A publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 4 shillings

NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented six times a year in a duplicated format: the paper size is 20.5x23 cm (10x8 inches), line drawings can be reproduced but the area should not be more than 17.5x23 cm. Lettering on figures should preferably be in ‘Letraset’, neatly done in Indian ink or left blank: if the last method is followed, the lettering should be indicated on an overlaying sheet and should not be done on the figure. Figures should be prepared on good quality white writing paper and not on Bristol Board or other thick material. Whenever plants or animals are mentioned the scientific name should also be given but not in parenthesis. Trinomials should not be used unless there is good reason to do so. Author’s names of species are not required.

Contributions may be typed (preferably) or written clearly and should be sent to: M. P. Clifton, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya, Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged.

EAHIiS BULLETIN

MARCH/APRIL 1977

CONTENTS

Some Observations on the Spotted Hyaena in Forest Areas , . , 26

Notes from Tanzania o ....... .»o e 30

Note on a Wild Dog Sighting . ................ 32

Note on the Ewaso Ngiro Swamp ................ 3 2

Hints on Beetle Collecting ... ........ ,34

Observations on the Pishing Owl 36

Further Records of the Corn Crake from Dar- e s- Salaam . . . .38

Checklists of Birds in Nairobi National Park 38

A large Hirundine Roost in Uasin Gisliu ........... 39

New fear Week-end at ilichimukuru Estate ........... 40

The Nest Record Scheme ........... .41

Letters to the Editor , . . . . . , . . , . . . . , , . . . .42 Record oectron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . « .44

Book Review 45

Wanted Known 45

Society Notes ....................... .46

New Members 47

Society Functions .............. .49

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE SPOTTED HYAENA CROCUTA CROCUTA IN FOREST AREAS PART 1

During the past decade pattern of the Spotted Hyaen in great, detail by two scien and their books ’ Hyaena ’ and reading. These studies v/ere Ngorongoro Craterj Tanzania, of light upon the habits of place can be called a forest been m-ade on Hyaena in the f

the social behaviour and hunting a, Crccuta crocuta, has been studied t i:

ts, Hans Kruuk and Jane Goodall,

' Innocent Killers ' make fascinating made in both the Serengeti and and though they shed a great deal a hitherto unknown predator, neither . The following observations have orests of The Aberdares, Kenya.

The Aberdare Mountains, like so many o'

)ther areas in Kenya, have changed drastically since they were opened officially as a National Park on 16th March 1959. Before that time the whole area v/as under the Forest Department, and it certainly did not contain any great number of animals

post	e d	to Kiand	ongoro
study a	report	wr it t en
quit	e s	imply vvi	t h the
Park	j cl	s it was	th$	sn c
a bo	tan	ical and	not a
	At	that t ime ,	and
two	pre	dators w	ere	hel
both	ar	e virtua	llY	abs
late	r y	ears by	the	V/ak
Wild	Do	g s never	of	c ou
hun t	ers	. They	p e r i 0 d i
when	game was s	G arc	^ e ,

The	F	ore	St	De	part	ment
1 1 c h e	s ,	an	d.	wh	en I	v;as
in 1	9 6	0,	I w	'as	abl	e to
the	h	and	0 ve	r .	It	end	e d
The	Ab	e r d	are	R	oyal	Nat	ional
look	ed	up	on	pr	imar	ily	as

indeed for many thousands of years before, ping to hold the balance of Nature. Today ent. They Y-reve the Wanderobo (replaced in ikuyu ) , and the Nild Dog, Ly c aon pictus . rse lived in the forests as permanent pally swept in from the surrounding plains hunted for a short time, and then moved out

For many years' the had

of life

istration, had been persuading

Forest Department, ae _ Vfa

forest YY3.J of life and take over a se them, ■ The ¥akikuyu were agriculturis ers v^^hen convenient. The Kenya Enierg finally ended the role played by man as

the Y/ild Dog

Plains of tl along three forest.

th	e	role	pi	aye d	b
che	r o	The	d	emis	e
ab	ou	1) cl S	a	re su	It
ir	no	rmal	pr	ey?	an
ide	s	of Th	e	Sail	en

an d the

e	help	of	the	Admin-
t 0	ab an	don	the	ir
area s	e t	as id	e for
tu	re an	d only	hun t-
om	1952	un	til	1957,
e s	t dwe	lie	r as
g	as an	ef	feet	ive
d	enuding	Cole	’ s
of	a 3 5	km	di t	ch

;he

When the National Parks mounted effective ant i-poa,ching patrols during the early sixties the population of both Lions, Pan thera le o and of Leopards, P an t h e r a pardus , certainly

26

increased j but the Lion kept mostly to the moorland areas, and the Leopard confined their killing very much to Bushbuck, Iragelaphus scriptus , and other prey animals small enough to drag into a tree. Incidentally , though a number of lion always Lived on our big mountains the Warden released a number of un- wanted stock-killers which certainly boosted the population.

The African Buffalo, S yn c e r u s caf f er , increased with effective protection from man and their increase took place in the absence of suitable predators. As is well knovm Nature abhors a vacuum: not only did Hyaena increase to fill this vacuum but they changed their v/ays and became a true predator of the forest, A few, of course, had always lived around the forest villages, and I shot one or tvYO at Tusha and Kiandongoro, Now they became packs,

I have studied the Hyaena at the Game Lodge v/here I work for more than seven years, and, during that time about six actual kills of Buffalo have taken place. Many more incidents have occured when the beast has been attacked and then either left alone or the kill has taken place elsev\?here. One serious attack on a Bushbuck has been witnessed, tv/o on Black Rhino, Liceros bic ornis calves, and one Elephant, Loxodont a af r ic ana , calf came in with its tail newly bitten off. Giant Eorest Hog, Hylochoerus meinert zhageni , sounders are often surrounded and attempts made to snatch the piglets but so far we have not seen them succeed and probably Leopard are much more successful in that field.

A Bongo, Booc ercus eurycer os , was once surrounded but appeared to escape, and a Hyaena came in v/ith a T/hite-t ailed Mongoose, Ichneumia albicauda , dangling from its Jaws,, Incidentally, this species of Mongoose, when confronted suddenly by a Hyaena, once erected all its long hair, making itself look twice as big, and the Hyaena quickly departed.

From this it will be

c 0	mm on	prey	spec	ies. Calves
th	e mothers	pr 0 V	e to be too
sh	ould	the	pack	be extremely
no	hes i	t at i	on ,	Various hunt
of	them	are	very	similar to
N 0	rmally no	more	than six or
wi	th a	c oup	le of	big, aggres
me	mb er s	of	the p	ack rush to
0 t	ion ,	. 1	owing	and snort in,
gr	owth ,	pounding	of hooves,
Hy	aena.	It	must	be remember
at	i vely	sil	en t ,	and the nois
cl	os e ,	ending in	a cac aphony
The glade in front of the Loi
s t	arts ,	it	is a	grand sight '
di	recti	ons	and c	onverging on

seen that Buffalo are by far the most are taken regularly but, should effective in protecting them, or

those of \7olves killing Moose, eight animals do the actual killing, sive females in the lead, and other the scene when they hear the comm- g of a Buffalo, smashing of under- 8,nd maybe one or tv/o howls of a ed that the hunt itself is compar- es build up as the kill draws to a cac aphony of sound which defies description.

dge is quite big, and, when a kill to v/atch Hyaena racing from various the place. One is always impressed

27

by their speed

Like Wolves, Hyaena test prospective prey until the oppor- tunity arises for a kill, and many many such animals are tested Apart from discovering which are the weakest, physically and morally, it probably serves as a means whereby they live in harmonyo In dense cover, where meetings are frequent, they must learn to co-exist.

ally by seperatiiig them

usu	all	y
is	don	e
spi	t e	of
■ill	dr	op
	e sp	e c

Many Buffalo calves are taken, from the mother, but sometimes this are the slowest in the herd, and in ing to the centre, eventually they cows often calve alone in dense cov ion by man is severe, \7hen herds are b ion by sheer ?/eight of numbers is greater, then they calve v/ithin the herd, Buffalo which refuse to run but stand their

aey can get their backs against a ean stand in a pool, are usually

They

Buff alo

ig however, and protect-

ground ,	parti	cul	arly	when
rock	or	bush ,	or	v/hen	the
left	alone af	ter	a br	ie d
	Tv/o	ob j e	c t i	V e s mu s t
they	try	hard	to	get	the ’

uppermost in the mind of the Hyaena i?d or individual to panic and run by making short rushes, or they tease frontally in the hope that eventually the provoked one v/ill chase its tormentor. Either way the attack will then come from the rear. Although these slow-killing methods are criticized by the uninformed as being cruel, it must be remembered that v/hen small animals prey upon large it is the only practical vmy, and that shock, induced by fear, excitement and noise probably eliminates pain, I have watched kills lasting for hours and certainly could detect no violent reaction such as one would expect to result from pain, even when v^hole mouthfulls of flesh have been torn away. The anaesthetic power of shock is Hatures’ ansvYer in the v/ild and onlv man confounds it.

In all these years we have only observed two Hyaenas trail ing broken legs. Both v/ere watched for a few weeks and then they disappeared. In times of shortage such animals vi/ould not be able to feed on a kill and malnutrition would finally elim- inate them. Attacking from the rear is not cowardice but self- preservation. It should be mentioned here that on the plains the groin appears to be the favourite point of attack but in dense cover this is not alv/ays possible, frequently the tail is bitten off, or the hocks nipped in the hope of slowing them down, and then attack is from the anus downv/ards,

finding carrion in forest areas is by no means easy , , .

there are no vultures to V\ratch circling and little or no wind

28

for scentingo Over the years two adult Buffalo have died of natural causes near the lodge and in both cases the animal lay for hours before discovery^ Sick or old animals usually go into dense cover in a valley bottom to die. Ants quickly take over such a body as do maggots and it could v/ell be that many are found too late by Hyaenas. When searching for carrion Hyaenas comb the forest in twos or threes 5 thus covering a much greater area. They probably find the young of antelopes this way, and no doubt chicks and eggs of ground-nesting birds. In forest areas I do not doubt that Hyaenas find hunting the living far more profitable than hunting the dead,

Plyaenas are superb opportunists. Everything they see, they seem to eye as edible or inedible, and this accounts for the stories of boots etc being taken out of tents at night.

At my lodge young Elephants often walk beneath the building to reach the sacks of salt stored there. Other material of course is there as well, and one night they managed to pull out, kick out,' or otherwise move an iron septic tank lid, and it lay finally on the grass a few metres awray. It was amusing next night to observe hovf every passing Hyaena tested its teeth upon the surface.

During the rains once, when Moths were exceedingly plenti- ful and creating a banquet for all, a small flock of Harlequin Quail, Go turnix delegorguei , had gorged on them and crouched on the grass by the wall. Hyaenas also ate these Moths and event- ually a Hyaena sauntered by somie Quail. All the little birds rose in time, except a greedy one which had eaten too much, it was caught -in mid-air, held in the mouth a fev/ moments to enjoy the feeling of capture, and then gulped down, feathers and all.

'When glutted, 'Hyaenas appear to have three ambitions; sleeping, playing and testing any other animals they can see.

We T/atch sleeping Hyaena most nights of the v/eek. They simply lie down on the grass in the open with head on paws for periods of up to a half hour. They are not curled up like a Box, but stretched out straight. They cat-nap so lightly that the moment any other animal appears they are instantly v/ide awake and on their feet. Chasing each other on moonlit nights is a common occurance, and they will play thus for hours, sometimes using a stick or clump of dead grass to add to the fun. The parabolic glitter of their eyes as they bound along is visible for a long v/ay. Teasing appears to be not only a well-enjoyed game but another means of creating familiarity with potential future prey, A group of Hyeana will dance for half an hour around a Hugh bull Rhino,, jumping back smartly every time he snorts. vie have even watched them mob a pair of Crowned Cranes Ealearica regulorum,

29

in a clump of rushes far out in the poolo The Hyaenas plunged ohest-deep into the water and formed a circle round theiUj and then returned quite happy when the birds flew noisily away.

Young Hyaenas are probably often short of minerals or 5 even though we have never seen them licking the saltlick, bly they may be short of bacteria to break down their un- ted food. This could explain why they will sometimes up to an old Buffalo bull lying chev/ing the cud and lick the anus. The ultimate in such behaviour was when two stersj probably from the same litterj sneaked up behind a bull Rhino when he was engrossed on the saltlick. Crouch- ide by side they licked, away under his tail and he not tolerated the action but straddled his legs to make it r to them to reach, Finally his penis dropped and one of started licking that. And it was at that stage that he d around and chased them both away. It could well be this age v/hich causes young Hyaena to eat the Moths lying exhau-

People o Like all pred and vie have c This however and the Hyaen On the plains Males from a another pack to the death, the Aberdares common I thin are very old.

ften ask me the qu ators they are sub ertainly seen them does not appear to a litters are quit they are killed o strange pack will they can catch and when kills are m.a 5 where nights are k arthritis claims

estion, 'What kills Hyaenas?', ject to disease and sic kn ess in a terribly emmaciated state, be as great as with Hunting Dogs e small, often no more, than two, ccasionally by Lions and Leopards certainly kill any youngsters of packs fight a great deal, often de in disputed territory. On cold, rain is heavy and- mists quite a number long before they

In my next article on the Spotted Hyaena I will describe

in detail some of the considerable light on place nightly on this

kills actually witnessed, for they throw the cloak-and-dagger battles which take huge moTintain,

R . J , Pricket t ,

P, 0, Box 792 , HYERI Kenya ,

HOTES PROM T AIT Z ALT I A

On 21st Hovember 1976 we sav/ a female lion,

from the Hdutu Pride in Tarangire national Park catch male Warthog , Phacochoerus ae thiopicus as it was the Tarangire River, The Warthog was killed in

Panthera leo

an adult drinking from the River which

30

had about 5cm of water flowing at that point. The rest of the pride soon joined the female and some 10 Lions were tearing at the carcass. Inevitably small pieces of meat v/ere dropped and these v/ere carried down by the current. Soon after the Lions started to feed a Hammerkop , S o opus umbre tta appeared on the scene. He proceeded to wade around downstream of the carcass and collect the fallen pieces of meat. He also once caught what appeared to be a rather large white roundworm. After a few minutes the Hammerkop was joined by a Jacana, Actophilornis af ricana who also proceeded to join in the feast provided by the Lions, Several hours later the Hammerkop v/as seen sleeping near the River with a very heavy crop.

Over the past tv;o years I have seen several animals either albanistic forms or proper albinos where eye colour could not be determined.

South West of HdutUj near Makau village in mid 1974 a pure white yearling female Waterbuckj Kobus sp,j ?/as seen on several occasions but in January 1976 I found her tv/o to three month old remains; she was probably killed by Lion^ P an t h e r a leo .

Just West of Idutu in late April 1976 I saw a pure white Wilde- beest calf 9 Connochaetes t aurinus about four months old. This 5 of all the white animals I have seen 5 was the only one not completely accepted as a normal-coloured animal. Its mother kept to the edge of a fairly large herd, but often other V/ilde- beest, particularly males, v/ould approach closely and look at it .

In late May 1976 a three-quarter grown v/hite Thomson’s Gazelle, Gazella thomsoni v/as seen just North of Ndutu. Prom early 1974 until I left Nduifcu in June 1976, a Superb Starling, Spr e o superbus with several v/hite feathers in each wing and some on its head was seen in the vicinity of Ndutu Lodge.

Prom soon after my arrival in Tarangire , I have seen an Ashy Starling, Cosmopsarus unicolor with white central tail- feathers around the Lodge, About the middle of September 1976 I saw what appeared to be a white Buffalo, S yn c e r u s caf f er calf between Tarangire Lodge and the Tarangire National Pa.rk gate. It was part of a herd of at least 700 and it v/as imposs- ible to get a good look at it. In the first week of October 1976 I sav/ a D'Arnaud's Barbet , Trachyphonus darn audii with nearly pure v/hite on wings, back and tail, while the red-orange under tail coverts etc were as usual.

31

G-erald Rilling,

P,0. Box 284j ARUSHA, T an z an i a ,

NOTH OI-T VifllB DOCt lYCAOH PICTUS SIGHTING

It is generally assumed that Lyc aon p ictus , more than the sight cause panic among wild ungulates, usually found on open plains where hunting technique, that of pursuin nces, can be used to maximum advan vation may therefore be of interes

the si	gh	a, b	of Wild	D	og	S 5
0 f a,n	y	0	ther pre	da	1 0	3:‘s	wi	11
Mo re 0	ve	r	, Wild D	og	s	ar	e
their	P	a	rt icular	k	in	d	of
g thei	r	P	rey over	1	on	g	dis	t a'
t age .	T	h	e follow	in	g	ob	s er	-

t ,

During the last week of August 1976, in a clearing in the rain-forest covering the Southeastern Loita Hills, Kenya, we noticed a pack of Wild Dogs, five adults accompanied by eight half-grovm youngsters, A family group of Zebra, Equus burchelli with two young foals passed by the youngsters at less than 50m, paying no attention to the Dogs at all. The young Dogs became alert,, observed the passing Zebra, but gave no chase. The adults were nearby, but we could not see whether they too, had noticed the Zebra. The unconcern of the Zebra, even assuming that they saw only the young Dogs, v/as surprising, so was the fact that the Dogs were v/ithin the rain-forest,

Judith A, Rudnai,

P,0o Box 15516, HAIROBI.

HOTE on THE EWASO HGIRO SWAMP

The Ev/aso Hgiro Swamp near Alangurua, lies just to the South of Lake Magadi (579m) and just North of Shomboli (l563»5m) in Kenya and lake Natron (609m) in Tanzania. It lies roughly 2°5'S 36 7'E, and is formed by the Ewaso Hgiro River which eventually seeps into Lake Natron,

The sv/amp was first mentioned by the as the place where her friends had seen a headed Stork, Balaenic eps rex (eANHS Bulle 1976 p, 131-1 32), We have hun ted for this ards eventually found the tracks after an area and visited it on 13th December 1976, the swamp on 24th January 1977, and later party reached there on the same day.

Botanically it was most interesting.

Lat e	Mrs	I.	Pres	t on
Shoeb	ill	or	Whal	e-
t in ,	No ve	mb	er/De	c ember
swamp	and	D	,K. R	ich-
aeria	1 s e	ar	ch of	the
Tog	e the	r	we vi	sited
J ohn	Misk	ell and	his
being	of	a	vast	area ,

32

hundredSj possibly thousands of hectares of Reedmacoj Typha sp. with leaves and inflorescences up to 3ei high amongst v/hich were mats of Nile Cabbage or \Yater lettuce 5 Pist ia s tratiotes mixed with Po t amoge t on spo In the clear shallo?/ water was the water fern Mars e Ilia sp» which also survives on dry land around the edgSj forming mats amongst patches of Water Lily pads 5 Nymphia sp. The Water Lily flowers ?/ere \'ery small and hardly blue with the leaves an odd shape 5 m.ore like an 'antelope-spoor*.

A number of submerged herbs were also noted. Part of the swamp had been recently burned while the shore plants had been grazed almost to ground level by cattle, stock and game.

No fish were seen although basket-type fish traps of the Luo type were found and there is a small Luo fishing settlement nearby. Several species of fish are known from the Ewaso Ngiro River, such as Clarias sp, A feature of the shore were the innumerable large and small dragonflies, the scarlet Crocothemis , blue Orthetrum, Trithemis and large An ax , Rhyo themis and Trapezost igma with colourful hindwings , and dainty Goenagriidae Lams el Elies,

The follc-vving mammals v/ere seen during the day and most v/ent to the. s'vamp to drink, Olive Baboons, Pap io anubis , several group;-., '.■Tarthog, Phac 0 choerus ae thiopicus , one family with four ve] y small piglets. Grant's Gazelle, Gaz ella grant i , Imp ala, Aepyc eras melampus , the Hare, Lepus c apens is and the Yellow- ?/ingcc Bat, La via f rons in the Acacias,

However, birds v/ere the main feature, the most interesting being!

Squacco, Ardeola rail o ides very numerous and often in a party of a dozen or more-,

Saddlebill Stork, Epliippiorhynchus senegalensis , a single bird. Marabou, Le p t op 'g iliis crumenif e rus , numerous, as were the carca- sses of cattle ,

Yellow-billed Stork, Ibis ibis , a few.

Sacred Ibis, Thr e ski 0 rn i s ao thiopr cus , numerous, here and there.

Glossy Ibis, PI eg ad is f alcir.ellus , a few

African Spoonbill, PI at ale a ajUga, a few

White-faced Tree Luck, Lendrocygna viduata, a pack

•EgyP'tian Goose, A1 op o chen aegypt iaca , a few pairs

Knob-bill, Sark i d i o rni s me 1 on 0 1 a <, party, one male with a large

kn o b

Wigeon, Anas p enelope , seveia.1, in off plumage Red-billed Luck, Anas erythr orhynchus , many Hottentot Teal, An as ho 1 1 en 1 0 1 a , several

Egyptian Vulture, Neo-phron perc’hopt erus , most in white adult plumage

Marsh Harrier, _C i r cu s aerug iiio sus , over swamp. One seen to make a ‘ tall swoop ' ,

53

G-abar Goshawk ^ Me Her ax ft~abar , in Acacias by swamp edge Booted Eagle j Hieraae tus p ennatus , a singleton Crowned Crane, Balearica regulorum , in pairs

Lily-trotter (jacana), Act ophilornis af ricana in flocks, often 30 and more birds I

Blacksmith Plover, Vane Hus armatus , pairs

Spotted Redshank, g ring a e rythr opus , a fine singleton in good plumage

All the commoner, Palaearctic, Magadi Waders were in great numbers and

Water Bikkop , Buhr inus vermiculatus , in pairs

Pratincole, Glare ola pratincola , a party of 20 came to drink Blue- cheeked Bee-ea,ter, Me r o p s superciliosus p e r s i cu s , numbers \7hit e-throat ed Bee-eater, Me r ops albicollis , numbers with the Blue- che eked

African Sandmartin, Rip aria paludicola , thousands over the Typha either resting on or feeding in great flocks, most of the time low, ju.st over the gra^ss or swamp Wood Sandpiper, T r in g a glare ola

Por details of the rou.te to the Ewaso hgiro Sv/amp , please contact the Birdrooni, the National Museum, Nairobi.

GcRo' Cunningham van Someren P.O. Box 40658, NAIROBI

I) . K » Richards , P. 0. Box 4195 1 5

NAIROBI.

A further short note on the Ewaso Ngiro Swamp came from John Miskell 5 mentioned above. He reports catching 2 male Tiger beetles, Myr i 0 chile me Ian cholic a Eab. at the Sv/amp . These are the first specimens in the National Museum, Nairobi collection from Southern Kenya. Ed,

HINTS ON BEETLE COLLECTING

Beetles belong to the insect order Coleoptera (meaning sheath- v/inged ) and the order is considered to contain the second largest number of species among the animal orders. The possib- ility of collecting species new to science or extending the range of known species by several hundred kilometres is enormous.

There are four basic methods for collecting Beetles, The first is the use of a net made from strong material which will not tear when sv^eeping it through bushes and trees. This method is very productive after the rains when the flowers are out, as these may contain many Beetles, The second method is very sim- ple, just turn over stones, look on the ground and under dead bark of trees and you will find them. The dung of all animals contains Beetles, normally of the family Scarabaeidae , and one

54

pile of dung may contain many species at different stages,

V/hen using this second method simply pick up any Beetles you see 5 but do take great care as some of the large Tiger Beetles can bite 5 and the Nairobi Eye 5 Paederus crebrepunct atus is a Beetle I V/hen is doubt, use forceps. The third collecting technique is equally easy - either v/atch your security light for Beetles which are attracted to it, or, when on safari, a gas or paraffin light will attract any insects in the area.

The fourth basic collecting method is to pour water onto the sand of a dry river bank or lake edge; any Beetles which are underground v/ill come to the surface.

Beetles can be killed in a chloroform killing jar. This is a quick method and one of the safest to use. A cyanide jar is not advisable as it is very harmfull to humans I Smaller species can be put in a tube with a little soft tissue in the

bottom, and a few drops on chloroform dripped on top. Ethyl

acetate or carbon t et e.rchloride can also be used to kill your specimens, but these are slow-acting and make the specimens brittle. Do ensure that the Beetles are well and truely dead before you pin them through the right wing case; some of the large species can be quickly knocked unconscious by the killing agent but not killed, so it is advisable to leave them in the killing jar for an hour or more. Entomological pins can be

obtained in Nairobi and size 5 (Continental) or 0 (British)

should be used for the large Beetles while size 3 (Continental) or 7 (British) are suitable for the smaller species. All Con- tinental pins are the same length but vary in width, while the British ones vary both in length and width. Very small Beetles should be mounted on a card with a little gum arable or other wat er-soluable glue, and the card elevated on a pin. It is very important that the smallest possible amount of glue be used or it will stick up the legs and antennae and make the specimens difficult to study.

The most important part is labelling your collection for one which does not have data la,bels is useless for scientific purposes. This can bo done either v/hen you collect or as the specimens are pinned. Preferably use a note book in the field and take notes as the specimens are collected. This data is then transferred to the labels under the specimen. The infor- mation needed on the data label is; Place, Country, Altitude (state ij- given in feet or metres), Date (day, month, year), Eield noues (e.g, feeding on Aloe graminicola ) and the name^of the collector.

Unfortunately, Eastern Africa, but sive collection and

no general work exists on the Beetles of bhe National Museum, Nairobi has an exten- are always willing to help in identifying

35

collections.. Specimens which are donated to the Museum are always most v/elcome =

John Mi shell 5

Entomology Dept, 5

PoO. Box 406585 I'TAIROBI.

OBSERVATIOiTS Oil THE PISHIilG OWL 5 SCOTOPELIA P51I Oil THE TAHA RIVER 5 KENYA

V/hilst on the Tana River Expedition 1976 , I v/as lucky enough to observe the Pishing Owl on several occasions. This bird is said to be uncommon, but is v/idespread in Africa, The Ov\t1 was seen on seven occasions on the Tana River, a figure which at first sight does not seem very much. However, when compared to the number of times other Owls were seen, these seven occasions take on a new significance. The Scops Owl,

Otu 3 s c o s , though frequently heard was never seen, even though night-time searches were carried out. The White-faced Scops Owl 5 Otus leuc o t is , was recorded only once when one flew into a mist-net at dusk. The African Wood Owl, Ciccaba woodf ordii , was recorded nine times during the day in fairly thick veget- ation, These records would seem to indicate that the Pishing Ov/1 is not rare on the Tana River,

Of the seven sightings of the Pishing 0?/l , two were at night. One was near \7ema, above Garsen, flying down the River whilst members of the expedition were conducting a night search for Crocodile, Grocodylus nilot icus , The other was observed fishing from, a dead tree stump in the middle of the river near our camp at Kipende a,t about 5 a,m, A dead Elephant, Loxodont a af ricana ha,d floated downstream and lodged on the same sand- bank as the tree. The maggots proved an attraction to birds during the day and also to Catfish at night. Observation was facilitated by an Image Intensifier, This instrument is basic- ally a photon accelerator which gathers all the available light from the moon and stars to which our eyes are insensitive, and transforms it into an image which we can see, projected onto a phosphorous screen forming a green, glowing picture. Using this instrument it was possible to soe the Owl up to about 50m av/ay, even though it was invisible to the unaided eye. The Owl would sit immobile for long periods, resembling the tree stump on which it sat, from time to time turning round. On three occasions the Owl dropped to the water 2 - 3»5 m away, tv/-ice returning to its pearch with a Catfish c, 20cms long.

A second catching technique was recorded when an Ov^l flew off downstream, not returning for 10 to 25 minutes. It was pres- umed that during this time it flew along the River, On one

36

of these occasions it returned to the perch v/ith a Catfish over 30cm long, a large splash being heard beforehand. These measure- ments were arrived at by comparison v/ith the tree stump the Ov/1

was

and

sitting	on
also	by	es
Th e	f is	h
fish	ab out

v/hich it ?/as possible to measure by daylight, .mation as a fraction of the Owl’s length.

v/ere ea.ten on the tree

stump, the bird raising in one clav/ and tearing off pieces which it sv/allowed. The bulk of the two smaller fish v^ere swallowed v/hole but the head v/as never eaten. This would be difficult due to the long spines present on the pectoral and dorsal fins. These are very sharp and can be locked in position, and small barbules make them a formidable means of defence . It is probable that Catfish constitute the bulk of the fishing Ov/1 ’ s diet on the Tana River, It is knovra that many species spend the day in deep pools, but are present on the surface at night, for example the Cl arias sp. which comes in to very shallow ViTater at night.

The fishing Ov/1 was encountered by day in the Mangroves, Rhizophora sp. at the mouth of the Tana, where two were seen. Here they were relatively large numbers of fish-eating birds, including fish Eagles, Haliaeetus vocif er , Osprey Pan d ion haliae tus , Long-tailed Cormorant, Phal aero corax af ricanus , African Darters, Anhinga ruf a and various Herons, Regarding the dense nature of the Mangroves, a relatively large number of fishing Owls can be expected in this particular habitat. A single Owl was encountered overlooking the River near Mulango, above Garissa, and another just belov/ Dura, V/hilst in camp at Hewani, above Garsen, a fishing 0\y1 roosted during one day in a large Mango tree , Many if era in d i c a , overlooking the camp where it v/as photographed before it flew avmy at 6,15 p,m. The positi-

ons of those Ov/ls seen during the day indicate that most others, sits in a fairly open position during the

it, unlike •1

The two Ov/ls seen at Hewani and at Hema apart, again indicate that the fishing the Tana River, At no time during the expedition were

day,

, although about l6km Owl in not uncommon on

any

unusual sounds heard at night ascribed to this species were Leslie Brov/n , Bu 1 1 e t in of t Ii e 1976, 96(2),

and none of the various calls heard. These are described by

British

Orn i t h o 1 qg i s t s ’

Club

Mr KcL, Campbell, P,0. Box 14469, ilAIROBI.

37

FURTHER RECORDS OP THE CORE CRAKE FROM DAR-ES- SALAAM

Relatively few records of the Corn Crake, Crex crex , are available for Kenya and Tanzania, (Backhurst, Britton and Mann, 1973? J ournal of the East Africa Hatural History Society and Hat ional Museum Ho 140i 11-12) and there appears to be only one

rec,ord from coastal East Africa, a single specimen collected at Dar-es-Salaam on 29th April 1973 (Howell, 1973? EAHHS Bulletin ; 95-96 ).

Two further specimens, both males in breeding plumage and both v/ith heavy deposits of fat, have since been collected on the University of Dar-es-Salaam main campus. The first bird was captured on 21st April 1976 by a grounds worker in an area of grassland betv/een the athletic grounds and the sewage ponds, , This bird weighed 183g? had a wing length of 135mm, and each testis measured 5 x 4mm, The second bird, kindly donated to the Department of Zoology by Dr \7.B. Rudman, was killed by a domestic cat on 30th April 1976, It weighed 180g, had a v/ing length of 135mm, and each testis measured 2 x 1mm, Both birds were skinned by C.A, Hsuya; the first v/as prepared as a mounted museum specimen (catalogued as UDSM-B-90) the second as a study skin (UDSM- B- 9 1 ) .

These additional specimens of the Corn Crake from Dar-es- '^alaam would seem to indicate that the species may be more common than previously recognized and support the suggestion made earlier (o_g.. cit . ) that, in addition to using a route through the highlands of Tanzania and Kenya, the species also regularly migrates Horth along the East African coast in late April o

K.M, Howell,

Dept, of Zoology,

P.0, Box 35064?

DAR-ES- SALAAM, Tanzania

CHECKLISTS OF BIRDS IH HAIROBI HATIOHAL PARK

Two checklists are commonly available, that of Y/illiams in the Field Uuide t o the national Parks of East Africa, and that in the official guide by the national Parks of Kenya, The former (a) contains about 390 species and the latter (b) 320. Although (b) is incomplete in many respects it nevertheless contains 37 species not listed in (a) so that the combined checklist would be about 427 species.

Follov/ing seven years of regular birdwatching in the Park,

38

I can add tli either of th African Dart Little Bitte Hildebrandt '

Brovm-backed Cliff Chat

Siffling Cis

Silverbill

Thick-billed

e following e s e lists.	eight species which do	not occur on
e r	Anhinga rufa	Narogomon dam
rn	Ixobrychus minutus	Hippo Pools
s Francolin	Franc olinus hildebrandti Mokoyeti and
		Sosian Gorge
Wood.p e cker	Picoides obsoletus	Forest
Myrme cocichla c inn amome i v en t r i s	Mb ag at hi Gorge
		Cliffs
ticola	Cisticola brachypters	X Open areas in Forest valleys
	Lonchura malabarica	Dear Ho 9
Seed- eater	Serinus burtoni	Forest

My personal checklist for the 295 species.

Park nov/ stands

at

ab out

Reynolds (bAITHS Bulletin 1973»112) lists nine species tha he had seen which were not on list (a). Of these the followin two are additional to the aforementioned three lists;

Crested Franc olin Franc olinus s epliaena Kaffir Rail Rallus caerulescens

To these can be add.ed ;

Sanderling Callidris alba (Bowles, V.Y, • EACTHS

Bulletin 1 9 7 4 ; 1 20 )

Bittern Bo t aurus st ellaris (Dorris, C.E.,

EAITHS Bulletin 1974; 163 ) giving a grand total of 439 species.

I feel that many more species could be added to this list particularly from the 'difficult' groups such as Birds of Prey, Cisticolas, Larks and Pipits, I v;ould be interested to collect from members any further records so that a reasonably complete checklist for our most accessible Rational Park can be prepared.

IT . J . Skinner ,

P.Oo Box 30197s ITAIROBI

A LARGE HIRUHDIilE ROOST ID UASII'I GISHU

During the period August; to October 1976 birds were caught and ringed at a. massive Hirundine roost close to Eldoret, Kenya. The roost 5 which apparently lias been in existence for several years, was very accessible b^ing in 0, relatively small reed bed at the shallow end of a cattle dam. This year the birds were first seen in late July and the numbers rapidly increased to a maximum in September when estimates of upto 10 birds v/ere

39

0'S? cf-

present. The roost dispersed quite rapidly in early October and by I'Tovember only a few hundred birds were present.

The ro rus t ic a 5 of Sand Martin c in eta v/ere

ost mainly consisted of Europe which 80^ were juvenile birds s 5 Riparia rip aria and Banded also causht.

an Sv/allows, Hi run do . Small numbers of Sand Martins 5 Riparia

In all a total of indication of the size our ovm birds and these decreasing in size. II o juveniles were found wi sumably put there when to identify them.

2200 Sv/allows were caught and as an of the roost we only controlled five of were only caught when the roost v/as other birds were controlled but tv/o th coloured wool tied to each legj pre- the birds were nestlings in an attempt

J. R. Best ,

P.Oo Box 450s ELBORET, Kenya.

HEI7

YEAR \7EEK-EHI) AT MICHIIIUKURU

ESTATE

This Hew Year v/as celebrated in fine style, Mr and Mrs P. Scott invited us to camp on Michmurkuru Estate in the ITyam- beni Hills s Kenyaj and besides providing a commodious camping site, invited us to a barbecue in their delightful garden, where meat was roasted and buns toasted and everyone had a splendid time. v/hile the oldest and youngest members of the party crept or v/ere carried away to bed, .the rest stayed to see the Hew Year in and a bit further, though' this did not deter them from getting up in good time in the mornings 'to see the tea factory,

and sampling some lovely v/alks afforded by the estate with its lines and patches of forest, A good deal of tree planting is undertaken on the estate and it was good to see Vit ex keniensis being planted besides the more popular and quick-growing exotics.

Pet er tunity of way. To s form of ch hopping ab ment s , not But how of poliocepha hopping ab might soun in the fie the Robin-

an

d

Haz

e

1

Britt on

set u

p net

s

an

d gave

us the

oppor-

see

in

g b

i

rd

s that

V/

e seldom 0

r

ne

ver

see

in an

J

other

it

by

th

e

r

inging

t

able

alway

s

s e

ems

to

me 1 0

b

e a

e at

in

Th

e prope

r

way

to s e

e

b i

rds

is

to wat

c

h them

out

,

Th

e

0

b j ec t 0

f

ring

ing i

s

1 0

s tu

dy

birds *

mo ve-

1 0

s

at i

s

fy

the cu

r

io s i t

y of

th

e

lazy

or

de ere

P

it .

t en

d

0 V/

e

S

e e the

Brovm-

dies t

ed

Ale th

e Alethe

la or the Abyssinian Hill-babbler, Alcippe abyssinica out? The Alethe, though in a description its colours d dull, is a singularly beautiful bird in the hand or Id, the large eye and conspicuous eye-stripe recalling Ghats, Cossypha spp. to which it is closely related.

40

I myself had only seen it once before; at lutembe near Kampala; Uganda on lOtli February 1963, There was a pair of virhich vie saw one very well, V/e guessed it was a Thrush; and with this start were able to key it out. The identification was made by my companion Pam Arman ; one of the keenest of our Uganda members in those days.

As for the Abyssinian Hill-Babbler; several of us saw it from the roof of Mountain Lodge; when the Society held a field meeting there in June 1973 j and on another occasion others of us thought vie heard the song. This v/as near Ragati Forest Stat- ion in February 1971 » Jean liayes recorded the song and played it back; and the bird answered from the depth of the. forest; but would not come oiit or show itself.

Many thanks are due to Mr and Mrs Scott for this delightful v/eek-end and memorable New Year celebration. They even sent us off ¥/ith gifts of delicious tea; very different from Y/hat I at least usually buy in the shops.

' Corvinella'

THE LEST EE CORD SCHEriB

There has been an encouraging increase in participation in the Nest Record Scheme during 1976, There is no substitute for personal contact in conY'incing members of the worthiness of their contributions so that the distance of our home from I'To.irnbi has alvnays been a disamlvant o,ge in recruiting new faces, G,R. Gunn- ingham-van Someren’s tireless efforts in promoting the Scheme in Nairobi are much appreciated,' Many members are now obtaining their cards directly from him at the National Museum; and o. further supply is available at the Society’s office at the Museum. This saves on postage; but I a^lviays acknowledge the receipt of cards and am always pleased to correspond Virith any contributor.

An analysis of the breeding seasons of East African birds by Dr Leslie Brown and my husband Peter is nov/ virtually complete and it will be published in four parts in our J ournal , It will form an invaluable baseline, enabling future data to be evaluated meaningfully 5 and should not be viev/ed as 'the end of the road' in our study of breeding seasons, Ue still want records. of the commonest species, hov/ever scant the data. An understanding of breeding seasons is only one a.im of the Scheme, A large body of data v/ill prove iiseful in the future for clutch-size, nest- site and other studies,

I have received fewer requests for data during 1976 than in

41

some previous years but I was able to supply data on the Ostrich S truthio camelus to L,Mo Hurxthal , the Ye 11 ov/- backed V/eavei-j Plo c eus melanocephalus and the Golden-backed Weaverj P. ,1 acksoni to Pr Jo Parsons 5 the Stripe-breasted Sparrow-Y/eaver,Plocepasser maliali to Dr I'loEo Collias, on Mackinnon’s Shrike, lanius mackinnoni to Y/oRoJ. Dean and breeding records from Tsavo East Rational Park to P«Co lackc

Please send any 1976 cards to me directly as soon as poss- ible, Finding nests is fun J Pilling in cards is a chore, but a worthwhile one. I hope that 1977 will prove to be still more successful .

Mrs Hazel A. Britton Organiser, EARHo Rest Re cord Scheme ,

Shimo-la-t ewa School,

P. Oc Box 90163 ,

IIOMBASA, Kenya.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,

I refer to the note published in the EARHS Bulletin for January/Pebruary 1977 p.8 - 9 recording Guppies in the Athi River.

I first found Guppies in the Athi River catchment area in 1972 - in the Rairobi River between Kariobangi and Rairobi Palls. In 1973 I also observed Guppies in the Ruaraka River (adjacent to Kenya Breweries) and in the Athi River at Fourteen Palls,

B.So Meadov\rs 5

P.Oo Box 30521, RAIROBI,

Dear Sir

I re

Bulletin mosquito and Gambu

ote in the Januar y/Pebruary Athi River, Two species of then as Lebistes reticularis

fer to Mr K, Campbell’s n on finding Guppies in the larvae- e at ing fish, known s ia af f inis holbrooki were introduced to Kenya around

Senoir Entomologist of the Medical CoB. Symes, for the expressed purpose larvae populations in wells on the tanks were built at the laboratory and to apply for fish for ponds and the

35 by the then Laboratory, Mr

1930 - 19 Research of controlling mosquito Island of the publi

Mombasa, Two c were invited

42

like. In 1 9 36 tlie writer coramenced an extensive canpaign in ITairobi and District to introduce these fish to all semi and permanent water such as the manj streams flowing through ITairobi; to quarries and burrovz-pit s , to the many swamps in the city area which existed at that time. later when it became necessary to intensify mosquite control on account of the possibility of Yellow fever, all sorts of domestic and factory water supply tanks v/ere stocked to control the Ae de s Ilosquito. Throughout 1939 to 1945, lumbers 1 and 11, Mobile Malaria Units of the East African Army Medical Corps stocked all standing water and streams around the very many army camps within Kenya and even took fish to Ethiopia, for the Abyssinian Campaign, Thus either of these two species of fish may be found anywhere in Kenya from Kisumu to the Coast, the MED to the Tanzania border. They failed in lake I'lakuru as the water v/as too saline but did survive in laivasha. Most of the dams on the Coffee and Sisal Estates were also stocked.

GoE. Cunningham (one time Health and E o A . A c H . C . )

P.O. Box 40658,

Dear Sir,

As an ordinary, rank-and-file birdwatcher, might I suggest that you persuade some member of the Ornithological Sub- Commit t e e to v/rite a note in the Bulletin (not their specialist publication though of course there too if they wish), on the recent changes in nomenclature ? It is with great pleasure and relief that I read in the lewslett er of the Dept, of Ornithology -'There have been several additions to the bird list for East Africa and so many changes in nomenclature since the first edition of Mackv/o- rth-Praed and Grant (l955 ) that those .v/ho have these volumes will find them very out of date, A revised check-list for the non-passerines has now been prepared, stencils cut and should be available shortly for anybody wishing to bring their volumes up-to-date’ (Newsletter No 9, p.l). This is an immensely help- ful piece of work to have undertaken, and I only hope that they will continue it by preparing immediately a similar list for the Pas serines .

At present a great deal of confusion exists. The new nomenclature is not generally available though its use is comp- ulsory in the Bulletin , and if anyone sends in a note using the old names, you. Sir, will make the alterations, so that the poor author no longer knows vi/liat he is talking about. Graeme and Daphne Backhurst’s list was not widely distributed, and the

-van Someren Dept, Nairobi

NAIEOBI,

43

Library copy has to be kept in protective custody. I have actually heard fellow raembers telling each other that it is better to rely on English names rather than the scientific ones, as they are less liable to changOj and this is very disappoin- ting after many years of trying to persuade them to use the scientific names at least for reference work.

Of course we are in no position to question the wisdom or desirability of these changes. The mere publication of a list would do much to restore confidence, and an explanatory note would enable us to bear the present inconveniences with more patience. The questions that particularly need to be answered seem to be the following ;

1. Is .the new nomenclature internationally recognised, or only for local use?

2. Is it nov/ fairly stable?

3. \7ill the new Group Order (e*g, in the Passerines, Alaudidae to Zosteropidae instead of Alaudidae to Smberizidae) be used in future books (a) on African birds (b) on birds in other parts of the v/orld ?

4. Whose work do these changes help, and in what v/ay ?

Priscilla Mi Allen,

P.O. Box 14166, ITAIROBI,

RECORD SECTIOIT

A E e w Rodent Species t o IT air obi Museum

In ilovember 1976 while trapping small mammals in Kakamega area, Kenya, an interesting species of rodent, Colomys goslingi was caught. Two specimens were obtained, both at night. One was along a small stream at Mukumu Mission 0° 17 ’S 34*^ 45.5 ’E and the^other below Kakamega Forest Station along the lugusida River 0 1 5-. 5 * S 34 52, 5 'E.. Both water courses had thick

vegetation cover. The specimen from luguside River was caught in a big cage trap which was partially submerged in v/ater v/hich

While it was in the water it s^7am

of

the v;ater it climbed the sides of the cage with agility. The rodent is probably a good swimmer and climber.

was meant to trap Otters, well; v/ater did not v/et its fur; and on taking the cage out

The species has been recorded from Cameroons, Congo, Zaire, Angola, Upper Kile in the Sudan and the Aberdares in Kenya,

I. Aggundey,

Curator of Mammals,

P.O. Box 40658, UAIROBI

44

BOOK REVIEW

\7ild Cat s of the V/ o r 1 d by C,A„W« Guggisbergj iJev/ York, faplinger Publishing Co, 1975

This fine book has been added to the Library, a gift from the author. The Cats, though differing widely among themselves, form a well-defined grouxo whose grace and beauty combined with ferocity and independence of character, have fascinated mankind from early times. This is a reference book rather than a book to read through, but the most readable and probably to most of us the most interesting parts are those where the author is able to write from his own rich and deep experience. All the East African species are illustrated by his own photographs. But he is a man of great erudition as well as long experience in the field. Photographs aaid descriptions are v/ell documented and there is an extensive bibliography,

’ Corvinella’

WAITTEB KITOVfil

■ The follovving books are wanted ;

Trees and Shru bs of Kenya Colony 1956 by E, Bat t is combe Y/ildf lowers of ITairobi national Park 196 2 by S, Heriz- Smith

Please contact Benise Costich, PoO, Box 526, ILICHAKOS, Kenya if you wish to sell or give away the above publications.

The Paint ings of Forman Light on

Members who are interested in obtaining a copy of one of the editions of ITorman Lighten 's paintings can obtain informat- ion by writing to 'The Paintings of Horkan Lighten', P.0, Box 41815, NAIROBI,

Bird Checklist for Serenge t i N at i on al Park

I have been working on a checklist of the birds of Sereng- eti National Park, Tanzania, which is now ready for printing.

To make sure that no information is missing, members are reque- sted to add their information to the list. Any records and breeding records are of interest, even for common species.

Every observation put on the list v^rill sliov/ the name of the observer and all letters will be acknowledged, I hope a lot of members will write to me i Dieter Schmidl, P.O, Box 35,

NAKURU, Kenya,

45

SOCIETY ITOTES

Ornithological Ptiblicat ion

The Ornithological Sub- Oomiait t ee of the Society agreed unanimously on the need for a quarterly East African ornithol- ogical publication, to be produced under the auspices of the Societju It was agreed that this publication, together with an Annual Bird Report should be funded by a seperate subscription and be available to Society members on payment of Shs. 50.00 annually, in addition to the Society’s subscription. These proposals were accepted by the Executive Committee at its meeting in December 1976.

At a further meeting in January it was decided that the new publication be called * Scopus ’ and that production of the first 1977 quarterly issue should go ahead. This should be ready for distribution by the Society’s Annual General Meeting in March,

Cheques should be made payable to'D.A. Turner Scopus Account’ and DOT to the Society. The Secretary/Treasurer is Mr D.A.

Turner, P.O. Box 43019? ITAIROBI. All contributions for * Scopus ’ should be sent to Dr D.J. Pearson, Dept, of Biochemistry, P.O.

Box 30197 ? ITAIROBI.

Praed and Grant for Sale

A member is selling both volumes of Mackworth Praed and Grant ’ s ’ Birds of Eastern and north Eastern Africa ’ . Cost Shs. 1700.00. To give up-country members a chance, please send in your request to The Treasurer, P.O, Box 44486, NAIROBI to reach her by 18th March, Envelopes should be clearly marked ’P &G’ in the top left hand corner. The first letter opened on that date will get the books.

’Upland Kenya Wild Plov/er s ’

The Society has ordered 50 copies of this excellent book which is said to be on the high seas. They have not yet arrived, and the publishers fear they may be lost. Hov/ever, members wish- ing to obtain a copy should place their orders with The Treasurer P.O. Box 44486, NAIROBI. Those v/ho do so will be notified if and v/hen the books arrive, so place your orders now.

Few Members

The Se ere tary/Treasur er would like to thank all those who have helped us in our membership drive by spreading the word to their friends. To date v/e have had 60 new members, so please keep up the good work.

* Medicinal Plants of hast Africa^

V/e have sold out, but more copies of this valuable book are on order. Please contact the Treasurer in the Society’s office in the .national Museum. Price Shs. 55»00 to members

‘ ITakuru ’ Book

Purther supplies of this book have arrived, and again they can be bought in the office. Postal orders are accepted, but please add Shs, 6.00 for packing and postage. Cost Shs. 50,00 to members.

Car Stickers

	ITew members	are	reminded that the	Society has	car stickers
for	sale at	only	Shs	. 2 . 00 each.	Available in the	Office ,	As
one	me mb e rs	said	the	other day,	if you	do not want	to stick	t h e m
on	your car	you	can	use them as	drinks	mat s i

J ournal Reprints

We have some very valuable and usefull reprints in the Office, Some of them are in very short supply, so do not miss the chance.

FEW MEMBERS

Lo c al Pull Me mb e r s

Mr A.P, Barbet, P.O. Box 30709 , ITAIROBI Miss V^'alerie Barr an , P.O. Box 30465, ITAIROBI Mrs E.R.G, Barrott, P,0. Box. 40751, ITAIROBI Hr and Mrs P.J, Bentley, P.O. Box 4571 3 , ITAIROBI Mrs G.G, Bisley, P.O, Box 20723 , ITAIROBI Mr Svend Borrit, c/o P.O, Box 30201 , ITAIROBI Mrs Susan Bowls, P.O. Box 25030, ITAIROBI Mr Hugh Cowie, P.O. Box 1 5 569 , ITAIROBI Ms Joyce E.G. Duncan, P.O. Box 24922, ITAIROBI Ms Yvonne Errington, P.O. Box 30270, ITAIROBI

47

Dr A, van G-astelj IT.A.R.S., P.O. Box 450^ KITALE j Kenya.

Mr David J, Grantham, P.O, Box 40426, ilAIROBI

C. Groenendijk, P,0. Box 41 537 ? ITAIROBI

Mr John Hall, KTTC, PoO. Box 446 00, ITAIROBI

Mr John Harries, Kareti Estate, P»0o Box 333? THIKA, Kenya

Ms Go Heuser, Royal Danish Embassy, P.Oo Box 40412, TTAIROBI

Miss MoEoC. Howard, St Julians, PoO. Box 48121, ITAIROBI

Mr Thomas Jaensqn, loC.IcP.B., P.O. Box 30772, ITAIROBI

Mr CeAoA, Jansen, P.O. Box 14828, ITAIROBI

Miss Beryl Kendall, PcO. Box 45925? ITAIROBI

Mr Alan D. Logan, P.O. Box 47209? ITAIROBI

Dr Gladys J.G« Lowe, c/o Dr Edwards, P.O, Box 30521 , ITAIROBI Mr David Mason, Imani School, P.O. Box 750, THIKA, Kenya Mr P.O. Mathez, c/o UITEP, P.O. Box 30552 , ITAIROBI Mr J.B. Mitcalfs, P.O. Box 47383? ITAIROBI Mr and Mrs Mollison, P.O. Box 30047? ITAIROBI

Ms Shalcuntala Moorjani, Department of Botany, P.O. Box 30197? ITAIROBI

Mr R.D, Morgan, P.O. Box 47? GILGIL, Kenya Mrs Peggy McGillivray? P.O. Box 30481, ITAIROBI Mr SoG. ITjuguna, P.O. Box 27 35 9 ? ITAIROBI Mr Murray Roberts, P.O. Box 1051? ITAKURU, Kenya Mr \7ilson Wanjama Ruara, Sokoro Sawmills Ltd., P.O. Box 12, ELBURGOIT, Kenya

Mrs G.A. Shaw, P.O. Box 30105? ITAIROBI Miss Dianne Stanyon, P.O. Box 41721, ITAIROBI Mr Jim Taylor, -P.O. Box 750, THIKA, Kenya Mrs Barbara Thomas, P.O. Box 47098, ITAIROBI

Ms Sheila Thompson, P.O. Box 42247? ITAIROBI

Mr K.K. \7achiira, P.O. Box 14548, ITAIROBI

Ms Diane Ward, Limuru Girls School, Private Bag, LIMURU , Kenya

Mrs E.A, Webb, Cedarvale Parm, P.O. Box 184? ITAITYUKI, Kenya Mr A.A.E. Williams, P.O. Box 23, ITJORO, Kenya Mr Edgar V. Winans , P.O, Box 41081, ITAIROBI

Ms Carol Ann Zito, Kaaga Girls High School, Private Bag,

MERU? Kenya

Local Life Member

Dr A.A.J. Jansen, Medical Research Centre, P.O, Box 20752, ITAIROBI

Change of Status - Lif e

Mr P.S. Beverley, Kianyaga High School? P.O, Box 1020,

K I AIT YAGA, ICenya

48

Local Junior Menbers

Kr Charles Amuyunzuj University of Uairobi, llgala Hall,

P,0, Box' 30344j ilAIROBI

Mr Acliolca John Daudij c/o Kenyatta University College , P.0»

Box 30553? UAIROBI

Mr Bruce E. Davis 5 Lfaitobi Study Centre? P»0o Box 30197 ?

UAIROBI

Overseas Pull Member

Ruth A. Laseski? Erov/n University? Dept, of Geological Scien- ces? P,0o Box 1846 ? PROVIDEIICE? Rhode Island 02912? U.S.A.

SOCIETY PUITCTIOITS

Sunday 13th March All-day field excursion to the Thika? Pout- teen Palls and 01 Donyo Dabuk area. Leader Mr P.D. Kelly, Please meet at the Blue Posts Hotel? Thika either at 8.15 a.m. for duck and wader watching on some local dams or at 10 a.n, for visits to the Palls and Mountain area. The la,tter will be of general natural history interest. Please bring a picnic lunch and be prepared for some walking. A v/atchman v/ill be in attendance to guard the cars during v/alks.

Mon d ay , 1 4th March at 5.30 p . m, at the national Museum Hall?

Uairobi; AiTUUAL GEITERAL MEETIITG after which the film 'The Year of the Wildebeest ’ (50 minutes) by Alan Root will be shov/n

by courtesy of the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya.

Mon d ay 18th April at 5.30 p . m. at the Uational Museum Hall? ITairobi. Dr D. Pomeroy of the Zoology Department of Kenyatta University College will give an illustrated lecture on MARABOU STORKS.

Sunday 24th April Mr M.P. Clifton? Entomologist at the

national Museiim? will Lead a ' Dudu- Crawl ' . This will take place in Karura Forest? Uairobi. Please meet at the national Museum at 9,30 a.m. and bring a picnic lunch if you wish to stay all day.

Sunday , 8th May Dr J.J, Gaudet of the Department of Botany? University of Uairobi? will lead an excursion to study the Lakeside vegetation at lake Uaivasha. Further details later.

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Monday 9 th May at 9.30 P . m » At the national Museum Hall 5

Nairobi j Dr John Kokwaro of the Botany Department j University of Nairobi will give a lecture on I-EDICINAL PLANTS.

Sunday 1 3th May Half day botanical excursion in the Nairobi Area, Leader Mrs Pleur Ng'weno, Please meet at the National Museum^ Nairobi at 9,00 a,m.

Week-end 4th/3 th J mi e Mr S, Moss of the British Council and Mr D, Theobald of the K,1,S, will hold a course on Basic ecol- ogy? provided that sufficient members sign on. The course will take place within very easy reach of Nairobi and take two days. The cost v/ill be Shs , 15«00 for the printed material.

All equipment v/ill be provided. Only basic ecology will be taught - no taxonomic knowledge is necessary. If you are interested, please write direct to Mr S. Moss, The British Council, P.0, Box 40751, NAIROBI for details.

Monday 13th June at 5 . 30 p , m . at the National Museum Hall,

Nairobi. An illustrated lecture by our Chairman, Mr John

Karmali on 'BIRDS THROUGH MY LENS'.

Week- end 1 8th/ 19th June The Society has been offered special t e'rms (^hs, 110,00 per person per night) at Meru Mulika Lodge

in Meru National Park, Details later,

Monday , 11th July at 3-30 p . m , at the National Museum. Hall,

Nairobi. Mr R,D. Haller, Agronomist at Bamburi Portland Cement Works, v/ill give an illustrated lecture on 'REHABILITATION OE A LIMESTONE QUARRY' .

Monday 8th August at 3-30 p - m, at the National Museum Hall,

Nairobi. Mr B,S. Meadov/s will give a lecture on 'Y/ATER POLL-

UTION'.

Details of July and August field trips will be announced later,

Wednesday morning bird walks continue. Please meet at the National Museum, Nairobi at 8,45 a.m,

STOP PRESS Where have all the Sunbirds gone ?? Members seeing concentrations of Sunbirds or large patches of flowering Aloe graminicola, A. kedongensi s , Le on o t i s nepet if olia or L, mollisima please contact the Treasurer in the Society Office, ^

50

THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Chairman: J. S. Karmali Vice Chairman: Dr J. Kokwaro

Editor, Jl £. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mas.: Mrs J. Hayes Treasurer: Miss D. Angwin Librarian: Mrs J. Hayes Secretary: Mrs D. M. Collins

Executive Committee (in addition to the above): Miss P. M. Allen, G. C. Backhurst (Ringing Organizer), Mrs A. L. Campbell, M. P. Clifton (Editor EANHS Bulletin), Dr C. Kamau, E. T. Monks, Mrs I. Preston, J. F. Reynolds.

Co-opted Members: Mrs H. A. Britton (Nest Record Scheme Organizer), A. Duff-Mackay, Dr A. Hill, J. Maikweki, S. Muchiru, Dr J. M. Mutinga, Mrs F. Ng’weno, Dr D. J. Pearson.

journal Editorial Sub Committee: Mrs J. Hayes, Miss D. Angwin, Mrs V. Balcomb, M. P. Clifton, A. D. Forbes-Watson, Dr A. Hill, Dr D. J. Pearson, J. F. Reynolds.

Ornithological Sub Committee: G. C. Backhurst, P. L. Britton, Mrs H. A. Britton, A. D. Forbes-Watson, Dr D. J. Pearson, J. F. Reynolds, D. K. Richards.

joint Library Sub Committee (Society representatives): Mrs J. Hayes, Dr J. Kokwaro.

MEMBERSHIP

This offers you free entry to the National Museum, Nairobi; free lectures, films, slide shows or dis- cussions every month in Nairobi; field trips and camps led by experienced guides; free use of the Joint Society-National Museum Library (postal borrowing is also possible); reciprocal arrangements with the Uganda Society’s Library in the Uganda Museum, Kampala; family participation: wives and children of members may attend most Society functions: one copy of the EANHS Bulletin every two months; a copy of each journal published during your period of membership; the Society controls the ringing of birds in East Africa and welcomes new ringers and runs an active Nest Record Scheme; activities such as plant mapping and game counting are undertaken on a group basis. Membership rates are given at the foot of this page.

JOURNAL

The Society publishes The journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists usually of one paper, however, sometimes two or more short papers may be combined to form one number. The aim of this method of presentation is to ensure prompt publication of scientific information; a title page is issued at the end of each year so that the year’s papers may be bound together. Contributions, v/hich should be typed in double spacing on one side of the paper, with wide margins, should be sent to the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Authors receive twenty-five reprints of their article free, provided that these are ordered at the time the proofs are returned.

E.A.N.H.S. BULLETSN

This is a duplicated magazine issued six times a year, which exists for the rapid publication of short notes, articles, letters and reviews. Contributions, which may be written in clear handwriting or typed, should be sent to The Editor (EANHS Bulletin), Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Line drawings will be considered if they add to the value of the article. Photographs cannot be published.

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES Life ..... Institutional (schools, libraries)

Full

Junior (full-time student, no Journal supplied)

Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1st July from that date. Application forms for membership

One payment: Kshs. 750/- . annual payment: Kshs. 50/-

. annual payment: Kshs. 50/-

. annual payment: Kshs. 10/-

you may join for Kshs. 35/- and receive publications are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi.