been meant
to bear a literal meaning. Incidentally moving the women and
children belonging to 240,000 men into Meroe Ethiopia ahead of the
fighting troops would be extremely hazardous and difficult to manage.
The king of Elgypt appeals to the patriotism and religion of the
Automoli in vain, but the fact that he does so, tends to prove that
they were thoroughly Egyptianised foreigners, if not of pure Egyptian
blood.

It is suggested that the Automoli reached the Fashoda Blue Nile
area and found there Bantu tribes whom they drove southward and
whose women folk they took and that from the Automoli warriors and
the Bantu women the Masai Nandi group had origin. The Bantu

16

tribes driven south still exist as the Wakamba, Kikuyu and Kitosh.
At the same time the Jalua Kavirondo and the Teso and Kumam
moved southward from the indirect pressure of the Automoli.

There are two routes open to the Masai Bantu from the source
of their origin when the Automoli drove out the Bantu tribes (a) Up
the Nile valley ; (b) via the Sobat river and Lake Budolf through

Turkana Suk and via Mt. Elgon. On route (a) we find a homogeneous
race from the Shilluk southwards who do not resemble the Masai
Nandi to any great extent traditionally or physically but whose
language does resemble theirs. Along route (b) we find tribes of Masai
Nandi blood as far north as Budolf and tradition points to the Nandi
having reached their present area via Mt. Kamalinga and Elgon. It
seems probable therefore that route (b) was used by the Masai-Nandi.
Subsequent incursions of the Masai-Nandi have been made southward
along the plateaux and they have never conquered the lower country
where either the lack of raidable cattle or elephant grass and papyrus
swamp deterred them from penetrating.

An alternative theory is that the Automoli drove the Nilotic tribes
of the Nile valley southward and took Nilotic women as wives and
that the hybrid Automoli Nilotic race then swept southward and
expelled the Bantu tribes from the plateaux. This theory is borne out
by language and to a certain extent by physique, but it is difficult to
see why in that? case the true Nilotics did not learn circumcision and
religion from the jAutomoli. Instead of this we find that the Masai-
Nandi, Kitosh Wakamba, and Kikuyu have all been subject to religious
influence of Eigyptian origin in which circumcision plays a part, which
we can ascribe to direct influence by the Automoli. Again the Masai
Nandi are people of the high veldt a proof of Bantu rather than Nile
valley ancestry. Physique and geographical distribution also points to
Bantu rather than Nilotic ancestry. The language of the Nilotics may
have been borrowed from the more civilised Automoli and there may
be a small infusion of Automoli blood against the Shilluk who seem to
be the most advanced of the group. It is suggested that the Automoli
themselves were of mixed origin with a small portion of Mediterranean
blood and a large portion of negro blood. Their influence amongst the
Masai Nandi is shewn physically by the occasional appearance of
Mediterranean features and by the susceptibility to malaria whilst the
large share of Bantu blood shews in the other physical attributes of
the Masai-Nandi.

The Bahimd. — This tribe is described in the case of the men as
of light complexion with occasional European types of features and in
the case of women as of Hamitic negro type. They are generally
supposed to be descendants of the Bachwezi who came from Eigypt.
The writer disagrees with this view. The Bachwezi who were the ruling

17

race in Bunyoro, Toro and Busoga were evidently of high civilisation
as they were deified by the local savages. They were supposed to
have reigned for a few generations and then to have left the country,
handing the government over to chiefs of some other alien races. They
are supposed to have introduced the art of working iron. It will be
noted that in Herodotus time the then civilised world knew nothing
of the sources of the Nile, but that not long after Ruwenzori and
Victoria Nvanza were discovered and news carried back to civilisation.
It is possible that the Bachwezi were the discoverers. A clue as to
the origin of the Bachwezi exists in the story related in, Ch. I of the
Handbook of Uganda about Ndachura the last king of the Bachwezi,
his mother Nyinamwiru and her father Bukuku which is practically
the same as that related by Herodotus of Cyrus of Persia, his mother
Mandone and her father Astyages. May not Nd-Ahura be a Persian
name? Persian troops were stationed at Elephantine in Herodotus’
time and Meroe paid tribute of ivory, etc., to Persia.

The occurrence of this Persian folk tale and its application to the
Bachwezi point to the Bachwezi being Persian adventurers, probably
of noble birth, who carried the legend into Uganda where it was applied
to the local Persian chief. If this is so, who were the Bahima?
Physically they appear to be Hamitic negroes with a dasTi of Aryan
blood. The following solution is suggested. The Persians employed
native troops to a far greater extent than the British do to-day vide
the catalogue of troops under Xerxes given by Herodotus. It is
probable that Persian adventurers assisted by Hamitic negro subject
troops from Meroe Ethiopia invaded Bunyoro and conquered it and
that the Persians employed their Ethiopian troops as subordinate
officials; that after one or two generations of Persians had ruled, they
left the country and that the Ethiopians amongst whom were half
castes from the Persians took over the government and form the
present day Bahima. This solution based up to a point on the relations
of British Indians and Africans in Kenya to-day may seem fantastic,
but history repeats itself and in the actions of modern empires, we
may find a clue to those of older ones, nor need we deny to the world-
conquering Persians the exploring and colonising spirit shown by
Europeans to-day.

With regard to the Borneans if Mr. Luck’s theory connecting
them with the Masai-Nandi is correct, it is possible that they also are
a hybrid Mediterranean negro race. The negro element exists in
Polynesia and the Mediterranean portion may come from ancient
Someria by invasion by sea Engai may be Enki or Eia the Somerian
river god and the Persian G-ulf is nearer to Borneo than Edom, and
the people from there were more civilised and probably more capable
of long sea voyages. Modern discoveries in Somer point to it containing

IB

two different types, one of which was probably Mediterranean. If a
Mediterranean tongue was spoken by some of the ancient Sumerians
and by the proto- Egyptians from whom it descended to the Automoli,
any connection between the languages would be explained and the few
Aramaic words in Borneo may be merely loan-words the result of
subsequent trading intercourse in Stolomon’s time.

In conclusion, the writer wishes again to suggest that we must
judge the actions of older empires by our own and when we consider
how English and Christianity have spread to races with hardly a drop
of English blood in their veins, we may expect moon goddess worship
and ancient dialects to be found amongst races not connected by blood
with the nations from which they learn their religion and language.
Also from the old world civilisation, adventurers and traders would
have made their way into the unknown even as Europeans have done
recently. Here in Kenya and Uganda on the borders of an old time
civilisation, we may well expect to find traces of its influence, and
when we consider the difficulties of mass migrations owing to desert
and drought we need not expect to find any vast influx of alien blood
amongst the indigenous savages, but only the vague memories of
religious teaching and language, which a few explorers and traders
bore southwards from their civilised home. The peculiar physique
tradition and language of the Masai-Nandi however point to an actual
influx of alien blood and the most likely source of which history tells
us is the Automoli of Herodotus, but even they were probably f negro,
so that the strain of Mediterranean blood in the Masai-Nandi is only
small. Judging by the analogy of the local fauna and flora, we should
expect to find the human race in this area essentially African with a
few immigrant's from Eurasia. Physically this appears to he the
case and any theory of racial origins must be based on physical as well
as linguistic and traditional evidence.

To The Editor, E, A. & U, Nat. Hist . Society,

Dear Sir,—

I wonder if you will allow me to make a few comments on Mr.
Cardale Luck’s paper on the “Origin of the Masai” and the authors he
quotes; not with the idea of criticising its theme for I cannot pretend
to Mr. Luck’s patience and erudition, but toj. try and remove some
exaggerated and even erroneous ideas about the Nandi and so-called
Lumbwa.

I must give you my excuse for this request, viz. that I have
lived 16 years almost continually amongst the Kipsigis (Lumbwa) and
have been fond of wandering on foot in their Beserve and accepting

10

their hospitality. Having always liked and respected this people I
have reached a state of intimacy which few Europeans care to with
natives of East Africa and I myself would not except in the case of
the Nilotic tribes, who seem to differ from, the other tribes in some
subtle way which one can only describe by saying that they seem
more gentlemanly.

I have not made a study, in the scientific sense, of the Kipsigis ;
but I fancy I have considerable understanding of the mentality of the
people. It is now many years since I gave up the use of Swahili
entirely for I believe the only way to obtain a real understanding of
any people is to speak their language! every day for years.

One seems to notice a tendency in many books on Native Customs
a tendency to approach them with a bias due to previous reading and
the desire to and expectation of finding certain customs and certain
meanings in their beliefs and customs. Frequently there are simple
explanations of names and customs, etc., which should not be entirely
neglected even though there may be abstruse and more exciting
possible origins. Asking questions as to customs, beliefs, etc., especially
in a foreign and crudely spoken language is hardly reliable. To get
the nett results one must experience sympathetically the customs and
beliefs as they crop up spontaneously.

Tribal Names.

The two very similar tribes known to Europeans to-day as
Lumbwa and Nandi were not so long ago a single tribe calling
themselves “ Kipsigis ” as a whole but called by the Masai
“ Elumbwa The Masai on the other hand were and are still known
to the Kipsigis as “ Ikwopek ”. A little more than 100 years ago
perhaps, that is in the time of the great grandfathers of the present
old men, the whole tribe of Kipsigis moving Southwards across country
occupied by the Masai, probably the present Uasin Gishu country,
accidentally got split into two by a wedge of Uasin Gishu ” (Masai)
living in the Kipchoriat (Nyando) valley. One section moved west-
wards to the north of that valley and the other crossing the head of
the valley found it occupied by Masai. They apparently halted first
at a hill, 10 miles along the present Lumbwa Kericho road, which
has retained the name of “ Diluapsigis. ” “ The hill of Kipsigis.”
Finding the Masai in strong possession of the valley they proceeded
South and West ousting the Sirikwa and Kosopek (Kisii) who were in
possession. It was many years before the Maasai were driven out of

Page 169, Natural History Journal.

the Kipchoriat valley separating the two halves of the Kipsigis tribe
and when this finally occurred, the two sections had already become
somewhat differentiated, a difference which was perpetuated by the
difficult nature of the Kipchoriat gorge between them.

After the- separation the Northern Kipsigis began to be called
** Chemngal(ek) The reason given by old men of the Kipsigis (whose
people have been in touch with the Nandi continually) is ready and
simple though of course it may not be correct. At the time of the
separation the elders of the section of the tribe which went North were
fond of standing up on the rocks and haranguing the people (talking
a lot literally) Kikocham kotelel en goinwek barak sikomwai ngalek
chechang ]

Ngaliot (singular) = word .

Ngalek (plural) — words, news, talk, conversation.

It is very commonly used of persons who have too much to say
or as we say colloquially “ hot air.” And it seems to have been
considered that the elders had ” too much talk.”

Corresponding to the Maasai word ELrnegi the the Kipsigis apply
the word Lemek (sing Lemindet) only to uncircumcised tribes, i.e.,
all the Kavirondo tribes but not to the Kikuyu and Kisii.

From their name then and their present numerical superiority
it would seem that the Kipsigis (Lumbwa) are the main section of
the tribe. I would suggest that there is no more reason for calling
them Lumbwa than there is for calling the Maasai Ikwop, or the Jaluo
Lemek. Might we not then call them by their proper name of Kipsigis.
It would be very interesting if Mr. Luck could find a derivation for
the word. The root ” Sigis ” means, Kick, but is not thought by the
people to have anything to do with the proper name. If one asks why
they are called Kipsigis they will reply “ Why is an Elephant called
an Elephant.”

II. Sun worship.

It may interest Mr. Luck to know that Asia (ta)* has other names
which are only used in the sense of God and not as Asista is used for
the actual sun in the everyday sense. These names are “ N’golo
and “ Chebtalil.” Their derivations I do not know (c.f. the Elephant
reply above).

Mr. Luck is correct in thinking that special woods and scented
ones at that were used in the sacred fire at the * * Kapkorosit. * * Being
no botanist I can only give the Kipsigis names for them.

The generic name for all plants and woods used at ceremonies
is “ Korosek.” The one chiefly burnt fit the Kapkorosit is (1)

# Pages 160462, Natural History Journal,

21

Segejuwet (or Chegechewet), a plant about 6 ft. high with rather a
climbing habit. It has bluish pink rosettes of flowers and strongly
scented leaves. The sacredness of cowduing seems a little doubtful,
for naturally amongst a pastoral people it is used for a great variety
of domestic purposes, as also is goat and sheep dung.

The quotation from Mr. Ward’s article on the “ Kapkorosit ”
rather gives the idea that the festival is still celebrated. It is about
22 years or so since the last Kapkorosit (which used to be roughly
annual and held during any month but August) was held. The
occasion of its abandonment was the building of the military road
from Lumbwa Station to Kericho. Possibly the people thought it
was no use praying to God after that, for they say 44 we were scattered
and families separated.”

As to the orgies and debaucheries! so often referred to by
Europeans, without, I think, sufficient evidence, I wish to say most
emphatically trat I have never been able to hear of them or find them
amongst the Kipsigis. At the Kapkorosit, for example, which I take
is one of the 44 high places ” Mr. Luck refers to, cohabitation during
the day and night of the festival was strictly prohibited, man and wife
could not sleep together.

To say that 44 practically unrestricted free love exists ” amongst
the Kipsigis is most misleading. It is very difficult for Europeans to
believe that when men and girls before initiation live freely together
cohabitation is not the rule. It is nevertheless a fact that about 75%
of unmarried girls are virgins. Nearly every girl has her sweetheart
and sticks to him and more often than not is married to him after she
comes out of the six months initiation unless he happens to be too poor
and even then there are recognised ways of overcoming that
impediment.

Considering again the 'statement that 44 they take particular
trouble not to cover themselves before girls and unmarried women.”* *
It had already been stated in the same paper that it is the custom of
the men to go naked, i.e.t it is natural to them (and their womenfolk)
and so the fact of nakedness is not felt by them as it is by people
accustomed to be clothed. Therefore to say that they take particular
trouble not to cover themselves is hardly appropriate. Bather does
it seem to them and to those familiar with them that they take
44 particular trouble ” to cover themselves before married women (all
grown-up women are ipso facto married women except a few outcasts.

An example of the effect of point of view may be apropos. When
the Kipsigis see for example a picture advertising gramophones of

f Page 156, Natural History Journal.

* Page 156, Natural History Journal.

22

men and women dancing they think it is indecent. If Victorian
women saw our present day dress and behaviour or some of our
illustrated papers what would they think of us, even though they are
of the same race?

The Kipsigis-Nandi have faults enough without our exaggerating
them.

III. The Chemosit.

Amongst the Kipsigis one finds no belief that the Chemosit is a
devil or spirit or god or man. The only reference to its being like a
man is that some say that at a distance it looks like a huge man
because it stands up on its hind legs. Even those who say it has only
one leg say that it has no arms and that its footprint is something
between that of an elephant and a rhino and insist very strongly that
it is only an animal. A few old men even say they have seen it at
night and give descriptions— very wild ones but all quite unlike man
or spirit, for they include fur, whiskers (“ wawechik ” = whiskers or
antenae of animals and insects only). The crutch of Hollis’ book is
quite unknown here for they say how could an animal use a crutch.
A curious detail is that the urine of the Chemosit is said to be so evil
smelling that no man can stay near it. All the young men deny
having seen it or knowing what it is like, but love to tell children and
unsuspecting Europeans fancy tales of it.

The name Chemosit however might not be said at night just as
in the case of the Chief Witch Doctor. At night it was given another
name, viz., “ Gononet,” of which I do not know the derivation.
Chemosit is a fairly common man’s name and it is also used by
mothers to make their children obey, e.g ., “ If you don’t eat your
food the Chemosit will come and eat you.”

Iletnemie and Iletneya are quite unknown to the Kipsigis.
Ilet, the lightning, however, is universally and firmly believed to be
a huge birdlike animal.

Yours, etc..

I. Q. Okchardsgn.

AN ELEPHANT TRAGEDY.

M. F. R. Hockliffe.

One Sunday afternoon some months ago a Forest Guard, stationed
in the Aberdares a few miles above Nyeri, came to my house to tell
me he had found some ivory in the forest. There was nothing very
remarkable in that, but when I went outside to have a look at his find
I saw to my astonishment no less than twelve elephant tusks, all laid
out in a row, obviously quite recently extracted from their original
owners.

This was the Forest Guard’s story : While walking along a game
track with his spearman somewhere near the Gura River, he noticed
a number of vultures and footmarks of hyaena, all treading in one
direction. Following these up he eventually came to the foot of a
steep cliff which the elephant had apparently tumbled down, and
there at the bottom of the cliff were six dead elephant.

It was some weeks before I got an opportunity of visiting the
place, but when I did get to the scene of the tragedy I saw a sight to
be remembered. About a mile upstream from the upper fishing camp
on the Gura River the sides of the valley became almost precipitous,
and on rounding a bend in the river, on the left bank, I came upon
a broad scar about 200 feet long down the steep valley side. All
vegetation that had managed to find a foothold had been torn up and
swept away, leaving just the bare earth and projecting rocks. At the
bottom of the avalanche under a mass of rocks and torn-up tree
growth were the carcasses of three elephant, lying a few yards apart.
A fourth lay about a hundred yards away, and about a quarter of a
mile farther on, in different directions, were the carcasses of two more.

After some difficulty a Forest Guard and I managed to find a way
up the bank. The first few yards of the elephant’s fall were absolutely
precipitous and we had to find a way round. The rest of the way up
was very steep and most unpleasant going, as loose rocks and small
avalanches of earth kept on tumbling down, and there was very little
foot or hand hold. Eventually we came to a game track running
along a contour from where the elephant had begun their fatal descent.
As far as we could see there were no signs of any fighting or
disturbance on the track, and though the spoor was some weeks old
by then, it did not look as if two herds coming in opposite
directions had met. It was evident that the track had not given way
at that point as there it was perfectly intact. The only conclusion
we could come to was that for some reason or other the elephant had
walked down feeding off the track, the earth had immediately given
way, they had been unable to recover themselves, and the whole lot

24

shot to the bottom. Possibly something may have scared them,
Wanderobo or lion.

Down in the valley the tale was quite plain. Four of the
elephant had been killed almost outright, while two had managed to
stagger about a quarter of a mile before succumbing to their injuries.
But one of the most remarkable things of the whole affair was that,
in spite of the fall and the number of rocks the elephant must have
hit up against, not a .single tusk was even chipped.

They were all young bulls with very small tusks, in fact the
smallest tusk weighed a pound and a half. However, the Forest
Guard who claimed the find got a very nice little reward from the
District Commissioner.

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26

L. van SOMEREN, J, GRAHAM DAWSON.

Hon. Secretary. Hon. Treasurer.

Ol)e Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

April , 1927 . - No. 29.

CONTENTS.

Page

The Butterflies of Kenya and Uganda, Part 5 ( illustrated )
by Y. G. L. van Someren f.e.s., f.l.s., etc., and
Eev. K. St. A. Eogers, m.a., f.e.s 29

The Birds of Kenya and Uganda, Part I. (illustrated), by

Y. G. L. van Someren, m.b.o.u., c.f.a.o.u., etc. ... ’ 44

Editor of Journal :

Dr. JV. G. L. van Someren.

Additional copies to members, Shs. 5/-; to non-members, Shs. 10/-.
(Date of publication, October, 1927.)

PRINTED BY THE EAST AFRICAN STANDARD, LTD.

All Eights Eieserved.

Ofye Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

April, 1927. No. 29.

PATRONS :

Sir EDWARD NORTHEY, g.c.m.g.

Sir E. J. JACKSON, k.c.m.g., c.b., etc.

Sir E. P. C. GIROUARD, k.c.m.g,., r.e., d.s.o.

Sir HESKETH BELL, k.c.m.g.

PRESIDENT :

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :

Sir EDWARD DENHAM.

A. B. PERCIVAL, Esq., f.z.s., m.b.o.u,

EX-COSVSMITTEE :

Rev. CANON St. A. ROGERS, m.a., oxon., f.e.s.

H. L. SIKES, Esq., b.a., b,.e., f.g.s.

Capt. A. T. RITCHIE, m.b.o.u., f.z.s.

H. M. GARDNER, Esq., b.a., for. dipl.

R. E. MAYER, Esq., c.c.i., m.i.j.

A. E. J. GEDYE, f.z.s., f.e.s.

T. J. ANDERSON, m.a., b.sc., f.z.s., f.e.s.

Maj. E. A. T. DUTTON.

Capt. R. E. DENT.

HON. TREASURER:

J. GRAHAM DAWSON, f.r.g.s.

HON. SECRETARY:

V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN, l.r.c.p,&s., l.r.f.p.&s., l.d.s., f.l.s.,

M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., F.E.S., C.M.Z.S,, &C.

HON. EDITOR OF JOURNAL:

Dr. V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN.

FRONTISPIECE.

Photos by Dr. van Someren.

A. Eggs of Planema quadricolor leptis.

B. Larvae of Planema quadricolor leptis.

THE BUTTERFLIES OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

By

Y. G. L. VAN SoMEREN, F.E.S., F.L.S., etc.,
and

Rev. K. St. A. Rogers, m.a., f.e.s.
Part Y.

Sub-family ACRfflINJE .

Genus PLANEMA, Dbld. & Flew.

Introduction.

Representatives of the genus Planema are to be distinguished
from Acrcea, by the colour of the Palps, which are black with a lateral
grey or white line, and by the position of the first branch of the
subcostal or 11th vein; this is given off, at or beyond the apex of the
cell. The hind-wing cell is usually much smaller than in Acrtza.

The larvae of the two genera are not markedly different, but those
of Planema usually have much longer branched spines and on the
whole are less particoloured.

The pupae are distinguishable how-
ever; those of Planema always have long
dorsal spines which are hooked at the end,
but the body of the pupa is not heavily
ornamented with dark markings.

Most of the representatives of this
genus are conspicuously coloured, many
having a general superficial resemblance
to each other. All are credited with a
high degree of distastefulness to enemies,
and as a result quite a number are
mimicked by species of other genera and
families. Some of the most wonderful examples of mimicry are to
be found between species of Planema and the Nymphalids,
Pseudacpcea; examples are given later.

29

PLANEMA P0GGE1 NELSONI, Smth. & Kirby, PI XXXV., figs.

1 and 4. Pl. XL. fig. 4.

Expanse : Male 70-80 mm. , female 80-90 mm. General colour in
both sexes, black, orange and white.

E.-w base and apex black with an intervening orange band 8-10
mm. wide, extending from the costa, at apex of the cell, obliquely
across the wing to just short of the hind-angle. On the inner margin
the orange is carried somewhat inwards in 1 and la and reaches the
hind border; there is an invasion of the orange band, by the black
ground at the base of 3, usually in the form of a round spot; there :s
also an indentation on vein 2. The outer margin is slightly indented
internervularly, especially in areas lb, 2 and 3.

H. -w blackish with a somewhat well-defined white triangular
band, base to inner margin, apex to costa, with the distal edge
slightly angled and following the contour of the wing.

Female :

Similar to the male but larger and with more rounded wings,
and wider bands.

Early Stages :

The eggs of this species hardly differ from others of this group,
being a long ovoid, prominently ribbed and transversely ridged. They
are cream coloured when first laid but turn a rich yellow after about
two days. They are laid on a species of Vitis, order Am'pelidacece.
The egg stage lasts a week. 'J'he young larvae are at first
greyish, and feed within an hour of emerging. They are
gregarious. At the second moult they become an olive green with
prominent spines. The colour becomes a pale bluish green in the
last stage and the branched spines measure 4-6 mm. in length. There
are orange or yellow dots along the spiracular line and between each
spine. The pupa is typically acr>ceine , long and slender, pale
greenish, with black lines on the wing cases and head, and around the
cremaster. The head carries longish lateral horns, while the 1st to
4th, abdominal segments are ornamented dor so -later ally with long-
spines which are curved at the tip. Anterior to each spine is an
oblique black line and such are present on each of the remaining
segments, and duplicated on the penultimate one. The thorax is
ornamented with two pairs of blunt spines and each wing case has a
recurved spine at the base. The pupal stage Lasts 14 to 18 days,
varying with temperature and humidity.

Distribution :

Occurs throughout Uganda and extends eastwards to the Nandi-
Elgon area. It is particularly plentiful in the central province of
Uganda and around Jinja in the eastern province.

30

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Planema poggei nelsoni, male. Fig. 4. Planema poggei nelsoni, female.

Planema macarista, male. Fig. 5. Planema macarista, female.

Planema macaria hemileuca, male. Fig. 6. Planema macaria hemileuca, female.

Observations :

Judging from the numbers captured or seen, it would appear to
be the commonest species of the tri-coloured group, but there is a
distinct seasonal incidence. (See Carpenter, Trans. Ent. Soc., 1923,
pts. III., IV., Jan. 24, pp. 469-489.) Its influence on the mimetic
species is most marked.

In the Eastern limits of its distribution, there would appear to
be a tendency to persistence of the fore-wing pattern of the parent
form poggei poggei , Dew., i.e., there is a marked increase in the width
of the fore-wing band with a reduction in that of the hind-wing; the
hind-wing band is frequently - tinged ochreous. Besides four
specimens of this type taken in the Nandi-Kaimosi area there are two
in the Hope Dept., Oxford, from Eastern Uganda. A series of poggei
from the eastern limits might shew this form to be constant. PI.
XXXVIII., fig. 1.

PLANEMA MAG ARISTA, Sharpe. PI. XXXV., figs. 2 and 5. PL

XXXIX., figs. 1 and 5.

Male :

Expanse 84-90 mm. General colour blackish with orange and
white bars. Sexes different.

F.-w. Sepia-blackish with an orange-yellow bar extending from
the costa to the hind margin of the wing. The inner border of this
band starts at the origin of vein 11, passes obliquely down along the
apex of the cell, avoids the base of 3, thence cuts the base of 2 almost
vertically, passing down with a slight outward curve to the hind
margin. In a “ set ” insect this border is almost vertical, with a
rounded indentation at the base of 3. The outer edge commences at
vein 12, passes obliquely to the mid point on 4, thence by zigzags to
the hind angle. The width of the band varies slightly in individuals
but the general outline is fairly constant.

H.-w. Sepia-black, with a somewhat triangular white patch,
base to inner margin, apex to upper angle, sharply defined from the
blackish base of the wing but rather diffuse distally, being indented
by the blackish internervular rays. A variable number of black spots
show through the base from the underside.

Underside: F.-w. pattern as above, but duller; an orange spot
distally edged with black is present at the base of the costa. H.-w.
general pattern similar to above but basal triangle chestnut wfith
clearly defined black spots as follows : One each in 8 and 9; two large,
basal in 7; one each at base of 2, 4, 5, 6; two each towards base of
la and lc; three in cell, one large central, one at base, one at origin
of vein 5.

3L

Female :

F.-w. sepia black with an oblique white bar extending from the
costa outwards to the hind angle, and just reaching lb. The inner
edge follows a curve from the mid-point on costa to the origin of vein
4, thence with a more graduated curve to the mid-point on 2. The
outer margin follows the oblique line of the discocellulars thence
outward and downward to almost the end of 2, the line being
serrated intercellularly.

H.-w. as in the male but wdiite bar narrower, less triangular;
marginal border much wider.

Underside : A dull replica of above, with the base of the hind-
wing dull chestnut, spotted with black as in the male.

Early Stages :

The eggs are of the usual acrceine type, white or creamy with a
high glaze; long oval, slightly flattened at the base, well ribbed and
cross-barred. We have not reared the larvse nor can we find a
published description of the various instars.

Distribution :

Uganda, more particularly the western and central, area extending
to the Nile and more rarely eastward to South Elgon and the Teriki
country.

Observations :

This is almost entirely a forest species. The seasonal incidence
has been studied by Carpenter, op. cit. , and its position in the
mimetic association centred round P. poggei investigated. The
male shews a close resemblance to P. poggei, macaria hemileuca, and
P. elgonense; while the female follows the colouration of females of
macaria hemileuca, alcinoe camarunica, elgonense and aganice
montana. Both male and female act as models for Pseudacnea
eurytus, and female forms of Papilio dardanus.

A certain number of males have the median bar of the hind-wing
tinged with rufous var. mofosa, Sufi., and vendita, Grunb., thus
approaching the colouration of the rare PI. ps'eudeuryta.

PLAN EM A MACARIA HEMILEUCA, Jordan. PI. XXXV., figs.
3 and 6. PI. XXXIX., figs. 4 and 8.

Male :

Expanse 76-82 mm. General colour blackish, orange and white.
F.-w very like macarista, but the tawny orange bar, though wider
at the costa, is generally narrower, more serrated on the outer margin
and more irregular on the inner. The orange colour extends into the

32

apex of the cell and this projection carries a characteristic black spot
at the origin of 5.

H.-w. very much like that of macarista, but the basal area is
browner with more clearly defined black spots; the marginal sepia is
less dense though the internervular rays are well marked; the area
thus appears larger and less sharply defined distally.

Underside: F.-w. pattern as above but colour duller. A black
and yellow spot is present at the base of the costa.

H.-w. basal area chestnut, bearing black spots as follows: One
each at base of 8, 5, 4, and 2; two basally in 7 ; one large or two small
basal in 1c; two each at base of la and lb. Cell with three spots.
The sepia margin is ill defined.

Female :

Expanse 98-100 mm. General colour black and white.

F.-w. : Base, from line of apex of cell to almost the hind angle,
black. The cell with a conspicuous white spot towards the apex.
Distal margin of white bar runs obliquely from costa through the
diseocellular veins thence curving downwards and slightly inwards
passes towards the hind angle, the contour being deeply indented in
lb and 2. The inner margin passes through the apex of the cell
thence slightly inwards in 2. passes abruptly outward in la and lb,
thus narrowing the band markedly.

H.-w. basal area dark brown with black spots as underneath. A
broad white band, widest at the inner margin passes obliquely across
the wing, sharply differentiated from the basal brown but not sharply
defined distally.

Underside :

F.-w. as above though duller and without the white spot in the
cell. H.-w. pattern as above; basal area chestnut carrying spots as
follows: one each basal in 8, 6, 5, 4, and 2; two each at bases of la,
lb, lc and 7. Cell wdth three spots, one at base, one at midpoint,
one distal.

Early Stages :

Unknown.

Distribution :

A rare insect which has been recorded from Uganda at Mawakota,
Entebbe, and Jinja.

Observations :

The male figured differs slightly from the type but is uniform
with other specimens taken in Uganda. The female we believe has
not ben described hitherto. The mimetic relationship is similar to

33

the preceding species, both male and female acting as secondary
models for Pseudacrcea eurytus.

PL AN, EM A ELGON ENSE, Poulton. PL XXXVI.. figs. 2 and 5.
PI. XXXIX., figs. 2 and 6.

M/ le :

Expanse 70-76 mm. General colour black, orange and white.
F.-w. : Apical portion extended; distal margin curved as in

macarista; basal and apical portion blackish; separated by a much
curved tawny orange band with deeply serrated outer margin. The
distal margin is very like that found in macarista but the inner margin
is strongly curved outward to the mid point on 2 thence turning
inward sharply at almost right-angles reaching the hind margin of the
wing at the proximal end of the terminal third of la.

H.-w. blackish with a wide white band the upper margin of which
is sharply defined from the black basal area, and on the lower edge
clearly separated from the black marginal border, thus differing in
this respect from macarista. The lowTer edge is furthermore, not
straight, but somewhat angled outwardly in 4.

Female :

Expanse 70-74 mm. general colour black and white.

E.-w. broader and more rounded than in the male, but with a
white band of similar outline though broader.

H.-w. similar to that of the male, but broader.

Underside :

Male and female, dull replicas of above, but with the base of the
hindwing rich purply-chestnut, carrying spots as follows : One very
minute in 8; two large transverse in 7; one each at base of 6, 5, 4,
and 2, the latter two very small; two each in la, lb; three in 1c; ceil
with three large spots, the centre one transverse to the long axis.

Early Stages :

Unknown.

Distribution :

A rare insect, occurring only in the West Elgon district of Uganda.
Observations :

This species has recently been described by Prof. Poulton who
has kindly ascertained its relationship to allied Planemas; “ closely
allied to poggei, Dew., and adrasta, Weym. , but in both sexes bearing
a strong resemblance to macarista , Sharpe, macaria hemileuca, Jord.,
also, in the female, to the female of alcinoa camerunica, Auriv., in

84

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Planema alcinoe camarunica, male. Fig. 4. Planema alcinoe camarunica, female.

Planema elgonense, male. Fig. 5. Planema elgonense, female.

Planema aganice montana, male. Uganda race. Fig. 6. Planema aganice montana, female. Uganda race.

the male to the aurivilii, Staud., female of Acr.<za alciope, Hew.”
. In size this new form was a rather small member of this
Planema association . . “ the true relationship of this new

species was kindly determined by Hr. Eltringham, who examined the
male armature and found that it closely resembled that of poggei
poggei, p. nelsoni, and adrasta, being of a much smaller and much
simpler type than in macarista and its two associates, which differed
markedly from each other as well as from the species described, and
other members of the poggei group.” The species is only known from
three male and two female specimens taken in the West Elgon
district.

PLANEMA ALCINOE CAMARUNIGA, Auriv. Pl. XXXVI., figs.

1 and 4. PI. XXXIX., figs. 3 and 7.

Male :

Expanse 68-80 mm. General colour blackish and orange-brown.

E. -w. : Apical half blackish brown, basal area tawny-orange

bordered distally with an orange bar which crosses the wing from
costa to just inside the hind margin. Sub-costal area, distal end of
cell and base of area 2 with diffuse blackish scaling; in some specimens
a blackisk spot at base of 3, and one in lb at the junction of distal
and mid third.

H.-w. : Basal area tawny orange merging into a lighter diffuse
band which shades into a broad brownish marginal border with darker
rays and internervular streaks. The basal area is spotted with
blackish-brown marks which correspond to the spotting beneath.

Underside :

A dull replica of upper surface with a lighter brown shade distally
on both wings. Basal triangle of hind- wing chestnut ornamented
with black spots as follows: One in 8; two each in 7, 4, la, lb, and
lc. sub-basal; one each sub-basal in 2, 5, and 6; two in the cell, basal
and central, the latter transverse to the long axis.

Female :

General colour black and white.

F. -w. basal half of wing dark rusty -brown, shading into black
distally. Apical area black, separated from the basal black by a broad
oblique white band, the inner margin of which is invaded by the
ground colour at base of 3, and distal two-thirds of lb.

The outer margin is somewhat curved and indented by the black
ground in 2 and 3.

H.-w. : Basal triangle rusty brown, decorated with black spots.
Marginal border blackish and broad, separated from the base by a

35

diffuse white band, widest at the inner margin of the wing and
tapering towards the costa; strongly invaded distally by blackish rays
and internervular streaks.

Underside :

Very like above but duller. A white spot, distally bordered with
black is present at the base of the costa. Basal triangle of hind-wing
chestnut with black spots arranged as follows: One in 8; one each in

la, lb, 5 and 6, sub-basally; one each, basal in 2 and 4; two each in
1c and 7, basal and sub-basal; three in the cell, one sub-basal, a
double spot at mid-point, and a double spot at origin of vein 5.

Early Stages :

Unknown to us personally, but described in Seitz, p. 241, as
follows : Larva light coloured with black markings on the upperside
of the abdomen on each segment from 2-5 wTith a pair of very long,
slender, black spines with yellow-red bases and the tips curved into
hooks; those of the second segment are longer than the rest and
directed forwards; those of the fifth segment shortest; the head with
two divaricating horns.

Distribution :

Occurs through Uganda, extending east to Teriki, but rare to
eastward; it is essentially a western species.

Observations :

Dr. Carpenter (lc) has raised an interesting point in connection
with the possible influence of Planema aganice montana on the
colouration of this species. There is an undoubted tendency for the
eastern alcinoe to become darker at the base of the fore- wing. The

female alcinoe acts as a model for the tirikensis form of Pseudacrcea
eurytus.

PLANEMA AGANICA MONTANA, Btlr. PI. XXXVI., figs. 8 and 6.
PI. XL., fig. 9.

Male :

Expanse varying from 56-70 mm. General colour blackish and
orange.

E.-w. sepia black with a narrow curved orange tawny bar which
passes from the costa through the basal third of the discocellulars
thence through the basal half of 5 except for the extreme base,
through the mid-third of 2, followed by an isolated triangular spot in

lb, set slightly internal, and cut off by a projection of the black scaling-
invading the yellow of 2.

36

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H.-w. with a broad orange centre, proximally bordered by a
blackish-brown basal patch and distally by a clear-cut marginal
blackish border 5-6 mm. in width. There are a few indistinct blackish
spots on the basal triangle.

Underside :

Pattern as above, but dark areas more brownish, except for the
base of the hind- wing. This is a reddish- chestnut carrying black

spots of variable size and number; average as follows: Usually a

small one in 8; two large ones in 7; one each in 5 and 6; three in 1c,
the distal one transverse; two each in la and lb. The cell contains
one, sub-basally, and a curved line distally or sometimes this line is
represented by two distinct spots.

Female :

Expanse 75-80 mm. General colour black and white. Resembles
the male in pattern but the light areas are white.

Early Stages :

The eggs are laid in groups on the under surface of the leaves of
a creeper Adenia cissampeloides, Harms (Pas si florae ere). They are

similar to those of other planemas. The larvae go from a dull greyish
green of the first stage to a pale green, each segment with the exception
of the first thoracic and the anal, armed with six long branched spines
of a yellow or yellowish green colour; the base of each spine is bluish,
while the intervening spaces in the line of the spines carry blue spots;
head brownish. The pupa is of the usual type, i.e., rather elongate
about 25 mm. with lateral spikes to the head segment, and on the
dorsum of each of the abdominal segments 1-5 long reddish brown
curved spines, the first pair directed forwards, the rest backwards.

Distribution :

The description given applies to the race of aganice which is found
in Uganda, east to Nandi and Londiani.

Observations :

In this race the males and females are much darker than those
of Kenya; especially is this noticeable in the basal triangle of the
hind wing. Furthermore, the white band in the hind wing of the
female is narrower, while the marginal border is darker and more
sharply defined.

PLANEMA AGANICE MONTANA, Kenya race. PI. XXXVII.,
figs. 1 and 4. PI. XL., fig. 8.

Male :

Expanse 56-60 mm. General colour dark brownish and tawny
orange. The pattern of this race conforms to the description given

37

for that of Uganda, but the dark areas are not so dense — much more
brownish — with in the fore-wing a decided paling toward the base;
the hind-wing basal triangle is rusty brown with clear black spots;
the marginal border is narrower.

Female :

Expanse 80-90 m.m. General colour dark brownish and white.
F.-w. pattern as in the Uganda form but dark areas considerably
paler especially at the base, with a concentration of scaling around the
white bar.

H.-w. basal area pale ochreous brown ill defined distally and
clearly spotted. White area extensive not very sharply defined from
grey-brown marginal border; interneural streaks marked.

Underside :

Pattern as above but dark areas with an ochreous tinge.

Early Stages :

As in the Uganda form. It feeds on Tryphostemma zanzibaricum,
Mast (Pcissifloraceee).

.Distribution :

This pale form ranges from the coast zone to Kilimanjaro and
Teita northward to Mt. Kenia and Nairobi and sparingly to the Mau.

Observations :

There is not the slightest doubt but that there are two distinct
geographical races of P. aganice inhabiting Kenya and Uganda. Quite
a number of Kenya examples (females) have buffy areas in the hind-
wings; especially is this the case in the Taveta district, and often in
the Nairobi area.*

PLANEMA PSEUDEURYTA, G. & S. (not figured).

This is a rare insect of which only the male is known. It is very
like macarista, but the inner margin of the fore-wing orange bar is
outwardly curved, and the hind-wing pale area is orange-brown.

Early Stages :

Unknown.

Distribution :

Appears to be confined to western Uganda from whence twv>
examples were taken by Neave at Toro.

* I have on occasion at a distance mistaken a large female with buff hind-
wing for a pale var. of Papilio d. cenea or Amauris d. damoclides.

38

Observations :

Carpenter has pointed out, Op. cit. that this Planema is probably
the model for the opisthoxantha form of Pseudacrcea eurytus.

PLANEMA TELLUS EUMELIS, Jordan. PL XXXVII., figs. 2 and
5. PL XL., figs. 5.

Male :

Expanse 68-72 mm. General colour orange and black.

F.-w. blackish-brown with an orange bar crossing the wing from
immediately below the costa to the distal end of cellule 2, but not
reaching the margin, and placed between the end of the cell and the
proximal end of the internervular rays. Hind margin with a large
orange area occupying the basal two-thirds of cellule la and lb, and
the inner half of 2.

H.-w. mostly orange, with a small blackish area at the base, and
a narrow blackish marginal border, widest at the apex and decreasing
rapidly towards the anal angle. The veins and internervular rays are
blackish and well marked, and extend inward almost to the cell.

Underside :

F.-w. somewhat like above but with the apical area ochreous with
black lines. A white streak is present at the base of the costa.

H.-w. ochreous with black spots at the base, but no marginal
border. Veins and internervular rays black as above.

Female :

Expanse, 80-90 mm. Very like the male, but larger and with
more rounded wings. The lower half of the fore -wing orange band
is more irregular.

Early Stages:

Unknown to us.

Distribution :

Throughout Uganda but not plentiful in the east.

Observations :

This Planema is the model for the terra form of Pseudacrcea
eurytus. It is to be noted that there is no brown or chestnut at the
base of the hind-wing below, neither is this present in the mimic.

A certain number of specimens have the fore-wing bar very pale
to almost white, thus approaching a similar form of Acrcea jodutta.
Such a form is also met with in Ps. eurytus.

39

PLAN EM A CONSANGUINE A ALB1C0L0R, Karsch. PL XXXVII.,
figs. 3 and 6. Pl. XL., fig. 6.

Expanse, male and female, 60-65, 78-80 mm. Sexes alike.
General colour buffy with greyish-brown tips to fore wings.
F.-w. basal half buffy white to pale sandy shaded in the upper
part of the cell with greyish brown; apical half greyish brown darkest
proximally, with a narrow white or creamy oblique bar which is sub-
basal between veins 4-7, narrowest in cellule 3, passes through cellule
2, slightly distal to the mid-point and represented in lb by a free spot.

H.-w. almost entirely sandy buff with a dark marginal border,
widest in 4-7, decreasing towards the anal angle. Veins and inter-
neural rays greyish-brown, well defined and reaching almost to the
cell. Basal area with a variable number of dark spots.

Underside :

Apical portion of fore-wing and whole of hind-wing ochreous buff
with dark rays; white forewing bar present and accentuated by dark
scaling proximally. Two black spots at base of f.-w. costa; basal
spotting of hind-wing variable but clear, usually as follows : One in
8; two in 7; one each, sub-basal in 6, 5, 4, 2, la and lb; three in 1c;
two in the cell.

Early Stages:

Unknown.

Distribution :

Western Uganda to Central Province; common on Bugalla. Not
present in Kenya.

Observations :

This species has a restricted distribution, and, so far as we
know, has no close mimics, though the colouration is distinctive.

PLANEMA EPAM PARAGE A, Sm. PL XXXVIII., figs. 2, 3. 4.
Pl. XL., fig. 1.

Male :

Expanse 66-70 mm. Female 75-82 mm. General colour sooty
greyish brown with creamy markings.

F.-w. sooty grey — with brownish tinge; a row of three creamy
or white spots at the proximal end of the mid- third of veins 5, 6, and
7, followed by one or two spots slightly beyond the mid-point of
cellule 3. There is usually a certain amount of creamy scaling
towards the base of cellule 2, also at mid-point of lb.

H.-w. sooty grey with an indistinct creamy band which passes
across the wing through the apex of the cell.

40

Photo by Dr. van Someren.

Plate XXXVIII.

Fig. 1. Planema poggei var. Fig. 5. Planema quadricolor latifasciata,

male.

Fig. 2. Planema epsea paragea, female. Fig. 6. Planema quadricolor latifasciata,

female.

Fig. 3. Planema epsea paragea, female. Fig. 7. Planema quadricolor leptis,

male.

Fig. 4. Planema epsea paragea, male. Figs. 8, 9. Planema quadricolor leptis,

female vars.

Photo by Dr. van Someren.

Plate XXXIX.

Undersurfaces.

Fig. 1. Planema macarista, male.
Fig. 2. Planema elgonense, male.
Fig. 3. Planema alcinoe camarunica,
male.

Fig. 4. Planema macaria hemileuca,
male.

Fig. 5. Planema macarista, female.
Fig. 6. Planema elgonense, female.
Fig. 7. Planema alcinoe camarunica,
female.

Fig. 8. Planema macaria hemileuca,
female.

Underside :

F.-w. much like above but apical portion tinged with ochreous.
H.-w. ochreous grey, slightly paler in the region of the band, and
orange tawny at the base; this last with clear black spots, variable in
number. The veins and internervular rays are greyish-brown.

Certain male specimens are almost uniform sooty-grey on the
upperside, vide Pl. XXXVIII., fig. 4.

Female :

Very like the male but larger and generally darker, but with the
creamy markings more distinct in the fore-wing and usually so, in the
hind-wing, but very frequently the hind-wing pale area is wide spread
and diffuse. PL XXXVIII., fig. 2.

Early Stages :

We can find no record of the eggs and larvae of this species. The
pupa is a pale bluish-green with black lines on the wing scutae, linnea
markings along the lateral aspect of the abdominal segments, anterior
to the long spines. The spines are present on the 1st to 4th segments;
red at the base, yellow centrally and black tipped.

Distribution :

This species occurs in Uganda but to our knowledge does not
extend into Kenya.

Observations :

This Planema is the model of the obscura form of Pseudacrcea
eurytus, also of the predominent form of female of Papilio cynorta
peculiaris, Neave, while certain forms of Acrcea lycoa and johnstoni
would certainly come within this combination.

PLANEMA QUADRIGOLOR LATIFASCIATA, Sharpe. PL
XXXVII., figs. 5 and 6. PL XL., fig. 8.

Expanse, males 50-55, females 68-70 mm. General colour black,
reddish-chestnut and orange. Sexes almost alike.

F.-w. basal half reddish chestnut separated from the black apical
portion by an oblique orange band which extends from the costa to
almost the hind angle near which point the band narrows and curves
inwards; the inner margin of this band is accentuated with a narrow
black line.

H.-w. basal triangle reddish-chestnut followed by an ochreous-
orange band about 4-6 mm. wide; the rest of the rest of the wing dark
blackish-brown.

41

Underside :

Very like above but duller, the dark areas being brownish and the
hind-wing band paler; the basal triangle however richer, and orna-
mented with black spots.

Female like the male but larger.

Early Stages :

The eggs are laid in a group on the under side of the 'leaves of a
creeper Adenia oissampeloides, Harms (Passifloracece). They are
white to cream and in shape indistinguishable from those of
quadrioolor leptis.

The larva changes from a dirty greyish-green of the first two
instars to a translucent bluish green, paler at the first three segments.
The segmental spines are long, greenish at the base and black-tipped.
The spaces between the spines are ornamented with bluish spots.
The pupa is pale bluish or greenish, typically acrasine, with lateral
spines on the head and long dorsolateral spines to the first four
abdominal segments. In some specimens these spines are reddish.

Distribution :

This race occurs in the Elgon Kavirondo districts and on the
western Mau.

Observations :

Although a common and distinctively marked insect, it appears
to have influenced very few plastic species; there are however certain
forms of Pseudacrcea dolomena , and Acrcea joh7istoni which bear a
superficial resemblance to it.

PLANEMA QUADRICOLOR LEPTIS, Jordan. PI. XXXVIII.,
figs. 7, 8, and 9. PI. XL., fig. 2.

Male :

Expanse 50-60 mm. General colour reddish-chestnut, black
and white.

E.-w. basal half of wing bright reddish-chestnut; apical half deep
brownish-black, with almost at at the proximal edge, a narrow orange
band of about equal width throughout, in cellules 4-7, slightly
expanded and more distally placed in 3 and represented in 2 by a
crescentic or angular mark which extends slightly into lb.

H.-w. basal patch reddish-chestnut, separated from the blackish
marginal border by a white bar, sharply defined proximally but
shaded distally.

Underside :

As above but black areas more brownish; the basal area in hind-
wing brighter reddish.

42

Photo by Dr. van Someren.

Plate XL.
Undersurfaces.

Fig. 1. Planema epsea paragea.

Fig. 2. Planema quadricolor leptis.
Fig. 3. Planema quadricolor
latifasciata.

Fig. 4. Planema poggei nelsoni.

Fig. 9. Planema

Fig. 5. Planema tellus eumelis.

Fig. 6. Planema consanguinea albicolor.
Fig. 7. Planema aganica montana,
Uganda race.

Fig. 8. Planema aganica montana,
Kenya race.

,. montana, Uganda race.

Female :

Very like the male but reddish areas paler, more brownish; and
the fore-wing orange bar wider and paler. Expanse 60-75 mm.

Early Stages:

Almost identical with the race latifasciata. The eggs are laid in
one or more groups on the underside of the leaves of a creeper
Adenia cissampeloides , Harms. They are ovoid, slightly flattened at
the bases with a slight depression at the top, markedly ribbed and
cross -ridged. In colour creamy to yellow. The newly emerged larva is
greyish-brown with a black head and minute tubercles on each
segment. At the first moult it becomes greyish green, changing to a
pale bluish-green at the next instar. The mature larva is a very
pale bluish green, some almost white, each segment, with the
exception of the 1st thoracic and anal, ornamented with six long-
branched spines, pale green at the base and bluish at the tip, with
between each, a reddish spot, duplicated centro-dorsally. Head
ochreous. The larval stage lasts two to three weeks varying with the
condition of the food plant and humidity.

The pupa is pale bluish-green with a wdiitish pubesence, with
black marks on the cremaster and wing covers, oblique black lines on
the dorso-lateral aspect of the abdominal segments in front of each
spine, with a double mark on the pen-ultimate segment. The spines
are present on the 1st to 4th segments; they are greenish at the base
centrally red and black-tipped; the anterior pair directed forwards the
remainder backwards. In some examples the spines are entirely red
while the body is immaculate. The pupal stage lasts ten days to a
fortnight. The head spines are well developed and divergent.

Distribution :

This race is found in the highland forests of Kenia, being
especially plentiful on the slopes of Mt. Kenia, the Kikuyu Escarp-
ment and on the Aberdares. We have also taken it at Molo.

Observations :

This race is remarkably constant in pattern and colour. There is
an interesting point however in connection with the vernation; the
position of the first branch of the fore-wing sub-costal which in the
genus Planema should be given off at or beyond the end of the cell,
is in this race as in itumbana, variable. Out of 100 bred specimens
some have it just before the end of the cell, a large number, at the
end, and some beyond.

Here again, this species has not affected other species in its
range, with the exception, perhaps, of Acrcea johnstoni and Ac.
ansorgei, both of which are themselves distasteful.

43

THE BIRDS OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

Part V.

by

V. G. L. VAN SoMEREN, M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., ETC.
Introduction.

The birds dealt with in the following notes belong to the small
group of “ game birds ” known as Sandgrouse. They possess certain
characteristics which give them superficial resemblance to Pigeons
or Doves, others which suggest a similarity to Plovers and in their
feathered legs they resemble the common Grouse. They however
form a compact family known as the Pteroclididce, represented in
Kenya and Uganda by examples of two genera, Pt erodes and
Eremialector.

There are certain characteristics which are common to all the
species. They are all found in areas which are more or less dry,
sandy and stony and where vegetation is sparse or typical of the
“ bush- veldt.” The nesting habits of all are similar, the eggs being
laid on the bare ground, usually in a slight depression, and all conform
to a general type, being of a curious long oval form or cylindrical,
with both ends of similar contour, curiously marbled with superficial
and deep markings, and somewhat glossy. The sexes in all species
are dissimilar, but all have the front of the legs feathered to the toes.
The general type of plumage can be said to be highly cryptic. A
marked and peculiar character of these birds is their strict adherence
to definite times for drinking; certain species drink only at fixed
hours in the morning, others drink only at sunset and dusk. A point
relative to this habit has given rise to much controversy : How do the
young chicks obtain water seeing that the parents flight such long
distances to some favourite watering place? Do the parents carry
water in their crops and regurgitate it, or do they carry it in their
feathers? Such questions are of exceeding interest yet difficult to
answer.

The appended noes are based on our personal experience of the
several species found in the territories dealt with, and must not be
taken as complete. We would welcome any additional note on habits,
etc., and information on the early plumages would be especially
useful.

We are especially desirous of obtaining specimens of Sandgrouse for the
Museum collection of Game Birds, and sportsmen and others in a position
to obtain material are asked to contribute what they can.

44

Figs. 1 & 2. Eremialector gutturalis saturation
Fig. 3. Eremialector lichtensteinii hyperythrus.

Figs. 1 & 2. Pterocles senegalensis olivascens.

Figs. 3 & 4. Eremialector decoratus ellenbecki.

Fig. 5. Eremialector decoratus decoratus.

Photographs of groups in the Nairobi Museum.

Figs. 1 & 2. Eremialector gutturalis saturatior, male and female.

Figs. 3 & 4. Eremialector lichtensteinii hyperythrus, male and female.
Figs. 5 & 6. Eremialector decoratus decoratus, male and female.

Figs. 1 & 2. Eremialector quadricinctus lowei, male and female
Figs. 3 & 4. Pterocles senegalensis olivascens, male and female.
Fig. 5. Tail of Pterocles senegalensis olivascens, male.

Fig. 6. Tail of Eremialector q. lowei, male.

Family PTERCOCLIDIDiE. Sandgrouse.

Genus PTEROGLES, Temm.

Pterocles SetiegaSensiS ©fiwascens, Hartert. Masai Pin-tailed Sand-
grouse.

Ref. Hartert, Orn. Monatsb. xvii., p. 183, 1909.
Type locality, Simba, Kenya.

Distribution: The plains and scrub country of Teita, Southern Masai
and Ukambani, to South of Kenya.

Description : Male.

Side of head, supercilium and throat ochreous buff, slightly paler
on the chin; hind neck and upper breast sandy-ochreous with an
olivaceous tinge, shading to rufescent ochreous on the lower breast,
this colour merging gradually into the rich chestnut of the belly and
flanks. A narrow black band edged with white above separates the
upper and lower breast. The centre of the belly is washed with
blackish-brown. Grown and mantle ochreous with an olive tinge;
lower mantle, inner wing-coverts, and inner secondaries olive-ochreous
shading to golden buff at the ends of each feather, most of which are
further tipped with chestnut. Rump and upper tail-coverts olive-
ochre with a brownish tinge. Tail feathers dark-brown on the inner
web, tinged with olive on the outer; all with the exception of the
central pair broadly tipped with buff. This buff tip is accentuated by
a dark blackish band proximally. Central pair of rectrices abruptly
tenuated and extended well beyond the second pair for about an inch
and a half; under tail-coverts and feathering on the tarsi sandy buff.
Greater and lesser wing-coverts golden-buff, the latter with chestnut
tips.

Primaries and primary coverts dark blackish-brown, the six inner-
most primaries with whitish ends to the inner webs, extending slightly
to the outer web. Secondaries blackish-brown, the outer ones with
slight white tips, the innermost with broad sandy border on outer
web.

Bill, bluish white at tip, darker at base of lower mandible. Eyes
brown; bare skin round eye yellowish olive. Feet olive grey.

Female :

Entire head, neck and breast pale sandy-buff, the feathers of the
crown, neck and upper breast with dark brown central streaks; the
streaked area of the breast separated from the lower uniform buff zone
by a row of feathers with brownish bars. Belly, flanks, and thighs
brownish-black with narrow cross-bars of rufous-buff. Under tail-
coverts and feathering on tarsi pale buff to white.

45

Mantle, inner coverts, rump and upper tail-coverts rufous sandy-
buff with narrow blackish-browm barring. Lesser and secondary
coverts sandy-buff with blackish bars and chestnut tips; greater coverts
uniform buff. Primaries and primary coverts brownish black, the
inner five primaries with white on the tips especially on the inner
webs. Secondaries brownish-black, the outer ones with narrow white
edges at the tips, the inner ones with brown on the edge of the outer
webs. Eectrices blackish-brown with rufous-buff barring and buff
tips. The outline of the tail is an abrupt wedge, tapering towards
the central pair which extend beyond the rest.

Colour of eyes, feet, and soft parts as in the male.

Juvenile :

The first feathered plumage is unknown to me, but that of a
young male in second feather is very like the adult female, having-
much the same general appearance but differs in being more rufescent
on the mantle, more barred on the breast, and a lighter brown on the
belly.

Habits :

The Masai Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is found in the dry, stony
country of the Massai and Wakamba, where the thorn bush is sparse
and low. Like the majority of this group, they are mostly in evidence
when coming to or at water, for their morning drink. At a
favourite watering place they may be encountered in hundreds, but
at other times when dispersed in the surrounding country, one may
see a small flock of half a dozen birds or perhaps a single pair. Their
colour harmonises so well with the general aspect of the ground that
it is very difficult to “ spot ” a sitting bird unless it moves.

I have encountered a sitting bird on more than one occasion, yet,
though within a yard or so have not detected it until it started to
leave its nest. If the eggs are fresh the parent leaves long before one
is near the spot, but if on the point of hatching she sits close.

Two to three eggs form the clutch; they are wonderfully
coloured, the ground colour varying from pale ochreous to cream or
greyish with streaks or blotches of bluish-grey and m.auve underlying
the surface and varying shades of brown and olive-tawny spots,
blotches and streaks on the surface. In shape they are a long oval
and measure 36.5 to 37 x 25 mm. We have records of nests found
in the months of June, July, and December.

As a sporting bird the “ Pin-tail ” offers good shooting, as they
are very fast on the wing, but to a good shot they are not difficult,
as the flight is direct.

From personal observation it wTould appear that this species is
resident in its distribution throughout the year.

46

Pterocles setiegaiensia 8©imt!GlB83 Hartert. Somali Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse.

Ref. Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii., p. 28, 1900.

Type locality, Milmil, Somaliland.

Distribution :

The northern portion of Jubaland, and the thorn-bush country
north of Mt. Kenia, westward to Baringo and Lake Rudolf, and
Turkhana.

Description :

Male and female. Very like the preceding race but paler
throughout. In the male the head, neck, and upper mantle are much
brighter isabelline golden, without the olive tinge; the coverts are all
much more broadly tipped with golden buff.

Habits :

As with the preceding race. Typical examples of the Somali
race are found in the northern districts of Jubaland and towards the
southern Abyssinian border, but when we come to the North Kenia
birds and those inhabiting the Turkwell and Turkhana areas we find
a certain number tend to be intermediate in colouration, and
approaching the form olivascens ; there is no sharply defined boundary
between the two forms.

Genus ERESWALECTOR, Scl.

lr@mial©Gtor decorate decorate* Cab. Southern Bridled Sand-
grouse.

Ref. Cabanis, J.F.O., 1868, p. 143.

Type locality, Lake Jipe, Tita.

Distribution : In the drier parts of Kenia, Serengetti, Yatta, and
Massai district and south of Mt. Kenia.

Description. Male Adult :

Forehead, except for extreme base, lores and centre of the throat,
black, outlined with white; the white extending back over the super-
cilium and bordered below with black. Base of mandible and chin,
white. Side of head, neck and ear-coverts, sondy buff, the latter
steaked with blackish. Upper breast sandy-buff washed with olive :
lower breast white, separated from the upper by a narrow black line.
Abdomen and flanks dark blackish-brown, most of the feathers with
narrow white tips. Crown and hind-neck sandy-buff streaked with
blackish; mantle, rump and upper tail-coverts buff, barred with black;
wing-coverts buff with widely spaced irregular broken black bars.
Primaries blackish brown, darker on the inner ones; outermost
feather with buff or white outer web; five inner ones with white

47

margined tips. Secondaries blackish-brown with white margins at
end; inner ones with rufescent edges and vermiculations on the outer
webs. Rectrices buff with whitish ends and irregular black bars;,
central pair vermiculated with blackish. Under tail-coverts whitish
to buff with angular black bars. Feathers of thighs and tarsi whitish.
Bill ochre yellow, paler on mandible. Cere yellowish. Feet greeny-
yellow.

Female :

Throat, side of head and supercilium sandy-buff, slightly spotted
at the gape and streaked on the ear-coverts with blackish. Lower
neck, upper half of breast and hind-neck sandy buff with blackish
bars. In some specimens the black marks on the mid upper breast,
are rather circular, enclosing a Somewhat cordate area of the ground
colour. Rest of the plumage of the underside as in the male, with
the white on the abdomen more pronounced. Mantle and scapulars
and lesser coverts, rich sandy-buff with wavy irregular black sub-
marginal lines following the general contour of the feathers, internal
to which are irregular wavy cross bars. Rest of the upperside as in
the male but ground colour rather darker, and black markings wider
and more pronounced. Bill horn-brown, paler on the lower mandible;,
cere greenish yellow; feet yellowish olive.

Juvenile :

The young in first feather are sandy buff below, each feather with
an angular subterminal black bar; the belly brownish with buffy tips
to each feather. The upper surface is rusty brown heavily barred
with black. The wing feathers are varigated chestnut and black.

This plumage rapidly gives place to the intermediate one which
resembles somewhat that of an adult female, but is altogether brighter
and more reddish. The feathers of the crown, hind-neck, and the
whole of the upper surface including the wing-coverts are reddish
chestnut with pale buff tips and blackish centres; those of the mantle
and wings have in addition, two or more wavy black cross bars.

The scapulars and secondaries have buff tips and margins to the
outer webs while each black bar is outlined proximally with bright
chestnut. The ends of the primaries are chestnut with pale tips and
blackish vermiculations. Both male and female, at this stage have
sandy-buff breasts tinged with rusty brown towards the tips, each
feather with an angular bar. The lower breast is a dirty buffy white;
the abdomen is brownish with wide white tips to the feathers.

The young bird moults directly from this plumage into that of the
adult male or female; the change being a gradual one.

Habits :

The Bridled Sandgrouse is undoubtedly the commonest species
in Kenya and is more often “ put up ” during a day’s shooting in

48

scrub country than any other. They are found throughout practically
the whole of the thorn bush country from he Kilimanjaro border to
north Ukambani, frequenting the open patches of stony ground.
Sometimes one comes upon them in quite thick bush where their
special food plant happens to be growing. In the ordinary way one
flushes them in pairs or possibly in small parties of six or so; it is
only when they have congregated at some favourite drinking place
that one sees them in numbers, varying from a dozen to sometimes
a couple of hundred.

These birds are very conservative and fastidious about their
drinking places; the same bunch will visit one particular spot daily
until the water is dried up, or one drift at a river where the water is
shallow and easily accessible. They seem to prefer a spot where the
ground is clear of bush and the slope to the water is gradual. They
certainly prefer clear to muddy water.

These birds have two call notes, one uttered when suddenly
flushed while feeding, consisting of a sharp repeated “ chuck,” the
other a high whistling call consisting of three syllables, the first two
drawn-out, the last short and abrupt.

The nesting season is rather irregulor. Jackson found the birds
breeding on the Useri Plains in June and July, Praed found nests in
August on the Serengeti, while my records are Tsavo in October and
April on the Loita and Taveta.

Practically no attempt is made at constructing a nest, the two
or three eggs which form the normal clutch being laid in a mere
depression in the earth; little or no material being added as a lining.
The eggs are somewhat glossy, and long oval in shape. The ground
colour is “ putty-coloured ” or buff with mauve markings below the
surface and liver or red-brown spots and marbling on the surface.

The food consists of bulbous roots, grass seeds and small
leguminous seeds, as well as insects. I have occasionally put these
birds up from amongst a small patch of ripening m’wele, but they do
not usually frequent cultivations.

Eremialector eSecoratuS @l!en£g@cki9 Erl. Northern Bridled Sand-
grouse.

Eef. Erlanger, J.f.o., 1905, p. 92.

Type locality, Sidimun, South Somaliland.

Distribution : J ubaland and the districts north of the Northern Guasso
Nyiro.

Description. Adults :

Very similar to decoratus decoratus but paler throughout. The
difference between this and the southern race is more marked in the

49

females than the males. The black areas of the feathers are more
restricted, while the marginal borders are wider and paler buff; the
intervening areas are however more rusty brown.

Habits :

Similar to the preceding race.

Taken as a whole, the Bridled Sandgrouse can be said to be an
inhabitant of the bush veldt rather than the open plain. They are
quite sporting little birds and offer good shooting either when walked
up in the bush or when flighting to water.

Er©mia!ector gutturaiia saturation Hartert. Eastern Yellow-
throated Sandgrouse.

Bef. Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii., p. 29, 1900.

Type locality, Simba, Ukambani.

Distribution : In suitable localities throughout the drier parts of

Kenya.

Description. Male Adult :

Forehead and crown dull olive shading to golden-olive on the back
of the neck; a buff line outlined in black stretches from the base of
the bill, above the nostrils to a point above the posterior angle of the
eye. Below this line is a black streak which extends from the gape
to the anterior angle of the eye. The chin, throat, cheeks, and ear-
coverts are buff shaded with yellow. The distal and .lower edge of
this throat patch is set off by a broad purply black band; chest and
breast grey, shaded with golden-olive at the neck band, and with
olive-brown distally, the whole shading in gradually into the dark
chestnut of the lower breast and abdomen; under tail-coverts and
thighs chestnut with black bars. Tarsi rusty brown. Mantle back
and upper tail-coverts olive-grey shaded with brownish; scapulars dark
ashy-grey shaded at ends with olive-brown; wing coverts grey at the
base, broadly tipped with bright rusty brown to light chestnut.
Lesser coverts greyish-olive shaded distally with rusty-brown.
Primaries and outer secondaries black with very narrow pale margin
at ends. Inner secondaries with greyish olive shading on outer webs,
tinged wih brownish. Rectrices black, with rusty-brown tips and
olive shading on outer webs; the three outermost with dentate marks
of rusty-brown; central pair olive-greyish.

Female. Adult:

Chin throat and ear-coverts sandy buff; supercilium of the same
colour, separated from the buff of the side of the head by a black line
which extends from the nostrils to the anterior angle of the eye. A
small blackish spot just above the eye. Crown nape and the rest of
the upperside yellowish buff, each feather with a blackish centre,

50

slightly expanded at the end; the longer feathers with one or more
blackish bars. Upper chest similar to the mantle, but black marks
finer; breast, abdomen and flanks rusty buff with blackish barring.
Under tail-coverts dull chestnut. Primaries as in the male. Eyes
brown; feet pale grey; bill slatey-grey.

Juvenile :

The chick in down is unknown to me.

Habits :

The Yellow-throated Sandgrouse is the largest species found in
Kenya and Uganda and although widely spread is not very common.

As with other species, their numbers can best be guaged when
flocking at a watering place; some observers have stated that the
birds come to water in hundreds, but personal observation over a
number of years leads me to believe that they seldom reach even a
hundred birds. At a certain watering place on the Athi Plains, the
Yellow-throat is to be seen flighting in, in batches of a dozen to forty
birds at a time. The flight is swift and strong, and after circling the
water once or twice at a considerable height, they swoop down to
within a few yards of the spot and run to the water’s edge. Very
little time is spent in actually drinking, and as soon as one batch of
birds is finished another appears, their advent heralded by the rather
harsh “ gruck-glock ” of the males. The flocks do not appear to keep
together after leaving the water; they break up into small bunches
and disperse in various directions to their feeding grounds.

These birds come to water between 8 and 10 a.m. During
feeding time they frequent waste stony ground where the scrub is
stunted and grass is short. They feed largely on grass seeds, small
bulbs and seeds of a leguminous plant; they aslo take insects.

It is not unusual to put these birds up in bunches of four to six
or in pairs during the breeding season, but they do not fly far and can
usually be walked up once or twice before going off any distance, for
they do not run once they have pitched; they much prefer to squat,
and allow one to come quite close befoe taking wing. They are very
partial to ground which is burnt off, especially so when the young-
grass is beginning to sprout. The breeding season is comparatively
short, and extends over August and September; though a few birds
also breed in January. Practically no attempt is made at
constructing a nest, the eggs being laid in a shallow depression in the
earth, which is sometimes lined with bits of grass and small pebbles.
Two to three eggs form the full clutch; they are pale sandy buff or
olive buff, with spots and steaks of red-brown, and mauve blotches
underlying the surface. The size is very constant, the average egg
measuring 44 x 84 mm.

51

It is very essential that this species of Sandgrouse should be
protected during the breeding season, especially so as one of its
favourite nesting grounds is within easy reach of Nairobi; the activities
of the so-called sportsman who does not care two raps whether the
birds he shoots are nesting or not should be stopped now, before the
birds are driven to seek fresh breeding grounds !

Er@Hlial@otor lioiltenstelnsi hyperythrus, Erl. Somali Barred Sand-
grouse.

Bef. Erlanger, J.f.O., 1905, p. 94.

Type locality: Daua Biver, S. Somaliland.

Distribution : The northern half of the Juba Biver district and the
Northern Frontier area bordering on Southern
Abyssinia.

Description. Male :

A triangular area at the base of the bill, white, surmounted by a
broad black band which stretches across the forehead from lore to lore ;
this in turn followed by a narrow white band in line with the anterior
angle of the eyes. Supercilium white, with a patch of black feathers
directly above the eye. Best of crown, nape and cheeks pale buff
streaked and spotted with black. Throat uniform sandy buff. Upper
breast, mantle back, rump and upper tail-coverts sandy buff with
distinct black barring; rest of breast golden ochreous buff with, in the
mid line, crossing from side to side, a narrow black or chestnut black
band; the lower edge of the buff breast band is bordered by a black
band which separates it from the abdomen, wThich is white or pale
buff narrowly barred with crescentic black lines; thighs and under
tail-coverts similarly coloured. Wing coverts pale buff with ends of
sandy buff, each feather strongly barred with two or more black bars;
scapulas and innermost secondaries rich sandy to rufescent buff with
wavy black barring. Primaries brownish black with narrow pale

margins to tips; two outermost primaries with pale outer webs.
Secondaries brownish-black, the inner ones with large pale buff patches
on the outer webs which are obliquely lined with black. Bectrices
rich ochreous buff with marked black bars which stop half an inch
before the ends, so that the tail feathers are widely buff tipped.
Feathers on tarsi white. Feet yellow; bill yellow, darker at tip of
upper mandible. Cere round eye, yellow with slight grrenish tinge on
upper eyelid. Eyes brown. Average length of wings 184 mm.

Female. Adult :

Crown sandy buff streaked with blackish; rest of head including
the thoat sandy buff spotted with black. Upper breast, mantle,

52

scapulars, lesser coverts, and innermost secondaries rufescent-buff
narrowly barred with fine wavy black lines; marginal coverts almost
uniform sandy-buff; rest of wing-coverts pale buff, richer terminally,
all narrowly barred with wavy black lines. Primaries and secondaries
as in the male. Belly pale buff with black barring; flanks greyish
with angular black bars. Soft parts as in the male, but bill more
hom yellow.

Juvenile :

Unknown to me.

Habits :

The Somali barred Sandgrouse does not differ in habits from the
other race inhabiting Kenya. It comes to water in the evening with
the regularity of clockwork. We have no record that these birds
partake of a morning drink ; in fact the one at evening seems to suffice
for the entire 24 hours. They were particularly numerous at a
drinking pool on the Upper Juba Biver at Lollesheid and again at
Dolo, but during the day very few birds were put up in the surround-
ing country; they appeared to forage at a great distance from water.
I am indebted to my friend Dr. Bevan for obtaining the specimens
on which these notes are made.

Eremialector lichtensteinii gwk®HSl35 Temm. Suk Barred Sand-
grouse.

Ref. Neumann, Orn. Monatsb., 1909, p. 153.
Type locality, Turkwell River, Suk.

Distribution : The low-lying desert country stretching between Lake
Rudolf and north of Elgon and Mt. Kenia,
including eastern Turkhana. Turkwell, Suk and
the Northern Guasso Nyiro to Marsabit and
Karoli.

Description. Male and Female :

Very like the South Somali race but generally darker above, due
to the black barring being wider and the light areas of the wing coverts
being less pale. The abdomen is considerably darker. Bare skin
round the eye, yellow; feet rich yellow; bill yellowish-horn, darker at
tip; eyes brown.

J UVENILE :

The chick in down is unknown. The young in first feather is as
follows : Head, neck, breast and mantle greyish buff with fine blackish
barring less pronounced on the throat; a slight indication of a chest

53

band, due to the feathers being less barred; scapulars sandy-buff with
black barring; wing coverts and inner secondaries greyish with fine
black vermiculations ; primaries brownish-black with pale ends finely
vermiculated ; abdomen greyish with rather ill-defined blackish barring.
Feet olive yellow; bill blackish above brownish below.

Habits :

The Suk barred Sandgrouse inhabits the dry sandy bush country
south of Lake Rudolf and although only met with in pairs or small
coveys of six or so during the day, yet when they flock, just before,
and at dusk for their evening drink at some favoured water hole or
pool in an almost dried up watercourse, they may be seen in large
flights. They come to the watering spot at the same time each
evening and although a couple of dozen birds may arrive together their
approach is swift and noiseless. The time spent in actually drinking
cannot be more than a few minutes judging by the numbers which
come to and leave a small pool in the space of quarter of an hour.
At one particular w'ater hole where I observed these birds there was
a continuous stream coming to and going from the spot for well over
an hour. These birds are unusually silent so much so that their
arrival and departure would not attract attention if one were not
actually observing the vicinity of the drinking place.

I have not found the eggs of this species, but Jackson states
that they w~ere breeding in the Baringo district in May, while my
young birds in first feather were probably hatched in April in the
Isiolo district.

Eremialestor Cfuadricinctus fowei, C. Grant. Eastern Barred-wing
Sandgrouse.

Ref. C. Grant, Bull, B.O.C. Cl. xxxv., p. 19,
1914.

Type locality : Renk, White Nile.

Distribution : The northern districts of Uganda east to the Turkwell
River.

Description. Male :

Forehead broadly black, with a small patch of white at base of
bill, and bordered above by an incomplete white band; supercilium
white with a black spot above the eye; centre of crown rufescent buff,
each feather with a black shaft steak; side of head, ear-coverts and
throat golden-buff, slightly paler on the last; nape, hind-neck and
upper breast rich sandy ochreous, the first tw~o areas washed with
alive; lower breast banded with chestnut, followed by a broader white
band edged distally with black. Abdomen, flanks, thighs, and tarsi,
banded black and white. Rump, upper tail-coverts rectrices and

54

under tail-coverts rich ochreous golden barred with black. Lesser
coverts at bend of wing uniform golden-buff with a broad glossy blue-
black sub-terminal bar outlined with white; these bars arranged in
such a way as to form a series of oblique parallel lines across the wing.
Primaries and outer secondaries brown-black; inner secondaries brown-
black on the inner webs and sandy-buff on the outer, with an oblique
black bar outlined with white.

Mantle and scapulars rich ochreous buff shaded with chestnut
towards the ends, the feathers of the former with transverse black
bars, the latter with angular blue-black bars, slightly confluent.

Feet chrome yellow; bill yellow at base, horn-brown at tip; eyes
brown; bare skin round eye, dark yellow.

Female :

Crown and nape rich rufescent buff, each feather with black shaft
streak or terminal black spot; supercilium and cheek, throat and
breast sandy buff, richer on the last area; lower breast buff with black
barring; back of neck rufescent buff with black bars; mantle and
scapulars rich rufescent-brown, with heavy angular black bars and
pale golden-buff margins. Wing coverts golden-buff with one or more
narrow black bars. Rump similar to the mantle; upper tail-coverts,
rectrices and under tail-coverts rich sandy buff with transverse black
barring. Abdomen, thighs and tarsi barred black and white. Soft
parts as in the male, except that the bill is horn-brown.

J UVENILE :

We have no young birds, neither does there appear to be any
published description.

Habits :

This species inhabits the dry stony bush- veldt or northern Uganda
and the South Rudolf district, thus overlapping somewhat the
distribution of E. 1. sukensis ; indeed in its south-east area it actually
associates with that species when flocking at some favoured watering
place.

It is an unusually silent bird and utters no note even when flushed
from its feeding ground. The time of flighting to the watering place
is later than any other species I know, the majority seek water long
after sundown, when it is impossible to see clearly, far less make
observations on behaviour.

My friend, Capt. Stoneham, writing in the Ibis on his experiences
with this bird in Uganda, states: “ This Sandgrouse is common. By
locating the drinking places . . . many could be shot nightly as

they flighted to drink, but it was difficult shooting, as they rarely

55

flighted till well after sundown, when it was so dark that they were
difficult to see. They were silent birds; never once did I hear one
utter a sound when in flight. Their flight too is noiseless, unless
alarmed. Whilst waiting for birds at dusk they frequently arrived
and alighted quite close to me without a sound. After arriving at the
river they would remain for some time if undisturbed, well into the
night, ‘ bathing ’ in the dry sand of the river-bed. By day they were
sometimes flushed from short grass or mtama and simsim fields.

Large flocks were never seen, the maximum of birds observed fighting
together being less than a dozen.”

There are no published records of the nesting time of this species.

56

Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

July, 1927. No. 30.

CONTENTS.

The Butterflies of Kenya and Uganda, Part VI. Family
Nymphalidce, Sub -family Nymphalina Charaxidi .

(illustrated) by V. G. L. van Someren, f.e.s., f.l.s.,,
etc., and Rev. K. St. A. Rogers, m.a., f.e.s.

The Birds of Kenya and Uganda, Part VI. Pigeons and
Doves (illustrated) by V. G. L. van Someren, m.b.o.u.,
c.f.a.o.u., etc.

Pishing in the Kavirondo Gulf, Lake Victoria ( illustrated ) by
C M. Dobbs ...

Notes. A use for Ants’ Nests ... ... ...

Page

57

71

97

110

*

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July, 1927. No. 30.

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(Date of publication, February, 1928.)

B

V

c

PLATE XLI.

D

A. Euxanthe e. ansellica var. radiata.

B. and C. Dorsal and lateral view of Euxanthe pupa.

D. Larval heads of

Fig. 1. Euxanthe e. ansellica. Fig. 4. Euxanthe wakefieldi.
Fig. 3. Euxanthe wakefieldi (3rd instar).

Fig. 2. Euxanthe c. ansorgei. Fig. 5. Euxanthe tiberius.

THE BUTTERFLIES OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

Part VI.

By

V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN, F.E.S., F.L.S., etc. ,
and

Rev. K. St. A. Rogers, m.a., f.e.s.

Family NYMPHAL1DJE.

Sub-family NYMPH ALIN IE.

Introduction :

The Nymphalince form one of the largest subfamilies of butterflies,
and are usually regarded as representing the highest development of
the order Lepidoptera.

Although they include some small species, they are for the most
part medium or large butterflies. They are active insects and some
species are remarkable for their powerful flight. A large proportion are
of brilliant colouring and some are amongst the most beautiful of all
known butterflies.

The larger number of the species haunt woodlands or forest
country and comparatively few are found in the open. West Africa
is much richer in number of species and individuals than East Africa.

The perfect insect is characterised by the fore-legs in both sexes
being imperfectly developed, but there is a good deal of diversity both
in appearance and habits. The larvae are generally armed with
branched spikes and the pupae are angulated, but Charaxes and its
allies have smooth larvae and pupae, except that the head of the l.arvae
has conspicuous horns.

Some of the species are well known for their migratory habits,
e.g ., Atella phalantha, Pyrameis cardui, Hypolimnas misippus, and
Crenis natalensis. H. misippus has been observed in considerable
numbers far out in the Atlantic and has established itself in South
America during the last century.

Some genera, e.g., Hypolimnas and Pseudacrcea, include some of
the most remarkable known examples of Mimicry, and others such as
Precis, the best known examples of diverse seasonal forms.

The butterflies of many genera are in the habit of basking with
out-spread wings in the full sunlight and the males of many species
are attracted by strong-smelling substances such as the excreta of
carnivora and also by the fermenting exudations found on certain
trees and to damp spots near streams.

57

The numerous species have conveniently been divided into tribes

as follows : —

Argynnidi. — These include Lachnoptera , as endemic genus; Atella ,
common to the Oriental region; and Argynnis , characteristic of
the Holarctic region of which a few species occur at high
elevations.

Vanessidi. — Include the cosmopolitan Pyrameis cardui, Antanartia,
with its nearest allies in South America; Precis , found through-
out the tropics, including the wonderful examples of seasonal
variation notably P. sesamus and P. antilope ; Salamis , an
endemic genus of great beauty; and Hypolimnas or Euralia.

Eurytelidi. — Also found in the Oriental Eegion though there is one
endemic genus, Neptidopsis. This genus may be recognised by
the swollen sub-costal nervure, a character unique amongst the
Nymphalince.

Eunicidi. — With a single endemic genus Crenis , all the other members
of the tribe being South American.

Neptididi. — With many species which are very difficult to differentiate.
This genus has two or three Europeans species but is most
developed in the Oriental region.

Nymphalidi. — With several endemic genera and many species chiefly
West Africa. The great majority of the species of this tribe
inhabit dense forest and fly rapidly close to the ground. The
larvae have long branched and feathered spines on the sides of
the body so that they are difficult to see on the food plant, and
it is only of recent years that they have become known. One
abundant species, Hamanumida dcedalus, haunts sunny paths
in open places, but it still preserves the habit of flying rapidly
just above the ground and frequently settling with out-spread
wings. The genus Pseudacrcea has generally been included in
this tribe but its habits are quite different as it has a floating
flight like a Neptis and now that its larvae are known, they also
differ markedly from others of the tribe.

Marpesidi. — Including the single genus Cyrestis, common to the
Oriental region though most of the tribe are South American.

Charaxidi. — These include two endemic genera, but the bulk form the
genus Charaxes, common to the Oriental region. Many of the
species are large insects of very powerful flight, much addicted
to settling on the branches of trees, though they often bask.
They include some of the most beautiful butterflies in the
country and one section of the genus has butterflies with highly
ornamented undersides, the varied colours of which are most
harmoniously blended, reminding one of a Persian carpet.
The species of the endemic genus Charaxes also settle on the
branches or trunks of trees generally head downwards.

58

A. PLATE XLII. B.

Under and Upper surfaces of $ and 9 Euxanthe trajanus Sb. sp. Nov.

CHARAXIDI.

Genus EUXANTHE.

The members of this genus are characterised by their large size,
very rounded wings, especially in the males, their brilliant colouration,
and characteristic larvae and pupae.

They are divided into two groups :

A. Base of the fore-wing above with a large triangular red-brown
area; cell of hind-wing closed; F.-w cell almost triangular,
its posterior angle not or but little more produced than the
anterior.

B. Base of fore-wing above without red area. Cell of h.-w. open;
cell of f.-w. obtusely rounded at anterior end and long
produced at the hinder angle so that it is semi-circular in
shape (Seitz).

A. EUXANTHE TRAJANUS. Sub.-sp. Nov. PI. XLIL, fig. a & b.

Expanse : Male 90-98 mm. General colour black with white and
cream spots.

F.-w.: Basal f of cell and basal angle of 2, red-brown; distal £
of cell, pale creamy yellow proximally shaded with black; rest of wing
black, carrying white and creamy-yellow spots as follows: three, some-
times four, submarginal at the apex in 5, 6 and 7; a series of four large
oval white spots in 4, 5, 6, 7, forming a broken sub-apical bar, followed
by three smaller submarginal white spots in lb, 2 and 3; a yellow-
shaded white bar continuous with the light spot at the apex of the
cell, crosses the wing towards the hind angle, is made up by a series
of spots, one each at the bases of 3 and 4, a large rectangular mark
towards the base of 2, two spots in lb, the upper large and situated
about mid-point of upper edge, the other much smaller situated below
and distal to the one above. Area la has a linear mark of blue-grey
scales increasing in width from the base to just beyond mid point.

H.-w. black, with a submarginal row of double white spots from
1c to 7, with an occasional extra spot inset in 7, the central area of
the wing with a triangular greyish-white patch shaded yellow in the
middle, bounded below by the lower edge of 1c and above by the
upper margin of 5.

Underside: F.-w ground leaden-brownish-black; markings as

above with the sub-apical dots omitted, but an additional minute white
dot at base of costa. H.-w blackish-brown with a suffusion of red-
brown scaling especially towards the base of the wing and costa;
pronounced black internervular and nervular rays; with a varying
number of very small white dots usually in lc to 3.

59

Female :

Expanse 116 mm. Upperside : F.-w. somewhat similar to the
male, but ground colour less black, while the light area at the apex of
the cell represented by a few white scales. H.-w. Markings as in the
male but the central patch creamy-yellow shaded at the anal angle
with rufescent scales; submarginal row of double spots larger, and
internal to these, a second row of single larger spots on the inter-
nervular rays.

Underside: F.-w a dull replica of above, but with only one sub-
apical white spot; a marked white line at the apex of the cell and a
black area at the base carrying a white dot.

H.-w. : Ground colour leaden-blackish-brown, with black nervures
and inter-nervular rays; pale patch of above represented as a white
area distally bordered wTith rusty scaling; base of wing rufescent,
carrying two white spots in 9 and 8. The white spots of above are
represented, but of reduced size, while in addition there are small
white dots almost on the margin, internervularly.

Early Stages :

The eggs of this species resemble to a marked degree those of the
genus Charaxes, and in this as also in the form of the larva and pupa
we have evidence of the relationship of the two genera. The egg is of
the large spherical type, slightly flattened above and strongly fluted
with a slight depression at the mid point. When newly deposited it
is yellow, but within forty-eight hours it becomes slightly brownish
above, turning a reddish brown a few days before hatching and then
quite black just before the larva emerges. They are laid
on the leaves of saplings of N’koba, a timber tree of con-
siderable value in Uganda. The egg stage lasts eight to ten
days. The newly-emerged larva is brownish-olive, with a black
head, the whole surface finely papillated. This colour is retained until
the second moult when it changes to a dull olive ; the head at this stage
takes on the characteristic shape peculiar of the Euxanthe group
(v.p.) In the final stage the larva is a bluish-olive green above,
laterally bordered with a whitish-yellow wavy spiracular line, the
third to ninth segments strongly keeled so as to form a frill along the
side of the body. The dorsum of the sixth segment carries a raised
ovoid yellow spot while the eighth has a small round one. The anal
segment has a markedly bifid tail. The head is almost circular in
outline carrying along the upper arc eight spines or horns, in pairs;
the outermost pair arise just before the junction of the lateral
quadrants with the upper, they are long and gradually taper to a
point, yellow at the base and black tipped, are directed outwards and
slightly upwards for about two-thirds of their length then turn up
abruptly and at the tips are inclined backwards; the next longest

60

A. PLATE XLIII. B.

Upper and Under surfaces of $ and $ Euxanthe tiberius.

pair arise at the midpoint in the halves of the upper quadrant, they
are uniformally black, slender, straight, and sharply pointed; between
these two are two short black spines and between them and the lateral
curved horns, are two short yellow spines. All carry sharp lateral
spikes, those of the lateral horns are mostly on the upper and posterior
sides. Below the outermost horns and slightly posterior to the facial
disc are two spines and a series of tubercles. The actual mouth-parts
are black. The ground colour of the disc is olive-yellow with olive-green
lines radiating from the centre towards the bases of the two long pairs
of horns, and on either side of the mouth.

The larval stage lasts 20 to 30 days (captive specimens). The
pupa is olive green, strongly ventricose and suspended from a stalk-
like cremaster. The head case is bluntly bifid; the dorsum of the
thorax keeled slightly, while the second and third abdominal segments
are dorsally produced into two pronounced protruberances ; each
segment except the first bears a reddish spiracular spot; the lateral
angles of the wing scutse are well developed. The cases themselves
are decorated with white enamel-like wavy markings especially at the
bases of the wings. There are two transverse white lines on the
dorsum of the thorax, while a white dot ornaments each lateral angle
of the wings.

Distribution :

The Uganda form of Euxanthe trajanus appears to be a rare
insect and has only been taken by us in two localities in Uganda.
Not more than a dozen specimens are known. It differs from the
typical West African form.

EUXANTHE TIBERIUS, Smith. PI. XLIIL, figs, a & b.

Expanse : Male, 92-100 mm. General colour brown-black with
light markings in fore wing. Sexes unlike.

F.-w. : Ground colour black; upper half of base of wing red-
brown, thus almost filling the whole of the cell; distal end of cell,
black with a lemon yellow spot in upper comer.

A sub-apical row of white spots continued sub -marginally extends
from 8 to lb, that in lb is doubled and those in 2 and 3 are set slightly
internal to the line of the remainder. A sub-apical bar of four pale
lemon-yellow spots crosses the wing at mid point of 7 and 4. This is
followed by a slightly curved mid-alar bar composed of interrupted
spots, pale lemon-yellow in colour extending from beyond the apex of
the cell towards the hind angle, occupying the base of 4, 3, sub-basal
in 2, and the proximal end of the distal third of lb.

H.-w. uniformally brownish black with a violet bloom, with a
sub-marginal row of small double spots from 2 to 7, areas 5 and 6 with
an extra, larger inter-nervular spot set internal to the sub-marginal
ones.

61

Underside : Ground colour blackish scaled with rusty-brown

distally, pattern as above, with an additional white spot at the base
of the cell which area is blackish. H.-w. uniform deep rusty-brown
with black scaling along the veins and internervular rays ; sub-marginal
spots as above with transverse white internervular marginal streaks.

Female :

Expanse : 110 mm. F.-w. : Pattern of the fore-wing as in the male,
but the spots are white and larger. H.-w. black with a large white
discal area which reaches the inner margin; the black border contains
two rows of white spots, the inner ones larger and placed inter-
nervularly the outer sub-marginal and small, two to each cellule.
The margin itself carries white internervular streaks.

Underside: F.-w. as above but ground colour rusty especially
towards the apex; the extreme base of the cell is black and carries a
white spot; the base of the costa is black with a white spot. H.-w. :
Markings as above, but the ground colour is red-brown intersected
with black veins and internervular rays to the margin of the white
patch.

Early Stages :

The eggs of E. tiberius are laid singly on the leaves of a forest
tree not yet identified, but known to the Baganda as “ Muziru.”
When first deposited they are creamy, but develop a brownish
ring within 48 hours and as development proceeds the brown
colour extends to the entire base, subsequently becoming black
just before the larva emerges. The egg is a slightly depressed
sphere with a central depression from which fluted rays extend outward
to form a star. The young larva up to the first moult is olive brown
turning more greenish at the next instar, at which time the head,
which was originally black, becomes olive and surmounted with short
spines. At the third and fourth instar, the ground colour is olive-brown
with olive-green patches on the dorsum of the third to ninth segments ;
the lateral aspect of these segments are expanded in the form of a
frill which is pinkish or red in colour. Below this wavy line the body
is ochreous pink; the forelegs brown, and the suctorial ones ochreous.
The 6th and 8th segments are dorsally ornamented with raised
crescentic white patches. The anal segment carries a flattened
bifid tail. The head piece is characteristic, very like that of E.
trajanus but the long lateral horns taper more abruptly and are not
inclined backwards at the tips. The posterior aspect is black; the
anterior is yellow at the base shading to orange up to the bend, while
the tip is jet black. The central long pair of horns are slender, finely
pointed and black anteriorly, green at the back. The short spines
of the interspaces are orange. The facial disc is ochreous-orange with
olive-green markings arranged as follows : Four lines arise from the

62

A. PLATE XLIY. B.

Under and Upper surfaces of $ and 9 Euxanthe crossleyi ansorgei.

centre of the disc and pass upwards, one to each of the four uppermost
horns, two short lines are directed towards the long lateral horns but
do not reach their bases; a green spot is however present at the base
of these horns. A green transverse line is present above the black
mouth parts surmounted by a brown dot at the extremities. The
spines on the posterior surface of the margin of the facial disc are
orange at the bases and black tipped; the longest of these is branched.

Distribution :

This species is found in the forested areas of the Coastal belt, and
has recently been taken by us in the Meru forest near Kenia. This
distribution is peculiar and it would be of great interest to know
whether the species occurs in the forests along the Tana River.
Rogers has taken E. tiberius in some numbers at Rabai, but it cannot
be called common. It is entirely a forest species keeping to the dense
areas where it is difficult to detect unless in flight. It usually settles
on some sapling under the shade of large trees. Its flight is rather
slow and not of long duration. Females are much rarer than males,
and even more sluggish in their movements.

EUXANTHE CROSSLEYI ANSORGEI, Rothsch. PI. XLIV., figs.

a & b.

Expanse : Male, 90-95 mm. General colour black with yellow-
green markings.

F.-w. : Ground colour black slightly rufescent at the base of the
costa. Markings as follows : A series of five small sub-apical white
dots extending from 8 to 4 followed by two irregular spots set more
internal in 2 and 8; a double sub-marginal spot in lb. A series of four
somewhat linear marks, yellowish-green in colour cross the apex of
the wing from 8 to 4; internal to these are four larger linear yellowish-
green marks distal to the apex of the cell; a further four large linear
or irregular shaped marks cross the wing from the distal half of the
cell to the posterior angle; a long linear mark of the same colour fills
the mid-third of la.

H.-w. : Discal area yellow with a greenish tinge, this invaded by
the black of the border extending up along the veins; the black border
ornamented with three rows of spots as follows : a sub-marginal

series consisting of somewhat triangular white marks, duplicated in
1c, at mid-point between the veins; a second row of twin spots in each
internervular space follows the contour of the wing; this in turn is
followed by a third row of large ovoid lemon-yellow spots, double in
lc, placed parallel to the second row and at mid-point in each inter-
nervular space from lc to 7. The abdomen is tawny-orange in colour.

Underside: F.-w.: Distribution of spots as above; distal half of
wing ochreous -brown, proximal, black.

63

H.-w. : Light marks as above; veins black -scaled and prominent;
base of wing tawny; border of wing ochreous-brown.

Female :

Expanse 108-110 mm. Somewhat like the male, but black ground
less intense; light markings similar in distribution but larger and pale
yellowish-white.

Early Stages :

The eggs of E.c. ansorgei are almost spherical with a slightly
flattened area on top, faintly fluted. The surface is semi-matt and
creamy in colour. As development proceeds the egg turns brown,
first at the rim and then throughout the entire surface. The eggs
are laid on the mature leaves of a forest tree — known to the
Baganda as N’kuzanyana. The larva is at first olive-brown

with a black head. It becomes olive-green at the first moult
with a strongly bifid tail, while the head is ornamented with
short spines arranged as in the mature insect (q.v.) In the final stage
the larva is sage green with two raised yellow oval marks on the sixth
and eight segments; the spiracular line is prominent and pinkish-
yellow in colour, undulating and forming a frill along the side of the
body. The underside of the body is greyish-brown. The head-piece
consists of a disc surmounted by four pairs of horns ; the lateral pair,
10 mm. long, arising from the upper end of the lateral quadrants are
long and cylindrical with a slight bulbous end, finely papillated all
over and spined on the posterior surface. They are brown in colour
and are directed outward and upward for two-thirds their length, then
curve inwards. The next and central pair are short, laterally spined
and yellowish in colour.

The intervening pair are 5 mm. long, straight, and taper abruptly
to a point, heavily spined basally and reddish brown in colour. The
ground colour of the disc is dull green, with a marginal border of
yellow widest at the bottom. Mouth parts brown. Two yellow
stripes form a V in the centre of the face.

The pupa is large with laterally expanded wing-cases; the
shoulders are prominent while the abdominal segments, especially the
third, project in the form of a hump. The cremaster is stalked
and supported at the base by two series of rounded protruberances.
The ground colour of the pupa is olive-green ornamented with wavy
enamel-like white markings, especially on the wing scutae.

Distribution :

Ansorge’s Euxanthe ranges through the forests of Uganda to those
of the Nandi Escarpment. It is entirely a forest species which keeps
to the denser parts, frequenting the shady hollows frequently in

64

A. PLATE XLV. B.

Under and Upper surfaces of U and 9 Euxanthe eurinome ansellica.

the vicinity of standing water. The males are commoner than the
females and come to bait or damp mud in much the same way as do
Charaxes.

Both sexes enter into the Tirumala petiverana mimetic association.

EUXANTHE EURINOME ANSELLICA, Butlr. PL XLV. , figs.

a & b.

Expanse : Male, 90-96 mm. General colour black with pale green
markings. Abdomen orange tawny.

F-w : Velvety black, with slight rufescence at the base of the
costa. The size of the spots somewhat variable but position constant.
The average specimen is as follows : A sub-apico-marginal series of
single spots duplicated in lb extending from this cellule to 8, that of
2 considerably set in from the line; a short series of four passing
obliquely through the cellules 4-7, followed by three linear marks
beyond the apex of the cell, below and distal to which is an ovoid
spot in 3; an irregular spot with dentitions on the anterior edge is
present in the cell followed by a pear-shaped spot sub-basal in 2,
followed by a double linear streak at distal end of mid-third of lb,
with a linear mark at mid-point in la. All spots pale green, the sub-
apical one almost white.

H.-w. : Ground colour velvet black slightly rufescent at the costa;
basal patch pale greenish occupying most of the cell, the bases of 2,
3, 4, and 5, and lc; the veins heavily emphasised by black scaling.
A row of large ovoid pale green spots traverses the black border at
about mid-point, followed by a sub-marginal series of triangular inter-
nervular spots of the same colour. Very often there is a series of very
small double spots internal to the sub-marginal series.

A variety of male F. RADI AT A, VAR. NOV. (PL XLI., fig. a) has
the area of la and lb chestnut, with an extension of this colour between
the basal green and the first series of spots; and has the sub-marginal
row larger than normal and connected with the first row by graduated
lines of green.

Underside : Male and female. The ground colour is ochreous-
brown with the central area of the fore-wing blackish shaded with
chestnut along the margins. The under surface of the female is more
greyish-brown. The spots in both sexes are more pronounced and
larger than above.

Female :

Expanse 110 mm. Very like the male but the ground colour not
so black, more brownish, the pale spotting larger and more bluish with
a greater degree of bluish scaling in the fore-wing cell and most of
la, lb, and lc in the hind-wing white or very pale blue. Upper surface
of abdomen dark brown, underside tawny orange.

65

Early Stages :

The eggs of this species are laid singly on the upper surface and
near the mid-rib of the more mature leaves of the forest tree
Nkuzanyana (Luganda). They are bright yellow in colour, 2 mm. in
diameter, resembling those of other species of Euxanthe, being almost
spherical with the top depressed and markedly fluted from the central
dimple. In two days a brown mark develops at the rim of the
depression, and the whole egg gradually turns black, the larva hatching
out in from seven to ten days. It devours the egg shell before
commencing to eat any green food. When newly emerged it is pale
olive with a black head, which under a magnifying glass appears
covered with fine papillae. At this stage the body is immaculate but
as the various instars are completed the body becomes greener
and at the third moult white spots appear on the sixth and eighth
segments. The head turns from black to brown and then to green.
After each moult the horns are whitish but darken to a grey-brown.
At all stages the larvae prefer the mature leaves to the young shoots.
The adult larva has a smooth, broad, somewhat flattish body, sage-
green in colour with two raised enamel-like white spots on the seg-
ments afore-mentioned. These spots are oval and placed transversely;
each spot has two black dots placed side by side in its centre.

The spiracular or body line is white and projects in a wavy line
along the length of the body in the form of a frill. The anal end
carries a strongly bifid tail which is white. In some specimens the
horns, tail and frill are rusty red. The head-piece is circular in
outline and covered with fine papillae. A central groove, commencing
between the two median spines passes downwards, and at about the
centre divides into two, enclosing a triangular area just above the
mouth parts. The ground colour is sage-green. From the upper end
of the lateral quadrants there arises on each side a strong cylindrical
horn with a slightly thickened end, greyish white in colour, covered
with fine papilae and with spines on the posterior and outer surfaces.
These horns are 9 mm. in length and are directed out and up and
slightly inwards. Two other strong horns arise from the top of the
disc; these are broad at the base but taper abruptly to a fine point.
They are 4 mm. long and carry lateral spines. Between these two
and between them and the outer pair, there are short sharp branched
spines. The edge of the facial disc is white from the base of the
lateral horns to above the mouth. Two convergent lines pass from
the upper horns to just above the mouth.

The pupa has a very deformed appearance, due to the prominent
dorsal hump of the second and third segments, particularly the latter;
the thorax is also prominent dor sally. The angles of the wing
shoulders project, while the wing cases are flattened and extended

66

A. PLATE XLVI. B.

Under and Upper surfaces of $ and 9 Euxanthe wakefieldi.

laterally. The colour is dark green, with a glazed surface ornamented
with white marbling on the wing cases, the thorax and the head.

Distribution :

This species is confined to the forests of Uganda from Toro to the
Elgon district. It is quite plentiful in the deep shady recesses but
the males will come out into the open when attracted by bait such
as leopard droppings, etc. They are slow of flight and display them-
selves in the patches of sunlight which penetrate the gloom of the
forests. The males are fond of settling on the festoons of dried
creepers in the forest clearings.

Both sexes, especially the female, bear a strong likeness to their
model Tirumala petiverana.

EUXANTHE WAKEFIELDI , Ward. PI. XL VI., figs, a & t).

Expanse : Male, 80-90 mm. General colour black with green-
blue markings. Sexes unlike.

F.-w. velvety-black, with a series of pale greenish blue spots (which
when viewed from certain angles appear white) arranged as follows : a
sub-marginal row of small dots placed internervularly in cellules 2 to 8,
sometimes only present in 2 and 3; a sub-apical row of angled spots in
4, 5, and 6, sometimes with a small dot under the costa; a series of
irregularly shaped marks placed obliquely across the wing from the
sub-costal mid-point to just before the hind angle, divided up by the
black-scaled veins. Apex of cell with a large spot, with occasionally
a small dot at the base.

H.-w.: Black, tinged rufescent at the base of the costa; a large
bluish white area fills most of the cell, the bases of 2, 4, 5, and
6. The black border carries three rows of green spots; very small
sub-marginal internervular, internal to which are double spots in 1c,
2 and 3; and a row of large ovoid ones following the contour of the
wing from lc to 7, that in 1c double and small.

Underside: The ground colour of the F.-w. is blackish at the base
shading to rusty along the costa and the apex. Spotting similar to
above with two additional spots at the base of the costa and cell.

H.-w.: Ground colour rusty brown; spotting as above but more
pronounced, with extra white spots in 8 and 9. Abdomen tawny
orange.

Female :

Expanse 100-105 mm. General colour black and white.

F.-w. black with very pale bluish white or white markings
similarly placed to those in the male, but all spots larger; the sub-
apical series is usually missing.

67

H.-w. : As in the male but hind patch more extensive and
reaching almost to the inner margin, the second row of spots are
larger and more pronounced and extend to area 8, whilst the sub-
marginal series is often missing or obsolete. In many specimens the
large spot in the forewing cell is continuous with the basal one.

Underside: Very like above but the bases of the costa of fore and
hind wings chestnut; area 7 carries three white spots while 8 has two
and 9 one.

Early Stages:

The egg of this species does not differ from that of other Euxanthe.
The food plant is known to the Baganda as M’ziru — a forest tree which
is plentiful at the coast and extends to Mt. Kenia. In the first two
stages the larva is similar to that of E. e. amellica , but after the
second moult the larvse can be distinguished by their heads. In the
final stage the larva is sage green with a red spiracular line heavily
serrated on the lower edge, shading to white along the upper edge, and
outlined with a fine line of black. The strongly bifid tail is white;
while the sixth and the eighth segments are each ornamented dorsaily
at their anterior edge with a raised oval patch reddish in colour, out-
lined with black, each carrying two green dots set transversely.

The head is oval in outline with a serrated margin, carrying on its
upper half four pairs of horns; the outer pair are long (10 mm.),
cylindrical for the greater part of their length, becoming bulbous at
the end. The entire surface is heavily papillated, and on the upper
and posterior surfaces there are three sharp spines; in colour these
horns are brownish, with the papillae ochreous. They are directed
outward and slightly upwards, and at the point of expansion are
inclined more vertically upward. The second pair are short spines
with lateral branches; the third are 5 mm. long, black at the base and
brown to as far as the tip; they are laterally spined and covered with
papillae; the central pair are short and heavily branched. Below the
outermost pair there are two much branched spines directed back-
wards. The facial disc is centrally grooved; sage green in colour with
a wide yellow marginal border, widest above the mouth. From the
bases of the third pair of horns ochreous lines pass down in a V to
just above the mouth. The mouth parts are blackish-brown. The
first thoracic segment is dorso-anteriorly red. The anterior-lateral
aspect of segments 1 to 6 is crimson. The forelegs are ochreous while
the suctorial ones are pink. The ventral surface of the insect is
ochreous.

The pupa is large and green in colour with a high glaze. The
inferior surface is almost straight, but the dorso-thoracic segments
are prominent and keeled, while the abdominal ones, especially the
second and third, are protruded in the form of a hump. The wing

68

cases are expanded laterally and much angled. The cremaster is
long-stalked and arises from a base of rounded knobs, four anterior,
three lateral, on either side. The dorsal surfaces of the second and
third abdominal segments are mostly enamel white in colour, while
the wing scutas are decorated with wavy lines of the same colour. The
facial mask is white below. A diamond shaped white line outlines
the thoracic segment.

Distribution :

Wakefield s Euxanthe is common at the Coast and at Dabida, and
it has recently been found to extend to the forests of Meru near Mt.
Kenia. It is a forest species, but many examples find their way into
the shady cocoanut groves where their slow flight and brilliant colour
make them consipcuous. The males are fond of sailing about in some
sunny forest clearing and should two appear in the same spot they
immediately attack and chase each other until one is forced to retire.

When at rest they sit with their wings tight closed and owing to
their peculiar marking are difficult to see, especially if the resting
spot happens to be some brown dead creeper. The males are
considered to be associated in colour with the mimetic group centred
round Tirumala petiverana , while the females with their marked black
and white pattern come into the Amauris niavius and A. ochlea
association.

69

GREY FOREST PIGEON.
(Columba unicincta.)

THE BIEDS OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

Part VI.

By

V. G. L. VAN SoMEREN, M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., ETC.

Family COLVMBIDM.

Genus COLUMBA, Linn.

Introduction.

The Columbidse of Kenya and Uganda are from a popular point of
view divisible into three main groups : true Pigeons, Doves, and Green
or Fruit Pigeons. The Doves are usually further sub-divided into
groups according to their natural habitat or some pronounced
characteristic. They have several features and habits common to all;
thus in the matter of nest building, all adopt a fixed pattern, viz.,
an open platform of twigs loosely laid together, with little or no
lining; further the eggs of all .species are uniformally coloured, white
or cream, and one or two eggs form a normal clutch.

They have a wide distribution, being found from sea level up to
10,000 feet, inhabiting forest, plain and desert country.

They are of considerable economic value, as devourers of seeds
of obnoxious weeds, but it must also be laid to their charge that they
do considerable damage to, and feed largely on cultivated grain; the
balance however is decidedly in their favour.

Gogumha unicincta, Cass. Grey Forest Pigeon.

Eef. Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1859, p. 143.

Type locality : Ogowe Eiver Gaboon.

Distribution :

The great forests of Uganda.

Description. Male Adult :

Head neck and upper part of mantle pearly-grey, with a slight
pinkish wash on the lower neck; chin and throat pure white, or with a
slight greyish tinge. Upper breast greyish-pink, lower breast a
delicate vinous pink, gradually fading into the white of the abdomen
and grey of the flanks.

Thighs pure white. Undertail coverts white. Mantle scapulars
and lesser wing-coverts lead-grey, with bluish-grey margins to each
feather imparting to these areas a scaly appearance. Greater coverts
and outer-webs of secondaries uniform leaden-grey; primaries dark
greyish black with leaden-grey edging. Back, rump and upper tail-
coverts bluish-grey with lighter grey margins. Eectrices dark greyish-
black with a diffuse pearly-grey or white band crossing each feather
about Jin. from tip; the band on the central pair always pearly-grey.

71

Cere round the eye, dark red, slightly mottled; eyes crimson, or
ruby; bill horn grey paler at tip of lower mandible; feet dull bluish-
crimson or greyish-red. Wings 210-215 mm.

Female :

Very like the male but the vinous blush on the breast not so
marked; size slightly smaller.

Juvenile :

This is unknown to us; nor is there any published description.
Habits :

The Grey Forest Pigeon is an inhabitant of the great tropical rain
forests of Uganda, and although its range extends from Uganda to the
forests of Congo and Gaboon, it is not common anywhere. We have
never encountered the bird in flocks, the largest number seen at one
time being four. Indeed it is seldom that one actually sees the birds;
their presence is only made known by the deep penetrating “ coo
coming from the topmost branch of some commanding sentinel of the
forest. The top strata of the forest seems to be their favourite habitat,
but they will descend to the mid strata when certain fruit bearing trees
prove an attraction. Like most pigeons, these birds lie up during
the heat of the day, and are most active during the early morning
and after four in the evening. Just before sunset, when the sun’s
rays lie parallel with the tops of the trees, one may see a male bird
performing aeriel evolutions which are remarkable as showing the
wonderful powers of flight and control. The usual manoeuvre consists
of a rapid “ take-off ” from the topmost branch in an upward direction,
a full application of brake force brought about by fanning and
depressing the tail and depressing of wings, causing a sharp vertical
ascent, followed by a complete turn, and a gentle glide down to the
starting point. The downward glide is preceded by a clapping of the
wings above the back. This display is more frequent during the
mating season than .any other. As regards the actual nesting of this
bird nothing is known. The mating call is soft and carressing in tone.

Oolumba arcfuatrlx arouatrix, Temm. & Kp. Yellow-billed Speckled

Pigeon.

Ref. Temminck & Knip. Colombes, p. 11, pi.

5, 1809.

Type locality : Knysna, Cape Colony.

Distribution :

The forested regions of Kenya and Uganda above 4,000 feet.
Description : Male, Adult :

Fore part of the head, cheeks and neck purply-grey, with a vinous
bloom; hind part of crown to nape, pale grey. Feathers of the lower

72

YELLOW-BILLED SPECKLED PIGEON.
(Columba arquatrix arquatrix )

neck with dark triangular subterminal mark and purply-grey tips,
those of the hind-neck being pointed and hackle-like; and those
bordering the upper breast delicately shaded with pink and forming
a breast band. Upper part of mantle, scapular and lesser coverts
deep purply-maroon with a greyish bloom and white marginal spots
on outer webs; rest of mantle purply maroon shading into dark leaden
grey on the back and rump and lighter grey on the outer wing coverts.
The long scapulars are purply-brown with a greenish sheen.
Primaries and secondaries blackish, the former with very narrow pale
edges. Lower breast, and upper abdomen leaden-grey with wide
purply chestnut to maroon ends and one or two terminal triangular
white spots; flanks and belly leaden-grey with purply brown margins;
under tail-coverts lead-grey with paler margins. Upper tail-coverts
and rectrices dark brownish-black with slight green reflections.

Bill and feet lemon-yellow; bare skin round eye pale yellow with
orange dapplings. Eyes grey or yellowish-grey. Length of wing
215-235 mm.

Female :

Very like the male but less spotted and more greyish. Eyes
brown or grey-brown.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage is dull brownish, each feather tipped and
margined with rusty brown. This dress gradually merges into that of
the first year in which the fore part of the crown is dark greyish with
rusty-brown tips, shading into dull greyish on the rest of the crown
and nape. The rest of the head and neck are greyish with the chin
washed with brownish. The neck feathers are dull hair-brown with
tips of dirty whitish or ochreous. The mantle, scapulars and wing
coverts are brownish, the feathers on the latter area with rusty edges
and white tip, giving a barred appearance to the bend of the wing.
Primaries and secondaries dull brownish; rump blackish; rectrices
blackish-brown. Breast and abdomen dull greyish with slight purply
wash and rusty-brown tips. A few whitish spots are present on the
breast. Bill and feet dull yellow. Bare skin round the eyes dull
yellow with greenish tinge; eyes greyish-pink or brown.

Habits :

The Yellow-billed Pigeon is common and widely distributed over
the highland forests of Kenya and the higher forests in Uganda; it
apparently does not occur in the central province of Uganda though
well timbered areas exist in this part. It is however plentiful in the
western forests round Toro and Ruwenzori. The stronghold of the
species is undoubtedly the alpine forests of the Mau and Kikuyu
Escarpment and Kenia. One has to witness a flight of these birds in
order to appreciate the immense size of the flocks which move about

73

from forest to forest as successive crops of fruit-bearing trees come
into season. A certain number are permanently resident in a forest
but their numbers are periodically augmented by the incursion of local
migratory birds.

The species is very conservative in the matter of roosting places,
and although the feeding ground of the moment may be some
considerable distance away the birds will flight there in the early
morning, returning to roost an hour or so before sunset. There are
several trees which furnish heavy crops of berries beloved by these
birds, the commonest ones being the Wild Olive, Olea chrysophylla,
Podocarpus gracilior, various species of Todalia and Teclea especially
T. trichocarpa , T. viridis , and T. stuhlmanni, and the minute black
fruit of Trema guineensis, F’ha. It is of interest to note here that
the last mentioned tree grows largely in the open country either self-
sown or cultivated, and although this Pigeon is a forest one it will
frequent the open cultivated country to feed on this fruit. They also
feed on certain wild figs.

One’s attention is frequently attracted to these birds by the noise
they make when feeding; although a heavy bird, they do not hesitate
to reach for and secure some tempting berry growing at the extreme
end of a slender twig; they sidle along the twig until it bends almost
to breaking point, but with the aid of flapping or outstretched wings
they preserve their balance until the fruit is secured. The noise they
thus make is audible at quite a long distance.

Like many other forest species this pigeon builds its nest in quite
low trees; we have found them at heights varying from six to twenty
feet up. The nest is usually composed of the minimum number of
slender twigs placed across each other calculated to support the eggs
and the sitting bird; so flimsy is the structure, that more often than
not, one can see the eggs quite plainly from below. Though the nest
itself is so flimsily built, it is usually placed on some strong horizontal
fork, with a fair canopy of leafy branches above. The number of
eggs laid is not constant— we have frequently found nests with only-
one egg, occasionally two — but I am inclined to think that the former
is the normal. The egg is a pure semi-glossy white, and measures
40-40.5 x 30 mm. Eggs kept under observation hatched in 16 days.
Both parents share in the brooding of the egg and the young. They
are close sitters, but reckless in the way they leave the nest if
disturbed ; I have more than once seen the egg knocked out of the
nest as the parent has hastily left it. Nests have been found from
March to August and November.

The call is very like that of the Wood Pigeon in England,
consisting of two long drawn-out notes followed by two shorter ones,
thus, wh-o-o wh-o-o hu hu. They also have a whistling note which
is made under stress or excitement.

74

HACKLED-NECK PIGEON,

(Columba guinea guinea.)

The courting habits are difficult to follow as what little display
there is takes place in the tops of high trees.

From the sporting point of view these birds take a high place.
They are swift and strong fliers and are amenable to being driven
over guns if these be correctly placed between feeding grounds. To
the single gun considerable sport can be obtained by taking the birds
as they flight to the food tree in the early morning or about four in the
afternoon. A more difficult type of shooting, and one which calls for
accuracy and quickness, is walking through a forest and taking the
birds as they fly from the tree. They make off with a clatter of wings
which unfortunately frightens most of the birds in the immediate
vicinity. Another method is “ snap shooting ” as the birds are
driven across the narrow “ rides ” or fire breaks.

Collimba guinea guinea^ Linn. Hackled-neck Pigeon.

Bef. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 10th edt., p. 163,

1758.

Type locality : Guinea.

Distribution :

In suitable localities in Kenya, through Uganda to western Ankole.
Description : Male, Adult :

Head and upper neck light grey, paler on the throat and above
the bare patch round the eye; darker, more ashy on the hind part of
the crown. Neck feathers curiously bifid, exposed part orange
chestnut at base shading to irridescent greenish-grey at the forked
ends. These forks are stiff and give the appearance of hackles.
Breast, flanks, abdomen, vent and back, light grey, the latter shading
into very pale grey or almost white n the rump, which in turn shades
into the darker grey of the upper tail-coverts. Under-tail coverts as
upper.

Mantle, scapulars, and most of the wing-coverts bright reddish-
chestnut with a decided 44 bloom,” the feathers of the last with
conspicuous triangular white terminal spots; rest of the wing-coverts
grey, those at the bend of the wing with terminal spots. Primary
coverts and outer webs of secondaries grey; primaries and remainder
of secondaries ashy-grey with narrow white margins at tips. Bectrices
ashy-grey with a wide black terminal band and a less distinct narrow
dark band at the line of the longest tail-coverts.

Bare skin round the eye carmine, slightly mottled; eye with
double ring, outer red to crimson, inner ochre to pale yellow. Bill
black or grey, cere and nostrils white. Feet light purply-grey to
pinkish with a bluish tinge. Length of wing 215-235 m.m.

Female :

Very like the male but smaller.

75

Juvenile :

The first full feathered plumage is very similar to the adults, but
the speckling on the wings is not so extensive and is tinged with
ochreous; the feathers of the crown, nape and mantle are grey with
rusty-brown tips, while the feathers of the lower neck are dull grey
with rusty-brownish ends, not bifid. The rump and under-side are
as in the adult but duller; the primary coverts, the secondary coverts,
primaries and secondaries are broadly tipped with rusty-brown. Eyes
pale brown; bill blackish; feet flesh-brown. Wings 200-215 mm.

Habits :

This is one of the most conspicuous Pigeons in Eastern Africa,
and certainly one of the most interesting, as it is easily domesticated
and breeds freely in captivity and hybridises well with the domestic
Pigeon.

Although widely distributed, these birds keep to certain types of
country; the requirements seem to be a rocky sandy bush-veldt in
the vicinity of cliffs or broken larval country such as is found in the
Northern Guasso Nyiro country. The birds are thus fairly plentiful
in northern Ukambani; Donyo Sabuk, on the rocky sparsely tree-clad
sides of the Escarpment down into the Kedong; extending along
through Naivasha and Gilgil scarps, to Baringo and South Rudolf,
Suk, Turkana, and the Maragoli Escarpment, and Kisumu, and in
suitable localities in Uganda, more especially the western districts.
So far as I have been able to observe, these birds appear to take all
their food on the ground, thus resembling the “ Rock Dove ” of
Europe. In many other respects there is a close similarity. These
birds are usually met with in pairs or small flocks of half a dozen,
rarely more. They are remarkably confiding and allow one to come
to quite close quarters before taking wing; even then they only fly
a short distance before settling to feed.

Several pairs frequent the township of Naivasha, and the
railway yard of Kisumu; these latter flight down from the Maragoli
Scarpe with great regularity every afternoon about 4 p.m. They
feed round the outspans on the edge of the Bazaar and then visit the
railway loading sheds, the attraction in both places being the grain
and simsim which has escaped during the handling of the bags.

The usual nesting site of this bird is in a cliff side or deep railway
cutting, occasionally in the banks of a deep water-worn course of a
river. Of recent years they have taken to nesting under railway
bridges and in crevices in the walls of outhouses. Two eggs form the
normal clutch, pure white in colour and measuring 24 x 32 mm. The
breeding season is uncertain, but we have taken eggs in February to
July and in November and December.

76

The courting habits of this species are almost identical with those
of the domestic pigeon. When the breeding season is on, the males
become pugnacious and defend their respective nesting sites with
great vigour. During June of 1912, when camped on the Maragoli
ridge above Kisumu, I witnessed a tussle between two cocks. They
were sparring on a dead branch of a tree which overhung the cliff;
neither would give way but clung to the branch and buffetted each
other with the hard bend of the wing to such an extent that feathers
flew in all directions. When one seemed to loose its foot hold, and
overbalanced, the other attacked it with vigorous pecks of the beak
accompanied by much wheezing and cooing. The usual line of
defence seemed to be to lie on one side and raise the near wing to its
fullest extent, and to bring it down half closed on to the aggressor’s
head when opportunity presented. This fight lasted fully ten minutes
until the birds were exhausted, and they sat panting about six inches
apart, neither being capable of striking another blow. They remained
thus for quite a long time until the female, who had been sitting on
a nearby tree, sailed out leisurly over the valley as though nothing
untoward had been taken place near her. Her departure was the
signal for a truce as both males followed in her wake to the feeding
grounds below.

The call of this pigeon is rather a harsh, semi-guttural “ coo,”
mostly uttered at dawn and before sundown during the off season,
but at any time during the day when they are nesting. I have not
heard them cooing when on the ground. These birds keep to the
ground as much as possible, and even when frightened, they prefer to
fly a short distance and alight on the ground rather than to perch on
a nearby tree. On the Northern Guasso however, they perch on the
Dom Palms as readily as on rocks. Jackson suggests that they nest
on these palms; any way the point is worth investigating. Owing to
the smallness of the flocks these birds do not offer a great deal of
sport.

Genus TURTUROiMAj Bp.

Tnrturo©na deSegorgyei sharpei, Salvad. Kenya Bronze-naped
Pigeon.

Bef. Salvadori, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus. xxl, ,
p. 329.

Type locality : Mt. Elgon.

Distribution :

The forests of Kenya from the Coast to Mt. Elgon.

Description : Male, Adult :

There would appear to be two distinct adult plumages not refer-
able to age. Forehead, cheeks, crown and earcoverts ashy-grey, the

77

latter two areas with metallic green reflections; nape and neck except
at the front, metallic green with pronounced violet reflections, followed
by a band of enamel white feathers in the region of the lower neck
and interscapular area; the lower margin of this band with violet-
bronzey irridescence. Chin and front of throat grey, merging into the
purply-chestnut of the lower throat and chest, these latter with a
distinct greyish bloom. Mantle, scapulars, inner wing coverts and
outer webs of inner secondaries coppery-chestnut with some greenish
reflections; rest of wing slatey-black, slightly brownish on the inner
webs of the primaries. Lump, upper tail-coverts and rectrices deep
slatey-black with greenish irridescence; the tips of the rectrices
slately-grey. Lower breast, flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts
ashy-grey. Eyes yellow, reddish-yellow or licac-red; bill blackish at
base shading to bluish-horn at tip; legs and feet, red, purple-madder,
or crimson.

The second marked plumage is as follows : Forehead and crown
to posterior angle of eye, cheeks and throat ashy blue-grey; hinder
part of crown and nape metallic green shading into violet and green
on the lower hind neck. White band as in the other form but shot
with green or violet according to light; interscapular region, scapulars
and wings rich greenish-black, or dark slate-black with green
reflections; rump, upper tail-coverts and rectrices greenish-black.
Chest and upper breast delicate vinous-grey shading into grey on the
flanks and abdomen. Length of wing 175-185 mm.

Female, Adult :

Forehead chin and throat, ashy-grey; crown, nape and hinder
neck rusty-brown, the last shading into irridescent green shot with
violet on the upper mantle. Cheeks and side of neck rusty-grey
shading into slate-grey on the breast, flanks and abdomen; the
feathers of the lower breast and abdomen with very fine ochreous
freckling at the tips. Mantle, wings, scapulars and rectrices as in
the second type of male. Length of wing 160-175 mm.

A second type of adult female occurs which differs in having the
irridescent hind-neck band entirely violet; the upper breast tinged
with brown, while the lower breast and abdomen are ochreous-grey
finely freckled with lighter ochreous. The whole of the feathers of
the upper surface are strongly edged with bluish and green reflections.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage is a dark brownish above, each feather with
a wide terminal border of rusty brown bordered internally with a
blackish bar. The head is greyish-brown with paler rusty tips to each
feather. The undersurface is ochreous-grey with rusty terminal edges
to the feathers of the abdomen and breast.

78

KENYA BRONZE-NAPED PIGEON.
(Turturoena delegorguei sharpei.)

The first full feathered plumage is as follows : Head ashy -grey
with rusty tips; neck and throat greyish with broad terminal bars of
rusty-brown; breast and abdomen rusty-ochreous with faint greyish
barring; flanks and under tail- coverts slate-grey with wide terminal
rusty-ochreous freckling. Mantle, scapulars, and wing-coverts,
blackish-brown with marked rusty-brown tips and slight freckling.
Rump and reetrices as in the female. If the young bird is a female
the difference is in the head, which is greyish-brown with rusty tips,
and the throat is a dirty whitish.

Habits :

The Bronze-naped Pigeon is an inhabitant of the forests, in which
it remains unless on local migrations in search of food.

This species is esentially confined to the forests of the higher
altitudes, ranging from Kilimanjaro to Mt. Elgon, but I have both
seen and obtained specimens in the coastal belt in the Sekoke Forest
and on the Rabai Hills, but in these localities they are not
permanently resident, though they visit these areas when a particular
tree is heavy in fruit.

It is a species which is easily overlooked, and indeed were it not
for its distinctive call, one might quite easily pass under the tree
where the birds are perched without being aware of their presence.
During the greater part of the day these birds “ lie up in the tops
of the tall trees and are remarkably silent, but in the early morning
they are active and take short flights over the tree tops, and give out
their curious mournful call which is quite unlike that of any other
pigeon or dove. It consists of two low coos followed by a shorter
one and this, by one five notes higher, followed by five coos in rapid
descending scale and diminishing volume with two long coos to end
up. The only time when these birds are seen in numbers is when
they leave the forest to feed on the small black fruit of the “ Sand-
paper tree ( Trema guineensis , Ficalho : Kikuyu name, Muhethu;
Ulmacece). These berries are produced in clusters at the axils of the
leaves, in quantities so that quite a small branch may be weighted
down. They are highly attractive to ail fruit-eating pigeons and most
frugivorous birds.

I have frequently counted more than twenty pigeons on quite
a small tree; the fighting and scrambing which goes on to reach some
special bunch of berries at the end of a slender twig is most ludicrous
to watch. They come to feed in the early morning and late evening.

Owing to their rather scattered distribution and the fact that they
do not go in very large flocks, these birds offer little or no sport to
the gunner; one can of course get in a few shots as they either come
to or leave any particular feeding tree, but as a game bird they are
poor sport. Like most pigeons, the flight is rapid and direct. During

79

the courting season the male indulges in a mild aeriel display which
usually takes place of an evening.

The nesting season appears to start in March and extend to June,
followed by a second breeding season in December. The nest is of
the usual pigeon type, a shallow platform of twigs placed in some
horizontal fork about 15 to 20 from the ground. The eggs are pure
white with a slight gloss and measure on an average 30 x 22 mm.
Two eggs form the clutch. Both parents take part in incubation and
feeding the young.

Genus ST^EPTOPELM Bp.

StreptopeSia lugens funebrea, van-Som. Dusky Turtle Dove.

Ref. van Someren, Bull. B.O. Club xl., p. 21,
1919.

Type locality: Mt. Elgon.

Distribution :

The Highlands of Kenya to Kilimanjaro.

Description : Male, Adult :

Forehead, cheeks, chin and upper throat pale pinkish buff shading
into the grey of the crown, nape and neck; the first area shaded to
dark grey on the hinder part of the crown. On either side of the neck
a transverse patch of black feathers with narrow grey edges. Lower
neck and upper chest grey shading into an area of vinous pink on the
lower chest, this in turn shading into the pale grey in the abdomen
and darker grey of the flanks, vent and under tail-coverts. Mantle
and lesser scapulars ashy-brown wdth pale edges, merging into ashy-
grey on the rump, followed by ashy-brown on the upper tail-coverts.
Median and inner lesser coverts ashy-brown; marginal lesser coverts
ashy-grey, all with pale edges giving a scaly appearance; tertials and
longest secondary coverts ashy-brown broadly edged on the outer web
with rufous and tawny -orange. Primaries and secondaries brownish-
black with paler edges; all rectrices, except central pair which are
ashy-brown, black with terminal grey bar; eyelids dark crimson; eyes
golden-yellow, reddish -yellow or burnt-sienna. Bill blackish, nostrils
madder; legs bright purple madder or reddish-lilac. Wings 175-180
mm.

Female, Adult:

Very like the male but smaller and paler below. Wings 165-175

mm.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage above, generally greyish-brown, each feather
broadly tipped with buffy-grey ; the under-surface buffy-grey paler on
the throat and abdomen, barred with buff.

80

DUSKY TUKTLE DOVE.

(Stre'pto'pelia lugens funelrea.)

The first full feathered plumage is somewhat like th.at of the
female, above and below, but duller, with all the feathers tipped with
buffy-grey especially those of the wings and scapular regions. The
tertials are outwardly edged with rusty-brown while the primaries
and secondaries are shaded with this colour on the edge of the outer
webs and tips. The rectrices are coloured as in the female, but the
tips are pointed, not rounded. The black feathers on the side of the
neck are absent or very few in number.

Habits :

The Dusky Turtle Dove is a bird of mixed habitat, that is, at
certain times it is found in forest, at other it frequents the more open
park country, and cultivations. The habitat is influenced by
season, thus we find it in the neighbourhood of forest or wooded
cultivations when the nesting season is on, but at other times it is
seen in the open country. These birds are most in evidence when
they flock during the “ off ” season; they then occur in large numbers,
sometimes as many as forty to sixty individuals. They are essentially
ground feeders, being especially partial to the seeds of a leguminous
weed which grows up in fallow land. These flocks are composed of
adult and young birds of the season; in many cases the latter
predominate.

On one occasion during August when on safari in the neighbour-
hood of Lake Narasha, I saw an immense flock of these birds feeding
on a small area of ground from which Sunflower had just been reaped;
they were feeding on the fallen Sunflower seeds (crop examined). In
the same district I obtained birds which had been feeding on wheat
from a nearby field. Their staple diet however consists of seeds of
no economic value, and bulbous roots; these latter are obtained in the
dry veldt country and are actually dug up by the birds themselves.
A few odd insects and molluscs enter into their diet. One frequently
sees these birds in pairs out on the plains beyond Nairobi. They come
to drink at about the same time each day; thus at one drinking
place within the environs of Nairobi one may find these birds quenching
their thirst at about 11 am. and at 3-30; between these times they
roost in the trees surrounding the drinking pool. Quite a number
take a final drink before settling for the night, that is after their return
from foraging for their evening meal. This bird is fond of bathing,
and at the above indicated spot one may see individuals taking a dip
after their morning drink. If undisturbed they will sit on the rocks
round the pool preening themselves, after which they lie on their sides
with out-stretched wings and indulge in a sunbath. Their call
consists of four coos, the first short, followed by a long one, four notes
higher, and ending with two short coos two notes lower than the first.
The notes are rather harsh, not rounded.

81

The nesting season is rather irregular, but at practically any time
during the rains, either long or short, nest of this species may be
found. My records show that eggs were found from March to June
and in November. The nest is a frail structure of twigs rather loosely
put together, but resting on some substantial platform, such as a
horizontal fork, or where two or three slender branches cross each
other.

I have frequently watched a pair nest-building; both birds collect
material, but the bulk of the work is done by the male. On every
occasion the dead twigs have been broken off by the birds themselves
from trees in the immediate vicinity; on no occasion did they come
to ground to collect material, though plenty of apparently suitable
twigs lay about. The usual procedure was for the female to stand
by the nest while the male brought the twigs and handed them over
to the hen who placed them in position. If a twig fell to the ground
w'hile being manipulated, no attempt was made at recovery. Two
eggs are laid, pure white in colour, measuring 23 x 32 mm. The
young are fed until long after they have assumed full feather.

The only time when these birds offer any sport is when they are
flocking at some favoured feeding ground. The shooting is however
rather intermittent, for after the birds have been driven off and
returned two or three times they become shy and refuse to flight.

I have had these Doves in my garden in a semi-domesticated
condition for many years. They become very tame and stand
capavity well if kept in a large aviary.

StreptopeSsa eemitorquata semitorquata, Rupp. Grey-vented Ring

Dove.

Ref. Ruppell, N. Wirbelth, Vog. p. 66, 1837.

Type locality: Taranta Mts, Abyssinia.

Distribution :

Through Uganda and Kenya, except the coastal belt.

Description : Male, Adult :

Forehead pinkish-buff shading to pearl-grey on the fore part of
the crown and grey tinged with vinous on hind crown. Chin creamy-
pink shading into pinkish-buff with a vinous tinge on the upper throat,
cheeks and ear-coverts; nape, lower neck, the whole of the breast and
banks, rich vinous-pink with a grey bloom; abdomen, thighs and
under tail-coverts leaden-grey. A half collar of black feathers on the
back of the lower neck edged above and below with grey. Mantle,
scapulars, back and inner wing-coverts ashy-brown with an olive tinge;
marginal wing coverts shading to slate-grey. Primary coverts,
primaries and secondaries blackish-brown with narrow paler edges to
the tips and outer webs. Rump slate-grey shading into ashy-brown

82

GREY- VENTED RING DOVE.

(Stre'pto'pelia semitorquata semitorquata.)

on the upper tail-coverts. Rectrices, except the central pair, basal
two-thirds blackish, shaded with greyish basally, thus forming a black
bar before the terminal third which is dirty bluish-grey ; the central
rectrices are ashy-grey. Bill slaty-black; eyes usually with two
rings, brown and red, brown and orange or yellow, brown and blue,
crimson and orange, crimson and red. Bare skin round eye crimson;
feet purple madder, crimson, or plum. Wings 175-192 mm.

Female, Adult:

Very like the male but smaller and with less vinous wash to the
breast. Wings 166-180 mm.

Juvenile :

Head, neck and breast sandy brown with broad paler tips to each
feather; back and wings earth-brown with buff or ochreous tips. Wing
feathers with rusty tips and edges; belly greyish sandy with rusty
tips.

Habits :

The grey-vented Ring Dove as represented by the two races
inhabiting Uganda and Kenya, is one of the commonest species and is
found from sea-level up to 10,000 feet. They are more of a forest
species than most Ring-doves, but the bulk of their food supply is
obtained in and around cultivations and settlements. I have on more
than one occasion flushed a pair of these birds feeding in some open
patch of forest land, or along a cleared firebreak. The presence of
trees appears an essential feature of their habitat, but they are seldom
found in the “ thorn bush ” country. They are found in practically all
the larger settlements in Kenya and Uganda where trees have been
planted up. They are essentially ground feeders, and when out
foraging they frequent cultivations and gardens, not to destroy or pick
up cultivated plants and seeds, but they feed almost entirely on seeds
of noxious weeds and small land snails. It is true however, that
when the native crops of Mtama, Whimbi and Mwele are ripe, and
when they have been reaped and. threshed in the native manner,
dozens, sometimes hundreds of these birds flock to these threshing
grounds and feed on the grain which has been scattered about. They
drink and feed in the early morning and late afternoon. During the
heat of the day they lie up in some shady tree and either sleep or
attend to their toilet. At such times the birds are silent. They call
most frequently just at dawn and at sunset but on bright moonlight
nights I have heard them about eleven o’clock. There are two distinct
calls, one a long low c-o-o c-o-o repeated several times; the other
a repetition of this double coo followed by two shorter coos and ending
with two notes like “ did du.” When the bird calls he sits in a
huddled up position with the head drawn in and depressed; and

88

during the breeding season when courting is in full swing the calls are
accompanied by simultaneous movement of the wings and spreading
of the tail. The Grey-vented Dove becomes very pugnacious as the
breeding season approaches; at such times one may often witness a
couple of males in full battle, beating each other with uplifted wings
with tremendous force ; feathers fly in all directions but the combatants
will not give in until entirely exhausted. Courting takes place either
on the ground or in a tree; if on the ground, the cock chases the hen
about and gives her little chance of feeding; actual pairing takes place
either on the ground or in a tree. The nest is of the usual form, a frail
platform of twigs placed on some horizontal fork or where two or three
branches overlap. It is seldom placed high, usually 6-10 feet from the
ground. The eggs are white and glossy, two in number measuring on
an average 29 x 23 mm. Nests have been found in every month of the
year, but the principal nesting seasons are from April to July, and again
in November to January.

The coastal race has similar habits to its inland cousin. They
frequent the cocoanut plantations, and frequently build their nests at
the base of a branch. I have sometimes taken their nests in the low
mangrove trees growing right out in the water.

StreptopeSIa cernstorquata minor* Erl. Coast Grey-vented Dove.

Kef. Erlanger, Jurn. f. Orn., liii . , p. 125, 1905.

Type locality: Umfudu, Gobwen.

Distribution :

The Coastal belt of Kenya.

Description : Male, Adult :

In general type of plumage this race resembles that inhabiting the
inland districts. It differs however in having the forehead and chin,
white or cream, the former shading into the delicate pearly grey of the
crown, the latter into a delicate rosy-grey of the cheeks and upper
neck; the nape and the rest of the neck are a vinous pink with grey
bloom, deepening in colour on the whole of the breast, but becoming
a light pearly-grey on the flanks and abdomen, delicately washed with
pink. Vent and under tail-coverts very pale grey. The mantle,
scapulars and wings are much lighter in colour than in the typical
form, with a decided greyish bloom over all; while the back and rump
are light grey. The upper tail-coverts are a light greyish-brown as are
also the central rectrices ; the remainder of the tail feathers are greyish
at the basal half, shading into black which forms a bar before the
light greyish white tips. Eyelids, madder; eyes red and orange, or
crimson and orange or yellow. Feet madder or plum. Wings 165-
175 mm.

84

MASAI PINK-BREASTED DOVE.
( Streptopelia decipiens perspicillata.)

Female :

Like the male but smaller; wings 160-170 mm.

Juvenile :

As in the typical form but paler.

Habits :

See previous race.

Streptopeisa flfStfOpeotorafiSj Granvik. Nyanza Fulvous-breasted
Dove.

Ref. Granvik, Journ. f. Orn., 1923 p. 54.

Type locality : Kendu Bay.

Distribution :

South eastern shore of Victoria Nyanza.

Description. Female :

This species has recently been described by Dr. Granvik from a
single specimen. As the bird is unknown to me I give the description
as it appears in the above-quoted reference. “ The forehead is light
grey-brown, the crown and occiput dark grey-brown. The sides of the
neck light yellow-brown, cheeks grey, throat white. An indistinct
black occipital band bordered at the top by a wide yellowish-brown
band, fringing the dark grey-brown occiput. Back, scapulars, wing-
coverts, upper tail-coverts and the two median rectrices earthy-brown,
the latter being dark greyish-blue at the base. The primaries dark
brown, the coverts of the secondaries and primaries black. The
throat, the fore-neck and breast yellowish-brown, like the flanks. The
belly and the under tail-coverts white. Lower wing-coverts brown,
with dark patches here and there. The rectrices, except the median
ones, earthy-brown with dark grey base and grey wash, tipped with
white. Bill black, irides citron yellow. Around the eye there are
naked parts with smail, red wart-like formations. Feet pale red-
lilac. Wings 144 mm.”

Male, unknown. Juvenile, unknown.

Habits :

The bird lived in the dense bush and copse vegetation bordering
the shores of Victoria Nyanza in the Kavirondo country.”

StreptopelSa decipiens parspiciliata, Fisch. Reich. Masai Pink-
breasted Dove.

Ref. Fischer & Reichenow, Journ. f. Orn.,
xxxii., p. 179, 1884.

Type locality : Nguruman, T.T.

Distribution :

The country between the south of Victoria Nyanza to Kilimanjaro.

85

Description : Male, Adult :

Front part of head and cheeks light grey, shading to white on the
chin and throat; hind part of crown and ear-coverts greyish washed
with pink, shading to vinous pink on the nape sides of neck and
hreast; on the lower hind neck a broad black collar edged above with
white and below with vinous. The pink of the breast shades into
white on the belly and into light grey on the flanks. The vent and
under tail-coverts are white, the latter with a greyish tinge along the
shafts. Mantle, scapulars, tertials and most of the inner wing coverts
ashy -brown with a greyish bloom; the outer or marginal wing-coverts
and outer secondaries grey; primaries and inner secondaries blackish-
brown paler on the outer webs and with pale edgings. Back, rump,
upper tail-coverts and central pair of rectrices, earthy-brown with a
grey wash on the rump; rest of rectrices dark greyish black at the
basal half shading to black distally, the terminal third of the feathers
dirty greyish fading to white at the tips. Bill black; eyelids red, eyes
ochre to pinky-yellow; feet lilac-red or lilac-madder. Wings 155-168
mm.

Female :

Similarly coloured but smaller. Wings 148-160 mm.

Juvenile :

This is unknown to me.

BtreptopeSla d©cipi8&1S permsstaj Beich. Uganda Pink-breasted Dove.

Bef. Beichenow, Vogel Af., p. 808, 1905.

Type locality: Maliwungu, T.T.

Distribution :

In suitable localities in Western Uganda, south shore of Lake
Victoria.

Description : Male, Adult :

Crown, cheeks and ear-coverts, ashy-grey inclining to white on
the throat; neck and breast deep vinous shading to greyish on the
flanks, and whitish on the abdomen; thighs, vent and under-tail-
coverts, light grey, the feathers of the latter white tipped. A black
collar is present on the hind neck, bordered above and below with
whitish. Mantle, scapulars, inner lesser coverts and tertiaries
ochreous-grey -brown inclining to greyish on the marginal coverts and
outer secondaries of the wing. Primary coverts blackish-brown.
Primaries and secondaries blackish-brown with pale edges. Back,
rump and upper tail-coverts like the mantle; slightly more greyish on
the rump; rectrices, two central pairs ashy-grey -brown, slightly darker
basally, remainder blackish-grey at the base distally inclining to black;
the terminal third pale ashy shading to white at the tip. Eyelids

86

red; eyes orange or yellow, Dill blackish-grey, nostrils grey; feet
purple madder to lilac. Wings 150-168 mm.

Female :

Very like the male but with less vinous on the breast, and smaller
Habits :

'This bird and the form perspicillata, are similar in habits and
are here treated together. They appear to be somewhat restricted in
distribution and to require certain conditions such as are found in dry
hot districts where, however, there is an abundant water supply; thus
one finds the race permista along the south and western shore of Lake
Victoria, and the other in such places as the banks of the Northern
Guasso Nyiro. These birds are more associated with the bush
country where there is plenty of open bare ground, rather than in areas
which are populated; one seldom sees them in townships though at
Ivisumu for instance they will visit the railway yard .after loading has
ceased for the day, to pick up any fallen grain which may have been
scattered about. In this particular district one finds them actually
along the lake shore roosting on the ambatch trees which grow out in
the water, or at feeding time, frequenting the native cultivations.
One may usually count on seeing them in fair numbers on patches of
ground where Wimbi or Simsim has been grown.

The nest is of the usual pigeon type, usually built in some low
bush, but I have taken the nest of permista placed in a dense clump
of Papyrus growing well out in the water. There used to be a
particular patch of ambatch trees growing in the middle of a large
papryus swamp at the head of Kavirondo Gulf, where at practically
any time of the year one could find half a dozen nests of this bird.

Along the Northern Guasso Nyiro we found perspicillata nests
built on the Dom palms as well as in bushes.

Streptopeiia deeiplOTS eSegans, Zedlitz. Juba Pink-breasted Dove.

Eef. Zedlitz, Orn. Monatsb, p. 59, 1913.

Type locality: Afgoi, S. Somaliland.

Distribution :

Jubaland to the Northern Frontier.

Description : Male, Adult :

Very like S. d. perspicillata but paler throughout. Chin, throat
and forehead white, shading to pearly-grey on the cheeks and crown,
the hind part of the crown washed with vinous; the nape and upper
part of the hind-neck and the chest, a delicate vinous-pink fading to
white on the breast, abdomen and flanks, the last with just a wash
of pale grey. Under tail-coverts white. A black collar outlined above
and below with white is present on the lower hind neck.

87

The mantle, scapulars, tertials and lesser wing-coverts pale earthy
brown shading to paler brown on the median coverts, and to pale grey
on the marginal wing-coverts and secondary coverts. Primaries and
secondaries earth-brown, with pale edges to the outer webs, especially
on the secondaries. Back, rump, upper tail-coverts and central pair
of rectrices like the mantle, the rump slightly washed with grey. The
rest of the rectrices dark greyish at the basal half shading to blackish
before the terminal third, which is white shaded with faint grey proxi-
mally. Bill greyish-black; bare area round the eyes pink, eyes pale
creamy with a pinkish tinge; feet light purple madder. Wings
145-156 mm.

Female :

Like the male but duller, and smaller.

Juvenile :

Unknown to me.

Habits :

The Juba pink -breasted Dove is a pale desert form of decipiens,
and is similar in habits to others of this species. It is rather more
addicted to desert land away from native settlement. At most times
they are seen in pairs in the desert and bush country, but congregate
in flocks when coming to water; at such times they associate with
Beichenow’s Dove.

§freptop@!ia ©apioola tropica, Reich. Uganda White-vented Ring

Dove.

Ref. Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb., p. 139, 1902.

Type locality: Songea, T.T.

Distribution :

Throughout Uganda east to Elgon and south to Kenya above
5,000 feet.

Description: Male, Adult:

Crown grey, paler on the forehead and deepening in shade towards
the occiput; a black loral streak from the gape to anterior angle of
the eye; chin white shading to vinous pink on the throat, cheeks and
side of head; with a deeper shade of vinous on the back of the neck
and lower throat, this, in turn, shading to vinous-grey on the breast
and flanks, the latter more washed with grey. The abdomen and
under tail-coverts are white. A black collar, outlined with white, is
present on the hind-neck. The mantle, scapulars, all the wing
coverts except the marginal ones, ashy-grey-brown; the back and rump,
and upper tail coverts ashy-grey, slightly paler laterally; three inner
pairs of rectrices ashy-grey, remainder deep grey at the base, pale
grey shading to white at the tip; outer web of lateral pair, white.

88

WHITE-VENTED RING DOVE ON NEST.

Secondary, median and marginal lesser coverts light grey; primaries
blackish brown; secondaries ashy-grey with pale margins. Eyelids
red; eyes light to dark brown; bill black; feet lilac-madder to purple -
madder. Wings 150-160 mm.

Female :

Like the male but smaller.

The above description applies to the average bird inhabiting the
countries of Uganda and Kenya north west of Mau. South of this,
from between 6,000 to 4,500 feet occur birds which are intermediate
between the race tropica and somalica. They are paler above and
below and thus approach the Somali form but they are not true
tomalica. The birds inhabiting the coastal belt and the bush-veldt
zone are nearer to this form but even they are not like the Jubaland
race.

Juvenile :

Head and breast pale ochreous-grey paler on the forehead and
throat and belly; the whole of the back a deeper ashy brown; wings
more or less as in the adult, but the feathers throughout edged with
pale dirty white or ochreous; the primaries are tipped with rusty red.

Habits :

This race is found between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, occasionally
higher. For the most part it is a bush, and park-country bird, and
seldom enters forest. It is plentiful in the bush round Naivasha
extending through similar country up to the foot-hills of Elgon. In
Uganda we have found it common in the neighbourhood of villages
and cultivations, mostly in pairs or small parties. They are entirely
ground feeders and though undoubtedly taking a small amount of
cultivated grain, their staple diet consists of seeds from wild plants.
They are also very fond of small land molluscs which they obtain in
the shady damp ground in the banana groves.

Like many other species of Doves, these birds have, to quite a
marked degree, associated themselves with humans; thus we find them
one of the features of townships which have been established within
their range. Nakuru is a case in point; nearly every garden has its
pair of doves which feed among the fowls; some have even taken to
nesting on ledges under verandahs, and in creepers growing up the
' walls of the houses.

In the wild this bird usually builds in some low bush or tree; in
the Kisumu district a favourite site is a triple fork of a Euphorbia
branch. The nest is a shallow platform of twigs and roots, with a fair
central depression. The clutch consists of two pure white eggs
averaging 28 x 23 mm. in size. I have more than once taken a nest,
at the top of a Papyrus stalk.

89

Both parents take part in the construction of the first portion of
the nest, but when the ground work has been laid the male collects
the material while the female lays it in position. Both birds feed
the young. Dove shooting is rather diappointing at the best of times,
and these birds are no exception to the usual; a few shots may be
had at birds put up from feeding grounds or from trees, but as there
is so regular flighting, shooting becomes spasmodic; the flight however
is swift and strong.

The call note of this Dove is distinctive, and may be rendered
thus : Coo kurroo, coo kurroo, repeated twice or thrice, the first note
long, the second double one ending somewhat abruptly. The Kavir-
ondo name for this bird is Akuroo; entirely phonetic.

StreptopeKa eapicola somalioa, Erl. Somali White-vented Bing

Dove.

Bef. Erlanger, Journ. f. Ornith., liii., p. 127,

1905.

Type locality : Sarigo, S. Somaliland.

Distribution :

Jubaland and the Kenya littoral inland to the Taru desert.
Description : Male, Adult :

Very like the race tropica , but smaller and paler throughout >
The crown pale grey to the nape, inclining to white on the forehead.
Cheeks, neck and breast pale pinkish-grey, paler on the throat; the
pink of the breast shading into the very pale vinous-grey of the flanks
and the white of the abdomen. Vent and undertail-coverts white.
Mantle scapulars and tertials, pale ashy-grey-brown ; most of the
lesser wing coverts pale grey, those of the secondary coverts edged
with white. Primary coverts black; primaries and secondarie dark
ashy-brown, with narrow edges to the outer web. Back and rump
grey, shading to ashy-grey on the upper tail-coverts. Bectrices,
middle pair ashy-grey, next pair grey, the third pair paler grey at base
shading to white at the tip; two next pairs grey at basal two-thirds,
shading from very pale grey to white, outermost pair dark grey at the
basal half of the inner web, but tending to black just before the white
tip, outer web entirely white. Soft parts as in the other race.

Female :

Smaller but otherwise like the male.

Juvenile :

Dress as in tropica, but paler throughout, more greyish.

Habits :

In general habits this race resembles the preceding, but the habitat
differs somewhat in character. It is limited to the dry bush- veldt and

90

thorn country, where one usually sees them in pairs or small parties.
It is a common bird and often associates in large flocks when the crop
of some particular seed is ripe. They avoid the thick grass country
and keep rather to the dry country where vegetation is sparse, never-
theless when an area of grass-land has been burnt off several scattered
flocks may be seen feeding here and there. They are most active
during the morning and evening, spending the hours of noon perched
in some shady trees often in the vicinity of water. Along the Coast
littoral one finds these birds frequently the neighbourhood of native
villages and cultivations, retiring to the groves of Coconut palms to
roost.

The nest and eggs of this race are indistinguishable from the
preceding. In the thorn bush country, we have usually found the
nest in some low tree about ten to fifteen feet from the ground, but
at the coast I have not infrequently located them at, or towards the
base of a frond of a coconut tree; sometimes in a Mango tree quite
thirty feet up. The eggs are white and semi-glossy, averaging 25 x
22 mm.

Streptopeiia yinaoea barbaru, Antin. Pink-faced Dove.

Ref. Antinori, Cat. di Uccelli, p. 89, 1864.

Type locality : Sennar, White Nile.

Distribution :

Uganda, in suitable localities.

Description : Male, Adult :

The whole of the head and neck to upper breast, vinous pink,
slightly paler on the chin, and tinged with grey on the posterior aspect
of the crown and nape. A black line runs from the gape to the
anterior angle of the eye. On the hind-neck there is a broad black
collar edged above with pale grey. The whole of the breast is vinous
pink shading to white on the abdomen and vent, and to slaty-grey on
the flanks. Mantle, scapulars, and inner wing-coverts, ashy-ochreous-
brown shading to greyish-brown on the rump and upper tail-coverts.
Central pair of rectrices like the upper tail-coverts, the next two
similarly coloured on the outer webs, grey on the inner, the remainder
with basal 8/5 blackish-grey, with white ends increasingly shaded with
light grey from without inwards; the outer pair with white margin to
outer web. Under tail-coverts white. Lesser coverts on the outer
side of the wing, greyish; and secondary coverts, primary coverts
blackish; secondaries and primaries greyish-brown with narrow paler
edges. Eyes brown; bill slaty-grey to black; feet bluish-lilac to pink-
grey. Wings 185-155 mm.

Juvenile :

Unknown to me.

91

Habits :

This species of Dove extends into the northern districts of
Uganda from the Sudan, but according to Jackson the southern limit
appears to be at Mubendi. It is very like S. capicola tropica, but can
be distinguished from that bird by its smaller size and its much
pinker head. In habits they are alike, but the call note of the

“ barbaru ” is distinctive; Stoneham likens it to the words “ what
about it?”

It is fairly plentiful in the northern area of its range, and is usually
seen in pairs or small flocks in the vicinity of old cultivations or in
patches of Sorghum or Mtama. The nesting habits are. similar to
S. c. tropica.

StreptopeSIa reiohenowi, Erl. White-winged Ringed Dove.

Ref. Erlanger, Orn. Monatsb., p. 182, 1901.

Type locality: Salakale, Juba River.

Distribution :

Jubaland, particularly the northern districts.

Description : Male :

Entire head, neck and breast light bluish-grey, slightly darker
on the head, and inclining to white on the throat. The grey of the
breast gradually shades away to whitish on the flanks and on the
lower breast and abdomen becomes pure white. Vent and under tail-
coverts white, the shaft area of the longer feathers slightly tinged
with grey. A sharply defined black neck band is present on the hind
neck, edged particularly distally, with white. Mantle and scapulars
ochreous-ashy grey, shading on the wing to a more greyish colour on
the secondaries, secondary coverts and lesser coverts; then merging to
pale grey through to white on the rest of the wing coverts, the edges
of the outer webs of the secondary coverts, and secondaries. Primary
coverts black; primaries blackish-brown with narrow pale edging and
tips to the three outermost. (The dark primaries contrast strongly
with the white-edged secondary coverts.) Back and rump to upper
tail- coverts and two central rectrices, greyish-ashy-brown, tinged with
grey on the rump and rectrices; third, fourth and fifth pairs ashy-
grey at the base, with an increasing degree of shading, from without
inwards, from the white tip to the mid-point. Eyelids crimson; eyes
red, or orange to brown; bill black; feet red to purple madder. Wings
136-146 mm.

Female :

Like the male in colour but smaller; wings 132-140 mm.

Juvenile :

Head, ashy-grey like the breast and flanks; throat and sides of
head buffy grey, all with pale tips to the feathers; mantle scapulars

92

WHITE-WINGED KING DOVE.
(Streptopelia reichenowi.)

and wing-coverts ashy-grey -brown, with dark centres to those of the
last two areas, and all with pale buffy tips. Marginal wing-coverts
and secondary coverts leaden grey, rest of wing feathers ashy-brown,
with rusty and buff tips and edges.

The next plumage is similar to the above, but there are no light
tips to the feathers and a black collar is present on the hind neck.

Habits :

The White-winged Ring Dove is very local in its distribution and
has not been recorded outside the Northern Frontier area and Jubaland
(so far as Kenya is concerned). It is a common species along certain
parts of the Juba River but less frequently met with in the desert
country to the west. In the latter area they occur in pairs but when
they come to drink at some waterhole they congregate in large
numbers. They usually arrive some time before the advent of Sand
grouse and scatter when these birds appear. I am told that in
localities where the only water supply is from deep wells that these
birds actually descend there, in order to quench their thirst, and that
it is a wonderful sight to watch them going down in twos or threes to
drink from the limited foothold offered by the niches cut into the face
of the well during construction.

Practically nothing has been recorded regarding the habits of this
species, and I have no information in connection with nidification,
etc.

Genus STSCIVIATOPiLIA, Sund.

Stigmatopefia senegaSerssis aequatorialis, Erl. Speckle-necked
Laughing Dove.

Ref. Erlanger, Orn. Monatsb., p. 98, 1904.
Type locality : Menaballa, Abyssinia.

Distribution :

Throughout Kenya and Uganda.

Description: Male, Adult:

Head, neck, and breast deep purply-vinous grey, paler on the
throat, and tending to creamy white on the abdomen, and to grey on
the flanks. Vent and under-tail-coverts white. Around the front and
the sides of the lower neck is a speckled collar composed of bifid
feathers which are black at the basal half and orange-vinous at the
tips, the black bases showing through the bifid ends. The hind neck
is washed with grey, while the mantle and scapulars and inner wing
coverts are greyish with broad rusty brown ends; rest of the wing
coverts and outhr webs of the secondaries leaden-grey; primaries and
primary coverts blackish with narrow edges to the outer webs. Back
and rump leaden grey, shading to ashy-grey-brown on the upper tail-

93

coverts and the central pair of rectrices; the next pair of tail feathers
are ashy-grey, slightly darker at the basal half; the three outer pairs
black at the basal half, white distally, with a graduated amount of
grey tinge, increasing from without inwards. The eyelids are red while
the eyes are dark brown; bill black with grey nostrils; feet purple-
madder to lilac. Wings 130-145 mm. The sexes are alike for the
most part, but the females tend to have less rusty brown on the back.

Juvenile :

The nestling is sparsely covered with yellowish hairy down. In
the first feathered plumage the head, neck and breast are ashy ochreous
with paler buffy tips to the feathers; the mantle, scapulars back and
rump to the upper tail-coverts, ochreous ashy-grey with paler ends,
the majority of the wing coverts are grey, buff tipped; and the
primaries brownish black with rusty tips and edges. The lower breast
and abdomen are dirty whitish tinged with ochreous.

Habits :

The Laughing Love, so called because of its peculiar call, is
widely distributed and common through Uganda and Kenya, inhabiting
districts which are cultivated or covered in scrub and thorn-bush, but
seldom being found above 6,000 feet. It is entirely a ground feeder
and may frequently be seen feeding along roads, taking little or no
notice of pedestrians and merely flying out of the way of a passing
vehicle to alight again almost immediately. On most occasions one
sees them in pairs or small family parties, but at certain times of the
year they congregate in large flocks. In certain townships such as
Jinja and Kampala they take the place of the English house Sparrow,
being as tame and as plentiful and taking little notice of passers-by,
merely fluttering a foot or two to avoid being trodden on.

Away from habitations these birds fire less tame, but in the
Native Reserves where such grain as M’wimbi and M’wele are grown,
one can count on finding large associations when the harvesting and
threshing season is on. At such a time one can obtain fair shooting,
taking the birds as they come and go.

The regular nesting season is between the months of April and
August, and again in November to January, but a certain few semi-
domesticated birds have been known to breed at any time during the
year. The nest is usually built in a low bush or tree not more than
10 feet from the ground. It is of the usual type, a shallow structure
of twigs loosely put together, with practically no lining twigs to speak
of. Two eggs usually form the clutch, but on more than one occasion
I have taken three eggs from a nest. They are white with a semi-
matt surface, and measure on an average 25 x 21 mm. Birds which

94

SPECKLED-NECK LAUGHING DOVE.
( Stigmatopelia senegolensis aequatorialis.)

SPECKLED-NECK LAUGHING DOVE FEEDING YOUNG.

SPECKLED-NECK LAUGHING DOVE AT NEST.

habitually frequent a garden are very conservative in their choice of
the nesting site; thus, I have known a pair to select the same tree for
eight seasons in succession, and even though the first nest was
destroyed the birds built in practically the same position within a day
or two. The call consists of a high kruo kruo repeated four or five
times ending with a chucking note rapidly repeated who-oo-o-o-o-o-o.

The mating display is interesting; the male approaches the hen
with a soft cooing note and bobbing of the head accompanied by blow-
ing out of the crop; if the female accepts attention they bill and coo
for a second or two then the male flies up from the branch almost
vertically with rapid clapping of the wings above the head, then when
a sufficient height has been reached he sails round with outstretched
wings circling the hen once and then alights beside her, with a
chuckle, after which they both coo softly and bill each other.

95

FISHING IN THE KAVIRONDO GULF, LAKE VICTORIA.

By C. M. Dobbs.

IL STORY OF THE INDUSTRY.

Although fishing by natives along the shores of the Gulf has been
carried on from time immemorial, it was only in 1905 that the fishing
industry proper was started by Mr. Aarup, a Norwegian, who found
by experience the best size and kind of nets to use.

Mr. Aarup, who was almost blind, appears to have done a lot of
pioneer work in the industry, and definitely proved that the best mesh
was what is known as the 5 inch. This gives a mesh of about 2
inches square. At first shoemakers’ twine was made into nets locally,
but this was not successful partly owing to the inferior lasting qualities
of the twine and partly owing to the slipping of the knots which
allowed the fish to escape. Trials were also made with cotton nets
of thicker thread. These nets however took no Carp (Ngege and
Mbiru) but caught Kisinga (Fwani). Subsequently nets were obtciued
from Messrs. Wm. Barbour, Lisbourn, Ireland, and these were found
so successful that they ousted all the locally made articles and are
the only sort used at present. *These nets are sold in the Kisumu
Bazaar at a price of Shs. 17/- to 18/- and are 100 yards long, 5 inch
mesh and 26 mesh deep, 35 twine three ply. They are of a drab
colour and the thread is very fine. White and tanned nets are useless.
Trials were made with thicker twine (No. 20) but the catches were
small.

The average life of a net is said to be about 20 days, but in the
hands of Europeans they have a longer life and sometimes last up to
two or three months unless they meet with accidents as when a
crocodile gets entangled in them.

In 1921 when the industry was more flourishing than it is to-day
up to 20,000 nets were imported annually from Ireland.

Restrictions :

The use of nets with a mesh of under 1 inch square is forbidden
by law. Trawling is also forbidden except in water of 16 feet and over,
and at a distance of not less than a quarter of a mile from the shore;
this means that trawlers cannot be used in the Gulf as it is all very
shallow.

* A large number of nets are also supplied to the Kisumu Bazaar by Messrs.
Joseph Gundry & Co., Bridport. There is also a certain demand for
White Nets. — Editor.

97

Laws and Regulations :

The law in regard to fishing in Lake Victoria is contained in an
enabling Ordinance entitled The Fish Protection Ordinance, 1908
(Caps. 163 Laws of Kenya) and regulations promulgated at various
times by His Excellency the Governor. This Ordinance gave the
Governor power to regulate fishing, impose fees and registration of
boats, issue licences and determine times of fishing. The first rules
published under the Ordinance were the Victoria Nyanza Fish
Protection Rules, 1914, Government Notice No. 123, page 682 of the
Official Gazette for 1914. These rules were applied to all that part of
the Lake Victorial lying within the then East Africa Protectorate and
to the mouth of every river. It contained the following Regulations:

(1) All persons fishing for sale or barter were required to register
yearly. The fee was 300/- for all non-natives of Africa. No
fee was charged for natives.

(2) All registered fishermen were required to register all boats,
nets and stakes.

(3) No mesh was to be less than 1 inch square.

(4) Trawling was prohibited nearer than quarter of a mile from
the shore and in water less than 16 ft. deep.

(5) No nets or stakes were to be placed in a fairway.

(6) Fishing grounds with nets to be buoyed.

Later in the year the Victoria Nyanza Fish Protection Amendment
Rules were promulgated (Government Notice No. 181 of 3/8/14
Official Gazette , page 864). These defined “ natives ” as being South
Kavirondo, Kisumu, and North Kavirondo natives and any other
natives of African not of European or Asiatic origin who are in the
employment of a non-native who is duly registered.

Further rules were published on 14/2/19 (Victoria Nyanza Fish
Protection Rules, Govt. Notice No. 50, Official Gazette, page 103).
These provided tha any person other than a native — who is exempt
from registration under other rules — who employs natives to catch fish,
shall be liable to registration and to other provisions as if he were
himself a person employed in catching fish, and any person buying or
bartering fish for resale or barter either by wholesale or retail shall
be registered as if he were employed in catching fish.

Methods of Capture:

The fishing industry is in the hands of Indians who own the boats
which are manned by natives. These natives in addition to their pay
get a few of the fish caught. The vessels used are locally built flat
bottomed boats 25 ft. long, 6 ft. beam and 2 ft. deep and cost about
£50 each. They carry a lateen sail and the crew is generally five.
They go out in the afternoon and lay the nets at sunset taking up the
catch before daybreak and returning in the morning. Asembo Bay,

Drying Nets at Nanga Fishing Village, near Kisumu.
Fishing Fleet near Nanga Fishing Village, near Kisumu.

Canoes and Fishing Boat at Nanga Fishing Village, near Kisumu.
Nanga Fishing Fleet, near Kisumu.

Two Rafts and one Fish Trap and Weir at mouth of Kibos River.
Fish Traps (Musathi) near mouth of Kibos River.

Fish Weir (Kew) at mouth of Kibos River.
Kavirondo raft near fish weir at mouth of Kibos River.

Fisherman in Canoe, Kach Bay, Kisumu.
Canoe on Lake Victoria.

£ ■ ^

Kadimu, and Karachonya are the best fishing grounds. Fewer fish
are said to be caught during the full moon and the takes are greater
when the nights are dark and rainy.

The boats put out 10 to 20 nets each, i.e., 1,000 to 2,000 yards.
During the building of the Eldoret Railway one European who supplied
fish to the labourers manipulated up to 8,000 yards of nets.

The 5 to 5^ inch mesh takes the Ngege, Mbiru, Mumi, Kamongo,
Seu, Suma, and sometimes Sira. Occasionally a net of a 3 inch mesh
is used and this takes the Ningu, Sira, and Osoga.

These nets run on a coir rope top and bottom. The top is
supported by corks and the bottom weighted with iron rings. They
only catch fish while drifting and any check through catching on an
obstruction will render them useless. The nets are often damaged by
floating islands, boats, and crocodiles.

Fishing Centres :

There are three Indian fishing villages in the Gulf, at Seme,
Asembo, and Nanga The last is only three miles south of Kisumu
and is the only one near enough to supply fish for the Nairobi market.

Marketing and Cost :

The fish for the Nairobi market are brought in by natives in sacks
on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. They are cleaned
by Kavirondo women under a tree on the Lae shore near the station
and are packed in ice and despatched to Nairobi by the 2-25 p.m.
train. The Kavirondo women obtain the entrails as their perquisites
and the Indian who superintends takes the gills which appear to be
regarded as a delicacy and are extracted before the fish are packed.
The fish are packed in ice in large chests The ice costs 18 cents a
pound and one pound is required for each fish. The freight to Nairobi
is Shs 3/50 per 100 lbs. Together with the other incidental expenses
it costs about 25 cents to send a fish to Nairobi. When the fish are
plentiful the usual price is 25 cents a fish in Kisumu market.

Adverse Times for Fishing.

The months April to August are not good fishing months and
during these months the natives entirely give up fishing in the Lake
with drag nets and confine themselves almost entirely to catching
fish in the river weirs (Kek).

Spawning :

Most of the Lake fish spawn in May, June and July. Carp
(Ngege and Mbiru) are plentiful during the other nine months. The
carp (Kavirondo Ngege) spawn in shallow water with sandy
bottom at a depth of 3 to 5 ft., and are thus immune from
capture by nets which cannot be used in such shallow spots. They
do not spawn in the Gulf except in rare cases but choose the spawning

99

beds near the Islands where the bottom is sandy. 'The female scoops
out a circular hole and deposits the eggs and the male then fertilises
them and takes charge hanging over the nest and keeping away
sediment by the action of the fins and tail till the young hatch out.
This fanning motion keeps fresh water passing over the eggs.

It seems probable that the fish come up the Gulf to spawn and
are then caught. A continuance of this year after year may be
exterminating the Gulf fish. There is not any close season under the
Ordinance. It is possible that the natives catch fry near to the shore
under the impression that they are full-grown fish of a small type.

It will be noted that there is a certain amount of divergence of
opinion as to where the fish spawn. My authority for stating that
they do not spawn in the Gulf is Mr. Oorloff, ex-Government Assistant
Surgeon, who is a local authority on Lake Victoria fish.

Decline of Industry : Diminishing Catches.

There appears to be no doubt whatever that fish taken in the
Lake are decreasing and various reasons have been brought forward
to account for this. Mr. Acton, Superintendent of Inland Revenue
and Conservancy, dealt with this in his annual report report for 1923
and the figures he gave are of interest and worth quoting :

Sum collected Average retail
Year. for licences. price of fish.

Shs. Cents.

1917- 18 16,350 ... 60

1918- 19 14,530 ... 70 to Shs. 1/-

1919- 20 19,350 ... 50 to 75

1920- 21 19,200 ... 50

1921 (9 months) ... 16,300 ... 40 to 25

1922 9,900 ... 25

1923 8,120 ... 25

The following are the corresponding figures for the subsequent years :

1924 8,700

1925 10,500

1926 8,250

1927 to 31/5/27 ... 5,700

He states as follows: “ During 1923 the fishermen appeared to
have great difficulty in paying the annual licence of Shs. 300/- and
although given a good deal of time in which to pay most of them
had to be summoned to force payment.

100

■ ■ ■

■

D | ■ * * t

HEE a

BASKET TRAPS.

3.

4.

1.

2.

Angu, used by women.
Angu, used by men.

Musati.

Sienyu.

Possible Eeasons for Decline :

The decline in the industry appears to be due to three main
factors : —

(a) Fewer fish in the Kavirondo Gulf than formerly.

(b) Decline in retail prices giving less profit.

(c) Poverty of the fishermen.

In regard to (c) it may be remarked that during the years of high
retail prices many wealthy merchants, Goans and Europeans, were
engaged in fishing. These have since withdrawn and the class now
carrying on the work usually have to buy nets and boats on credit
or pay heavy interest on borrowed money, destroying the fishers’ small
profit and causing more and more to abandon fishing”

It is generally admitted that the catches of fish are less than
they were. In the early years the average catch is estimated to have
been over 25 fish per 100 yards of net while the boats operated at
only about a mile from shore. In later years the catch fell to 5 per
net and to get these the boats have to go from 12 to 15 miles out.
The number of boats has also fallen off. At the height of the
industry’s prosperity there were 150 boats working on an average 10
nets per boat. Some boats worked as much as 20 to 25 nets.

Native Methods of Capture : Nets.

Turning now to the methods employed by the ordinary natives
living along the Lake shores we find that fish are caught by drag nets,
weirs, traps, harpoons, long lines and to a very small extent with
fishing rods. The drag nets used are made of papyrus stems fastened
close together and are about 5 ft. deep. They are made in two sizes,
the larger size being called by the Jaluo “ Gogo ” and the smaller
“ Ogoda.” One end of the net is towed out by men in canoes some
distance into the Lake and is taken round in a half circle so as to
enclose a considerable area of water. The two ends are then drawn
towards the shore so that the net brings in with it any fish that have
been enclosed. When it is fairly close in men wade into the water
with long baskets (Dholuo, Aunga) and capture the fish in these.
These baskets ae a form of trap made on much the same principle as
a lobster pot and consist of a large cone of basket work about 6 ft.
long with a smaller cone inside it pointing in the same direction.
The inner cone is open at the end so that when a fish enters at the
wide mouth of the basket it swims through the hole at the end of the
inner cone and gets imprisoned in the space between the two cones.

Basket Traps, Portable and Stationary.

A smaller form of Aunga is used by women, called Aung.a Ketenga.
There are two varieties of this, one with the double cone and one with
only a single cone. When using the double cone ones they place three

101

or four in a line on the bottom. They then go some distance in front
and frighten the fish into the traps. The single cone traps are used
by the women in a different way. They hold the baskets in both
hands wuth the wide part facing towards them and wade backwards
in shallow water drawing the backets along the bottom towards them.
When the fish enter the basket they raise it out of the water in a
perpendicular position. The following fish are caught by this means :
Nyawino, Ndera, Ningu, and Akunga (eels). The Ningu is not caught
in rivers during May, June and July as it goes to the Lake then
presumably to spawn.

Basket Traps used at Weirs.

Enormous fish weirs (Dholuo, Kek) are a feature of the rivers of
Kavirondo. Some of these are built of wood and some of stones and
extend right across the rivers from bank to bank. At intervals in the
weir there are gaps and basket traps (Dholuo, Musathi) are used on
the upper side of these holes to catch the fish as they pass through
up stream. The Musathi are similar in principle to the double coned
Aunga, gut are made of reeds fastened together longitudinally, while all
types of Aunga are plaited.

Portable Traps.

Another form of basket fish trap is the Sienyu. This is also a
conical basket with a hole at the top or narrow end. The native using
it wades along in shallow water pushing it down at intervals on to
the bottom of the lake or river. If a fish happens to be imprisoned
it is heard splashing inside and the native puts his arm through the
top hole and pulls it out. The Sienyu is also made of reeds fastened
together longitudinally.

Stationary Traps, Baited.

In addition to the foregoing there is another kind of basket trap
used called Omuongo, which is almost identical with a European
lobster pot and used with bait and in the same way.

Fishing Spears.

Fish are sometimes harpooned by natives wading in the water.
The harpoon used is narrow and has no barb and is called by the
Jaluo Bedthi. Mumi and Kamongo are speared in this way.

The natives of Mohuru are said to go out in canoes on moonlight
nights with grass torches and harpoon the fish.

Fishing with Bod and Lines.

Fishing with rod and line is indulged in principally as an amuse-
ment and by juveniles. Long rods made from a tree called Poo are
used by men. Hooks (Dholuo, Oloo) are bought in the bazaar. The
bait used is a sort of worm (Dholuo, Oniambo) found in the mud.
Mumi (barbel) are caught in this way. The line is made from

102

papyrus fibre. Small rods made from a tree called Osire are used by
children. A dried piece of mtama stalk is used as a float. Nyawino,
Nthira, Osoga, and Sire are caught in this way. The bait used is
Oniambo or a piece of groundnut. Long lines, Mugondo, with a large
number of hooks are sometimes used. These are left in the water for
some time with floats at intervals to buoy them up.

Fish used for Local Consumption.

As most of the fish caught by natives is not eaten fresh, but dried,
the whole of the population of these locations could easily eat fish
caught on the Lake shore. In fact there is no doubt that dried fish
is transported and eaten by the natives very much further inland than
these Lake shore locations. The whole Jaluo population of Central
and South Kavirondo will eat fish if they can get it. The population
is approximately as follows : —

Central Kavirondo 316,000

South Kavirondo (Luo) 180,387

The two Districts which border on the Lake shores in Nyanza
Province .are Central and South Kavirondo. The natives living close
to the shore in both thee Districts spend a large part of their time
fishing. It has been estimated that about two to three thousand in
each District are more or less permanently employed in this work.
They use canoes (Dholuo, Yiyi) made of rough boards sewn together
with grass fibre and caulked with mud. There are probably about
1,000 canoes in each District (Central and South Kavirondo). They
are propelled with single bladed paddles (Ngai).

The following are the names and population of the Locations in
these two Districts which actually border on the Lake shore from the
Sio River on the Uganda border on the North of the Gulf to Mohuru
on the Tanganyika border on the South side: —

Central Kavirondo.
Name of Location,

Population.

Sarnia

33,000

Kadimu

6,000

Sakwa

13,000

Uyoma

10,000

Asembo

18,000

Seme

26,000

Kisumu

15,000

West Kano

19,000

Nyakach

22,000

162,000

101

South Kavibgndo.

Karachonya

21,105

Kochia ...

7,327

Kaniada

9,579

Kasigunga ...

2,442

Kaksingiri ...

1,468

Gw.asi ...

5,390

Karungu

2,569

Kadem

11,145

Mohuru

771

Businga (Island)

2,099

Mfwangano (Island)

1,792

65,682

Bbief Account of Visit to Kach Bay.

The following short account of a trip round Kach Bay and up the
Miriu river may be of interest as showing different methods of fishing
followed by the Lake shore Jaluo. I had arranged with the son of
Chief Amimo of Kanu to go and see the fish being taken out of the
basket traps at the weirs at the mouth of the Kibos river and at
6-BO a.m. on May the 29th started off from the Dhow Pier with B.
in the Government Motor Boat. It took us about one hour to get
to the mouth of the river and on the way we saw the fishing fleet
coming back with the night’s catch to Nanga fishing station. We ran
the motor boat a few yards up the river mouth and landed and the
boy lit .a fire and prepared breakfast. While waiting we watched the
various fish-eating birds which were very numerous. The ordinary
Darter Anhinja rufa (Dholuo, Osoo) was there in large numbers. This
bird goes right down under the water after the fish. It is said tp
capture the Fulu, Adel, and Osoga. An occasional cormorant
(Dholui, Kwasi) was to be seen and one or two storks (Dholuo, Okol)
while numerous birds like seagulls and teons (Dholuo, Sialo) were
flying about and occasionally dipping down into the water to capture
a small fish.

The most remarkable birds however were the pelicans, Pelicanus
onocrotalus (Dholuo, Mbuzi) which were floating quietly about and
occasionally dipping their enormous beaks into the water and then
raising them skyward to allow the unfortunate victim to slip down
their throat more easily. Large numbers of kingfishers, Ceryle rudis
and Corythornis cristatus (Dholuo, Kalamendi) were also seen. The
empty shells of numerous fresh water snails (Dholuo, Ogongolo)
strewed the shore, which was very sandy. While we were waiting a
native brought up a small fish trap (Dholuo, Musathi) which he had
just taken out of a ditch running into the Lake. This contained five

104

small fish. : two Adel about four inches long, two Sire and one Ningu.
We were also shown two small eels (Akunga). When breakfast was
finished we walked up to see the big weir across the river. It was
about 50 yards from the mouth and stretched from bank to bank in
a zig-zag line. It was made of rough poles driven into the sandy
bottom of the river which was very sluggish at this point. Numerous
gaps had been left in the barrier and above every gap facing down
stream was fastened a fish trap (Musathi) of which there were about
30 or 40 in all. By this time numerous natives had collected together
and several rafts had been brought down to assist in lifting up the
traps. These rafts were of several kinds. One kind consisted of long
thin poles of very light ambatch (Dholuo, Mburi) wood fastened
together. This wood, when dry, is as light as cork and is used for
floats for the Mugondo, or stationary lines, and also by the Mohuru
natives for floating their hippopotami harpoons. The second raft was
a large square frame about 12 ft. by 5 ft. made of poles fastened
together three deep by iron rods. The floor appeared to be made of
some sort of matting. This raft, as it appeared to be the safest, we
chose to stand on while watching the fish traps being taken up. The
raft was tied up to the top side of the weir while two natives went
into the water which was up to their shoulders and unfastened the
traps one by one. When they were undone the native who was with
us on the raft pulled the trap out of the water with the mouth up
and the fish that were inside slipped to the end of the cone. When
he got it on the raft he turned it the other way up and the fish could
then be pulled out where the inner b.asket was fastened to the outer
one at the mouth. The fish were then put into a receptacle of matting
work for safe keeping called Ngaha. We watched 20 of these baskets
being taken out and the following is a record of the catch in each
basket. I was informed that these catches were very very small
compared with what is usually taken in the months when fish are
plentiful.

It is noteworthy that only one

of the 20 baskets drew

a complete

blank and in

one other both the fish Ngege were dead.

1st trap ...

1 Mumi

11th trap ...

5 Ngege

2nd ,,

2 Ngege

12th ,,

1 Ngege

3rd ,, ...

X Ngege

13th

9 Ngege

4th ,, ...

1 Ngege

14th „

3 Ngege

5th , ,

1 Ngege

15th

1 Ngege

6th ,.

1 Mbiru

16th

3 Ngege

1 Ningu

17th ,,

Empty

7th ,, ...

1 Ngege

18th „ ...

2 Ngege

Bth ,, ...

1 Sire

1 Mbiru

3 Ngege

19th „ ...

1 Ngege

9th ...

1 Ngege

20th ,, ...

1 Ngege

lOtto ,, ...

2 Ngege

105

The total catch of the 20 traps was therefore 38 Ngege, 1 Mumi,
2 Mbiru, 1 Ningu, and 1 Sire, i.e., 43 fish in all.

We left the Kibos river at 9-30 and went on towards the end of
Kach Bay seeing numerous fish eating birds on the way.

Line with Multiple Hooks.

There were also quite a number of natives in canoes and one of
these to whom we spoke was working a long line called by the Jaluo
Mugondo. This is a very long line weighted at one end with a stone.
At intervals along it are hooks fastened to the main line by short
lengths of thinner line and baited with pieces of fish mostly Fulu. It
is also buoyed at intervals by floats of ambatch (Mburi) wood. The
native in the canoe holds the other end. The hooks of some of these
lines we saw were the ordinary barbed variety bought in the shops but
one man had barbless hooks evidently locally made.

They were very sharp and curved almost into a complete circle,
while the point was slightly bent to one side. I tried to buy this line
from the owner but he refused to part with it.

Weirs and Traps, not in Rivers.

Along the shore and end of Kach Bay, near the mouth of the
Nyando river, we saw two other varieties of fish weirs called by the
Jaluo Osageru and Bwanza, something on the principle of the river
weir (Kek).

The Osageru resembles a maze and is made of papyrus stalks
(Dholuo, Togo) driven into the bottom of the Lake and fastened
together and forming a barrier through which the fish cannot pass.
As far as I can discover the fish in the course of their peregrinations
meet this barrier and move along it until they get caught in a suitably
placed basket trap (Musathi). The Osageru is as often as not entirely
below the surface of the water and just outside the mouth of the
Miriu River we came across a canoe and a raft containing two and one
man respectively engaged in building this form of trap. We were
informed that a fourth man was working on the Lake bottom pushing
in the papyrus stalks. He eventually came up for air and it was
amazing the amount of time he spent underneath.

Traps and Artificial Runs.

The Bwanza is also made of papyrus stalks. It is a small barrier
built across little channels cut into the papyrus swamps or scooped
out of the sandy shore either on the side of the Lake or on the river
bank.

A small gap is left in the barrier, and basket traps are placed on
the side away from the Lake or river as the ease may be The fish

106

Photo by C. M. Dobbs.

FISH FROM KAVIRONDO GULF.

1. Seu (Bagrus docmac).

2. Kamongo ( Protopterus cethiopicus ).

3. Mumi ( Clarias mosambiacus ).

4. Ngege (Tilapia sp). 5. Mbiru (Tilapia variabilis).

6. Suma (Mormyrus sp.).

7. Fwani (Barbus radiclifjfi). 8. Fulu ( Haplochromis sp.).
9. Sire (Schilbe sp.). 10. Osondogoro (Haplochromis sp.).

11. Ondhuri ( Gnathonemus longibirbis ).

trying to work their way into these channels get caught in the traps.
On leaving the end of Kach Bay we made for the mouth of the Miriu
river. On the way we were much interested in the performances of
a kingfisher ( Ceryle rudis ) which flew for some time parallel to the boat
and a considerable height above the water. At intervals it would spot
a fish, poise itself for a second or two, then drop like a stone
perpendicularly into the Lake beak first with a splash, to rise again
almost immediately and continue its flight. The Miriu is known
higher up as the Kipsonoi and Sondo, but is called the Miriu when it
passes through the gorge in the escarpment and comes out into the
Lake plain. From there it runs through the level country at first
between high solid banks, but as it nears the Lake these disappear and
are succeeded by dense papyrus swamps. The channel is exceedingly
tortuous, in some cases nearly doubling back on itself, and the total
distance from the gorge to the Lake is about seven miles. We took
the boat about five or six miles up till we grounded on a sandy spot
after which we returned down stream. Several crocodiles (Dholuo,
Nuang) were sighted on the way up and one varanus (Kalaguena) which
is said to eat fish. When we started to float down with the engine
running very quietly, we saw more crocodiles lying out on the mud
banks, especially on the higher reaches of the river.

These reptiles must destroy vast quantities of fish and as very
few of them are shot they are presumably increasing. It took about
an hour to get back to the mouth of the river and two hours from there
to Kisumu. I saw no otters (Dholuo, Mandoholo) on this trip. Some
years ago I saw two swimming in the Miriu river.

The following are the names of the various fish found in the Lake,
with a brief description of each of those I have seen. The list has no
claim to be exhaustive.

(1) Suma. A big fish with a nose and mouth like a trunk.

Inhabits the Lake. It is not very popular as food. It is
rarely taken in nets or on hooks. A few are taken in traps.
Scales very small. Has firm flesh. The natives think that
they get itch from eating it. — M or my r us sp.

(2) Ngege. A carp-like fish. Firm flesh which lasts well. This

is the principal food fish of the Kavirondo Gulf and is sent to
Nairobi in considerable quantities. It is extremely like the
Mbiru. Tilapia sp.

(3) Mbiru. A good eating fish and very difficult to distinguish

from the Ngege. The only difference appears to be that it is
a bit darker and the tops of the spine are reddish. It does
not keep fresh so long. A small variety of this fish, possibly
its fry, is called Obudi. — Tilapia variabilis.

107

(4) Kamongo (Swahili, Mamba). This is the Lung fish Protop -
terns cethiopicus. It is a mud fish and can live out of water
in mud for months. The natives are fond of this fish. It
breeds in papyrus swamp. When caught it utters a grunting
sound. It is not eaten by Mohammedans. Lives in Lake
and rivers.

(5) Fulu. A small fish. Lives in Lake and rivers.

—H aploch ro m is 8p. ?

(6) Seu. A spined barbel. Has a big mouth with whiskers.

Eats other fish. Grows very large. Takes meat or fish bait.
Not very popular as food. Caught in the Lake. Not a very
important fish. Only a few caught. — Bagrus docmac.

(7) Fwani. A yellow fish with big scales found often in rivers.

Known as the Kisinja. This is the fish caught at the Jinja
Falls. A true Barbus. Inhabits the Lake and large rivers.
Very bony and poor food. —Barbus Radclifli.

(8) Ondhuri. Found in Lake and rivers. Has a curious fleshy

proboscis on the lower jaw. — Gnathonemus longibirbis.

(9) Okoko. No scales. Spotted. Upright fin on back. About
9-12 inches. Found in Lake and rivers. Edible.

(10) Mumi. The barbel of South Africa. Called in Swahili
Kambare. Has a very flat head and grows very large. Eaten
only by Africans. Eats other fish. Of no commercial
importance. A mud fish. Will take bait.

— - Clarias rnosambiacus.

(11) Ningu. Has scales and is very bony. Only eaten by natives
Caught in the Lake. The mouth is underneath.

(12) Sire. Found in Lake and rivers. Edible. Has two deep

depressions on each side and a hump on top. Has a shovel
mouth. Something like a herring. Probably Schilbe "mystus .
Known also as the Butter fish. Breeds in the papyrus.
Seldom caught in nets. Generally in fish traps. Said to be
quite the best eating fish of Kavirondo waters, but not caught
in commercial quantities and probably would not travel well.
In season takes bait. When cured and smoked not unlike
dried red herring. — Schilbe .

(13) Osondogoro. A scaly fish like a John Dory. Found in the

Lake. Edible. — Haplochromis sp. ?

(14) Gsoga. A small silvery fish. Caught along the Lake shore

with rod and line. Edible. —Alestes nurse

(15) Nthira. Said to be the young of the Mumi. Very like the
Nyawino but lighter.

108

(16) Nyawino. Like the Nthira but does not grow big and is of
a darker colour. Inhabits the Lake and rivers. Edible.

(17) Ndera. Small fieh found in the rivers.

(18) Omena. A very small silvery fish caught in traps in the

Lake. — Engrauli cypris.

(19) Oyora. Said to be the young of the Ngege.

(20) Obudi. Said to be the young of the Mbiru.

(21) Adel. A small scaled fish of silvery colour about four inches
long.

There are other fish which I have not been able to see and cannot
describe, but they are said to live in the Lake and rivers and to be
edible. The names given Eire : Otenda, Adendi, Otengo, Nyangoro,
Obu.

I have also seen small eels (Okunga), about a foot long, caught
in the Lake. Crabs (Okela) and Oysters, and fresh water tortoise
(Opuk) are also found.

For a good deal of the material embodied in this article I am
indebted to reports made some years ago by Dr. Orloff and Mr.
Blaney Percival and also for figures and information supplied by the
Administrative Officers in Central and South Kavirondo and the
Superintendent of Inland Revenue and Conservancy. The native
names given are Dholuo ( i.e ., the language spoken by the Jaluo
Kavirondo except where otherwise stated.

109

SAHI LAKE, MERU DISTRICT,

By G. M. Dobbs.

This lake is sacred in the eyes of the local natives. The track

leads through thick forest, and the going is very slow. It is a crater
lake, entirely surrounded by thick forest, and without any outlet,
except possibly subterranean. The only people who know the way
there are certain old Wanderobo, and they have to carry a supply of
honey and wimbi grain before they will make the venture. We started
with them at about 7-30 a.m., and walked through thick forest for
about an hour, till we struck a large elephant track, which led us easily
in 15 minutes to the lake. Several times during the walk our guides
stopped, chewed up honey and wimbi, and spat it out towards the
four corners of the compass, muttering prayers the while. I was
informed that they were praying for strength to continue the journey.

When we struck the main elephant track at about 8-30, all the
natives with me sat down, while the old Ndorobo went through some
ceremonies. When we reached the shore of the lake, they had to go
through the same ritual before they went near the water. The lake
is about a mile in diameter, almost circular. There appears to be no
outlet on the surface. There is a good deal of clear water, and I saw
none of the blue water-lily that covers almost the whole of Gunga
Lake, which is another crater lake, close to Meru, on the Nyeri road.
There were many duck on the lake, but my Ndorobo guide would not
hear of my shooting any; apparently, they are regarded as the
property of the local Shaitan.

The legend about the sacred Lake of Sahi is that an old man of
Katheri, called Nkuchuchu, shot a buck close to the Lake and was
accused by the resident Spirit of killing his goat. He was punished
by having all his hair taken off, and it never grew again.

On anather occasion, I visited Gunga Lake, and heard a curious
noise, evidently emanating from the lake. I asked the boy who was
with me, what the noise was. He immediately replied: “ It is the
Shaitan of the Lake.”

All the crater lakes are said to be inhabited by spirits of sorts,
and the natives are very afraid of them.

USE FOB ANTS’ NESTS.

There are numerous ants’ nests in the trees and bushes in the
Meru District. They look something like wasps ’ nests at home, and
are made of cow-dung and mud. The Meru call the ants “Mpampo”;
they are small and black. The natives use them as a charm to keep
off the evil eye. Nearly every village has an ants’ nest at its front gate,
stuck up on a stick.

110

East anim
Natural History

October , 1927 & January , 1928. No. 31 & 32.

CONTENTS.

The Butterflies of Kenya and Uganda, Part VII. Family
Nymphalidce — Charaxidi (illustrated) by V. G. L. van
Someren, f.e.s., f.l.s., etc., and Bev. K. St. A. Rogers,

M.A., F.E.S. ... ... ... Ill

The Birds of Kenya and Uganda, Part VII. Pigeons and
Doves (illustrated) by V. G. L. van Someren, m.b.o.u.,
c.f.a.o.u., etc. ... ... ... ... 159

Editor of Journal:

Dr. V. G. L. van Someren.

Additional copies to members, Shs. 7/50; to non-members, Shs. 15/-.
(Date of publication, June , 1928.)

PRINTED BY THE EAST AFRICAN STANDARD, LTD.

All Rights Reserved.

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Ofye "Journal

OF THE

East Africa and Uganda
Natural History Society

October, 1927 & January, 1928.

No. 31 & 32.

PATRONS :

Sir EDWARD NORTHEY, g.c.m.g.

Sir F. J. JACKSON, k.c.m.g., c.b., etc.

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PRESIDENT :

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H. M. GARDNER, Esq., b.a., for. dipl.

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HON. SECRETARY:

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M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., F.E.S. , C.M.Z.S,, &C.

HON. EDITOR OF JOURNAL:

Dr. V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN.

(Date of publication, June, 1928.)

oct 14 .::i

Plate XLVII.

V . G. L. van Someren, pinx.

Vans & Crumpton, Ltd.

LARVAE AND PUPAE OF CHARAXES.
All the figures are of the natural size.

Plate XL VII I.

V. G. L. vctn Someren, pinx. Vans & Crampton, Ltd.

LARVAE AND PUPAE OF CHARAXES, EUXANTHE AND PALLA.

All the figures except 1 and la (slightly reduced) are of the natural size.

Plate XLVII.

Larvae and pupae of Charaxes.

1. Charaxes brutus brutus: 1, larva; la, head (Jinja).

2. ,, castor castor: 2, larva; 2a, head; 26, pupa (Jinja).

3. ,, baumahni : 3, larva; 3a, head; 36, pupa (Nairobi).

4. ,, varanes vologeses: 4, larva; 4a, head (Jinja).

5. ,, jasius epijasius: 5, larva; 5a, pupa; 56, anal extremity (Jinja).

6. ,, numenes numerics: 6, larva; 6a, pupa; 66, anal extremity

(Jinja).

Plate XL VIII.

Larvae and pupae of Charaxes, Palla, and Euxanthe.

1. Palla ussheri inter po sita : 1 and la, larva; 16, head; 1 c, Id and le,

pupa (Jinja).

2. ,, etesipe etesipe: 2, larva; 2a, larva, just before pupating;

26, head; 2c, 2d and 2c, pupa (Jinja).

3. Charaxes pollux pollux: 3, larva; 3a, head (Nairobi).

4. ,, cithceron: 4, larva; 4a, pupa (Nairobi.)

5. ,, fulvescens monitor: 5, larva; 5a, pupae (Jinja).

N.B. — In figure 5 the dorsal spots should be on segments 6, 8 and 10,
and not as depicted.

6. Euxanthe ansellica: 6, larva, immature; 6a, 66, pupa (Jinja).

THE BUTTERFLIES OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

Part VII.

By

V. G. L. VAN SoMEREN, F.E.S., F.L.S., etc.,
and

Rev. K. St. A. Rogers, m.a.; f.e.s.

Sub-family NYMPHALINM , (contd.)

CHARAXIDI.

Introduction :

The Charaxidi include some of the finest species in the country
and are for the most part confined to woodlands and forests. There
are three genera usually recognised, i.e., Char axes, which includes a
very large number of species and extends into the Oriental region with
one .species in the southern part of the Palaearctic region; Euxanthe.
and Palin, which are endemic.

(1) The species of Char axes are generally large or medium sized
butterflies and most of the species hav.e an extremely powerful flight.
They are much more numerous in West Africa than in East Africa,
and many species are confined to forests though a good number are
found in woodlands even in dry districts.

They are addicted to settling on strong-smelling substances sudfo
m tine droppings of animals particularly carnivora, but as a rule these
are exclusively males; also on damp places near streams. They are
also attracted by gummy exudations on a number of trees, and in this
case both sexes are attracted.

They frequently settle on the bark of trees and also are very fond
of basking in the sun, taking short rapid flights at frequent intervals
in ©old districts they will even settle on the corrugated iron roofs
of houses and are so bold that they may sometimes be captured by
Hand in such positions. Many of the species have geographical races,
the East African forms being readily separable from the Western
types. Very few species have seasonal forms though Ch. zoolina is
a remarkable exception. The dry form of this species was for many
yearn regarded as a distinct species under the name of Ch. rieanthes.
In Tanganyika where there is one long dry season the zoolina form is
almost entirely replaced by the neanthes form at the beginning of the
dry season, but this is not the case to the same extent in Kenya.

A very remarkable species is Ch. etheocles which has a large
number of female forms which resemble both sexes of larger and more
powerful species of the same genus.

(2) The species of this genus have already been dealt with.
Their flight is less powerful than those of Charaxes , but they are also
very fond of settling on the trunks and branches of trees generally

111

head downwards. They are confined to the Ethiopian region and are
not numerous in species (one is found in Madagascar). They
are broad-winged insects with a rather sluggish flight and are mainly
forest insects, though E. wakefieldi is found in open woodlands and
is more abundant than most of the other species. They do not seem
to be attracted by strong-smelling, substances to any great extent.
The males are met with far more frequently than the females, which
is also the case with most of the species of Char axes.

(3) The insects in the Genus Palla are entirely confined to
forests. They are very like Char axes but less robust. The genus is
represented in Uganda by one species — a race of a West African
insect.

We are indebted to the Entomological Society of London for
permission to use the plates illustrating larvae and eggs; and to
Professor Poulton for presenting them to the Society.

Genus CHAR AXE 8.

HADR0D0NT1M . Costal margin of fore-wing coarsely serrate.
Group I. VARANES, FVLVESCENS.

The species of Charaxes included in this group are characterised
by the curious greenish veins, with vein 3 and 4 of the hind-wing not
stalked. Vein 4 of the hind wing is produced to form a long rounded
spatulate “ tail,” but between this and the anal angle the outline is
almost straight though occasionally there is a slight indication of a
tail at vein 2, but very rudimentary. The underside of the wings is
curiously like a dead leaf, and is ornamented with “ eye spots.” The
sexes are similar. The larvae and pupae conform to a common pattern
which, is however constantly modified in the species and races. The
larvae feed on a group of plants which is common to all.

CHARAXES VARANES VOLOGESES, Mab. PI. XLIX., figs. 1-3.

Expanse: Male 85-92 mm. Female 90-100 mm. General colour
orange-brown with white areas at bases of fore and hind wings. Sexes
very alike.

F.-w. : Basal area of fore wing bluish-white, extending to the
middle of the cell, the base of area 2, the basal half of lb and the
basal half of la. Beyond this is a triangular area of orange, the
base of which occupies the mid-area of the costa, the apex reaching
the mid-point of la; beyond this the wing is reddish-orange-brown,
ornamented with two rows of intercellular orange spots; the sub-
marginal row' extending from area lb to 7, following the contour of
the wing; the inner row less regular, the spots in 4 and 5 being set
out slightly from the rest. The two rows are joined by indistinct
dark reddish-brown spots. This area , is decorated with wavy red-
brown sub -basal transverse lines in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The costa is
ochreous-wrhite at the basal half shading to orange brown distally.

112

r ?

PLATE XLIX.

Charaxes varanes vologeses.

S upper-side. Fig 2, $ underside. Fig 3, <$ underside.

PI.-w. Basal area from mid point of costa to anal angle bluish-
white; distal half of wing orange-red-brown with an indistinct row
of darker brown internervuiar circular spots from 2-6. The anal angle
is almost rectangular, while vein two is obtusely angled, and vein 4
is. extended into a long somewhat spatulate tail. The sub-marginal
internervuiar areas of 1c to 7 are ornamented with crescentic blackish
lines outlined distally with whitish. The thorax and abdomen are
white above.

Underside: PI. XLIX., figs 2 & 3. This varies considerably
from a rusty brown to a greyish-russet; the general appearance is
somewhat “dead-leaf -like,” either almost uniform or with “ eye
spots ” mostly on the hind wing, but both forms have a transverse
dark line outlined distally with grey crossing both wings. The basal
areas of both wings are decorated with a series of broken wavy
blackish lines running transverse to the cellule. The basal halves of
the fore and hind wings are dull, whereas the distal have a curious
sheen which accentuates the dividing line.

Early stages : PI. LXXII., fig. I., PL LXXXV., fig. 6.

Charaxes varanes lays its eggs on three species of Allo-phyllus
(Sapindacece)—macrobotrys, Gilg., a species near subcmiaceus , Bak.,
and an undetermined food-plant known to the Baganda as
“ Nkuzanyana ”. Of these small trees, which are commonly found
in the forests round Nairobi, the first two are also the food-plants
of Oh. fulvescens arid the last that of Gh.f.nr. acuminatus.

At the coast varanes oviposits on a creeper (probably belonging
to this same family) which abounds on the coral cliffs of Mombasa
Island.

The eggs are white or yellowish when first deposited, but turn
quite brown just before the larva emerges. The top is flat and slightly
fluted. There is no apparent difference between the egg of this
species and that of fulvescens.

The newly-emerged larva is dirty yellowish in colour and has a
pair of long whitish tails and a black head with short white-tipped
horns. These horns are mere tubercles when the larva has just
emerged but they are gradually extruded within the first twelve hours.

The first meal is made off the egg-shell and green food is not
touched until the evening of the day on which the larva hatches.

The head in the first two in stars is blackish or brownish, but in
the third instar when the body becomes green, the head also takes on
this colour. The body-spots appear at this stage.

113

The mature larva, PL LXXIV., fig. 6. Pl. XLVIL, fig. 4. 4a.
is dull olive-green or grey-green, heavily papillated with white-tipped
tubercles, so that the whole surface has a finely speckled appearance,
The dorsal spots are present on the sixth, eight and tenth segments.
In shape they are like those of fulvescens, and in colour they may be
either greyish or brick-red. Sometimes only two spots are present.

The head, Pl. L XXVI., figs. 2 & 6. PL XL VII., fig. 4a., of
the larva is characteristic, and it is noteworthy that the Nairobi and
Coast form of varanes is in this respect quite distinct from the
Uganda race. The chief points of difference are : (1) the horns of
the eastern form are more slender and uniformly green in colour;
(2) the lateral pair, seen from the front, form a nearly straight line
with the lower half of the face, the corresponding contour being
distinctly concave in the north-western form; (3) the central pair are
first directed up, back, outwards and then inwards, while those of the
Uganda insect project up, forwards outwards and then slightly
forwards at the tips. Further the tips and the bases of the north-
western form are blackish. There is therefore a marked difference
between the head of the Nairobi varanes and that of fulvescens in
Uganda, whereas, as we state later, we cannot separate the larvae of
the two species as they occur in Uganda. Cf. PL LXXVL, figs. 2,
5, 6, 14-17. The head is dull green with a greyish outline.

The pupa is a pale bluish-green, somewhat wedge-shaped both from
in front and lateral view-points; with bluish-white streaks and spots,
especially on the wing-cases and dorsum of the thorax. The
abdominal segments are narrow and taper abruptly to the cremaster.

The head is bifid and forms an almost straight line with the
wing-shields in front, and with the line of the thorax on the dorsum.
The spiracles are indicated by blackish or brown spots.

Distribution and Habits : Varanes is found in suitable localities
from the coastal districts of Kenya inland to as (far north as Marsabit,
extending west through Elgon and into Uganda. The type of country
frequented is the more open forests and “ park land ” and the less
densely fringed river courses. They have a distinct liking for the
vicinity of Acacias and Albizzias and indeed obtain a great deal of
nourishment from the exudates from wounds in these trees. The
flight, in comparison with other species of charaxes, is somewhat
weak; one sometimes sees these insects flying in open sunny places
but more often they keep fairly low, apparently preferring to settle
on low scrub rather than high trees. Females are mostly taken
round about the food plants of the larvae, while males are taken at
bait or when feeding on tree juices. At the Coast, one frequently
Lakes them while feeding on the stalks of growing Maize or Mtama,

114

usually in association with Cetoniid Beetles, and ants. If a powerful
species such as oithceron happens to come to a trickle of sap where
varanes is feeding, the latter invariably gives way to its more virile
opponent.

The species is on the whole remarkably constant in colouration;
the most pronounced variation is one in which there is no white at
the base of the fore-wing, the basal half of the wing being a pale
orange yellow. Examples from the Coast frequently have the whole
of the fore-wing cell uniform yellowish.

Mimetic Associations :

Vide post, under group.

CHARAXES FULVESCENS MONITOR , Bothsch. PL L., figs. 1-3.

Expanse: Male, 90-100 mm., female 95-110 mm. General colour
reddish-orange-brown with whitish bases to both wings. Sexes .alike.

F.-w. : The costa is strongly curved, greenish at the base but
darkening towards the apex; the outer margin is almost straight
forming practically a right-angle with the inner margin. The base
of the wing is a delicate whitish yellow with a slight greenish tinge
shading into a richer orange yellow at the middle of the wing and
then into a dark orange-brown up to the margin and apex, the darkest
area being at the margin. The dark marginal area is ornamented
with two rows of orange spots; the submarginal row extending from
area lb to 7 and following the contour of the wing; the inner row
following more or less the same line but with the spots in 4 and 5 set
slightly nearer the outer row. Internal to this row are two spots
(sometimes one) at mid-point of cellules 5 and 6. The intermediate
orange-yellow zone is decorated with wavy transverse lines, dark
brownish in colour, sub -basal in 2, 3 and 4, and often at apex of cell.

H.-w. : The basal triangle of the wing is whitish tinged with
yellowish green, while the distal half of the wing is orange-brown.,
ornamented with a row of crescentic or triangular internervular
blackish lines, submarginally, while internal to this is a row of
darker brown somewhat diffuse large spots, internervularly in 3 to 7,
those in the latter two areas sometimes with a light centre, that in 7
occasionally being white. The dark distal areas of the front and
hind wings usually have a slight purple bloom which is frequently
lost in worm specimens.

Underside. PI. L., figs. 2 and 3.

There are two extreme forms; one in which the wings are almost
uniform greyish -russet, the other heavily scaled with dark olive-
brown to blackish. Both forms have a dark bar which traverses both

115

wings from just internal to the anal angle of the hind- wing to not
quite the end of the costa in the fore-wing. This line is accentuated
on the outside by a greyish lustre which suffuses the outer area of
both wings.

In the pale form certain marks are constant ; area 7 has a
circular dark spot with a whitish centre, and areas 1c and 2 each have
a white submarginal spot outlined with blackish. In both forms
there are wavy black lines running transverse to the cellules, sub-
basally. The venation is always green.

Eakly stages :

The eggs of this species are usually laid on the young shoots of
two species of Allophyllus, macrobotrys and subcoriaceus , the former
being the commoner food plant. When the egg is newly deposited
it is pearly white, but as development proceeds the rim of the upper
disc turns brown, and later on the whole egg becomes blackish-brown.

The newly emerged larva is olive with a black head, and white
tails ” on the anal extremity. The first two instars are as in
var&nes. The fully mature larva is 6-6.5 cm. in length; the body is
a dull sage-green colour, heavily papillated over with glistening white
spines, simple in nature. There is no distinct body-line. Many
specimens have three, others two, crescentic spots or rather blunt
trident-shaped figures with the prongs pointing forwards on the dorsum
of the sixth, eighth, and tenth, or sixth and eighth segments respec-
tively. In some larvae these marks are very distinct, in others evane-
scent, they may be either brick-red or grey in colour. PL LXXYL,
fig. 5.

Pl. XL VIII., fig 5,

The head is most characteristic and resembles in front view a
somewhat quadrilateral convex plate, dark-green, finely papillated,
and surmounted at its upper corners by two very long 7 mm., horns
which run outwards, upwards and at the tips are incurved towards
the mid line. Each is cylindrical and heavily spined, and at its
extremity is. white with a black band immediately below. . There
are two other horns 4 mm. long, which arise from the sides and
curve upwards and outwards; they are heavily spined and also sharp-
pointed. There is no marginal border or face line. PI. LXXVI.,
fig. 5.

The pupa is pale-green, with the spiracles indicated by reddish
spots, as in pollux. The head-covering is markedly bifid, with at
the base of each projection a white spot. The wing-scutse are
ornamented with greyish wavy lined, while the dorsum of the thorax
is streaked with the same colour. The imago emerges in fourteen
days.

116

Charaxes fulvescens monitor.

<5 upperside. Fig. 2. $ underside.

Fig. 3. S underside.

These striking-looking larvae are easily reared, as they feed
voraciously, chiefly at night. During the day they will rest motion-
less on a particular leaf to which they return every morning. The
surface of this resting place is spun over with silk and protected from
the sun by one or two other leaves being attached and brought over
with a few strands of silk. When the larva is distributed it stiffens
itself into a straight line ; the horns are laid on the back and the three
terminal segments of the body are raised off the leaf or twig on which
it is resting,

Distribution and Habits :

This race of fulvescens inhabits the forest areas of Uganda from
the Congo area to Busoga, but apparently intergrades with the form
acwminatus in the Kigezi area of south-west Uganda, and in the
Elgon area with a very distinct form which is un-named.

This species is much more confined to forests than is varanes,
but like that species is usually found in the undergrowth and mid-
zone of the forests rather than high up in the tall trees. Males are
sometimes taken at bait but more frequently one captures the insects
as they sit on some low bush or when feeding on some exudate from an
injured tree. The undersurfaces of these insects certainly bear a
strong cryptic resemblance to dead leaves, and even to the bark of
trees when the insects settle on tree trunks, as they frequently do.

Very often males are seen flying about open forest glades and
sunny paths but their flight is never sustained, and is rather weak.

CHAR AXES FULVESCENS, nr. ACUMINATES, Thurau. PI. LI.,,
figs. 1 & 2.

Expanse: Male, 88-99, females 95-112 mm. General colour
blackish and orange with light whitish basal area. Sexes almost alike.

F.-w. Costa markedly curved especially at mid and distal third,
with the outer margin strongly concave so that the apex of the wing
is sharply pointed and tapering, while the posterior angle is produced
backwards so that in shape it is less than a right-angle.

The basal area is a pale greenish-yellow shading to yelUwish
cream and then into orange, this area carrying large blackish-brown
spots in cellules 2 — 6, and a streak at apex of cell. The distal area
of the wing is a rich blackish-brown with a purply bloom, decorated
with a sub-marginal row of smallish orange spots double in lb and
extending to 6 and parallel to the margin of the wing; internal to
this row is another row from lb-7 of much larger more triangular spots
with that in 5 set slightly further out than the rest.

117

H.-w. Basal area bluish white distally tinged with greenish-
yellow bordered distally by a band of rich reddish-orange which in
turn shades to darker orange -brown at the margin. A submarginal
row of rather indistinct triangular spots extends from area 1c to 7, and
internal to this is a further row of larger blackish-brown spots equally
indistinct, except those in 6 and 7. The distal half of the foid on
the inner margin of the wing is shaded with ochreous, thus causing
the basal pale area to be rather restricted. In general outline the
hind-wing is rather rounded but there is a slight anal angle, while
vein 4 is projected to form a rounded spatulate tail 7mm. long.

The general colour of the fore-wings is very like Ch. candiope.

Underside: Highly variable. Pi. LI., figs. 1 & 2:

Two extremes are figured. The more uniform variety has the
general ground colour of a greyish-ochreous-olive with a dark brownish
bar crossing both fore and hind wings. This line is edged distally
with a lustrous grey which colour is present also on a series of
indistinct, ocellate spots which run submarginally from the apex of
the fore-wing to just internal to the anal angle of the hind-wing. In
this latter the spot in area 7 is blackish, while those in 1c and 2 are
white with black margins. In certain specimens there is a series of
small silvery streaks in the mid-internervular margin.

There are certain persistant wavy blackish lines as follows : =
F-.w. one crescentic at base of cell; followed by two transverse spots
at proximal edge of mid-third, and a wavy zigzag line at the distal
edge of this. Two wavy lines, sub-basal in lb and 2; one each sub-
basal in 3 — 7. H.-w. two sub-basal in 7 and 8; one each sub-basal

in 6, 5, 4, and 2; two in lb and 1c; a series of three in the cell. These
tines are constant.

In the variety with an underside suffused with blackish-brown
scales, the ground colour is more tawny, while the ocellate spots on
both fore and hind wings are more distinct.

Early stages: PI. LXXV., fig. 3. PI. LXXVL, figs. 9 & 10.

This Alpine race of fulvescens selects as the food plant of the iarvse
a small scrub allied to that known to the Baganda as “ Nkuzanyana.”
We have also taken their eggs and larvae on a further species of
Allophyllus , as yet undetermined. The eggs are similar to those of
the race monitor but are larger and rather yellower in colour when
first laid. At the first instar the young larvae are dull brownish-olive
with a black head carrying white spines. The anal “ tails " are
pronounced and whitish. In the second stage the head and body
become more greyish-green while the head horns are wTell developed
and strongly divergent. At the end of this stage the larva is 15

118

Photo : Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LI.

Charaxes fulvescens nr. acuminatus.
Fig. 1. a <$ upperside. b underside.
Fig. 2. c $ upperside. d 9 underside,

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LII.

Char axes fulvescens sb. sp.

Fig. 1. a S underside, b $ upperside.
Fig. 2. c 9 underside, d 9 upperside.

mm. long and has one or two dorsal spots. The larva grows to
about 30 mm. and then moults for the last time. The mature larva
is very like that of monitor or even varanes but is much more
ornamented with white-tipped papillae on the body segments and
possesses oblique segmental lines which reach the spiracular line
which is greyish-white. The sixth, eighth, and tenth segments carry
crescentic or trident-like marks which are either greyish with a bluish
outline or reddish with a pale green margin. Just before pupating
it measures 55 mm.

The pupa is like that of monitor in shape but is rather more
ornamented with bluish-grey marks.

Distribution and Habits.

The race acuminatus was described from Tanganyika Territory
but we are unable to say with any certainty that the specimens
referred to this form really belong to it. They agree with the
description in that the angle of the apex is acute and in the concavity
of the outer margin of the fore -wing, and in the darker marginal area
of both fore and hind wings but these specimens differ in that the
orange spotting in the fore wings is very distinct whereas Thurau
describes his race as having very small indistinct orange spots. Until
topotypical example are available this race must remain uncertain.

The specimens I have described range through the high forests
of the Aberdares and the Kikuyu Escarpment and east to Meru and
Mt. Kenya. The specimens from Kenya however differ somewhat
and approach nearer to the race described later.

This race of fulvmcens inhabits the forests and is not found in
the more open country. We took it readily on bait and near its
food plant. It ocoasionaly comes to damp mud.

CHARAXES FULVE8CENS sb. sp. PI. LIT, figs. 1 & 2.

Expanse : Male, 90-95, female 90-100 mm. This race is some-
what like monitor but differs constantly in having the dark outer
margins of both wings much darker, though not so dark as in
acuminatus; the orange submarginal spots are indistinct but the
intermediate bright orange area between the whitish bases of the
wings and the dark marginal border is considerably wider and thus
more conspicuous than in any other race. It agrees however with
acuminatus in having the margin of the outer side of the fore- wing
concave with the apex produced ho an acute angle.

The white area of the base of the fore-wing is limited to the base
of area la and slightly into lb.

119

I should not be at all surprised to find, when more material of
true a cuminaus is available, that the specimens described above
belong to this form and that the Uplands specimens represent an
entirely distinct race.

Distribution : This type of insect is found in the forests round

Mt. Elgon south to Nandi and Mau and eastwards to the Kericho and
Sotik area.

Group 2. CAND10PE.

Only one species of this group is represented in Kenya and
Uganda. The sexes are similar and both possess two pairs of “ tails ”
those in the female being more developed than in the male. The
veins are greenish.

The basal half of both fore and hind wings is greenish-yellow.

The outer edge of the fore-wing is concave and the apex produced
to an acute angle.

CHAR AXES CANDIOPE CANDIOPE ., Godt. PL LIII., figs.

1 & 2, a — d.

Expanse: Male 90-95, female 95-110 mm. General colour

yellowish-green at base of wings with brown and black margins.

E.-w. : The basal half of the wing greenish-yellow up to a line
with the apex of the cell; beyond this a reddish-orange zone extended
outward in areas 5 and 6; distal half of wing blackish-brown orna-
mented with a marginal row of orange marks diminishing in size from
the posterior angle to the apex, and a further row of 7 large sub-
marginal orange spots following the contour of the outer margin up
to area 5 and then curving inwards at 6 and 7. Beyond the apex of
the cell are three confluent black spots and beyond these, two spots
at the bases of 5 and 6.

H.-w. : Upper half of basal area greenish-yellow, shading to red-
brown at the lower half, and distally bordered by orange-brown. The
margin of the wing is paler orange and internal to this is a black
band diminishing in width from the upper angle to area 2 where it
tails off in a black spot. This black band is ornamented with orange
internervular spots. The anal angle is produced into a blunt point
carrying an olive-green mark in the centre of which are two black
dots and edged above and below with white. Vein 2 is produced into
a long outwardly-curved spatulate tail, and vein 4 into a narrow pointed
tail; while veins 5 and 6 are also slightly produced. In the female
both tails are long and spatulate, and of about equal length.

120

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LIII.

Charaxes candiope candiope.

Fig. 1. a <3 upperside. b c? underside.
Fig. 2. c 9 underside, d 9 upperside.

Underside. PI. LIIL, b and c.

The green venation, especially that of the costa is marked. The
pale area of above is represented below by a triangular basal area,
greenish-ochreous in colour distally bordered by a greyish-brown bar
which crosses the wing from the costa to the hind-margin. This bar
is distally outlined and shaded with black in la to 3. Beyond this
the wing is a paler greyish-brown paling to ochreous in lb and 2,
these areas ornamental with black spots, which are represented in
the other cellules by faintly indicated double lines.

The pale basal area is traversed by blackish-brown wavy lines
as follows: Three lines crossing the cell; two at the base of 2; two
at the base of 3, while crossing the apex of the . cell is a diffuse brown
mark bordered distally by a brownish area. Towards the apex of the
wing are two greyish marks below the costa.

H.-w. : Upper part of base greenish; the whole of the cell, the
bases of 2, 4, 5, 6, and sub-basal in 7 and 8 dark brown, forming a
bar; this bar is distally bordered by a cream bar of equal width. The
rest of the wing is greyish-brown with a purple tinge traversed by a
brownish bar composed of crescentic marks in each cellule, each mark
proximally shaded with ochreous and the whole outlined in blackish.

The extreme margin of the wing is brown internally bordered by
a series of ochreous crescentic marks in 4-8 and by greyish-olive in lc,
2, 3, and 4, the first of these carrying two black dots, the latter one
dot each. The under-surface of the tails is brown like the border.
Areas lb and lc are traversed by dark grey lines, two in the former,
three in the latter. The above description is of an average well
marked example; the undersurface is however somewhat variable,
many specimens being almost uniform greyish with a distinct sheen,
but with the essential markings faintly indicated.

Early Stages. PI. LXXII., fig. 5.

This species lays its eggs on the upper or lower surface . of the
leaves of the “ Brown Olive,” Groton megalocarpus, Hutch. ( Elliot -
icinus Pax et Engl.) Euphorbiacese, a common tree of the highland
forests of Kenya and known to the Kikuyu as “ Makinduri ” and at
the Coast on Croton dichogamus Pax., a shrub which seldom grows
to more than 6 feet and known to the Wanyika as “ Mnyama.” We
do not know the food-plant in Uganda, but it is probably a species of
Croton or a near ally. The eggs are deposited with great rapidity, not
all on one leaf or even one tree, but the time between the actual
settling and the deposition cannot be more than a secondhand off the
insect goes to another tree. When first laid the eggs are bright
canary yellow, but they soon turn dull yellow with a brownish ring at
the edge of the disc and in a day become bright brick-red.

121

This colour is highly cryptic, agreeing absolutely in tint with the
numerous spots of fungus-burn to which the leaves of the Croton are
especially liable. Just before the larva emerges, the egg turns black.

The egg stage lasts eight to ten days. The young larva (PL
LXXIV, fig. 4) is at first dull olive -yellow, with black head, numerous
very fine papillae over the body segments and a pronounced bifid tail.
At the first moult it becomes greener and the tail is reduced in length,
but the horns on the head are well developed and very divergent. At
the second moult the dorsal spots make their appearance on the sixth
and eighth segments. At this stage the number of spots is not
constant, but the usual number is three to each segment. The head
is now green, with white papillae and surmounted by greyish -brown
strongly divergent horns. In the last stage the larva is leaf-green,
with the under surface grey-green the whole finely papillated, A
yellowish line runs the length of the body from the second segment
to the tail, separating the green dorsum from the greyish under-
surface. This body line subsequently becomes pink and each segment
bears a row of pink or yellow spots along its anterior edge. The tails
are ochreous in colour (PI. LXXIV., fig. 1). The head is character-
istic (PI. LXXVI., fig. 21), being rather oval in outline but slightly
pointed towards the mouth. The lower horns arise at about two-
thirds up the side and are set w^ell out and then curve slightly up-
wards. They are, as usual, separated from those of the inner pair by
small spinous processes. The inner horns are almost straight and
very divergent — more so than in any other Char axes larva we have
reared.

Two short spines arise, one on either side of the mid-line. The
facial disc is green in colour with the horns and entire margin yellow -
ochreous tinged with grey. The dorsal spots, situated on the sixth
and eighth segments are also characteristic of the species. Each
segment bears three spots set transversely, two small ones laterally
with a large one in between; that on the sixth is larger and is
composed of three contiguous parts, a long oval anteriorly, then a
narrower but equally long section, at the rear of which follows a short
oval. The central spot on the eighth segment is made up of two
long, narrow, contiguous ovals with smaller ovals fore and aft. The
lateral spots are almost circular. All the spots are ochreous in the
centre and white outwardly. The tails on the last segment are fairly
long and ochreous in colour. The larval stage lasts about twenty
days in the Highlands, but the period depends largely on the fresh-
ness of the food-plant. Only mature leaves are eaten.

The pupa is very like that of cithceron , but is smaller, with a
more marked thoracic ridge, and the bluish-white shading over the
wing-seutae and the thorax more in evidence. Furthermore the

122

cremaster is of a different shape. The insect emerges in fifteen to
twenty days.

Distribution and Habits:

Charaxes candiope is found from the Coast, throughout Kenya
and practically over the whole of Uganda. It is a forest species which
also frequents the more open “ park-country ” and bush-veldt where
its food plant happens to be growing. It is the commonest species
of Charaxes in the Nairobi district, and while the males come readily
to evil-smelling baits and are to be seen flying and feeding, the females
are only slightly less common though not nearly so much in evidence.
These latter keep more to areas where the food-plant is plentiful and
can usually be found feeding on the exudate from wounds in certain
trees. These butterflies are particularly pugnacious towards others of
their own kind and different species. They will fight with striking
fierceness over some particularly attractive juice from a wound in a
tree, or some unsavoury animal dropping, battering each other with
their wings and sidling one another off the choicest tit-bits. One
frequently comes upon an old male with denuded remnants of wings
which have been so destroyed as to make flight well-nigh an
impossibility. This species is particularly long-lived, and will survive
in captivity for well over a month. They will feed well on over-ripe
fruit, especially bananas, papayia and pineapple.

Mimetic Associations of the Groups:

Before proceeding to the next group it will be of interest to
review what is known or rather suspected, regarding “ mimicry ” in
these groups.

Professor Poulton has dealt at length with mimicry in the Genus
Charaxes in his paper read before the International Entomological
Congress, 1925. We cannot do better than quote certain passages
from this address. “ In the genus Charaxes we are introduced to a
novel aspect in butterfly mimicry; for both models and mimics are
regarded ... as among the most palatable of insects. Yet
there can be no doubt about the fact that the large species of this
genus are mimicked by the smaller ones, and that some of the larger
species mimic each other.” ” The species of Charaxes are strongly
built and extremely powerful in flight, the thorax, containing the wing
muscles, being specially capacious.”

” When a Charaxes is seized its great strength enables it to
struggle violently, and the effect is almost certainly intensified in the
larger species, by the serrated costa of the fore -wing.

ovynnerton found that the chitinous exoskeleton is so tough that
an insectivorous bird will often abandon a Charaxes after spending

123

perhaps twenty minutes in the vain attempt to remove the wings.
Repeated observations have convinced him that with alertness and
power of flight, “ fighting weight,” and toughness of integument.
Charaxes, in spite of its palatability. gives to its smaller enemies such
an unpleasant experience that they will avoid a repetition of it except
under stress of hunger, and on this account the mimetic resemblance
is advantageous.”

“ Mimicry in Charaxes is generally confined to the upper
surface of the wings and is principally, although by no means exclu-
sively manifested by the females. The fact that some of the larger
species, which act as models for the smaller, are themselves mimics
of other large species, and that one sex of a species may be a mimic
while the other sex is a model, supply evidence that the resemblance
is an advantageous advertisement of protective qualities held in
common, although different degrees, by models and mimics.”

In the varanes-julvescens association we have a compact group
of species all conforming to a common outline and presenting on the
upA er surface a somewhat similar scheme of colours.

The species comprising this association derive mutual benefit
due to “ the protective qualities held in common,” a tough integu-
ment, power, and strong fighting tendencies.

Associated with these species are certain others belonging to other
groups, such as Ch. lactitinctus (q.v.) female Ch. azota, Ch. protoclea.
Ch. candiope, and Ch. homey eri, and the female of Palla ussheri
interposita, Joicy and Talbot, a species belonging to a genus closely
allied to Charaxes.

In the more open and savannah forests we find varanes.
lactitinctus, azota ; in the thicker forests, fulvescens, candiope , and
Palla.

Group 3. CYNTHIA GROUP.

CHARAXES PROTOCLEA NOTHODES, Jordan.
1 and 2.

PL LIV., fig.

Expanse : Male 95-100
colour black and orange-red.

mm., female 100-110 mm.
Sexes unlike.

Genera]

F.-w. : Almost uniform velvety-black with a purply bloom, with
the distal margins of la and 2 and slightly in 3 carrying an orange-red
border. The fore part of the thorax covered with an orange-red
pubescense. H.-w. : Base with a large triangular black area, rest of
wing orange-red; veins 2 and 4 projecting to form short blunt tails; the
ends of the remaining veins slightly produced forming obtuse serrations

124

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

and Capt. Stoneham.

PLATE LIV.

Charaxes protoclea nothodes.

Fig. 1. a <3 underside, b upperside.
Fig. 2. c 9 upperside.

round the margin. Fore and hind-wing with white scales, inter-
nervularly along the extreme margin. There is a black dot towards
the border of lc.

Underside. PI. LIY. A.

F.-w. : Dull chestnut, with rusty red markings as follow’s : A

transverse mark almost at the base of the cell, followed by a dot.
and at about the mid-point a wavy line extending across the cell:
followed by another wavy line at the apex. Area lb with a blackish
U-shaped mark sub-basally, and the blackish mark shaded with grey
towards the border bordered proximally and distally with orange or
rusty red. Area 2 carries two rusty-brown marks, one at the base,
one sub-basal; areas 8-7 each with a rusty transverse line towards the
base. There is a series of ocellate rusty marks submarginally in
areas 2-8. There are two whitish marks at the apex, in 7 and 8.

H.-w. : Dull chestnut, the basal triangle traversed by two wavy
rusty lines; the inner line transverse to the bases of 6 and 7 and
crossing the cell at about mid point where it bifurcates; the outer
starting at about the mid-point of the costa cuts across areas 7, 6,
and 5 and through the bases of 4, 8, and 2 to become diffuse in lc.
The series of ocellate spots of the fore-wing is carried on in the hind-
wing but the spots are rusty-brown distally, bordered internally with
lighter brown. The marginal border is rusty, and internal to this each
internervular area carries a white dot, duplicated and outwardly black
in lc.

Female. PI. LIY., fig. 2.

F.-w. : Ground colour dark brownish -black, rufescent along the
base of the costa. Margin of the wing with large coalescent orange
spots forming a border; Ala bar broad and white in la and lb, distally
tinged with yellow; in 2 and 3 the bar is split, the inner spots are
white and the outer yellowi sh -orange ; the outer spots are continued
as detached yellow-orange marks in 4-7 in a curve; there are two white
spots towards the sub-base of 5 and 6.

H.-w. : Basal area blackish-brown; mid area with a very wide
white patch very slightly tinged with yellowish distally, and bordered
by a black band with very serrated outer margin, the serrations
extending along the veins into the orange-yellow marginal border:
margin of wing not serrate; vein 4 with a blunt stout tail, vein 2 with
a very much shorter blunt tail. The anal angle with two white dots,
with bluish tinge.

125

Early Stages : Unknown to us.

Distribution and Habits:

This species is limited to Uganda and does not appear to extend
south-east of the Elgon area. It is not by any means plentiful. It
is a forest species in which the males seem to predominate ; the female
being rare. No doubt, owing to their more retiring habits they are
less evident.

Mimetic Associations :

Ch. Protoclea is a very powerful insect and acts as the model of
a very small species anticlea. The female enters the varanes
association.

CHARAXES PROTOCLEA AZOTA , Hew. PI. LV., figs. 1 and 2.

Expanse: Male 86-92 mm., female 90-96 mm. Sexes unlike.
General colour of male black with orange-red border. Female white
with orange and black border.

F.-w. : Male. Outer margin of wing with a wide orange-red
border, 7 mm. wide at the hind-angle at la-4, thence represented by
two rows of spots, one marginal to the apex, the other in an inward
curve to just below the costa. The orange in area lb contains two
black dots, 2-4, one each.

H.-w. : Basal triangle black, but not extending to the inner
marginal-fold; rest of wing orange-red. The margin of the wing is
slightly dentate at the nervures, veins 2, and more so 4, bearing short
obtuse tails. Area lc has two black and white dots sub -marginally .
while the extreme margin of both wings is narrowly edged with black
with white scaling at the mid-point in each area.

Underside :

Fore and hind-wings dull chestnut with a lustre-like broad band
which traverses the central line of both wings and turns upwards
along the h.-w. inner marginal fold. This band is edged on both sides
with rusty-brown, the distal edging on the hind- wing being as wide
as the band. The hind-wing is narrowly margined with rusty-brown;
while on the fore-wing the orange of the upperside is represented by
rusty -red. A black U-shaped mark is present towards the base of

lb in the fore-wing and continuous with each arm of this mark a
rusty-brown lines the outer corresponding with the inner edging to the
fore-wing bar, the inner arm crossing the cell just beyond its middle:
within the cell and internal to this line are two other rusty lines, a

126

A

C

Photo: Dr.

van Someren.

PLATE LV.

Charaxes protoclea azota.

Fig. 1. a c? upperside. b $ underside.
Fig. 2. c $ underside, d $ upperside.

fourth line crosses the apex of the cell. There are two purply-grey
spots near the apex of the wing, and two sub-marginal in lb. In the
hind-wing there is a row of sub-marginal white dots set mid-way in
the internervular spaces. The hind-angle is olive yellow with two
black and white dots.

Female. PL LV., fig 2.

F.-w. : Ground colour, brownish black. Costa and outer margin
of wing orange-red; a broad submarginal bar of orange-red extending
from upper half of lb to below the costa in 7. A large irregular
triangular white patch tinged with yellow at the apex, fills the mid-
area of la, lb, and the sub-basal areas of 2 and 8. Two yellow-
ochreous rectangular marks are present just internal to the mid-point
of 5 and 6.

H.-w. : Mostly white, with a slight brownish-black suffusion at
the upper part of the base of wing. Margin with a wide border of
orange-red, with the extreme edge outlined with black, this black line
broken at the mid-internervular point with white scaling. Internal
to the orange border is one of brownish-black of about the same width,
edged on the inner side at its upper end with orange and carrying at
the anal end two white dots outlined with black. Vein 4 is extended
into a long tail, 10 mm., and vein two into one of almost the same
length.

Underside :

Basal thirds of fore and hind-wings greyish -brown, sharply
demarcated from the mid third which is ochreous-yellow shading into
ferruginous-yellow on the distal third. The basal area of the fore-
wing is crossed by rusty-brown lines as follows : One sub-basal in the
cell followed by two spots and at about the mid-line of the cell a
transverse bar which is carried on through the base of 2 to join a
black mark in lb thence to pass up sub-basally into 2 and 3, and cross
the apex of the cell and the base of 4. A further rusty bar crosses
the sub-basal areas of 5-7. The black sub-marginal line on the upper
surface of the wing is faintly indicated on the lower surface, com-
mencing in two whitish spots near the apex and ending in a black
mark with a white dot in area lb. In the hind- wing the distal edge
of the brownish area is outlined with rusty -red, while a second brown
line crosses the sub-basal area of 7 and 8 and crosses the cell. The
ferruginous-orange border is shaded along the mid-line with greyish
scales which impart a lustre to this area, while the distal margin of
tl$s greyish zone carries triangular white spots placed centrally in
each cellule. The anal angle carries two black dots outlined in white
above.

127

Early Stages :

We have not as yet completed the life-cycle of this Charaxes but
have on many occasions detected the female depositing her eggs on
the mature leaves of the “ Mbambakofi, ” Afzelia cuanzensis , Welw.
(Leguminosae). Owing to the difficulty of keeping up a supply of
fresh leaves, at Nairobi, we have not taken the larvae beyond the
second moult. Rogers however describes the mature larva as being
of the usual chafraxes shape, green in colour, with the head bordered
with brown. The spiracular line is orange, the tubercles being more
orange. The green of the body has a somewhat mottled appearance
which changes before pupation into dull yellow, with a row of large
lateral ill-defined brown spots. The dorsum of the sixth segment is
ornamented with a large triangular orange-brown mark, the apex
directed backwards. The pupa is pinkish with chocolate-brown
markings.

Distribution :

The race azota is found at the Coast and along the Tana River,
but actually how far inland it; extends we have no accurate knowledge.

It is a forest species and somewhat uncommon. We have taken
the male at bait and leopard droppings.

Mimetic Association ;

As has already been mentioned, the female of azota comes within
the varanes mimetic association; there being an undoubted superficial
resemblance between the species when seen in flight.

CHARAXES BOUETI LASTI, Gr.-Srn. PI. LVL, figs. 1 and 2.

PI. LX VII., fig. 1.

Expanse: Male, 72-75 mm., female 80-90 mm. Sexes unlike.
General colour of male orange-red with black marginal markings;
female orange with black markings and yellowish central wing-bar.

F.-w. : Male, general ground colour orange-red slightly darker at
the basal third; apex and outer margin with a broad blackish border,
broken by a series of graduated orange spots largest in lb and smallest
at the tip of the apex. There is a sub-apical row of four orange spots
arranged in a curve and continuous with an orange-red bar which
traverses the wing to the hind-margin. Areas 2-6 are ornamented
with blackish sub-basal lines and spots, with a further row of irregular
black marks at the apex of the cell.

H.-w. : Orange-red, with a central ala bar of slightly lighter
shade ; -extreme margin of the wing outlined in black, with white
scaling in the internervular spaces. A sub-marginal series of graduated

128

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LVI.

Charaxes boueti lasti.

Fig. 1. a— $ upperside. underside.

Fig. 2. c = 9 upperside. d — 9 underside.

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXVII.

Fig. 1. S Charaxes boueti lasti, var., upperside.
Fig. 2. <$ Charaxes castor flavifasciatus, upperside.

black spots largest at the upper angle extends to the anal angle.
The anal angle is olive and carries two black dots accentuated with
white above. The outline of the wing is serrate, with veins 2 and 4
extended into tails 4-6 mm. long respectively. The bases of areas 6
and 7 are sometimes dusted with blackish scales.

A not infrequent variety of male has the whole ground colour pale
as in the female but lacks the central yellowish ala-bar. The spotting
is so much more definite and the black on the outer margin of the fore-
wing is reduced to a series of submarginal spots, vide PI. LXVIT.,
hg. 1.

Underside :

Two types predominate, that with a pinkish-ochreous ground
colour with the markings ill-defined and with the silvery-white line of
the hind-wing narrow and interrupted; and the other in which the
ground colour is greyish-ochreous with spots and lines as follows : The
cell is traversed by a sub-basal crescentic line beyond which are two
rectangular rusty spots followed by a wavy line just distal to the
mid-point; at the apex of the cell is a hook-shaped line. In area lb
is a large bluish-grey mark proximally and distally bordered with
black, and at the distal end of the area is a black mark distally
intersected by three bluish-white marks in the form of a trident.
Sub-basal in 2 is a rusty line continuous with the inner line of the
inner spot in lb, while in line with the outer black edge of this spot
is a series of rusty lines crossing 2, 3, 5, and 6.

The hind-wing is divided by a pronounced silvery-white line which
starts at about the mid-costa opposite the inner of the two spots in
lb of the fore-wing, and extends almost to the anal angle where it
curves slightly inward to the fold of the wing. The base of the wing
carries a looped line which passes through the base of 8 and 7 thence
obliquely through the cell then curves abruptly upward, traverses the
cell and crosses the base of 7. A further rusty line passes the apex
of the cell and joins the rusty-brown line which borders the inner
margin of the silvery ala line. The extreme margin of the wing is
black, bordered inwardly with orange-red then bluish- white, while
internal to this is a series of white spots in the mid-internervular line
of each area. The anal angle is olive green with two black spots
edged above with white. There are a few variable rusty-brown marks
in the post-discal area of the wing.

Female. PI. LVL, fig. 2.

The distribution of the blackish spots is similar to that of the
male, but the ground colour of both fore and hind-wings is lighter
orange-red, while the marginal orange spots in the fore-wing are large
and almost confluent. Both fore and hind-wings are traversed by a

129

broad yellow ala bar, widest at the costa of the fore-wing and tapering
to a point at the middle of the inner margin of the hind- wing. The
tails to the hind-wing are long and fine, usually 9-10 mm. in length.

Underside :

As in the male, but the rusty markings are larger, and the
yellow bar of the upper side is indicated on the lower, but is distally
shaded with rufescent scaling. There is a variety with very large
triangular black spots, which coalesce and form a submarginal bar to
the hind-wing.

Early Stages :

We have observed this species laying on Afzelia cuanzensis ,
Mbambakofi,” but so far have not succeeded in rearing the insect
to the imago.

Distribution and Habits :

The range of this insect appears to be the Coastal zone, and
along the Tana River, but only in the forested areas. It is a common
species and not very robust. It is less active than many Charaxes
and spends a lot of time in basking in the sun or sailing about some
sunlit forest clearing. The males come to bait readily and females are
attracted by fermenting fruit-juices. These latter are almost as much
in evidence as the males.

Mimetic Associations :

There are no very close mimetic associations connected with this
species. The males bear a superficial resemblance to the very common
Euryphene senegalensis orientalis.

CHARAXES CYNTHIA , Butlr. PL LVIII., figs. 1 and 2.

Expanse: Male 80-86 mm., female 98-100 mm. Sexes unlike.
General colour of male black with orange-red markings; female black
with yellow ala bar crossing both wings.

F.-w. : Basal half of costa and the whole of the cell and bases of
4, 5, and 6, orange-red, so also the bases of la and lb and extreme
base of 2. Rest of the wing black with a broad ala bar of contiguous
brange-red spots commencing and widest at the mid-point of la and
extending in diminishing size to 4. In areas 5, 6, and 7 the spots tail
off, and between them and the basal spots are two rectangular orange
spots, double in lb.

H.-w. : Ground colour black, slightly shaded with brown at the
base. The ala bar is continuous with that of the fore-wing and
shades ofi into the wing-fold in lc. The margin of the wing carries

330

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LVIII.

Charaxes cynthia.

Fig. 1. a = <$ underside, b — $ upperside.
Fig. 2. c= 9 underside. d = 9 upperside.

a wide orange-red border, dentate on the inner edge, while the
extreme edge of the wing is margined with black with white spots
intemervularly. The margin is slightly serrate, with veins 2 and 4
carrying short sharp tails 3-4 mm. in length.

Underside :

The general tone of the underside is greyish-brown but in the ceil
and the line corresponding to the orange spots of above, the ground
colour is shaded with ochreous, while most of areas la and lb of the
fore-wing are bluish-white with a purply tinge. The fore-wing markings
are as follows : Three thick rusty-brown wavy transverse lines in the
cell with a hook-shaped mark at its apex; a wavy line starts at the
base of 7 and crosses 6 and 5; in lb are two large black lines set at an
angle, from the inner of which a line crosses the base of 2, while from
the outer, the line crosses 2 and 3 just internal to the orange-ochreous
ala bar; this bar is diffuse and is bordered internally by crescentic
rufescent marks, and distally by spots of the same colour. The distal
end of area lb carries a large black spot lined externally with three
purply-blue marks.

H.-w. : Traversed by a straight silvery-white ala bar which runs
from the mid-point of the costa to just above the anal angle. This
bar is bordered distally by a wavy chestnut line and then by one of
grey, and, this in turn by a wide 3mm serrate bar of greyish-chestnut.
The edging to the wing is very narrowly black with white in the mid-
points, while the marginal border is orange — or ferruginous; the inter-
vening area between this and the serrate bar is greyish-purply-brown
bearing at the mid-point of each area an indistinct pinkish-white
triangular spot. The basal triangle of the wing is greyish-brown with
a light purply-grey line outlined with chestnut on either side, extending
from the base of 8, 7, the cell, and into lc and joining the ala bar
before its end; a further wavy rusty line crosses area 9. The anal
angle is olive, carrying two black and white dots.

Female. PL, fig. 2.

F.-w. Orange-red area similar to the male; marginal series of
spots larger and more pronounced. Ala bar yellow-ochre, and wider
otherwise as in the male.

H.-w.: Pattern as in male but ala bar ochreous yellow; and
the orange marginal border inwardly bordered by a series of small white
dots, double in lc. Margin of wing serrate; vein 2 with a short 5 mm.
outwardly curved tail; veil 4 with a long inwardly curved spatulate tail
8-10mm long.

Underside :

The general ground colour is more purply-grey-brown than in the
male but the actual distribution of the markings is the same with the

131

exception of the ala-bars on the fore and hind-wing; these bars are
ochreous-yellow and though as broad as on the upper-surface are less
defined distally, being shaded with irregular shaped rusty -brown marks.

Early Stages :

We have not succeeded in breeding this species, and there appears
to be no published description of the life history.

Distribution and Habits :

This species is common in Uganda in forest areas. The males are
much in evidence on any bits of mammal droppings and are readily
attracted to bait.

We have taken cynthia in Western Uganda, eastward to the Nandi
and Maragoli Hills. It appears to be a forest species and though
males arc to be seen in forest clearings and along roads which traverse
forest, the female are much more retiring and usually keep to the more
open undergrowth and forest edges.

Although the males are only of moderate size, they are very
powerful and keep many other larger species from feeding on a
particularly choice foul-smelling titbit; they use their wings with force
by beating downwards and make great play with the serrated edge on
the fore-wing costa. The females are very partial to the juice from
banana flowers and to the sap from certain leguminous trees.

Mimetic Associations:

There is in the male a remarkable resemblance to Ch. lucretius and
to two apparently undescribed species or forms which occupy the
Elgon-Nandi area. The pattern and colouration in these insects is so
close that one cannot with certainty “ place them ” except by looking
at the under surfaces. The four species form a close mimetic group.

When we consider the females we find that there is a strong
similarity between cynthia and lucrietius, and I have no doubt that
when the Elgon females are known they will prove to belong to this
group . In West Africa a form of Ch. etheocles female ochracea enters
the group.

It is highly probably also that the female colouration has been
influenced somewhat by the presence of Ch. catsor.

Group 4. LUCRETIUS GROUP.

CHARAXES LUCRETIUS. Cram. PI. LIX., fig. 1 & 2.

Expanse : 90-92mm, female 90-100 mm. Sexes unlike. General

colour of male black with orange-red bar and border; female with a
whitish bar.

182

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LIX.

Charaxes lucretius.

Fig. 1. $ upperside. Fig. 2 underside.

F.-w. : Male, ground colour purply-black, basal half of costa, the
cell and the bases of la-2 and 5 and 6 rufesoent-brown with violet
tinge; the cell with two black bars outlining the mid-third. Outer
margin of wing with a dentate orange-red border; an almost straight
ala bar of orange-red spots crosses the wing from la-7.

H.-w. : Ground colour purply-black with a slight brownish tinge
at the base; extreme margin with a narrow black border with white at
mid internervular point, internal to which is a wide orange-red border
tinged with violet and with inner margin indented by the black ground
at the veins; an ala bar continuous with that of the fore- wing starts
at the costa and runs towards the anal angle where it merges into the
ground colour. The anal angle has an elongate black mark with two
white dots bordered with purple. Outline of wing slightly serrate —
veins 2 and 4 carrying tails 3-4 mm. long.

Underside. PL LIX. , fig. 2.

F.-w. : Ground colour yellowish-brown at the base shading to
purply -brown towards the tip. Marginal and ala bar of upperside
represented by indistinct orange-brown scaling. Black marks as
follows : the cell is traversed by three lines, one sub-basal, two out-
lining the mid-third of the area. A broad black line crosses the
sub-basal part of area lb, while a wavy black line crosses at
about mid-point; directly above these lines are others which cross area
2; these areas are further ornamented with black marks sub-
marginally, that in lb having three purply violet streaks on the distal
edge. The hind-wing is purply-brown with darker brown scaling along
the line of the ala bar. The marginal border is red-brown with a
narrow black distal edge; and internal to this border, at each
mid-internervular space is a small purply-pink spot, double at
the anal angle and distally edged with black. The wing is traversed
by narrow wavy black lines edged with white, the outer commencing
at about the mid-point on the costa and passing to just above the anal
angle when it curves inward to the wing-fold; a second line crosses
the sub-basal areas of 8, 7, and the cell, this last area with a further
line at midpoint.

Female :

We have no female specimen and quote from Seitz. “ In the
female both wings above are smoke-brown with common whitish discal
band, placed as in the male but much narrower; the marginal spots
of the fore-wing very small or indistinct; the marginal band of the
hind-wing much narrower than in the male and whitish with orange-
yellow tinge; the base of the costa of the fore-wing only very narrowly
red-brown; the under surface lighter than in the male and with a
whitish discal band, which is broader than above.”

183

Early Stages :

Unknown.

Distribution and Habits :

Ch. lucretius is wide-spread in the western parts of Africa but as
it comes east it is certainly uncommon. We have taken it in Eastern
Uganda and Uganda proper and at Masindi. It is nowhere common;
it may be, that owing to its close resemblance to Ch. cynthia , it has
been overlooked. It is a forest species which flies high, but can
usually be attracted to baits of various kinds. The females are very
retiring and keep to the forest undergrowth. Only once have we seen
the insect as it slipped away in the dense bush.

Mimetic Associations :

These have been referred to under Cynthia. There is a close
resemblance between the females as well as the males. The
resemblance is limited to the upper surfaces, the undersides being
quite different in the two species.

CHARAXES LACTETINCTUS, Karsch. PL LX., figs. 1 and 2.

Expanse : Male 88-90 mm. , female unknown to us. General
colour white and black with rusty tips.

F.-w. : Basal triangle except costa bluish-white, with the distal
half of la-3, black, intersected by an orange ala bar which starts
below the costa at 7 and ends in the upper part of lb. Marginal
border orange-red as also the base of 4, and sub-bases of 5 and 6;
costa, upper part of cell and rest of apex of wing, rufescent-brown
shading into the black of 3.

H.-w. : Basal half bluish-white shading to orange-red at midpoint
in 6-7 and along the fold on the inner margin; remainder of wing,
black with a marginal border of orange-red as far as vein 3, this
narrowly edged on distal side with black; the anal angle, and 2 and 4
with oblong purply-blue submarginal marks; margin of anal angle
olive-green; vein 2 carries a long slender tail 7 mm. long and vein 4
one of 5 mm.; margin of wing not very serrate.

Underside :

F.-w. : Busty brown with slight indication of the ala and marginal
orange of upper side. A wide silvery white line crosses areas 5-7 sub-
basally; a similarly coloured line crosses the cell at the distal end of
the mid-third and passes across the sub-basal area of 2 where it is
accentuated distally by a black line. The cell is further crossed by
black lines distally edged with white at the inner edge of the mid-
third and sub-basally. There is a sub-basal spot in lb, and a series
of black lines along the inner margin of the ala bar, crossing lb-3;
areas lb and 2 carry submarginal black spots distally outlined in
purply white.

134

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LX.

Charaxes lactetinctus.

Fig. 1. (5 upperside. Fig. 2. $ underside.

H.-w. : The hind-wing is almost unicolourous purply-brown ; there
is an ill-defined bar of deeper brown crossing the wing from the mid-
point of the costa to just above the anal angle; this bar is edged
internally with bluish-grey scales, especially at the anal angle. The
marginal border is along its upper half rufescent, but from the tail at
vein 4 to the angle it is olive-green inwardly margined with pinkish -
blue and distally outlined with black and white; the anal angle has
two black dots, areas 2 and 3, one each.

Female :

Unknown to us, nor is it described in “ Seitz.”

Early Stages :

Unknown.

Distribution and Habits :

Lactetinctus is apparently a rare species which, within the
regions dealt with in this paper, is limited to the northern districts of
Uganda and to the eastward as far as Lake Rudolf.

It is an inhabitant of the acacia and thorn-bush country, and not
a forest species. One usually sees the males flying high up or
settled at the top of some particularly nasty thorn-tree, in both cases
making capture rather difficult. The species is one of the finest of
the group, is powerful of flight and extremely wary. More than once
I have had to actually shoot the insects with a reduced charge from
a .410 gun, they would not come within reasonable distance of the net,
but kept twenty or more feet above the ground, sailing leisurely about
or flirting with any other species of butterfly which happened to come
within their territory. They undoubtedly keep to one particular area
and can be seen within that sphere for days on end but always out of
reach. Carpenter writes : “ I saw about eight lactetinctus and nearly
broke my neck by gazing at them! They would settle out of reach,

or, if within reach would not allow me to strike at them

They are most wonderful fliers : even among Charaxes they are primi
inter pares! Two will go soaring away into the blue sky, buzzing
round and round each other, till lost to view.”

Mimetic Association:

I have already dealt with this under the varanes group, q.v.
Group 5. JASIUS GROUP .

CHARAXES JASIUS EPIJASIUS, Reiche. FI. LXI., figs. 1 and 2.

Expanse: Males, 80-95 mm., females 95-102 mm. Genera!
colour black with ochreous border.

135

F.-w. : Male, almost entirely deep blackish-brown with slight
purply tinge; with at the margin of the wing a wide ochreous-yellow
border, widest at the posterior angle and extending up to the apex
in gradually decreasing width, the border being reduced to spots from
5-8. The veins are black. Many examples have a sub-marginal line
of indistinct orange spots, mostly in evidence in areas 3-7. One not
infrequently obtains a male in which the ochreous border is heavily
dusted over with brown scales, with the veins widely scaled with the
same colour and the extreme ends with triangular black marks.

H.-w. : Basal half brownish-black with a blue area filling most of
areas lc-4 and extending to 5 and 6 as blue spots. Areas 6 and 7
sometimes have an ochreous bar at about the mid-point. The wing
carries a wide ochreous-yellow border, tinged with greenish in 2 and
almost entirely green in lc at the anal angle. This marginal border
is outlined outwardly and inwardly with black. The extreme margin
of the wing is serrate and edged with white. Vein 2 carries a long
outwardly-curved tail 10-12 mm. long, while at vein 4 the tail is 7
mm. long and curves inwardly.

Underside :

The lower surface is highly ornate. F.-w. : At the base of the
wing the ground colour is reddish-chestnut shading to orange -ochreous
towards the apex. The marginal ochreous of the upper-side is
represented by a rather pale ochreous border, gradually deepening in
shade towards the apex; the internervular areas are blackish at the
margin. The row of indistinct orange spots of above is represented
by a continuous series of orange spots on a grey ground, each spot
inwardly and outwardly accentuated by a black spot, that in lc being
doubled; internal to this is a white bar slightly tinged with ochreous,
passing through areas la to 3, and carried into 4, 5, 6, and 7 as
orange marks. Internal to this whitish bar is one of black outlined
with white, the mark in 4 being set more inward than the rest. The
chestnut area of the wing carries black bars outlined with white, as
follows: Cell with three, one basal, one at mid-point, one sub-apical;
and one just beyond the cell; one each across the sub-bases of lb and 2.

H.-w. : Ground colour chestnut, the distal part of which is
traversed by a white bar which extends from just outside the mid-
point to the inner margin above the anal angle; this bar is widest at
the costa and gradually thins out until area lb where it expands to
the fold. The extreme margin is narrowly black with white between
the veins. Internal to this is a wide marginal border widest at the
upper angle, of pale ochreous-yellow, bounded on the inner side by
angular marks of blue- grey, that in 2 heavily edged with black out-
wardly. The anal angle carries an ocellate spot ochre-yellow above
olive-green below, with a central brown oval area outlined in black

136

Dr. van Someren

PLATE LXI.

Charaxes jasius epijasius.

Fig. 1. 3 upperside. Fig. 2. 3 underside.

Photo

bearing two bluish-white streaks. The upper part of the basal
chestnut is ornamented with broad black marks outlined with white,
as follows: Two in 8, one in 9, two in 7, one sub-basal in 6, three in
the cell ; in the lower part of the brown area a series of five almost
parallel lines in areas la, lb, lc.

Female :

Very similar to the male but the marginal ochreous border rather
paler, and the blue area of the hind-wing more restricted.

Early Stages. PI. XL VII., figs. 5, 5a, 5b.

The eggs of this species are canary yellow when first laid and
measure 1.25 mm. in diameter. They are almost spherical, the top
being only slightly flattened and ornamented with shallow fluting.
They are deposited on the leaves and stems of a species of Sorghum
known to the Baganda as Mwemba, and to the Kavirondo as
“Matama.” The egg stage lasts seven to ten days.

The young larva proceeds to devour the egg-shell as soon as it has
emerged, and in the first instar it is hardly to be distinguished from
the young larva of Ch. c. castor. Growth is very rapid, and the colour
changes from yellowish -olive to bright grass-green at the second moult.

Although in many ways this larva resembles that of castor, it can
be recognised by its more emerald-green colour and finer papillation.
The dorsal spots are quite distinct, occurring on the 6th and 8th
segments; they are oval in outline and of a greyish colour, bordered
with black. The hind spot is not always well defined and is frequently
spindle-shaped. The lateral body-line is canary-yellow and extends
from the second segment to the tail. The larva becomes full-fed
between the fourteenth and eighteenth days. When ready to pupate
the colour changes somewhat and the body becomes slightly
translucent.

PI. LXXVI., fig. 18.

The head resembles that of castor, but is less robust; it carries
four long, pointed, pink-tipped horns, the inner pair being separated
by two short spines, while a similar pair projects between each
lateral and inner horn. A yellow line, edged with black, runs from
the outer side of the lateral horns to the mouth-parts. The mandibles
are black or dark brown. The pupa is somewhat like that of pollux,
in that the lateral aspect of the abdominal segments is decorated with
reddish spiracular spots. The distal edges of the wing-cases are
outlined by a white streak. The head is thick-set and truncate. The
pupal stage lasts 10 days to even four weeks according to temperature
and humidity; emergence is delayed if the weather is cold and dry.
The pupa is usually attached to the leaves of the food-plant and as
the red spiracular spots arc very like the red spots so frequently seen

137

on Matama leaves, and the general colour is similar, it is difficult to
detect unless the leaf is viewed laterally.

Distribution and Habits :

Ch. j. epijasius appears to have a somewhat restricted distribution;
we have taken it in the northern districts of Uganda and east to
Busoga, and in the Kavirondo country, but usually in the vicinity of
native cultivations where Sorghum is grown. It is an insect of the
open bush country and as it hangs around the Matama fields, seldom
travelling very far therefrom, one can always count on seeing males
and females in fair numbers, and in about equal proportions. The
imago feeds on the juices which exude from the stems of Sorghum
plants which have become infected with “ borers,” either coleopterous
or heterocerous, larvae.

This species is powerful and rapid in flight and very active; it is
however easily captured when feeding on the fermenting juices which
seem to intoxicate it.

Mimetic Associations :

Professor Poulton has put forward the suggestion that Ch. j.
epijasius acts as the model for the smaller and less robust female
forms of Ch. etheocles known as viola and vansomereni. There is an
undoubted superficial resemblance which when the insects are in
flight is greatly enhanced. The geographical distribution and associa-
tion coincides and there is evidence to show that the resemblance is
of service to the mimics.

Poulton quotes Col. Wilson who wrote of his experience of the
two species in the Nuba Mountains of the Sudan: “ The viola form of
etheocles flies with epijasius, and is almost indistinguishable from it
on the wing except for its smaller size. I was out with Capt. Kent-
Lemon . . . when I took my first specimen of the former butter-

fly, and we both thought it was an epijasius , until it was netted.

We both took several epijasius round the same tree that day and later
on several occasions took them together. The tree particularly
favoured was Albizzia amara, Boirin. Neave wrote: “ I only took
the viola (vansomereni) form in the open country in Northern
Uganda. It occurs on both sides of the Victoria Nile, but chiefly on
the east. In that region apparently nothing but this form occurs, and
it is more or less all open country. Ch. j. epijasius is common there

CHARAXES PEL1AS SATURNUS , Butlr. PI. LXII., figs. 1 and 2.
PL LXIII., fig. 1.

Foot Note. — For figures of female etheocles , see subsequent
Journal.

138

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXII.

Charaxes pelias saturnus.

Fig. 1. a $ upperside. Fig. 2. b 9 upperside.

Expanse: Male 84-90 mm., females 96-102 mm. General colour
in both sexes orange-brown and black.

F.-w. : Male, ground-colour mostly black shading to rufescent-
chestnut at the basal triangle. Cell with a black spot towards the
upper part of the apex. Margin ornamented with a series of large
orange spots, double in lb, extending from this area up to the apex.
The wing is traversed by a broad ala bar of orange-ochreous confluent
marks which extend from the mid-area of la up to the sub-basal area
of 4, then continued by three oblong spots set at an angle to the rest,
in 5-7. Just external to this bar is a series of arrow-shaped orange-
ochreous spots extending in an almost straight line from 2-7. In some
specimens the ground colour is tinged with brown.

H.-w. : Basal triangle rufescent-brown, followed by a wide bar,
widest at the costa and extending through the apex of the cell to the
base of 3; pale ochreous at the costa and deepening to orange at the
cell; the remainder of the wing blue-black, decorated at the extreme
edge with white, and with a sub-marginal row of elongate spots
extending from the anal angle to 7, olive green at the anal end, white
in 2 and 3, and shading to orange-ochreous at the upper angle.
Internal to these are four or five blue or purply-blue elongate marks,
largest at the anal angle and decreasing in size up to area 4 or 5; the
spot at the angle sometimes shaded centrally with pink. Vein 2
carries a long outwardly curved tail 10 mm. long; and vein 4 one of
7 mm. almost straight.

Female :

The female resembles the male but is larger and paler and carries
much longer tails; that on 2 being 14 mm. and on 4, 10 mm. long.

Underside. PI. LXIII, fig. I.

F.-w. : The basal area is chestnut-purple traversed with gr^y bars
outlined first with black then white as follows: three cross the ceil
that in the middle being almost oval; a further bar crosses the apex
orf the cell; the outer margin of the basal area carries a series of
similar marks from area lb-7. Distal to this series is a wide white
ala bar exending from the costa to the hind-margin, this bar is
outwardly shaded with orange triangular marks, with near the bases
of each a black circular spot, and at the apex a further series of black
marks double and largest in lb and extending to 8. The remainder of
the wing is blue-grey decorated on the margin with triangular orange
spots, bases inward, and double in lb.

189

H.-w. : Ground colour purply-chestnut, traversed by a white ala
bar widest at the costa and passing to just above the anal .angle where
it turns inward to the marginal fold. Distal to the chestnut area, the
wing is proximally grey, deeply serrate and indenting the chestnut and
almost touching the white bar; distally bordered by an orange sub-
marginal -line, which towards, and at the anal angle, is tinged with
olive; this line is inwardly edged with black and distally touches the
marginal black border, which is edged with white. The greyish zone
is shaded with olive along the veins and in areas lc-8 is almost
entirely olive carrying purply-blue spots, double in lb. The chestnut
basal area is ornamented with grey bars outlined with black then white
as follows : one in 9, two in 8, the outer continuous with a series which
borders on the inner edge of the white ala bar to as far as the base
of 2, one sub-basal in 6, two in the cell, these continuous with the
outer two of the five longitudinal lines of la- lb.

Early Stages :

Ch. p. saturnus lays its eggs on two species of trees belonging to
the order Leguminosce, Afzelia cuanzensis, Welw. , and a species of
Bmchystegfa. The eggs are large, measuring 2 mm. in diameter,
creamy or yellow in colour, slightly flattened on top and radially fluted.
As with most char axes eggs, signs of development are first apparent
along the upper rim of the egg; this turns brown and within a week
the entire egg becomes black The young larva first feeds on the
egg-shell and after resting for about 12 hours starts to feed on the
leaves, young and old foliage being taken with equal avidity. They
are voracious feeders, but eat mostly at night. During the day they
lie up on some sheltered leaf which has been prepared by having an
area, sufficiently large to accommodate the growing insect, spun over
with silk. The young larva is at first yellowish-olive with a blackish-
brown head carrying short tubercles; the body finely papillated, and
the anal segment carrying two whitish tails. After the second moult
the body becomes green with a slightly indicated body-line. The
head is now green with well developed horns with brown tips, and a
lateral facial line of the same colour. The dorsal spots are faintly
indicated. The full grown larva measures 55 mm, is bright leaf-
green in colour, with very fine papillaed surface and a yellowish body-
line above which the spiracles appear as small blue spots, that on the
first segment being the largest. The undersurface is yellowish-green,
the true legs brownish, the suctorial ones pinkish at the edges. The
dorsal spots are well developed and are present on the sixth and eighth
segments; they are oval, set transverse to the segment and nearer
the anterior edge; in colour brownish with a bluish centre and black
outline.

140

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXIII.

Fig. 1. Charaxes pelias saturnus, underside.
Fig. 2. Charaxes-castor, underside.

The anal segment has two short tails. The head is intermediate
in shape between that of castor and epijasius. It resembles the former
in having a yellow outer margin, but the horns are more slender and
the outer ones less incurved; whilst compared with the latter, the horns
are not so divergent. The tips are reddish. The lower edge of the
facial disc is rather square and the posterior aspect of the sides carry a
series of well developed spines. The posterior aspect of the outer pair
of horns is strongly spined; and both pairs are heavily papillated.

The pupa is large, averaging 28 mm, pale green in colour with
white marbling on the thorax; white linear marks on the wing-scutse;
and a series of white dots along the line of the antennae. The angle of
the wings is indicated by a pinkish spot as are also the spiracles. The
cremaster is well developed and consists of two lateral short pedicles
e^ch carrying two ventrically inclined knobs, and from between the
pedicles a strong stalk with clawed end. Anterior to the pedicles on
the ventral side are two kidney-shaped excresences, pelves inward.
The pupal stage lasts 12-20 days.

Distribution and Habits :

Ch . p. saturnus extends from the coast region to the Mau where
it intergrades with a form named by Miss Sharpe as harrisoni, type
locality Kamagombo, S. Kavirondo. This race occupies the territory
around Baringo to Suk and the Sotik, thence into Eastern Uganda, and
appearing again S.E. of Mt. Ruwenzori. Saturnus is common at the
Coast and the Teita-Taveta region. It is occasionally met with in
the Nairobi area but being an insect which frequents the more open
park-like country it does not occur at high altitudes. In the Forthall
district and along the Tana it is common.

CHARAXES PELIAS HARRISONI. E. M. Sharpe, not figured.

This race, the distribution of which is given under saturnus , is
characterised by the darkening of the brown to almost black ; a marked
paling and increase in size of the marginal spots and a considerable
increase in the blue areas in the hind-wing.

This brings us to a consideration of the Mimetic associations of the
species.

In the coastal districts saturnus is mimicked by the rogersi form
of female etheocles , the female of guderiana, and that of achcemenes ,
with the female of boueti as an outlying member of the group. When
we come to the race harrisoni, we find that it in turn is influenced by
the presence of Ch. j. epijasius.

Foot note : — For a full description of this association, refer to
Poulton International Entomological Congress, July,
1925, p. 527 — 532.

141

CHARAXES HANSALI BARINGANA, Rothsch, PL LXIV., fig. 1 &
2. Pl. LXV., fig. 1.

Expanse: Males 90-100 mm, females 100-110 mm. General-
colour of both sexes black with yellowish-white bar.

F.-w. : Male. Ground colour of wing brownish -black shading to
olive at the basal third; apex of cell black with an olive spot. Margin
of wing with a series of yellowish-white spots placed internervularly,
double in lb and extending to the apex; an ala bar of contiguous
almost rectangular yellowish-cream spots crosses the wing from, the
mid-area in la to the sub-base of 4 and then at a slight angle in 5-7.
In these areas, a series of three spots are present, the largest in 7,
arranged parallel to the outer margin.

H.-w. : Basal area olive inclining to black at the costa; rest of
wing black but separated from the basal triangle by a creamy-yellow
bar continuous with that of the fore-wing, extending from the costa to
the base of 2. Extreme edge of wing black with white scaling in
inter-spaces; internal to this a series of crescentic spots, olive at the
anal angle and gradually shading to creamy-yellow in 4-7; the anal
angle with a double bluish spot, areas 2, 4 one each. Veins 2 and
4 carry tails, that on 2 being 10 mm. long, on 4, 7 mm.

Female :

Very like the male but larger, and with paler and larger light spots
and bars.

Underside: PI. LXV., fig. 1.

F.-w. : Cell and bases of lb-3 and 5 and 6 chestnut distally

bounded by black as far as the creamy-yellow ala bar. This bar is
similar to that of the upperside ; and is bordered on the distal side by
a greyish ground colour to as far as the wing margin ; the proximal side
of this area bears a triple row of spots, a central row of chestnut spots
bordered on either side by black ones, that in lb being large, with the
inner one in this area obsolete or entirely wanting. The margin of the
wing bears alternate ochreous and black spots. The chestnut area at
the base is traversed by broad olive-grey bars outlined in black then
white as follows : One at base of cell, one circular spot at its mid-

point, one at the distal end of the mid-third and one at the apex; one
at the sub-base of 2 and one in lb.

H.-w. : Basal area chestnut bordered by the creamy-white ala bar
which is continuous with that in the fore-wing, and bending inwards
towards the inner fold at lb. Beyond the bar is a series of long
triangular chestnut marks with black apices interdigitating with a
series of olive triangular marks with black bases. This is followed by
an ochreous marginal border, distally bounded by a narrow black edge

142

'to : Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXIV.

Charaxes hansali baringana.

Fig. 1. a (S upperside. Fig. 2. b 9

upperside.

Photo: Dr.

van Someren.

PLATE LXV.

Fig. 1. Charaxes hansali baringana, underside.
Fig. 2. Charaxes brutus brutus , underside.

with white between the veins. Areas lc, 2 — 4 bear sub-marginal blue
spots, double in the first and diminishing in size. Areas 9, 8 and 7
carry olive bars outlined with black and white, while the cell is
traversed by three such bars. Areas la to c with five longitudinal
blackish-olive lines.

Early Stages : Unknown.

Distribution and Habits :

This interesting species is found in the open park-like country of
the Coast, Teita and Ukambani, and in similar type of country through
the Northern Guasso Nyiro to Baringo. It has also been recorded
from N. Uganda. It is apparently rather rare in collections but is no
doubt not uncommon within its distribution.

Mimetic Association :

As has already been noted, this species is associated with Ch.
brutus, and would appear to be associated with the south-eastern form
of castor. It probably acts as a model for the aubyni form of female
etheocles, with which in life it associates.

CHARAXES CASTOR, Cram. PI. LXVI., fig. 1 &2. PI. LXIII., fig. 2.

Expanse: Males 100-106, females 120-150mm. General colour of
both sexes black with orange-yellow bar.

F.-w. : Ground colour blue-black, tinged with olive at the base.
An orange-yellow bar starting at about the mid-point in la passes up
the wing to the base of 4, the spots in 2 and 8 are rounded on the
inner side and invaded on the outer by black, sometimes completely
separating off part of the yellow. Beyond this bar is a series of six
orange spots arranged in a V, with the apex in 4. The inter-spaces
at the extreme margin are white-scaled.

H.-w. Blue-black with the base and the inner margin tinged with
olive. The margin of the wing is serrate with white sealing between
the veins. There is a sub -marginal series of linear spots, continuous
and of a blue colour in lb to 8, interrupted and shading to orange in
4 — 7. There is an additional series of blue spots double at the anal
angle and extending to 4.

Female :

Very like the male but larger, and yellow areas paler.

Underside: PI. LXIII., fig. 2:

F.-w. : Ground colour black with the outer edge olive-grey. The

wing is crossed by a creamy bar suffused with orange scaling
especially in areas 4-7. An orange bar runs alongside the whitish
one to as far as area 5, when it continues parallel to the outer margin
up to 7. This orange bar is bordered on either side with black spots,

143

those on the inner side smallest in 2 and gradually increasing in size
up to 7 ; the outer series starts in 8 in increasing size up to lb. The
extreme edge of the wing is narrowly margined with black, while along
the sub -marginal zone is a faint black line from the hand angle to the
apex. The basal area is traversed by pairs of white lines as follows :
one at the base of the cell, an oval towards its centre, a widely
separated pair sub-apical, and at the apex a divergent pair. Distal
to these is a widely separated pair crossing 5-7. The sub-basal area
of lb, 2,-4 each carries a pair set irregularly.

H.-w. : Basal area black, bounded by a white band widest at the
costa and diminishing in breadth to vein 2 when it inclines inward to
above the anal angle. This bar is bordered distally by a large chestnut
area, in 2-7 ; this in turn is bounded by an olive-grey zone bearing tri-
angular black marks, and in 2-4 rounded purply-blue spots distally
edged with black. The anal angle carries a purply spot on an olive
ground, surrounded by a yellow-orange zone; this last continuous with
a submarginal border which extends along the margin of the wing up
to 8. The edge of the wing is black, narrowly white between the ends
of the veins. There is always a black spot on the outer side of the
white bar, in area 4. The basal black is ornamented with parallel
white lines as follows : one pair in 9, two in 8 and 7 one in 6. Three
in the cell, and five in la-lc; these being joined at the ends and
forming loops.

Early Stages :

The egg of Castor is spherical, 2 mm. in diameter, pearly-yellow in
colour and slightly cupped and fluted on the top. It is laid singly on
the leaves of the food-plants, principally a Sorghum with the native
name of Mwemba (Luganda) Matama, (Kiswahili) probably Sorghum
roxburghii Stapf . ; also on Gymnosporia senegglensis Does. ( Celastra -
cere); a creeper, T'ragia cordifolia, Vahl. (Euphorbiacece), and on
Mbambakofi (Kiswahili) Afzelia cuanzensis Welw. (Leguminosae). A
brown ring appears round the depression as the germ develops, and the
whole egg turns a dark-brown, then black just before the larva
emerges. PL LXXIII., fig. 2. The larva emerges in from eight to
ten days and at once devours the egg shell. It is at first olive-yellow,
very finely papillated, and carries on the anal segment two blunt
fleshy spines with ochreous papillae. The head is black with short

tubercles on the upper quadrant. It is a voracious feeder and is easily
reared. It assumes a greener tint with each successive moult, and
the dorsal spots appear at the third instar, whilst the degree of
papillation is continually increased also. The adult larva (PI. XL VII.,
fig 2, 2a.) is a most conspicuous object, as it is about 9 cm. long, with
a grass-green body covered with coarse closely -set irrorations or papillae.
The tip of each papilla is light yellow in colour, giving to the larva

144

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXVI.

Fig. 1. <$ Charaxes castor. Fig. 2.

9 Charaxes castor.

in

a speckled appearance and also showing of! the papillae as a series of
wertical bands. The body-line is formed by a series of cream-coloured
papillae, forming a spiracular line extending from the second segment
to the tail. Most larvae have two dorsal spots, although some only
possess one.

They are placed on the sixth, and eighth segments, and each forms
a conspicuous black oval, set nearer to the front of a smooth green
oval area having its long axis parallel with that of the body.

The number of these spots bears no relation, to sex or to any other
characteristic, so far as has been observed. (PI. XL VII., fig. 2a). The
head of the adult larva has the form of a hexagonal plate (PL LXXVI.,
fig. 1) with its two lower sides elongated. The disc which bears fine
dark-green papillae, is divided by a vertical central groove, expanding
into a smooth green area above the mouth-parts. Two stout side
horns arise as the prolongation of the angle between the two lateral
sides of the hexagon, and thus are set outwards, but afterwards curve
slightly inwards, especially at the tips.

Each horn is six mm long, very serrated and coloured dark maroon
■on the inner aspect. Erom the upper angles of the plate arise two
similar finely serrated horns, with their tips a deep maroon or red
colour, slightly curving inwards. (Length 5mm.) A yellow face- line
starts from the tips of the lateral horns and runs downwards along the
outer aspect of the face to the mouth-parts; it is bordered along the
outer and lower edge by a conspicuous black line which starts from the
base of the lateral horns and reaches the mouth. This larva is one of
the most striking in the group.

The pupa is large, PI. XL VII., fig. 2b., of the usual charaxes
form, and opaque light-green in colour; it is almost immaculate when
the larval skin has just been shed but on the second day certain
characteristic white patches appear on the wing-scuta and also on the
dorsum of the thorax.

The whole transformation from egg to imago can be completed in
six weeks, as the larva is a most voracious feeder and growth is
extremely rapid.

Distribution and Habits :

The habitat of castor is governed by the distribution of its food-
plant, but as it has a more than usual range of food it is not surprising
to find it occupying types of country quite dissimilar. Thus in the
Jinja districts one finds it in the open cultivated areas where the
Sorghum is grown; at the same time one sees them on the outskirts of
forests, or even in the forest; along the coast and at Teita they fre-
quent the more open type of park-country. It occurs from the Coastal
belt through Kenya and throughout Uganda but we have no records of
it having been taken in the Highlands over 6000 ft.

145

Females are usually taken near their food-plant but males are
readily trapped in the open along forest paths and roads, with any kind
of animal or fowl-droppings. Leopard excreta and fish entrails form
a most attractive bait to most male Charades.

This species is one of the largest of the group, is plentiful where
it occurs, is a conspicuous insect and very powerful.

Mimetic Associations : In Uganda where the species is very plentiful

it would appear to have undoubtedly influenced the colouration of one
female form of Ch. etespie , recently described by Prof. Poulton as
castoroides. In this form the ala bars are orange-ochreous as in the
model. When we compare the insect as it occurs in the southern and
eastern portion of Kenya we find it rather paler than the typical form
and flying in association with Ch. hcmsali baringana; there would thus
appear to be a mutual modification of colour to a common tone.

CHARAXE8 CASTOR FLAVIFASCIATUS. Butlr. PL LXVIL, fig. 2.

The form of castor found south of Nairobi, especially in the Teita
country and the Coastal zone is sufficiently distinct to require recogni-
tion. The main points of difference are: The general ground colour
is not so black, more tinged with olive; the fore and hind wing bar
is not orange but ochreous as are also the sub-apical series of spots and
the upper submarginal lines in the hind-wing. The under-surface is
also much paler. It therefore is very like Ch. hansali baringana in
general type of colouration, and indeed is always in close association
with that species.

CHAR AXES POLLUX POLLUX. Cram. PI. LXVIII., figs 1 & 2
PI. LXIV., fig. 1.

Expanse: Males, 80-90 mm; females, 90-100 mm. General colour
of both sexes, orange-yellow with black border.

F.-w. : Basal third of wing orange-brown bordered distally by a

wide orange-yellow bar not very sharply defined proximally, extending
from the mid area in la and gradually lessening in width and
represented as spots in 6 and 7 ; the outer margin conforming to the
contour of the wing. Beyond this bar the wing is black with a slight
brown tinge, bearing on its margin small orange-brown spots at the
mic^-pioint in each area; there is a double spot in lb. There is a
black spot at the apex of the cell, one just beyond, followed by two
large marks below the costa and one at the base of 3.

H.-w. : Basal area light orange-brown bordered by an orange bar,
palest in 6-8, and not reaching the inner marginal fold. Rest of wing
brown-black with a blue spot at the anal angle and often an orange spot
in 7. The margin of the wing is strongly serrate. Each vein carrying
tails, that on 2 being as long as that on 4 (7 mm).

146

■

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXVIII.

Charaxes yollux pollux.

Fig. 1. <$ upperside. Fig. 9 upperside.

Female :

Resembles the male but is larger and with the markings wider.
Underside: PL LXIV., fig. 1.

Ground colour reddish-chestnut; the bar jof above is present below,
but is creamy, distally bordered by orange scaling; this border carries
on its distal edge triangular black marks, bases inward, double in lb,
all except the last mentioned outlined with silvery-grey, the apices of
all reaching the marginal border which is ochreous-brown with black
marks at the end |of each vein. The basal chestnut area is ornamented
with black lines broadly bordered with silvery-white and arranged as
follows : Three set equidistant and transverse in the cell, with one at

its apex; one crossing the sub-bases of 4-7, with a series set at an angle
to them and forming a V; one at sub-base tof 3; a double one towards
the base of 2; and a large black mark in lb.

H.-w. : Basal area reddish-chestnut bordered distally by a narrow
silvery-creamy bar corresponding to the inner part of the bar on the
upperside. Remainder of the wing ochreous-brown, with an folive
tinge towards the anal angle, and with an orange tinge proximally in
5-7. This area carries a series of chestnut-red marks outlined proxi-
mally and distally with black crescentic or trident marks, edged with
white, with a few silvery white scales scattered fover the chestnut.
The spot at the anal angle is ocellate consisting of a lustre olive-brown
ground surrounded with black and bearing in the centre two purply-
blue spots. The extreme margin of the wing is black, with white
edging between the veins and small silvery streaks indicating the tips
of the veins.

The basal area carries black marks outlined with silvery-white as
follows: One in 9; two confluent in 8; two in 7; one each, very small
in 4-6; one sub-basal and one apical in the cell; while lc has two cross
bars connected by a longitudinal line; and In. and lb, three looped
lines.

Early Stages :

The eggs are laid on the young leaves of two food-plants — a species
of Sorindeia ( Anacardiacece ), known to the Baganda as “ Muziru
also on Bersama abyssinicca, Fresen .(Melianthacece).

The eggs are laid with great rapidity, so much so that the insect
will not even trouble to shift the position of the ovipositor, with the
result that very often two or more eggs are piled one on top of
another. They are of the usual Charaxes form, a sphere with a
saucer-like fluted depression on the top, pearly white in colour and
1mm in diameter. At an early stage of development, three radiating
lines appear on the surface giving the egg a marbled appearance.
When the egg is mature it turns dark-brown to black.

147

The young larva (Pl. LXXIII., fig. 3) hatches in from seven to
ten days and at once eats the egg-shell, then after a while commences
on the. young shoots and descending as it grows consumes the more
mature leaves. Very shortly after emerging it spins a pad of silk on
some sheltered leaf and returns to this spot every morning after its
nightly feed. The shelter is changed from time to time as the larva
grows. The larva is at first uniform pale olive with a black head;
the colour then changes with each successive moult to a translucent
green which is almost smooth and immaculate until after the third
moult, when one or two dorsal spots appear on the sixth and eighth
segments respectively. The adult larva (PI. LXXVIII., fig. 3 and 3a)
is about 6 cm. in length, has a bright-green almost smooth-skinned
body, the papillation being very fine, with one or two circular rusty -
red spots on a white ground, enclosed by a fine brown line. In some
larvae the rusty-red tint later changes to a bright blood-red. When
only one spot appears it is invariably on the sixth segment, the second
if present being on the eighth. There is no definite body-line and the
spiracles are obscure; the under-surface is greyish- white. When at

rest the larva lies along the mid-rib of the prepared leaf, with its head
and tail raised. As a rule one finds only a single larva to each leaf.

PI. LX VIII. , fig. 3a. PI. LXXVI. , fig. 7: The head is

characteristic of the species, being in front view somewhat quadrate
in outline and having two pairs of very spiny horns — a central, straight
pair arising on either side of the mid-line, the lateral pair arising from
just below the upper angles and curving slightly backwards and
inwards. There are two short sharp-pointed spines between the
central pair and one on either side of the lateral horns. The general
colour of the head is a uniform bluish-green. No facial line is present,
but the lateral tubercles and the spines on the horns are strongly
developed. The larval stage lasts eighteen days.

The pupa is of the usual chcoraxes shape, smooth and with a light-
green colour on the thorax and wing-cases becoming more bluish-white
towards the dorsum of the abdominal segments. There is only a slight
concavity between the thorax and the abdomen on the dorsum; practi-
cally no projection of the shoulders of the wing-scutae but the head is
bifid. There are white patches on each wing-case, while the abdominal
spiracles are represented by a row of six reddish-brown spots. The
pupal period extends to ten days as a rule but is often longer.

Distribution and Habits :

This species occurs throughout Uganda and Kenya in the typical
form to about the region of Nairobi; south of this it intergrades
with the eastern and southern form geminus. It would appear to have
a preference for the more open park-like country rather than the forest.

148

Photo: Dr. van Someren.

PLATE LXIX.

Fig. 1. <$ Charaxes pollux pollux, underside.

Fig. 2. Charaxes 'pollux geminus, upperside.

but when found in the latter, is usually on the outskirts. Although a
common species it is more frequently captured when feeding on
droppings, or when sucking the exudate from a wounded tree. This
exudate when fermented renders the insect intoxicated and easy k>
capture by hand. As with most charaxes, males are more in evidence
than females, these latter being more retiring in their habits. The
species would appear to have no definite or limited breeding-season, as
fresh eggs and larvae in all stages are found throughout the year.

Mimetic Associations :

Although a common species with a very distinctive type of
colouration, this insect does not seem to bear any close resemblance to
any other in the group or other genus.

CHARAXES POLLUX GEMINUS . Eothsch. PI. LXIY., fig. 2.

This race differs from pollux pollux in having the orange bar of
both fore and hind-wings wider and paler, and in the marginal spots
of the fore-wings being larger while those in the hind-wing are present
as submarginal streaks extending from 2-7.

Underside :

As in the typical form but the marginal orange-ochreous border,
is wider.

Early Stages :

As for the parent races.

Distribution :

This race occurs along the Coastal belt through the Teita country
to Kilimanjaro, and through the thorn-bush country in Ukambani to
the Northern Guasso Nyiro; in the higher altitudes it grades rapidly
into the parent form. In habits it is not dissimilar.

CHARAXES BRUTUS BRUTUS , Cram. PI. LXX., figs. 1 and 2.

PI. LXV., fig. 2:

Expanse: Males 62-90 mm.; females 98-104 mm. General

colour of both sexes black with a white ala bar.

F.-w. : Male. Ground colour black with a marked bottle-green
sheen at the basal triangle. It is crossed by a pronounced creamy-
white ala bar running from the hind margin just out of the mid-point,
first with contiguous spots then detached and diminishing in size up to
the mid-point in 7. The hind- wing has a similar ground colour but
the white bar is broadest at the costa and gradually narrowing to lc
and not reaching the inner margin. This bar is often narrowly bordered
with greenish scaling. The margin is strongly serrate and between
the projections the edge is white. Veins 2 and 4 carry tails, sharply
pointed, 5 and 7 mm. in length. The male figured has no sub-marginal

149

ornamentation except that the anal angle carries two purply-white
spots; many specimens however have purple dots in 2-4, and slight
white lines running up the tips of the veins. This latter is characte-
ristic of the southern race, natalensis.

Underside: PL LXV., fig. 2:

F.-w. : The white bar is represented on the under-surface but the
spots are contiguous; internal to the bar the ground colour of the
wing is reddish-chestnut, distally it is orange-brown. This latter is
ornamented with triangular black marks in each area, double in lb,
each mark outlined with silvery-grey; the veins are scaled with this
colour, and at their extreme ends there is a blackish mark. The
basal area carries the following greyish bars outlined in black and then
white : one quadrate at the base of the cell, one ovoid at about the
middle, one oblong sub-apical, followed by an oblong at the apex;
a long confluent oblong crossing 5-7; one ovoid at sub-base of 3, two
ovoid in 2; one double-ended long line in lb.

H.-w. : Basally reddish-chestnut bordered by the white bar as
above, but continuous to the inner margin just above the anal angle.
The ground colour of the remainder of the wing to the margin is
ochreous-brown ; with, in areas 3-7 a chestnut zone oulined distally with
silvery-grey and black and carrying on its inner border black trident-like
marks with silvery-grey outline, the central projection extending into
the brown area. The anal angle and the sub-marginal end of 2 are
ornamented with ocellate marks outwardly black, with two and one
purply spot on an olive-brown ground. The chestnut basal area is
crossed by silvery-grey marks outlined with black then silvery-white
as follows : one in 9, two in 8 and 7, one small dot in 6 and 5, three in
the cell, one in 4. Areas la-lc with four looped lines, that in lc bifid
towards the base.

Female: PI. LXX.,fig. 2:

The female resembles the male, but is larger, with more
pronounced marginal spots and wider ala bars.

Early Stages: PI. LXXII., fig. 2.

We have observed this species laying on several food-plants of
widely different appearance, and to us at least different smell and
taste. In Uganda, it lays on a tree with broad lanceolate leaves,
known to the Baganda as “ Kiujamata ”; on a species of Grewia
(Tiliacece) “ Lukandwa” in Luganda. At the Coast it lays on a tree
named by the natives of Eabai, “ Munyamazi.”

A point of interest is that this Charaxes has taken to laying its
eggs on the leaves of an imported plant commonly known as the Cape
Lilac, Melia azedarach Linn. Meliacece. Both in Kenya and Uganda
has this been observed, but we have never been able to rear young

150

hoto : Dr. van Sorrier en.

PLATE LXX.

Charaxes brutus brutus.

Fig 1. <3 upperside. Fig. 2. 9 upperside.

larvae on this plant at any time, nor taken a wild larva on it. Platt
however, in his Food-plants of African Lepidopterous Larvce, mentions
this tree as one of the foods of the species, but whether or not
this statement is based on successful rearing of the insect on it, or
the finding of full grown larvae therebn, we are unable to say.

The eggs are pearly white, and 2 mm. in diameter. It is of the
usual spherical form, but the cupped fluting is not marked at all;
development first shows at the rim as a brown mark which spreads to
the entire surface, becoming dark-brown when mature. The egg
hatches in eight to twelve days. The young larva (PL LXXIII., fig.
6) is at first dull olive-brown, with a black head, but changes to
greenish at the first moult. The head is shed, but the cast skin is
frequently eaten. In captivity these larvae appear fastidious feeders
and unless the food is of a suitable degree of freshness, they refuse to
eat, with resulting high mortality. The mature larva (PL XL VII.,
fig. 1, & la) is 55 mm. long; body dark emerald-green with fine papillae
over the dorsum and lateral surfaces. There is no body-line but just
above the very light green of the underparts there is on each
segment a faint-shaped mark. In the young larva, after the third
moult, the dorsal spot appears as a white dot; as the larva matures
this is variable ; sometimes oval and reddish-brown on a light-grey
ground, sharply marked off from the body colour by a fine brown line :
sometimes a bright red oval on a dull-green area; or it may be
represented by a grey heart-shaped area with its point directed back-
wards and having a crimson centre.

Pl. LXXVI. , fig. 8. Pl. XL VII., fig. la.

The head is somewhat oblong, square-cut at the mouth, with these
parts shewing up clearly as jet black. The head has a distinctive
bluish tinge and is divided vertically by a central groove and is covered
with fine papillae. Two somewhat thick horns, 4mm, arise from the
lateral aspect of the upper third of the face, curve upwards and
slightly outwards, while the two 3 mm., inner ones, project from the
upperside and curve slightly backwards. All are finely papillated.

Between the central pair of horns are two spinous processes, and
one between each central and lateral horn.

There is a yellow line which, starting from the base of the outer
horns, extends round the edge of the face and meets over the mouth-
parts.

The pupa is very much like that of pollux , pale green in colour
with a row of six red spiracular abdominal spots. The keeling on the
margin of the wing cases and on the thorax is more marked, and the
whitish marbling on these two areas is more restricted. The imago
emerges in fourteen days.

151

Distribution and Habits:

This species ranges over the greater part of Uganda and Kenya,
though nowhere is it quite like the parental form; even in Uganda,
the fore-wing bar is wider and not pure white as in true brutus; then
when we compare the specimens from Kilimanjaro area and the Coast
we find they are much nearer to the Southern form natalensis. It is
a species which frequents forest and park-like country, is very plentiful
and easily baited. Nearly every collection of leopard-droppings on a
roadside near a forest will have one or more specimens of this species
feeding on it. The females are attracted by fermenting fruit juices and
exudates from trees. When the females are ovipositing, they do so
very rapidly, as we have counted four eggs laid in quick succession
within five minutes, but not all on one leaf.

Mimetic Associations:

The marked colouration of this species seems to have had an
influence on several species of Char axes , and possibly other Nymphalids
and Papjlios. Amongst the Charaxes we find that the ethoocles form
of female ethcocles, and the ethalion form of ethalion, the female of
ansorgei, the black and white female form of etesipe, both sexes of
hansali baring ana, the female of Ch. baumanni, and others to a less
marked degree, all possess a colouration remarkably similar and a
distribution which coincides with this very powerful species.

Amongst other Nymphalids one finds certain species of that strong
association of Neptis, and Eurytela hiarbas ; and the Zenobia group of
Popilios bearing a marked resemblance to Ch. brutus in its several
geographical forms.*

CHARAXES BRUTUS NATALENSIS. Stgr. Not figured.

Expanse: Slightly larger than brutus brutus , with a wider and
more creamy-yellowish bar especially in la and lb; with distinct
marginal ochreous spots in the mid-internervular spaces; and with a
sub-marginal row of double triangular spots directed towards the tips
of each vein up to 7.

The colour and distribution of marks on the underside is as in the
typical form, but the markings are slightly larger.

Female :

Follows the general description of that of brutus, but the pale
markings on the upperside are more pronounced and larger.

Early Stages :

As in the type form.

* Foot Note. — For a full account, see Poulton op. cit.

.152

Distribution :

This form is found from the Coast to Kilimanjaro and inland to
the Highlands where it intergrades with the western form.

Mimetic Associations :

See notes under brutus.

CHARAXES ANSORGEI. Rothsch. Pl. LXXI., fig. 1—3.

Expanse: Males 80-86, females 86-100 mm. Sexes unlike.

General colour of male brown and black with a white bar, in hind-
wing. General colour of female brown and black with white bar in
both wings.

F.-w. : Male. Basal third rich reddish-chestnut, remainder brown-
ish-black. An orange bar shaded distally with rufous-brown with
black spots in each area extends from the mid-area of la to 3, and is
then continued to the costa as four small spots which follow the contour
of the wing. Two other spots set at an angle to these four, in 5 and 6,
form a Y. The bases of 4, 5 and 6, the middle of area 7, each carry a
linear orange mark. The cell has a black spot towards the upper
part of the apex, and another one at the apex. The margin of the
wing is ornamented with orange spots, double in lb, set at the mid-
point between the veins.

H.-w. : Extreme base brownish-grey, with the inner fold of the
wing covered in long greyish hair-like scales; mid-area with a large
bluish-w7hite patch more bluish along the outer margin with slight
purply scaling towards the costa, and with a white central line; rest
of the wing to the margin, black, with a submarginal row of orange
spots, small in 2 and increasing in size up to 7. The anal angle with
two bluish spots frequently underlined with olive.

Female: PI. LXXI., fig. 1:

Forewing pattern very much as in the male, but the ala bar is
white in la and lb, yellowish in 2 and 3 and with an invasion of the
ground colour into the spots in these areas cutting off the distal portions
which remain as detached orange spots and are continuous with the
four smaller spots which run up to the costa. The ground colour at
the base of the wing is dull, deep chestnut, while that of the rest of the
wing is brownish -black with a strong ochreous suffusion. The hind-
wing is much as in the male but with considerable increase in the
submarginal spots which are here dull ochreous -orange.

Underside: Both sexes. PI. LXXI., fig. 3:

Cell, bases of 2-7, reddish-chestnut; base of wing blackish; a white
bar borders the basal brown, extending from la-5; this is bordered dis-
tally by a series of black marks, double in lb, arranged parallel to the
contour of the wing, and reaching 7 ; adjacent to these spots is a series

153

of orange triangles, bases inwards, following a similar contour; the
ground colour to the edge of the wing is ochreous-brown carrying black
triangular marks bases inward, and outwardly edged with silvery-white;
the ends of the veins carrying diffuse black spots with in between them
orange streaks. The base of the wing is crossed by black lines widely
bordered with silvery- white, as follows : Three cross the cell and two

its apex; a broad bar passes across areas 5-7 just about their mid-
point; a curved lined sub-basal in 8; and two in 2; an anchor-shaped
mark is present in lb.

H.-w. : Basal area reddish-chestnut, bordered by a narrow central
bar of silvery -white, widest at the costa and at the inner margin.
Distal to this, the ground colour is olive-brown shaded with brown at
the costal end and bearing a row of large black spots edged with
silvery-white; in lc and 2 the black marks are semicircular and form
with submarginal black lines ocellate spots with bluish dots at the
distal side. Between the submarginal black lines and the black
marginal border there is an olive -orange zone.

The basal triangle is marked very much as in pollux , but the
lines are wider. There is one in 9, two in 8, forming an inverted V,
two in 7, one each in 6-3, the cell with one at the base and two near
the apex in contact above; and areas la-lc carry 4 longitudinal looped
lines.

Early Stages: PI. LXXV,. figs. 4 & 5:

The egg is smooth and spherical, with a slight concavity on top.
Numerous fine furrows radiate to the margin of the disc from a central
point where they are coalescent. When freshly laid the egg is pale
yellow or creamy, changing to pinkish-brown with the upper third
purply-brown. They are deposited either on the upper or lower
surfaces, principally the latter, of the young or old leaves of Bersama
abyssinica Fresen. ( Melianthacece ). This tree is usually quite short,

and when a sapling carries all its leaves at the top. It occasionally
reaches to 40 ft. It is common in the more open parts of the High-
land forests from Kikuyu to Mau and on Elgon; this distribution
coinciding with that of Ch. ansorgei. The leaves are coarse, pointed
and slightly serrate, six to eight pairs of leaflets form the leaf -spray.
The flowers grow on a long spike and are white or pinkish. The ripe
seeds are pubescent and red in colour. The Kikuyu name is Musandi.

We have watched Ch. ansorgei ovipositing on many occasions; a
certain amount of discretion seems to be exercised in the matter of
selection of suitable leaves. The insect will settle for a moment and
pass her ovipositor over the surface of a leaf but will not always
deposit her egg; she may do this to a dozen leaves before she selects
one which appears suitable. We have noted that several plants may

154

I

Charaxes ansorgei.
upperside. Fig. 2. <$ upperside.

Fig. 3. underside.

be tested and passed over and eventually one deemed suitable, on this
as many as 8 eggs will be deposited.

The young larva emerges in about ten days and is at first a dingy
yellowish colour, turning in 48 hours to apple-green. The first meal
is made off the egg-shell. The head which is blackish bears on the
top, divergent inwardly curving horns in the plane of the face, and a
minute pair between the inner horns. The anal segment carries two
horn-like processes of about the same length as the head-horns. They
are divergent then curve inwards.

The surface of the head has a few pale tubercles. The horns are
bluntly spiny with whitish tubercles, each bearing a minute pale hair
on the tip. A few hairs are scattered over the body. Length on
hatching 3mm. ; before first moult 7 mm. When ready for the first
moult the new head is visible under the skin of the first segment as
a circular pinkish-brown patch. The colour of the larva in the second
stage is very similar to that of the first, but the body is covered with
numerous small hair-bearing pale tubercles and each segment shows a
fine lateral oblique line of white papillae, slanting from above forwards.
There is a white spiracular line dividing the green of the dorsum from
the pale whitish-green of the under surface.

A pair of white dorsal spots is present on each segment; length
before second moult 12mm. In the third stage the upper half of the
head is maroon with the horns brown while the lower half is yellowish-
green with a few pale tubercles. The maroon colour is frequently
retained up to the time of pupating; occasionally it disappears after
the final moult. The colour of the body remains as in the second
stage with the addition of a dorsal spot, roundish in outline bordered
with a black line on the sixth segment. The spot is more pronounced
in some individuals than in others. In a position of rest, the head
and the first three segments as also the terminal ones are raised above
the surface of the leaf.

In the fourth and fifth stages there is little difference. The body
is pea-green, thickly covered with yellow papillae. The oblique lateral
lines are pronounced. The subspiracular line which is whitish is
carried round the anal spines, becoming yellowish in this region. The
almost circular spot on the dorsum of the sixth segment is brownish
surrounded by a paler area and outlined in black and very often a
second spot appears on the eighth segment.

The anal processes .are short, broad, pointed and flattened horizon-
tally. Length 53 mm. The larval stage lasts three to four weeks.

When the larva has curled prior to pupating, it loses most of its
spots and becomes translucent.

155

The head of the mature larva (Pl. LXXVI., fig. 11-13) is pale
green with a large purplish patch over the upper half of the face; and
the tips of the horns are violet-blue. The length of the horns in
comparison with the size of the head is relatively shorter at this stage
than previously. The whole of the head is coarsely punctate with
scattered whitish tubercles and covered with rather long silvery
pubescence.

The pupa is stout, widest at the third abdominal segment,
thence tapering abruptly to the cremaster; anteriorly it narrows
slightly to the fore end of the wing-case and then more abruptly to
the front extremity, where it terminates in a slightly indented
emarginate ridge. The ventral surface of the thorax is straight; the
dorsal strongly convex. A lateral ridge on each side of the thorax
starting from the head projections, and extending along the wing cases,
ends at the front of the abdomen, where it becomes obsolescent. The
base of the cremaster is transversly bilobed, and two excrescences are
placed anteriorly to it on the ventral surface. The colour is a light-
green with chalky pink marks on the points of the head-cover, also
irregularly placed along the lateral ridges and scattered on the under
surface of the thorax. The spiracles appear as dark-brown spots on a
chalky-pink base. On either side of the proboscis is a conspicuous
round white spots. The cremaster and adjacent excrescences are
yellowish. Length 25 mm. ; breadth 11 mm. The complete meta-
morphosis extends over ten weeks. The imago emerges in 16 days.

Distribution and Habits :

The distribution of this species as has already been indicated,
coincides with that of the food-plant. It has always been considered
a rare species but we have now bred it through in large numbers, and
are able to obtain specimens from its known haunts. The southern
limits of its distribution appear to be the Kikuyu Scarp from whence it
extends through the Aberdares, across the Mau to Nandi and Elgon.
We have no records of the species in Uganda, except in the South-
west districts. This distribution is curious and worth noting.

It is a forest species which is met with in the more open parts and
along the forest fringes. The males are fond of sunning themselves,
with wings slightly open or with the hind-wings partly depressed,
while the upper ones are kept in contact.

They come to bait but not as readily as some species. One
usually finds the female somewhere near the food-plant and when she
i& intent on laying is not difficult to capture.

156

1. varanes.

4. cithaeron.

2- brutus.

5. candiope.

3. anticlea.

6. etheocles.

V. G. L. van Someren, photo.

7. baumanni.

Vans & Crampton, Ltd.

EGGS OF CHARAXES.

Plate LXXIII.

1. numenes.

4. tiridates.

2. castor.

5. etesipe.

3. pollux.

V. G. L. van Scmeren, photo.

6. brutus.

Vans & Crumpton, Ltd.

LARVAE OF CHARAXES.

Figs- 1, 2, 4, 5, half natural size, 3 and 6 greatly enlarged.

Plate LXXIV.

1. C. candiope.

2. C. baumanni.

3. E. ansellica.

V . G. L. van Someren, photo.

4. C. candiope (newly hatched).

5. C. fulvescens monitor.

6. C. varanes.

Vans & Cramp ton, Ltd.

LARVAE OF EUXANTHE (Fig. 3) AND CHARAXES
Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6 about three-quarters natural size, 2 about half, 4 greatly enlarged.

Plate LXXV.

1.

Pal la
ussheri

2.

Palla

ussheri.

3. Ch. fulvescens. 4. Ch. ansorgei.

V . G. L. van Someren, photo. 5. Ch. ansorgei. Vans & Crampton, Ltd.

LARVAE OF PALLA AND CHARAXES.

All figures natural size except figure 3 (about three-quarters).

Plate LXXVI.

van Someren, photo. CAST HEADS OF EUXANTHE (Fig. 1) AND CHAR AXES.

Figures 1—8 natural size, all others slightly enlarged.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES LXXII— LXXVL

Plate LXXII.
Eggs of Charaxes.

Fig. 1
2

3

4

5

6
7

Egg of Charaxes varanes (Nairobi).

„ ,, brutus brutus (Nairobi).

„ „ anticlea adusta (Jinja).

,, ,, cithaeron (Nairobi).

,, ,, candiope candiope (Nairobi).

„ „ etheocles etheocles (Nairobi)

,, ,, baumanni (Nairobi).

Plate LXXIII.
Larvae of Charaxes.

Fig.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Larva of Charaxes numenes numenes (Jinja).

,, ,, catsor castor (Jinja).

,, ,, pollux pollux, newly hatched (Nairobi).

„ ,, tiridates tiridates (Jinja).

,, ,, etesipe etesipe (Jinja).

„ ,, brutus brutus, newly hatched (Nairobi).

Plate LXXIV.

Larvae of Charaxes and Euxanthe.

Fig. 1

2

3

4

5

6

Larva of Charaxes candiope candiope (Nairobi).

,, ,, baumanni (Nairobi).

„ Euxanthe ansellica (Jinja).

„ Charaxes candiope candiope, newly hatched (Nairobi).

,, ,, fulvescens monitor (Jinja).

„ ,, varanes vologeses (Jinja).

Plate LXXV.

Larvae of Palla and Charaxes.

Figs. 1 & 2. Larva of Palla ussheri interposita (Jinja).

3 „ Charaxes fulvescens ? acuminatus (Kikuyu Escarpment).

4- ,, Charaxes ansorgei — red-spotted variety — above, and

ochreous-spotted variety— below (Kikuyu Escarpment).
5. ,, Charaxes ansorgei — white-spotted variety (Kikuyu Escarp-

ment).

157

Plate LXXVI.

Cast heads of Char axes and Euxanthe larvae.
Fig. 1. Cast head of Euxanthe ansellica (Jinja).

2.

9 9

99

Charaxes

varanes vologeses (Jinja).

3.

9 9

„

etesipe etesi'pe (Jinja).

4.

99

„

99

castor castor (Jinja).

5.

99

99

99

fulvescens monitor (Jinja).

6.

„

„

99

varanes (Nairobi).

7.

99

99

9 9

pollux pollux (Jinja).

8.

99

9 9

brutus brutus (Jinja).

9.

99

99

99

fulvescens ? acuminatus (Kikuyu Escarpment).

10.

99

99

99

99 99 99 99

11—13.

9 9

„

ansorgei (Kikuyu Escarpment).

14—17.

99

99

,,

varanes (Nairobi).

18.

99

9 9

99

jasius epijasius (Jinja).

19.

99

99

„

paphianus sub pallida (Jinja).

20.

i 99

99

tiridates tiridates (Jinja).

21.

99

9 9

„

candiope candiope (Nairobi).

22—23.

9 9

99

99

cithceron (Nairobi).

24.

99

99

99

etheocles etheocles (Nairobi).

25.

99

9 9

99

baumanni (Nairobi).

26.

99

9 9

numenes numenes (Jinja).

27.

9 9

9 9

anticlea adusta (Jinja).

158

van Someren del.

OENA CAPENSIS CAPENSIS, Linn,

THE BIRDS OF KENYA AND UGANDA.

Part YII.

By

V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN, M.B.Q.U., C.F.A.O.U., ETC.

Family COLVMB1DJE .

Genus OEHA3 Swains.

Oesia ©apeosis eapensis, Linn. Long-tailed Dove.

Ref. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 12th Ed p. 286,

1766.

Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.

Distribution :

Throughout Kenya and Uganda in suitable localities.

Description : Male, adult :

Forehead and anterior portion of head to mid-orbital line, the
whole of the throat and upper breast jet black; remainder of the head
pearly-grey, paler ,at the line of junction with the black, and on the
cheeks and side of neck. Nape, mantle and scapulars and inner-
most secondaries ashy-grey-brown shading to pearl-grey on the wing
coverts; the innermost wing-coverts tinged with ashy-brown. The
lower back is banded with three bars, two black, with a greyish-buff
bar between ; the rump is ashy-grey shading to grey laterally and on
the upper tail-coverts; these latter with broad black-shaped tips.
Primaries and primary-coverts bright cinnamon with broad blackish
edges and tips, shading to greyish at the margins; secondaries cinnamon
along the shaft with an increasing amount of greyish shading from
without inward until the innermost ones are greyish-black strongly
shaded along the outer web with pearly-grey; the edge of the inner
webs inclining to black. Some of the inner long secondary-coverts
are ornamented with steel-blue to purply-blue irridescent patches.

Breast and abdomen white, the former tinged with grey at the
sides of chest. Central under tail-coverts black, lateral ones black
and white or white. The rectrices are abruptly graduated the central
pair being one and a quarter times longer than the outermost pair.
On the upper side the central pair are ashy-grey at the base inclining
to grey mesially, and towards the tips are blackish; the next two pairs
are grey at the base, black at the distal half; the three outer pairs are
light-grey with a broad sub-terminal black band while the outermost
pair have the outerwebs white. From below, all the rectrices with
the exception of the outer webs of the outer pair, are black.

159

Eyes brown or light brown; bill yellow at tip and red or carmine
at the base; feet crimson or purple-madder. Wings 95-105 mm.
Tail 140-145 mm.

Female :

Differs considerably from the male; the black “ front ” is entirely
wanting, instead, the front of the head is whitish shading to very pale
grey on the cheeks and front of the crown, these in turn shading into
a shy -grey -brown on the occiput, the ear covert, side of neck and upper
chest. A black spot in front of eye. The mantle, scapulars and
long coverts and inner lesser coverts are ashy-grey-brown merging into
grey on the secondary and lesser coverts. Primaries and secondaries
as in the male but with paler cinnamon; and the blue spots are
more restricted. The rest of the plumage is similar to the male,
though the tail is not so long. Eyes brown; bill purple-madder at
the base, blackish at the tip; feet purple madder. Wings 95-100 mm.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage is ashy-grey above, each feather broadly
tipped with buff, with, on the breast, a blackish pen-ultimate bar;
the forehead and throat are whitish; the breast and abdomen a dirty

white.

In the first feathered plumage the barred feathers of the head,
mantle and chest persist for a long time the lateral aspects of the
last area are the first to change to a greyish with narrow buff edges;
the feathers of the scapular region, and the wing coverts have large
sandy-buff tips edged with white distally and outlined proximally with
black, giving to these areas a speckled appearance. The primaries
and outer secondaries are cinnamon only on the inner webs, and all
are tipped with rustybuff. The under tail-coverts and three outer
rectrices are tipped with buff; the breast and abdomen are white.

Habits :

The Little Long-tailed Dove is found from the Coast inland through
Kenya to western Uganda. It is a bird of the open thornbush and
park-like country and does not occur in the forests. We have no
records of it having been seen anywhere over 6,500 ft.

It is particularly plentiful in the low country south of Nairobi
to the coast, in the southern Masai Reserve, the Kedong, the country
round Lake Victoria, through the northern Guasso Nyiro area to
Baringo and Rudolf.

We have )frequently seen this bird in native shambas, but
examination of stomach contents has always shown that very little
or no cultivated grain is taken, indeed the bulk of the food appears
to be minute seeds of weeds, picked up from the ground.

160

o

*o

TYMPANISTRIA TYMPANISTRIA FRASERI, Bp.

They undoubtedly have a preference for open ground where
these small seeds are readily picked up. Thus one seldom if ever
sees the birds in grass veldt country. Though generally distributed
throughout suitable localities in pairs or small parties, there are
certain times when they occur in flocks of a dozen or more. This
flocking is governed by the presence in a given locality of some parti-
cular seed to which the birds are partial. Usually one puts the birds
up in pairs; the flight is quick and direct but of short duration,
advantage being taken of the nearest cover behind which they drop
and at once begin feeding. The Long-tailed Dove is undoubtedly the
daintiest and most sprightly of the Ground-doves; its actions are quick
yet full of grace. As the bird alights on the ground the tail is raised,
partly fanned then depressed, but is usually carried above the tips
of the wings. This movement is not peculiar to the species, for we
find it in species belonging to the genus Turtur.

The nesting season is not fixed but is more or less influenced by
the rains. Most nests have been found towards the end of the rains,
thus we have records for January to March and from August to October
and in December. The nests have always been very near the ground,
in fact on more than one occasion the nest has actually been placed on
the top of an ant-hill surrounded by vegetation but usually it is built
about a couple of feet up in fairly thick cover preferably .a creeper.
The actual nest is a platform of slender twigs and rootlets mostly the
latter, so that actually it is more compact than the usual run of
Dove’s nests. The eggs, two in number are small 15 x 20 mm., and
pale cream in colour with a semimatt surface. Both parents take
part in constructing the nest. Although this is a common species, I
have never heard its call, nor can I find any description of its note.

Genus TY^PANBSTRIA Reichb.

Tympanistria tympanistHa fraseri Bp, White-breasted Wood-Dove.

Ref. : Bonaparte, Consp. Av. ii, p. 67. 1855.

Type locality : Fernando Po.

Distribution :

In wooded districts through Uganda and Kenya.

Description: Male, adult:

The front of the head to the mid-orbital line pure white,
this colour extending back over the eye and downwards to the
posterior aspect of the ear-coverts. A black streak in front of the eye.
The throat, cheeks, breast and abdomen pure white; the flanks white
washed, with ashy-brown. The remainder of the crown dark ashy-
brown inclining to greyish at the junction with the white forehead,

161

and on the posterior earcoverts, becoming more brownish at the nape
and neck but tinged with grey where it joins the white of the fore
neck and breast. Mantle, scapulars, wing-coverts and inner
secondaries, rump, upper tail-coverts and tail, hair brown with a
bronzy-gold sheen, duller on the rump, but with a rufescent tinge on
the rectrices. The rump is crossed by two dark-brown bands with a
light brown area between. The primary coverts, the primaries and
secondaries cinnamon, shaded on the outer webs and ends with dark
brown. On the inner secondary coverts and innermost secondary
are four to five dark blue, purple-blue to black metallic spots. The
under tail-coverts are grey-brown while the under surfaces of the
rectrices are greyish at the bases and tips with a blackish bar sub-
ierminally.

Under wing-coverts and axillaries cinnamon. Eyes brown; bill
purple madder at the base and black at the tip; legs purple madder.
Wings 115-120 mm.

Female :

Adult : Somewhat like the male, but with the white of the

forehead tinged with grey, as are also the cheeks; the throat is white
but shades off gradually into a very delicate blue-grey at the breast
band. The ear coverts are dark-brown. The depth of colour of the
breast-band varies; in some specimens it is decidedly grey while in
others it is merely tinged. The mature, though youngish female
has a decided band which is tinged with ashy-brown. Wings
111-115 mm.

Juvenile :

The nestling has a distinct plumage, traces of which are retained
up to the sixth month. The forehead and eye stripe are cinnamon,
becoming darker, more brownish on the back of the crown and neck;
each feather with a tip and bar; the mantle and wings are light
reddish-brown barred with darker brown; the feathers of the scapulars
and inner secondaries with pale tips.

The throat, chest and breast are tawny ochreous, banded with
dark brown; the abdomen is a buffy white.

This barred plumage lasts about four months (captive birds) when
either the full male or female plumage is assumed straight away, with
no intermediate dress.

Habits :

The White-breasted Wood-Dove is found from the Coast to Lake
Victoria and throughout Uganda, but only in such localities as are
suitable. It is a bird of the forests and well wooded arenas, and of
tree -fringed rivers. Away from habitations it is a decidedly wild and

162

shy species, intolerant of man and excessively timid. In certain
well-timbered gardens in Nairobi, however, where the birds have
nested regularly for many years they have become quite tame. In
spite of its very contrasty plumage this bird is difficult to detect in
the half light of the forest either when feeding on the ground or in
flight away from one, but if it should turn side-on the white underside
is very conspicuous. Its flight is extremely rapid, seldom straight,
usually zigzag, and never high; the marvellous thing is that even at
such a high speed it can dodge amongst the branches of low trees
wthout coming into contact with some obstacle. Their eyesight must
be acute, for on one occasion when trapping birds in the forest I had
a hang-net stretched across a narrow “ ride,” a Dove suddenly shot
into the space and I made certain that it would dash into the obstacle,
but within a foot of the net it suddenly shot vertically up and carried
on ! Though the contrast between the dark upper and white lower
surfaces is so great yet when the bird is sitting in a tree it is hard to
detect; the outline is completely broken.

These birds take all their food on the ground; it consists of seeds,
small land shells, and insects. They take well to captivity and
readily eat a mixture of meal and hard-boiled egg, They nest
regularly and rear their young with care. In the wild state there
appears to be no fixed nesting season; we have seen nests in every
month of the year except January and February.

The nest is a flimsy structure composed of slender twigs and
rootlets and built fairly low down, seldom more than twenty feet from
the ground, usually about ten. The actual site is usually a shady
spot well protected above by overhanging branches, but the nest is
usually visible with ease from below. Jackson has recorded the nest
of this species built on top of a disused Coly’s nest.

The call is peculiar and though somewhat like that of two other
species of ground-dove, is however distinctive. It it rather a mournful
though sweet sound consisting of two quite loud and prolonged coos
followed by seven coos gradually diminishing in intensity and tone
until the last is almost inaudible.

During the nesting season one meets these birds in pairs, but at
other times they are solitary. One may occasionally come upon a
family party of four, but it is remarkable that only one young appears
to survive. Either an egg is knocked out of the nest or one of the
newly fledged youngsters falls a prey to some enemy before it can fly
properly. The young are fed for quite a long time, but as soon as
they can fend for themselves they are driven off by their parents.
In spite of its protective colouration, I have more than once seen an
adult dove captured by Verreaux’s Falcon and have seen the remains
of birds undoubtedly captured by Gennetts, the latter probably having

163

secured a roosting victim. The species in common with others of the
family is very conservative with regard to a particular roosting place.
The same branch will be used for months on end even when the
nesting season is on.

This Wood-Dove is equally tenaceous in adhering to a restricted
locality; in one particular forest which I used to visit at least onre a
week for the greater part of two years, I could always count on seeing
at least four pairs of these doves, each pair within quite a small area
of about five acres or so; there w.as never more than just the pair
except when the young were newly on the wing.

Genus 7URTUR, Boddaert.

TurtlSP afer kiSimensii, Mearns. Blue-spotted Ground-Dove.

Ref. Mearns, P.U.S.M., Yol. 48, p. 888, 1915.

Type locality : Kilimanjaro.

Distribution :

From the south-western districts of Kenya through Uganda.
Description: Male, adult:

Forehead white shading to pearl and then lead-grey on the top of
the crown and to ashy-grey on the occiput, and extending over the eye
to the side of the crown as a blue-grey streak, outlined along the lower
edge and round the eye with white.

Nape and hind-neck ashy-brown shading to umber-orown on the
mantle and to greyish-umber-brown on the wing- coverts. Throat
white or pinkish-buff shading to vinaceous-drab on the cheeks and ear-
coverts and to vinaceous-brown with a greyish bloom on the chest,
which in turn shades off into pinkish-buff on the abdomen to become
buffy-white on the vent. The lateral under tail-coverts are white, the
central ones black. The three inner long secondary coverts have each
a large metal blue spot, in front of which are other three spots of the
same colour on the upper lesser coverts. The primaries and outer
secondaries are cinnamon edged and tipped with brownish-black,
while the inner secondaries are also cinnamon centrally but with an
increasing amount of umber-brown shading, from without in; the
innermost being uniform brownish. The lower back, rump and upper
tail-coverts are umber-brown; the rump is crossed by two broad black
bars with an ochreous-buff bar between, while the terminal coverts are
tipped with black. The rectrices on the upper surface are mostly
brownish but the three outer pairs are grey on the inner web, washed
with brown on the outer web; that of the outer pair white. The
three outer pairs are banded with black subterminally while the rest
are shaded black at the ends. The under wing-coverts and axillaries

164

TURTUR AFER KILIMENSIS, Mearns.

are light cinnamon. The eyes are brown or red-brown; the bill
carmine or purple-madder at the base, shading to pinky-yellow at the
tip; legs purple-madder. Wings 105-113 mm.

Female :

The female resembles the male.

Juvenile:

The nestling plumage is a rufescent brown above and on the
chest, barred with blackish-brown; the feathers of the scapular region
and inner coverts with buff tips. The remiges are cinnamon with
dark tips and edges and dark vermiculations. The forehead is buff
as is also the belly. The bill and legs are brownish-purple.

The first full feathered plumage is an admixture between the
nestling and adult phase. The characteristic metallic spots appear
on the wing but the tips of the feathers so decorated are barred with
alternate brown and blackish bands. The breast, mantle and lesser
coverts are similar to those of the adult. The bill and legs remain
blackish until the adult plumage is assumed.

Habits :

The Blue-spotted Ground-Dove has a peculiar distribution in
Kenya, being found only in the south-western corner of the Colony
whence it spreads up through Tanganyika into Uganda where it is
plentiful and widely distributed. It occurs in the Kavirondo country
and Kisii area but does not come into the highland area of Kenya,
nor do we find it in the Coastal zone. It lives in all types of country
other than dense forest and open grass plains ; it is partial to cultivated
areas round habitations and scrub country.

It is remarkably tame and will merely flutter out of one’s way.
It has a habit of squatting on the ground if anything comes near it
and not taking wing until the last moment when it springs up
suddenly with a flutter and goes off with a zigzag flight to pitch almost
at once in some open spot. When the bird alights it raises and dips
its tail, fanning it just as it touches the ground.

The species is almost entirely terrestrial, seeking the majority
of its food below the dwarf acacias and scrub and in patches of native
cultivation. One may frequently see these birds feeding along road-
sides and it is with difficulty that they can be made to leave the
track; they merely fly a few paces ahead of one and having alighted
they at once commence to feed. Although a common species one
usually meets the birds in pairs, often singly, never in flocks. The
call note is distinctive and fascinating though rather plaintive; it is
usually uttered when the bird is in a tree and resting, and consists
of a series of coos, the first very low and almost inaudible, coo, coo-

165

coo, coo-coo, coo-coo, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, tu, increasing in tone and
volume up to the last coo and then decending rapidly in decreasing
tone.

Nests and eggs of this species have been taken or seen in almost
every month of the year, but the majority have been recorded between
July and December. The nest is a frail structure, composed of fine
twigs and rootlets, placed rather low down in some small shady tree
on a convenient horizontal fork. We have on occasion found the nest
on the top of a wide-spreading papyrus stalk and very frequently the
nest has been built on an Ambatch tree growing well out in the water
near the lake side. They occasionally make use of an old nest such
as that of the Little Green-backed Heron, or as recorded by Jackson,
that of the Uganda Thrush (T. p. centralis).

The eggs, two in number, are a pale creamy white, with little
gloss; measuring 22 x 16-17 mm. Both parents take part in
incubating the eggs and feeding the young.

Tyrtyr chalcospilos CfoaScOSpiSoS, Wagl. Emerald-spotted Ground

Dove.

Ref. Wagler, Syst. Av. Columba, sp. 83, 1827.

Type locality: Eastern Cape Province.

Distribution :

In the dry thorn-bush and scrub country from the Coast to
Victoria Nyanza.

Description : Male, adult :

Forehead, cheeks and ring round the eye, very pale greyish
becoming darker grey on the top of the head and shading to slatey-
grey on the occiput. There is frequently a blackish line from the
anterior angle of the eye to the gape. The throat is whitish shading
to very pale pinkish on the sides of the neck and to darker vinous
pink on the breast, this in turn shading to paler pink on the flanks and
to white on the centre of the abdomen and vent. The pink on the
sides of the neck shades into ashy-grey-brown on the hind-neck. The
mantle scapulars and coverts and the innermost secondaries brownish-
grey; the four innermost secondaries and the four inner secondary
coverts each with a large subterminal metallic green spot on the outer
web. All the primaries light cinnamon with narrow blackish edges
and tips ; while most of the secondaries are cinnamon with ashy-grey
outer margins and ends. The primary coverts are cinnamon with
blackish outer edges and tips. The under wing-coverts and axillaries
are pale cinnamon. The back is greyish-brown, crossed by a narrow
black bar; the rump is pale brownish grey crossed by a wide black bar;
the upper tail-covert are pale grey-brown with black ends, forming

166

TURTUR CHALCOSPILOS CHALCOSPILOS, Wagl.

a third bar. Most of the rectrices are grey at the basal f , with the
terminal \ blackish; the three outer pairs are grey tipped, while the
basal § of the outer web of the outermost pair are white. The under-
surface of the tail is black. The under tail-coverts are mostly black;
the lateral feathers are white.

Eyes brown; bill crimson at base, tip black; legs and toes purple-
madder. Wings 96-108 mm.

Female :

Very similar to the male; but rather paler on the head and breast.
Juvenile :

The first feathered plumage is very like that of T. afra kilimensis,
but paler throughout, so that the blackish and dark barring is more
conspicuous.

In the second plumage the barring is retained on the crown, breast
and ends of the secondaries and secondary coverts, the latter having
white tips; while the tips of the primaries are cinnamon. The
remainder of the plumage is very like that of the mature bird but
duller and paler, the feathers of the scapular and dorsal regions with
pale buffy tips.

Habits :

This beautiful little Hove with its soft delicate colouration is one
of the features of the Coastal zone and the dry thorn-bush country.
It is much more a bird of the desert scrub and wasteland than is
T. a. kilimensis, and although very similar to it in habits, is much
more timid and less sociable. In the Highlands it has become a
feature of the coffee shambas, particularly those which are kept free
from rank vegetation and weeds. One or two birds can usually be
seen feeding between the rows of coffee trees. When once a pair has
taken to frequenting a particular area of coffee, they remain in the
vicinity for months, and indeed make use of actual trees to nest in.
The upper branches of a coffee tree which has been pruned and topped
makes an ideal nesting site and is most attractive to these birds.
The food of these Doves consists mostly of minute seeds of weeds,
with an occasional mollusc and insect. These birds are very fond of
white ants, especially the flying forms of the smaller species.

Although feeding principally on seeds of weeds these birds are
not adverse to taking small grain such as Whimbi, Mwele and
Mecombe. They do not attack the standing grain but take the fallen
seed from a plot that has been reaped or grain dropped in transit.

The Emerald-spotted Ground Dove does not occur in flocks but
is met with singly or in pairs. When found near human habitations
they are much tamer than in the bush country and with proper
treatment can be induced to remain in one's garden for years. They

167

becoming exceedingly tame and confiding. Their call is low and
plaintive and though somewhat like that of T. a. kilimensis ;s quite
distinguishable even at a distance. It consists of two long and low
coos, followed by two shorter coos, then a pause, then follow e;ght
rapid coos in descending scale and diminishing tone.

These little Doves have a remarkably rapid flight, buc seldom of
long duration, in fact if they are put up suddenly they fly only a
short distance and alight abruptly. Just before settling, in order to
break the impetus of flight, they zigzag slightly and when they alight
they rapidly raise and lower the tail and posterior part of the body,
at the same time the tail is slightly fanned. The movement is
actually an exaggeration of the similar habit found in the Blue-
spotted Dove.

As has already been mentioned, these birds are very fond of
nesting in low coffee trees and in the uncultivated areas one seldom
finds a nest in any other but a low bush or tree. The nest itself is
often quite exposed but sheltered above and is constructed of a few
twigs and fine rootlets with no lining. It is a frail structure and very
loosely put together. The eggs, two in number, are a very pale cream,
almost white and measure 23-23.5 x 18 mm. We have records of
nests found in January to July, and November and December, while
young just from the nest have been seen in June and July.

The young remain with the parents until able to fend for them-
selves; they are then driven off.

This little Dove makes an excellent aviary bird and if well looked
after will nest readily. It is rather susceptible to change of feed and
environment which is shown by a strong tendency to a form of
melanism. In some of my specimens the primaries became a dark
brownish black, all trace of the cinnamon colour being lost, while the
mantle and wing-coveits not only became darker but the actual
structure of the feathers changed; quite a number became metallic
green, while those feathers which normally had a large metallic spot
became entirely irridescent.*

Turtur afoyssinica delicatuia, Sharpe. Black-billed Blue-spotted
Ground Dove.

Ref. Sharpe, Bull, B.O.C., Yol. XII., p. 84,
1902.

Type locality : White Nile.

*Foot Note. — Considerable controversy has recently arisen over the
matter of the correct published names applicable to
the two species of metallic-spotted Ground Doves.
I have fallowed Sclater, Bui. B.O.C., Vol. xlii., pp.
117, 118, May, 1922.

168

APLOPELIA LARVATA LARVATA, Temm. & Knip.

Distribution :

The extreme N.W. corner of the Nile Province of Uganda.
Description : Male, adult :

Very like T. c. chalcospilos, but altogether paler especially on the
breast and underside; these being a very delicate vinous pink. The
fore-part of the head, including the throat almost white; the occiput
and nape grey. The spots on the wing Irridescent metallic-blue. The
bill is uniform black, while the feet and legs are purply-red or madder.

Habits :

In every way similar to the Green-spotted Dove. We have no
record of its call or nesting habits. This is a bird of the Sudan which
extends into Uganda just south of Nimule. We possess an adult
female and an immature male taken at Nimule.

Genus APL0PEL1A, Bonaparte.

Aplopelia larvata larvata, Temm. and Knip. Cinnamon-breasted
Forest Dove.

Kef. Temminck & Knip. Pig. Colombes, p. 71,

1810.

Type locality: Knysna, Cape Province, S.A.

Distribution :

The forests of Kenya from Kilimanjaro to Mt. Elgon.

Description : Male, adult :

Forehead to mid-orbital line white, shading to grey and grey-
brown on the occiputal region and nape, these areas with a violet-
bronze reflection. Throat white, shading to pale ashy-grey, with pink
bloom on the cheeks and ear-coverts. Back, sides and front of the
neck violet-bronze with greenish reflections; mantle leaden-grey with
purply-greenish tips to the feathers, those of the mid-scapular area
being markedly green. Scapulars, wing- coverts, rump and upper
tail- coverts glossy olive brown, slightly rufescent on the last area.
Breast coppery- vinous -grey, shading into cinnamon on the lower
breast, flanks, abdomen and under tail-coverts; the flanks slightly
tinged with greyish. Primaries and secondaries, olive-browTn with
slight greyish sheen .at tips, and edge of outer webs. Rectrices mostly
blackish-brown with a wide grey tip; central and next pair uniform
olive-brown with a tinge of brown on the outer web of the third pair.
Wings 148-152 mm. Eyes claret or crimson; bill dark purply at base,
black at tip; legs and feet purple madder or mauve; eyelids crimson.

169

Female :

Somewhat like the male but slightly duller and darker on the
breast and with the forehead tinged with grey.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage is a rufescent-brown ground colour rather
more ochreous on the head and abdomen, more blackish on the
mantle and wings, each feather with two or more blackish bars, those
of the last two areas with rusty -brown tips. The throat is ochreous.
In the next plumage the forehead and throat are ochreous, the former
with blackish barring; the hind part of the crown is blackish narrowly
barred with rusty brown; the hind neck and breast are rusty-brown
with faint blackish barring, while the flanks and abdomen are dull
cinnamon. The mantle, wings, rump and upper tail-coverts are
dark olive brown, each feather with rusty-brown tips. This plumage
soon merges into that of the adult, the first areas to change being the
forehead, mantle and underside.

Habits :

This Dove has a fairly wide distribution in Kenya being found
wherever there are patches of forest of sufficient density to give it
cover. The southern limit appears to be Mt. Kilimanjaro and the
Taveta Forest; we have no records of its occurrence at the Coast. It
it fairly common in the forests round Nairobi and Ngong, plentiful in
the forests of Mt. Kenya, the Mau and Cherangani and not uncommon
on Mt. Elgon which area appears to be its northern limits.

The Cinnamon-breasted Dove is somewhat rare in collections owing
to the fact that it haunts the densest parts of its forest home and
though it may possibly be flushed quite often, it darts into the
undergrowth with such rapidity that it gives one little or no chance
to shoot. The most successful way to observe these birds is to “bait”
a spot likely to be frequented by them. There used to be a special spot
in the Karura Forest where one could always be certain of flushing
one or a pair of these birds. The area was low-lying and moist, with
dense forest and rather thick undergrowth. There was however a
certain tree in the middle of the spot to which the Ked Duiker used
to resort and use as a rubbing post ” ; hence there was a well-worn
track to the spot, and along it one could obtain an excellent view of
the ground. The “ baiting ” of this ground resulted in unrivalled
opportunities for close observation of the Doves, and other birds also.
The ground was covered in a thick layer of damp leaf mould which
yielded an abundance of small land molluscs, insects and seeds of
various kinds, and it was on these that the doves were feeding. The
birds seemed to quarter the ground systematically, turning up the
leaves with the tip of the bill? often to a depth of two or three inches.

170

Most of the seed taken was small, black and polished, somewhat
like linseed, but I was unable to trace from what plant they were
derived. Seed taken from the crop and sown, did not germinate.

At certain times of the year the crops of these doves are full of
small bulbous roots which have a high water content, and are sweet
to the taste.

When walking on the ground these birds nearly always carry the
tail above the wings. They feed mostly in the early mornings up to
about 11 a.m., and then roost in some low bush under dense shade;
the second period of feeding starts about three, but if there are young
to be fed one may find them collecting food at any time during the
day. I have never heard the call of these birds nor is there any
published description of it. During the many occasions that I have
watched them, the only note has been a low whee-u when the cock
bird has approached near his mate.

Nests of this Dove have been recorded in March, May and June
and young just out of the nest in August, May, and July. The nest
has usually been in a small bush amongst thick undergrowth, but on
one occasion we took it on a trunk of a large tree which had been
blown down and from which a clump of young shoots were growing;
the nest was built at the base of these shoots. The eggs are white
and two in number, measuring 26 x 21 mm.

Before the Agricultural Department destroyed the patch of
primeval forest at the foot of my garden, a pair of these Doves lived
in it for more than three years and successfully reared two broods
each year, but since the forest undergrowth was cleared, not a single
nest has been found, though .an occasional bird visits the spot from
time to time.

ApSopefia simplex jacksorsi, Sharpe. Uganda Grey-breasted Forest
Dove.

Eef. Sharpe, Bull. B.O.C., Yol. XIV., p. 93,
1904.

Type locality : Ruwenzori.

Distribution :

Uganda. From Ruwenzori to the Mabira Forest.

Description : Male, adult ;

Throat and forehead very pale grey, the latter shading to slatey-
pey on the crown. Nape, hind and side of neck bronzy-pink changing
to bronzy-green on the mantle and scapulars, the mantle with a
greyish sheen. Wing-coverts, primaries and secondaries, rump,
upper tail-coverts and central pair of rectrices olive brown with a
rufescent sheen. Remainder of rectrices with dark grey, terminal inch

171

light grey. Cheeks and lower- throat grey merging into bronzy-
pink with greeny sheen on the breast; hanks dark-grey, abdomen
light-grey shading to pale-grey or whitish on the under tail-coverts.

Eyes red-brown to purple madder; bill black; legs and feet dark-
crimson to purple madder.

Female :

Forehead and throat greyish; nape, mantle and scapulars with
a bronzy sheen. Breast, abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts
vinous-greyish. Tail as in the male. Soft parts as for the male.

Juvenile :

We have no specimen of the nestling plumage nor is there any
published description. In the second plumage the fore part of the head
to the lower throat are dirty- white cross-barred with rusty-brown.
The nape to the upper tail-coverts are earth-brown with rusty-brown
tips; the breast and flanks are rust-brown with blackish-brown barring.
The abdomen and flanks and under tail-coverts are rufous.

Habits :

This forest Dove is by no means common and although it has
been recorded from most of the large forests of Uganda little is known
regarding its general habits or nesting seasons. Jackson’s native
collector found the birds nesting in May, while my collection contains
a quite young bird shot in December — probably a bird hatched in
August. Like A. larvata, this species keeps to the thicker parts of
the forest undergrowth, and owing to its dull colouration is extremely
hard to detect; one usually becomes aware of the bird’s presence by
the sound of rapid flight with possibly just a glimpse of a dove-like
form disappearing into a thicket. They are extremely shy and move
ofl at the slightest noise. They are entirely ground feeders.

Genus YEN AGO, Cuvier.

Introduction :

The Genus Vinago is applied to a compact group of Pigeons with
sexes alike which are characterised by very heavy hooked bills, with
a varying length of cere or naked soft parts extending from the base
of the homy tip to the commencement of the forehead feathers; by
their comparatively short wings and their compact dense plumage
which consists of varying shades of grey, green and yellow (hence the
generally applied name — “Green Pigeon’’ or Green Fruit-Pigeon),
They are near relatives to the Indian Treron and Osmotreron.

Group Habits :

The popular name “ Fruit Pigeon ’’ has been applied to these
birds on account of the fact that the bulk of their food consists of

172

fruit of various kinds, varying from the small black fruit of Trema
gumeenm Ficalho, to a large plum-like fruit common in certain
torests, or to the large fig of the Ficus mallatocarpa, Warb. Green-
pigeons of various species and geographical forms extend from the
Coastal belt up to the forests of the highlands up to about 8,000 feet
and throughout Uganda. Though actually occurring in the forests'
they are seldom met with in such but are much more plentiful and
more in evidence in the more open park-like country where there are
large trees with a predominence of fruit-bearing species or along
timbered watercourses. They are not at all adverse to frequenting
some particular fruit-bearing tree which may be growing in almost
complete isolation in some open cultivated area, when the fruit season
is on. Because of the great difference in the times when certain
fruits and berries are in season in various localities, these birds have
become great wanderers or local migrants. It is an undoubted fact
however, that in a given locality where certain fruit trees come into
bearing with regularity or fixed seasons that one can count on Green-
Pigeons being there at that particular time. Their presence is thus
governed largely by the food supply. There are however, in Kenya
and Uganda, certain localities where the pigeons are present through-
out the year, but in these particular areas their diet is not limited
entirely to fruit; they have taken to feeding on standing green Maize
and Mtama. There are two main periods at which these birds feed:
early in the morning from about six to ten and again in the evening
from four to six. Between times they rest, either sitting motionless
or preening themselves. They sometimes rest in the food tree, but
more often they leave their feeding grounds for some roosting place,
possibly miles away. The general colour of these birds harmonises so
completely with the foliage that it. is well-nigh impossible to discern
a sitting bird. One may know perfectly well that Green-pigeons are
in a tree, but when one comes right under it and scans the branches
not a bird is to be seen; presently however, a slight movement will
direct one’s attention to a certain spot, and on careful search perhaps
one bird may be detected, a little later possibly two, three or more,
all within a short distance of one another in the actual spot which
one has been observing for some time. Green Pigeons are easily
alarmed and if a tree, into which birds have been seen flying, is
approached carelessly, out they go in the direction opposite to one,
with a clatter of wings which is quite bewildering. Their flight is
extremely strong and swift yet rather erratic ; they are given to sudden
alteration in height and direction. Birds which appear to be coming
straight towards one will suddenly dip and ascend with such rapidity
as to be quite disconcerting.

From the sporting point of view, Green-Pigeons are hard to beat;
they offer a great variety of most difficult shots and if correctly

m

handled will maintain a fairly steady stream of coming and going birds
so that the “ bag ” will be good. If the birds have already assembled
at a feeding tree, it is inadvisable to blaze off too many .shots at birds
which have been disturbed at one’s approach; the better plan is to
take a right and left and then station the guns .at some little distance
on two sides of the tree and take the in- coming birds. If the shoot
commences in the early morning, one can be certain that quite a
number of birds will be induced to return to the tree time after time
even when shot at, being compelled to do so by their almost insatiat-
able .appetites. Green-pigeons are most voracious feeders and will
devour vast quantities of fruit; small yellow figs are swallowed whole,
the elasticity of their gape is wonderful, and the size of the berries
they swallow is considerable. What digestion these birds possess is
very rapid; they evacuate masses of apparently half digested fruit
as rapidly as they take in fresh food. With all their actual greediness
they are extremely wasteful. One has only to sit beneath a tree in
which a flock is feeding to realize the quantity of fruit which is
“ billed ” and allowed to drop. These birds are wonderful climbers,
their short strong legs and prehensile toes are used to great advantage;
they will sidle along a very slender twig which bends with the weight
of the bird, right up almost to its tip in order to secure some coveted
berry at its extremity. Time after time I have watched a bird
manoeuvring thus and when almost within reach of the desired fruit,
suddenly swing over head foremost, but still grasping the twig, hang
upside-down and secure the prize. Mention has already been made
that in certain localities these Pigeons have taken to eating green
Maize. This is particularly the case in parts of the Eastern Province
of Uganda and in the Meru country in Kenya. I have observed the
birds tearing open the fully formed but not ripened cobs and wrench-
ing off the seeds. They only take those seeds which are still in the
“ milk ” stage.

In the first mentioned locality, my “ bird boys ” succeeded in
capturing quite a number of salvadorii in traps baited with green
Maize.

Green-pigeons do very well in captivity, but they require an
abundance of food. They will take such fruit as bananas, pawpaw,
guavas, figs and such-like and a mixture of posho and boiled rice.
They are rather sluggish when caged, even in big aviaries, and are
thus less attractive than some of the small Doves. The plumage of
these pigeons is influenced by captivity, especially if the aviary be
very shaded and humid. Some of my captive birds became quite
blackish all over, and remained so, so long as they were in a certain
aviary, but after two moults in a bright sunny run they reverted to
their normal colour. The food given to them remained the same,

174

thus one is led to think that it was entirely a matter of environment.
Green-pigeons are rather quarrelsome birds in spite of being gre-
garious; one often sees them fighting over some special cluster of
wild figs, but there is actually more vociferous display than actual
force.

Only on one occasion have I seen these pigeons drinking in the
wild state. They did not actually alight on the ground and drink at
the water’s edge but selected a branch of a tree which dipped into the
running stream and sidling down this they stood almost upside-down
and inserting half the head in the water took rapid gulps without
withdrawing. My captive birds took their drink by hanging onto the
wire netting above the water pot and stretching dowTn to it.

These Pigeons are very susceptible to shock. Some of my captive
specimens died through sheer fright; a sudden loud noise, or on one
occasion the sudden appearance of a Genet cat which certainly did
not actually touch a bird, caused two fine healthy males to drop off
their perch and die instantaneously. I had twice experienced a
curious thing when pigeon shooting which I could not account for until
the above happened to my captive birds. There is a large fig tree
just outside my study window which is much frequented by Fruit-
pigeon when the berries are ripening; one day I shot a bird feeding
well out towards the edge of a branch and as it fell another dropped
almost at my feet having come from a branch at least ten feet away
from the bird I fired at. This second bird did not have a single shot
mark anywhere or even a graze. When I fired the shot I was well
concealed and took the birds unaware so that the fright was a sudden
one; death was undoubtedly due to shock. On another occasion two
birds dropped dead out of a branch on the opposite side of a tree near
which I took an incoming bird; both were untouched by shot as I had
fired in the opposite direction.

Some of these pigeons always lay only one egg, in others the
clutch is two. The nest is usually built in a low tree sometimes

quite exposed. Both parents brood and are close sitters. Incubation

lasts 14 — 16 days. Sometimes two or more nests may be found
within a short distance of one another, but usually they are rather
scattered.

Actual records of nests found will be given under the several
species described.

Vinago waalia, Meyer. Grey-headed Yellow-bellied Green Pigeon.

Bef. : Meyer, Syst.-Sum. Uebers. Zool. Entdeck,
p. 128, 1798.

Type locality : Lake Tsana.

175

Distribution :

Uganda; Northern and Eastern Province. Kenya: Northern

Frontier and Jubaland.

Description : Male, adult :

Entire head, neck, upper mantle and upper breast blue-grey with
a slight olive-green wash; remainder of mantle, scapulars, back, rump
and upper tail-coverts pale olive-green; bend of wing, most of the
lesser and outer median coverts purply-grey, the outer median coverts
edged with bright yellow. Primary coverts black; secondary coverts:
outermost black, inner ones shading to olive, all widely edged with
bright yellow. Most of the secondaries grey-black, innermost olive,
all narrowly edged with pale yellow. Primaries blackish with very
narrow whitish margin to outer webs. Breast and centre of abdomen
bright yellow fading to white on the ventral area and to olive -grey and
white and grey on the flanks. Under tail-coverts broadly buffy-white
on the outer webs, inner webs pale chestnut : the shorter feather olive-
grey basally and on inner webs. Under wing-coverts, axillaries and
undersurface of the wing, grey. Under side of tail grey-black distally
tipped with light-grey; upper side of rectrices, mostly dark grey basally,
distally light grey, two central pairs uniform grey. Eyes violet and
blue or red and blue; Bill, tips horn bluish-white, base maroon; legs
and toes lemon-yellow. Wings 170-185 mm.

Female :

Bather like the male but smaller and duller.

Juvenile :

The nestling plumage is superficially like the female but is greener
on the head ; lacks all trace of purple on the wings and the upper breast
is dirty greenish while the lower breast is dirty yellowish.

In the next plumage the yellow appears on the lower breast and
there is a trace of purple on the “ shoulder ”. The head and neck
are olive -grey.

Habits :

This very fine Fruit Pigeon is apparently limited to the more
northern and eastern districts in Uganda and to the drier parts of
Kenya and Jubaland.* It frequents areas in these localities where
there are plenty of trees^ not. amounting to forest, such as the park-like
country and timbered river-beds. Very few are strictly resident } most
are local migrants, their appearance in a given locality coinciding with
the ripening of some particular fruit or berry. They are especially
fond of the various species of small wild fig and vdien these are in
season large flocks gather together and clear up the whole crop of fruit
in a few days.

* Birds from Jubaland probably represent a distinct race.

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van Someren del.

VINAGO WAALIA, Meyer.

van

Someren del.

VINAGO CALYA BREVICERA, Hartert & Goodson.

VinagO oalva aalvadoril, Dubois. Uganda Green Fruit Pigeon.

Ref. : Dubois, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1897, p. 784.

Type locality : Western shores Lake Tanganyika.

Distribution :

Throughout Uganda east to Elgon and to the Mau in Kenya.
Description: Male, adult:

Entire head, neck, and breast yellowish-olive-green becoming
yellowish on the upper abdomen then white at the vent ; flanks greyish-
olive. Lower part of hind-neck with a blue-grey band which shades
into the greyish-olive of the mantle, back, rump and upper tail-coverts.
Bend of wing purply-grey shading into the greyish-olive of the coverts;
the outer median, and the secondary coverts with pale yellow edges
on the outer webs. Primaries and secondaries black with narrow
yellow edges; primary coverts black. Undersurface of wing, under
wing-coverts and axillaries grey. Rectrices on the upper side grey
with a terminal band of lighter grey, the central pair almost uniform
grey; on the underside the tail is blackish with a terminal bar of
whitish-grey. Long under tail-coverts pale cinnamon with buff tips
and outer edges, rest whitish with olive centres. Thigh feathers with
dark gery -olive centres and white margins; leg feathers canavy yellow.

Eyes with an outer ring of red to lilac, inner ring blue; bill horn-
blue-grey at tip or whitish, soft part and nostrils coral red or deep
orange red; 12-14 mm.; feet coral red. Wings 165-178 mm

Female :

Like the male, but usually smaller.

Juvenile :

Unknown to me.

Habits :

See introduction.

VinagO calva brcvioera, Hartert and Goodson. Kenya Green Fruit-
Pigeon.

Ref. : Hartert and Goodson, Nov. Zool. xxv,

p. 353, 1918.

Type locality : Moshi, Kilimanjaro.

Distribution :

Kenya from Taveta, through Ukambani to the Northern Guasso
Nyiro, Kenia and N.-W. to Sotik where it meets the Uganda form.

177

Description :

Entire head and neck and upper breast yellowish-olive green,
(more yellowish than in V. c. salvadorii,) becoming yellower on the
lower breast and centre of abdomen, and greyish tinged with greenish
on the flanks. Between the lower hind-neck and the mantle is a clearly
defined blue-grey band which merges into the greyish-olive of the
mantle, scapulars back, rump and upper tail-coverts. Lesser wing
coverts at bend of wing purply-grey, remainder of the wing-coverts
like the mantle; secondary and outer median coverts with wide yellow
margin; primary coverts black; primaries and secondaries black with
wide yellow edges to the former and narrow ones to the latter. Under-
surface of wings axillaries and under wing-coverts pale grey. Thigh
feathers centrally olive grey with whitish margins ; leg feathering canary
yellow. Under tail-coverts : lateral short ones pale olive grey with
white ends, long feathers pale cinnamon with buffy-white tips and
margins. Under surface of tail dark grey with pale greyish-white
terminal band; upper surface pale leaden-grey with terminal inch very
pale greyish-white washed with, and tinged greenish on outer webs.
Eyes blue to silvery with outer ring of lilac; bill horn blue at tip yellow
or cadmium yellow at the cere and nostrils, the bare area seldom
exceeding 7 mm. Legs and feet coral red or red-madder. Wings
160-179 mm.

Female :

Like the male but smaller.

Juvenile :

The nestling has the crown, hind neck, mantle and wings pale olive
grey with large pale yellow edges to the outer webs of the median and
seondary coverts, yellow edges to the primaries and secondaries; rump
pale greyish-olive; tail pale-grey with paler tips; throat almost bare,
breast and abdomen covered in pale greyish down with just a tinge of
green on the breast; under tail-coverts pale buff. Bill swollen laterally
yellow ochre, grey tipped; Eyes ochre yellow; Feet yellow-brown.

From this stage the moult into the full feathered plumage is rapid
and similar to that of the female.

Habits :

The general habits of this race are similar to those of the rest of
the group. We have records of their nests from March to July and in
November to January. The nest is built in rather low trees, seldom

more than 18 feet up. It is of the usual pigeon type, built entirely

of thin twigs. The clutch varies from two to one egg; but whether
the latter is actually the full clutch is difficult to say. We have
frequently shot females with two ova almost ready to be laid, but with
equal frequency, nests are found containing only one hard-sat egg.
As the nest is a very shallow structure it is conceivable that one egg

178

gets knocked out as the parents leave the nest in a hurry. The call
of this bird is a musical whistle ending in a double note; somewhat
like “ whit churu, whit churu, whit, tock tock ” the last two several
notes lower than the rest. The call carries quite a distance and is
frequently the first indication of the birds presence.

Vinago wakefieldi wakefiefdi , Sharpe, Wakefield’s Green-tailed
Green Pigeon.

Kef. : Sharpe, Proc. Zool, Soc. 1873, p. 715.
Type locality : Mombasa.

Distribution :

The coastal zone of Kenya, with extensions inland along the Tana
and Juba and the Usambara Kange.

Description : Male and Female adults :

Very similar to V. c. brevicera, in general colour but differs from
that species and other races of calva in having the upper surface of the
reduces olive-green with the terminal inch greenish-white. The
grey band between the lower neck and mantle is not so pronounced and
the purple wing-patch is mixed with grey distally. The eyes are
white or cream; the bill is horny-grey at the tip and the basal cere is
orange-red to coral-red; the feet are coral-red. Wings, 149-165 mm.

Juvenile :

As in V. c. brevicera but tail greenish.

Habits : See introduction.

VlnagO deialandii granti* van Som. Delaland’s Coastal Green-Pigeon.

Eef. : van Someren, Bull. B.O.C. XL. p. 20,
1919.

Type locality : Kilwa, T.T.

Distribution :

The southern end of the coastal zone, being an extension into
Kenya from the Pangani area of Tanganyika Territory.

Description : Male and Female :

Head, neck and upper breast ashy-olive shading to greyish-olive on
the lower breast, and to dark olive grey on the flanks. The abdomen
and the vent are yellow. The thigh feathers are dark olive-grey edged
with white; the leg feathers are yellow. The lower hind-neck is slightly
greyish but not sharply differentiated from the mantle. The mantle,
back, rump and upper tail-coverts are golden olive, lacking the sofl

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bloom found in wakefieldi and the races of calva. Most of the lesser
wing-covert are golden-olive, except those at the “ bend ” of the wing,
these are dark-greyish at the edge and dark-grey ish-purple inwardly.
The primaries and secondaries are black with narrow pale yellowish-
white edging to the outer webs. The primary coverts are black, while
the secondary coverts are dark-greyish olive merging to blackish
towards the margin of the outer webs, and edged with yellow. The
rectrices are mostly yellowish-olive; the outer pairs shaded with
blackish on inner webs, all except the two central pairs, with pale
greenish-grey terminal bars. The under tail-coverts are similar to
those of other Green Pigeons. The eyes are pale blue with a whitish
inner ring; the bill is bluish-grey at the tip with an orange-red basal
cere; the legs and feet are orange-red to coral-red.

Juvenile :

Unknown to me.

Habits :

Very similar to the other Green-Pigeons, vide introduction.

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van Someren del.

YINAGO DELALANDII GRANTI, van Someren.

3 9088 01313 6940