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E A N H S

BULLETI N

A publication of the East African Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 10 shillings.

EMHS BULLETIN

SEPTEIIBER/0CT03ER 1934

CONTENTS

A birdwatching safari in Northeastern Province Part g----"--” 38

A Bird Atlas for Uganda - -- -- -- -- --------------- - 95

Birds and the drought at Miotoni^ Karen ---------------- 95

Side-striped Jackal -------------------------- lOO

The Nandi Bear ---------------------------- 193

A plant taking advantage of ants ------------------- 194

More about Hornbills and Monkeys ------------------- 195

Breeding of Verreaux's Eagle 0\\t1 prevented by Crows - -- -- -- -- - 195 The one-day world record count for birds --------------- 195

Review 96

Society visit to Elasamere Conservation Centre ------------ 193

Warning: Lions in Aberdare National Park --------------- 199

Society notices ----------------------------199

Society Functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- no

A BIRDWATCKING SAFARI IN NORTH-EASTERN PROVINCE PART 1 1

Part 1 appeared in the last issue of the EAl^HS Bulletin. It contained inform- ation on the landscape, climate, natural history, people and safari conditions in North -Eastern Province.

BIRDWATCHING

The v/eather was dry during our visit and had been for some time. Most of the bushes and trees had shed their leaves and the grass was brown, giving the landscape a typically parched appearance. The only green vegetation were some indeciduous vjoody species and the riverine vegetation along the Tana and Daua rivers .

Our main difficulty was lack of transport to get out of the towns quickly into the bush before it became too hot. There were no cars officially for hire. At Garissa we came to an arrangement with Mr Salim at the Mobil Petrol Station, who kindly hired us his Land Rover and driver four times to take us several kilometres out of town;; the car would then leave us and we would return slowly on foot.

The lack of local transport and the ubiquity of bandits were our main problems. A lesser, and social problem was that some people mistook our binoc- ulars for cameras and resented them

Every day, except for the last day, we went for a bird walk lasting usually 2-3 hours (minimum 1 and maximum 4^ hours); X'jhen possible, we went for a second walk. Because of first needing food and particularly tea, it V7as usually 7.15 am or later before we left our abodes. We usually v/alked fairly quickly for a few kilometres straight out of the town and through the decreasingly overgrazed environs into the bush. We then walked in a semicircle, looking out for birds (and bandits) before returning, hot and thirsty, to try to identify the birds V7e were unsure of, helped by cups of welcome Somali chai (tea).

The books used were WilliaD3s ^ Arlott (1980), E.oberts (1973), Mackwor th-Praed & Grant (1952 & 1555), Britton (1980) and Backhurst (1970). At Mandera the District Wildlife Warden warned uc against walking even a couple of kilometres out of the toT*m because of the security situation, so we sav; few birds there (unrecorded in Table 2) and v^e left the next morning for Nairobi.

At Garissa we first saw many cf the birds typical of the dry bush in North- Eastern Province; the grey Fischer's Starling seen in all the towns:, the beautiful Somali Bee-eater darting from a low bush to catch insects; the small long-tailed Namaqua Dove; the Crested Francolin; the White-browed Scrub Robin constantly displaying to itself on the ground with n wings out and tail fanned routine; the ground-living Rosy-patched Shrike who had a melodious call; the red breasted Hunter's Sunbird- and the Red-billed and Von der Decken's Hornbills.

At a gravel-pit along the road to Mado Gashi some s.'x kilometres north-east of the bridge, we saw on August 2 the Cream-coloured Courser, a pair of v/hich we saw later outside El Wak with a chick. Near this gravel-pit at dusk we spotted a Heuglin's Courser motionless and partly hidden by branches in the poor light, identified by its pattern of a triple-line necklace; and the next evening we watched a female Heuglin’s Bustard v/alking with stateliness between the bushes, unaware of our presence.

In our one evening at Mado Gashi we vralked along the river-side vegetation to the wide, dry river bed. We saw many species and several different shrikes, including the Srubru hunting for insects in a tree.

A spectacular habitat in Wajir X\Tas the Guguf Pond near Wajir High School,

From 7.30 to 8.15 am on August 6, we watched thousands of Black-faced Sandgrouse flying in to drink and then leaving. When Rosalie returned the next morning at 7.45 am to take a photograph, there were only a few of these birds, probably due to the slj.ght drizzle earlier that morning.

The day-trip to Giriftu on August 3 V7as undertaken only by Rosalie, since Adan preceded her to El Wak after one night at Wajir. It was a busy day with

S8

little time for bird-watching j since the purpose was to assess two students at the Pastoral Training Centre. Walking through the bush trailed by the four armed askaris accompanying the governtaent Land kover was not an ideal situation for observing birds, but several species Xi^ere seen.

The most interesting pa.rt of oui' time at El Wak was spent at the raanyattaj ten kilometres into the bush. Here we saw the Hoopoe with its distinctive long upright crests the Somali Golden-br.eas ted Bunting ^ a Grey Wren Warbler,, and a small group of Red-fronted Warblers busily hunting in a bush for insects.

At Rhamu we saw two beautiful Carmine Bee-eaters on the back of a camel who was drinking in the river Daua and in the shambas nearby there were a fevj White- winged Doves, T»7hose distribution just enters Kenya here. In the bush v;e saw a well-camouflaged adult Spotted Th’icknee vrith a full-grown young, and both the Green Wood Hoopoe and the Abyssinian Scimitarbill ,

On our return from this most interesting bird safari.- we tried to identify our queried birds by comparing our field descriptions with the specimen collect- ion at the National Museum in Nairobi. We were disappointed to realise that our supposed great extension of the range of t\40 sunbirds was due to mis-identif i- cation and that the many seed-eaters with white rumps seen on the bare flats just south of Giriftu were, according to Mr Cunningham-van Someren, the museum ornithologist, somehow a race of the Yellow-rumped Seed eater and not a first record in Kenya of the White-rumped Seed-eater.

Table 2 at the end of this article records the 95 species of whose identifi- cation V7e were certain, listed under the six places where we birdwatched. This fairly low number is due partly to the uniformity of the bushland habitat; to few species of v^ater birds being seen at the aquatic habitats briefly visited; to the absence of Palaeartic migrants in August and of local migrants during the dry season; to omission of a few species seen only x>7hile travelling; and to difficulty in identifying with certainty larks, small brown and greyish fly- catchers, weavers, birds of prey, some doves, and a honeyguide seen alongside the Tana at Garissa. So most of these are omitted from the table. 20 new records v/ere made for the Kenya Bird Atlas in the quarter degree squares containing Garissa, SI Wak and Rhamu.

BREEDING RECORDS

Recorded by us boths

1 Cream-coloured Courser Carsorius cursor

Two were seen x-7ith a chick alongside the main road a few kilometres north of El Wak on August 1 1 . The chick was mottled brown and blackish ou the crown and back, x^ith a slightly paler neck and a pale horizontal band below the eye. It crouched motionless in the Aristida grass for several minutes while the two adults waited nearby...

2 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger

a At Wajir in the bush near the Wildlife Conservation and Management Department station on August 7, a male vras seen entering a nest twice xi^hile another male x-7as seen four tim.es to enter another nest about two metres away. Both nests x-jere in an Acacia tree.

b At Rhamu on August 13 - 15, they xjere seen building nests and perching nearby.

3 White-brox\'ed Sparrovx Weaver Plocepasser mahali

At Rhamu a bird x-ras seen on August 14 building a nest in an Acacia tree.

Recorded by Ad an;

4 Marabou Stork

Over fift}’’ nests x-/ere seen in December 1983 built at 15 metres and more above the ground on tali trees close together along the west bank of the Tana P.iver opposite Garissa, A naked young bird was observed in each of four nests built at the tops of trees, XA7here they were exposed to the glaring sun. No incub- ating birds v/ere noticed.

Adan remembers having seen the follox-iing when a child;

5 Yellow-necked Spurfowl Francolinus leucoscepas

Eggs and young V7cre seen in ground nests under bushes. .

39

6 Vulturine Guineafowl

Eggs and young are remembered in ground nests under bushes during a rainy season.

7 Red-billed Hornbill

Several nesting sites were, seen in holes in tree trunks ^ vjhere an adult bird would bring food for another adult and young inside.

NOTES ON TABLE 2

The nomenclature and reference numbers used are those in the Check-list of the Birds of Kenya, Britton (Ed) 1980.

The six columns are for the six places where we bird-watched. In each column is recorded the abundance of each species as estimated for the whole visit, according to the following key. Numbers are approximate;

A;	1 -	2 birds
3 :	3 -	6
C;	7 -	20
D;	21 -	100
E;	101 -	1000 “
F-	1000	9¥

The number of birds of each sex is recorded in a few cases.

m

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= male:

”f” = female. For example, ’’B 4f' indicates that 4 females and no males were seen, so the abundance category is B.

The Giriftu column is the only column where birds seen x^hen travelling in a vehicle are noted. The road from Wajir to Giriftu is in Kenya Bird Atlas Square 41 B: the road north of Giriftu, travelled on for about 10 km in mid- afternoon, is in Square 29V>i V7hile Giriftu itself lies on the boundary of these two squares. Therefore, ''29D‘', ''41.B'''and 'hGir.'' are entered in the Giriftu column to show the locality or localities xdaere each species x<;as seen.

Birds heard but not seen are excluded

A few additional species for Garissa were seen by Adan in early September 1983 x<7hen he returned for a short visit. These are;

Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Spotted Thicknee and Prubru.

They are marked in the table b]/ *.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our main thanks go to those who helped to make the safari more enjoyable and comfortable by having one or both of us to stay;

Garissa: Mr A. A. Abdi, Bank clerk.

Wajir: Mr and Mrs M.A. Yusuf, District Range Officer.

El Wak: Mr and Mrs H.M. Moharaed, pastoralis ts ,

Mr and Mrs H.I. Ibrahim, Range student at Egerton College, Mr I. Alio, trader.

Rhamu : Mrs Carol Deane-Whyte , National Christian Council of Kenya.

We are grateful to txjo ornithologists; Mr G.R. Cunningham-van Someren for allowing us to use the Bird Room at the National Museum in Nairobi and for his help there with identifications' and to Dr Adrian D. Lewis, Vice Chairman of the EANHS, for supplying us before we set out with an up-to-date list of all species recorded for the quarter degree squares in which Garissa, Wajir and El Wak occur. This enabled us to know, and to celebrate, when v/e made a new record. Since our return he has encouraged us to write this report. .Back at Egerton College, \^e thank Dr M.W. Nyandat for improvements in the draft of this contribution, xdiich we hope x/^ill be of interest to bird enthusiasts and of use to intending travellers in this little-visited but intriguing quarter of Kenya.

90

BIRDS IDENTIFIED

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33 Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax poliopterus

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75 Yellow-necked Spurfowl Francolinus leucoscepus

82 Crested Francolin F. sephaena

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95

REFERENCES

Backhurst, G.C. 1981. Check-list of the birds of Kenya. Nairobi: OS-C EANHS.

Britton, P.L. (ed.) 1980. Birds of East Africa their habitat, status and

distribution. Nairobi: EANHS.

East African Common Services Organization. 1967. Meteorological Data Recorded at Agricultural , Hydrological, and Synoptic Stations in Kenya during the Years, 1963, 1964, and 1965. Nairobi; E.A. Meteorological Department.

East African Community. 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977. Meteorological Data Recorded at Agricultural , Hydrological , and Synoptic Stations in Kenya during the years 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974. (6 vols.) Nairobi;

E.A. Meteorological Department.

East African Community. 1974. Summary of Rainfall in Kenya for the Year 1972. Nairobi: E.A. Meteorological Department.

Kenya Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 1982. -Statistical Abstract 1982. Nairobi; Government Printer. ^

Mackworth-Praed , C.W. and Grant, C.H.B. 1952, 1955. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Vol. 1 & 2. London: Longmans.

Roberts. 1973. Birds of South Africa. Cape Town; John Voelcker Bird Book Fund .

Sombroek, W.G., Braun, H.M.H. and van der Pouw, B.J.A, 1982. Exploratory Soil Survey Report No. El. Nairobi; Kenya Soil Survey.

Swarzenski, W.V. and Mundorff, M.J. 1977. Geohydrology of North Eastern Province, Kenya. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govern|nent Printing Office.

Williams, J.G. and Arlott, N. 1980. A field guide to the birds of East Africa. London: Collins.

Rosalie M. Osborn, Range Management Department, Egerton College, Private Bag, P.O. Njoro.

Adan M. Alio, Egerton College, Block E, R8, P.O. Box 97, Njoro.

A BIRD ATLAS FOR UGANDA

The bird Atlas for Kenya has reached an advanced stage, with some 40000 records now entered and publication expected in about two years' time.

Stimulated by the success of the Kenya project, a small band of enthusiasts in Uganda has decided to follow suit. . Luckily, from their point of view, Uganda is much smaller than Kenya (it has only 97 quarter-square-degrees, compared to 230) , so that broad coverage is a less daunting task; and very few areas are really remote. A considerable boost was given by John Ash, who spent most of 1983 in Uganda, travelled very widely and amassed 6 200 records.'

Although no plans are being made for publication, we naturally believe this to be an ultimate objective and accordingly have followed almost all of the methods developed over the past few years in the Kenya scheme. We shall give examples to show the advantages of compatability . In particular, both schemes use quarter-square-degrees (OSD's, X as the basic unit of mapping.

There are many early records for Uganda and, as with the Kenya scheme as well as some of those in other parts of Africa, we are following a recommend- ation made at the Pan-African Ornithological Congress held in Malawi in 1980s to separate pre-1970 records from those made later (Ash & Pomeroy 1981).

For many species, the pre-1970 records predominate, especially for 'difficult' species such as rails vzhere sight records are particularly unsatisfactory.

96

SOME EXAMPLES OF UGANDA ATLAS DATA SO FAR

Mapping distribution is particularly interesting for closely related species which are allopatric - that is, their distributions are adjacent but not as a rule overlapping C3ee for example Lewis & Pomeroy 1982. Fig 4.) The White- bellied Tit is widespread in Kenya, except for the coast and arid north and east. It is allopatric with the Black Tit (Britton 1980). Figur 1 shows records for both species in Uganda. Interestingly, the Kenya-Uganda border is more or less the boundary for these two species. Both have been recorded from the Mt’. Elgon square, but different parts of it. (The numbers accompanying /the key symbols in the Figure refer to Britton (1980), who gives scientific names. In all Figures, pre- and post-1970 records are combined.).

The Black Tit, which actually has a white s Dulder and white edges to some of its wing feathers, is an attractive bird, usually seen in pairs or small parties. Like its Kenyan relative it occurs in a vride range of habitats, including forest edges and woodlands. Also shown are records for for the all- black Dusky Tit, a West African forest species which is never common.

Its distribution in Uganda reflects the more densely forested areas; in the east it reaches Mt. Elgon and Kakamega Forest.

The distribution of the Crowned Crane in both Kenya and Uganda is shown in Figure 2. Despite some obvious gaps in Uganda, it is clear that cranes are birds of high-rainfall areas, with a majority of breeding records frcm places where annual rainfall exceeds 1000 ram, and very few below 500 mm. This may also explain their absence from parts of northern Uganda, which experiences a a marked dry season, but they are also rare in the wet coastal lowlands. In Uganda, Cranes are particularly coimnon in the South and West. But whilst numerous in many places today, the ever increasing process of swamp drainage will almost certainly lead to a decline in the future. (Pomeroy, in press).

FIGURE 1 TITS

n WKiV'e-belUecf '

Dosfey

Black

97

That Cranes have been recorded from. 51% of the Uganda squares, but only from 29% of those in Kenya, reflects the fact that Uganda is wetter. Even the driest part of Uganda, Karamoja, receives more rain than at least half of Kenya .

A final example, taken from the Bee-eater family, shows a variey of species with very different, and almost overlapping distributions (Figure 3). The Red- throated , never recorded in Kenya, is found in woodlands in northern Uganda; and in pants of Murchison Falls National Park it is the most commonly seen species of bird. One race of the migratory Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is also found in northern Uganda, where it has bred. The other race just reaches the southern coast of Kenya - occasionally.

The striking Black Bee-eater has been recorded from several forests in western Uganda, its distribution roughly paralleled in western Kenya by the similar Blue-headed Bee-eater. Black Bee-eaters are one of the attractions of Ishasha, at the southern tip of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where there are comfortable bandas, good camp sites and a well stocked shop.

Lastly the Somali Bee-eater is a complete contrast as it occurs in semi- arid and arid areas, which explains its absence from Uganda. ,

Uganda, like other countries, is not without its problems but it has much to offer bird-watchers. We should be very grateful if visitors would send us their records, even of common birds, and especially breeding records.

The Kampala-Entebbe area is of course well covered (with more than 550 species : Carswell, in prep.), so records from elsewhere are the most valuable Any help along these lines will be welcome, and duly acknowledged.

FIGURE 2

194 CROWNED CRANE

98 '

FIGURE 3

ACKNOULEDGEilENT

We thanlc Adrian Lex^is for the Kenya records.

REFERENCES

Britton, P.L. (Ed.) 1980. Birds of East Africa their habitat, status and

distribution, Nairobi; EANHS.

Carsx7ell, M. (In prep.). The Birds of Kampala,

Lewis, A.D. and Pomeroy, D.E. 1982, A bird atlas for Kenya: Further progress.

EANHS Bulletin. 1982: 86-91.

Pomeroy, D.E. (In press). The ecology and status of Crowned Cranes Balearica regulartnn in East Africa, Proceedings of the International Crane Workshop, India, 1983.

Margaret Carsx?eil, Box 7051-, Kampala and Derek Pomeroj^, Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Box 7062, Kampala.

99

BIRDS AND THE DROUGHT AT MIOTONI , KAREN

This year the 'long' rains failed, to date (26 July) vie have received less than six inches (150 mm). However, a shower was experienced on 20 July but see belovj.

Many trees are leafless, particularly the crotons Croton mega lacar pus ^ the dominant tree in my forest. This is the period of maximum leaf-fall and the only real green is to be found on the few fig trees. The dam is drying up rapidly. On a survey over the four hectares I found only a few indigenous plants in flower, a tevi stricken yellow Aspillia sp, and a mauve nectarless Ipomoea, There was little in the way of exotic flowering trees and plants,

A few sprays of silver oak Grevillia robusta which provide nectar. Few other nectar flowers are available, a feij on purple cestrum Cestrum purpureum and on purple and scarlet garden salvia. Some flowers remain on the scarlet Euphorbia fulgens and there is a single crane flower Strelitzia reginae which provides nectar and pollen. The last nectar resource is the bouganvillia.

No fruiting indigenous trees were located and only a few hdlf and less than half grown fruit are available on the single shrub of Hamelia patens y so fruit eaters are hard pressed. No or little grain is available for the granivorous species .

Insectivorous species are having a hard time too. Lawns are dry and bare in patches with few insects or spiders to be found. The Hadada Bostrychia hagedash has searched the lawns vrithout m.uch success. Search has revealed few caterpillars but the leaf mould in the forest produces a few leaf litter species such as cockroaches and crickets. The White-eyed Slaty Flycatchers Melaenornis chocolatina , usually three pairs, appear to have deserted us.

Supplementary rations have been provided at the bird table. We have run out of 'mwele' (millet) and as the price of a kilo has sky-rocketed, we have resortdd to sprinkling a proprietory brand of dog food on the ground in lieu of grain, though finely ground, the birds have accepted this alternative but they have to xlTork hard for a crop full.

My troop of seventeen Syke’s Monkeys Cercopithecus mitis have attacked the avocado trees by the house and they are notoriously wasteful, one bite at a hard unripe fruit and it is discarded, the ground is littered with fruit but they are collected up daily, stored until ripe then cut in half and the flesh well criss crossed with a knife and placed on the bird table where they are much appreciated by the fruit eaters. It is amazing how the birds find such to be acceptable.

Three small plastic containers have been fixed to the large purple salvia, one transparent, another covered in red cloth and the third is blue. These are filled with honey water and replenished regularly. My method is as follows s dip a knife blade into a jar of excellent Kitui honey and remove as much as possible , dip into a 300 ml jar of water, stir vigourously until all' the honey is dissolved. This provides around 4-5% solution of mixed sugar fractions, which is better than a straight saturated solution of local cane sugar. Sunbirds and other species readily find and sip the honey water irrespective of the colour of the containers.

Water is alv;ays available in the bird bath and is topped up regularly and more often if the monkeys have paid a visit. As soon as the bath is filled each morning, along comes the White-starred Forest Robin Pogonocichla stellata and a party of Olive Mc'untain Greenbuls Phijllastrephus placiduSy each takes a series of quick dips and away to hunt for spiders, creeping round tree trunks and peering into cracks and crevices. These are forest species.

Our observation area is all that part of the garden that can be viewed from our morning room windows with, in front, the table and bath, the Hamelia, salvias, euphorbia and bougarivillia , all V'jithin a couple of metres, and up to ten metres

100

across the lawn to the big bamboo r.lurap. That is the background for the following observations.

Regular visitors are three to four pairs of Baglafecht Weaver (Reichenow’s Weaver) Ploceus baglafecht and a pair of Holub's Weaver P. xanthops'^, a ’multitude of mannikins’. Bronze Lonchara cucullata a hundred or more sometimes, several Streaky Seed-eaters Serinus striolatus , a pair of Olive Thrushes Turdus abgssinicusi a pair of Common Bulbuls Px^cnonotus barbatus , of which one is ringed and banded 'red-red' and which is now over seven years old. Sunbirds at nectar are the Bronze, Amethyst, Northern Double-collared, Variable and Collared Nactarinia kilimensis ^ No amcthxjstina , No vreussif No vanusta and Anthreptas collaris o They have their preferences, the A^methyst and Northern Double-coll- ared always visit the purple cestrum and salvia first then proceed to the red flowers, the other species prefer the red flowers and then go to the purple.

The thrush comes for bread or to hunt amongst the plants, turning over leaves with its beak or scraping with its feet. The 'Glass-eye' (Grey-backed Camaroptera) Comafoptera brachyura seeks tiny insects or small caterpillars.

The IThite-browed Robin Chat Cossupha hcuglini is an irregular visitor as is the Thick-billed Seed-eater Serinus hurtoni which nibbles the senescent foliage of the salvia but also takes Hamelia fruit.

The effects of the drought have altered the picture greatly.; the regulars still come but outstanding forest species have appeared on the scene.

Generally shy and seldom seen, we have now regularly, taking the half ripe fruit of Hamelia, Yellovz-whiskered Greenbul Andropadus latirostris , Slender-billed Greenbul Aondropadus graciliroastris and the Yellow-bellied Greenbul faviventris t a species not seen for a very long time. The Yellow-whiskered snatches a fruit while hovering and then dives into the bush to swallow then searches for another. All these greenbuls have nov; accepted the avacado as a good substitute and there is often competition with the common bulbul and the weavers for these fruit. They compete with the thrush, the Streaky Seed- eaters which mandibulate the fruit and discard the epidermis whereas the Thick- billed Seed-eater eats the whole fruit. A Yellnw-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus appears regularly and takes the hamelia fruit nov; that there are no fruit on the semi-parasitic misletoes Viscum and Loranthus spp. which are their normal main food items. Both species of White-eye, the ^^ontane and Abyssinian Zosterops poliogastra and Z. abxjssinica come regularly, often as a mixed flock, sometimes up to twenty birds at a time may be seen feeding in the Hamelia.

The half avacado has been a success with the thrush particularly which simply picks up a segment and takes it below the Hamelia to hide and feast in peace. The White-eyes have yet to try this delicacy but doubtless they will in time ,

Out of the forest have come a single Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos to seek grain and the elusive 'startle-the-hunter ’ , the Lemon Dove Aplopclia larvata. It was particularly pleasing to watch the Lemon Dove at such close quarters, TA;alking and searching with head bobbing forward v;ith each step, Croton seeds are the m.ain item, of diet for this bird and they frequent my son's and my driveway v;here the fruit fall and are crushed by vehicles, thus exposing the hard seeds. We now collect these fruit and crush them, as a supply for the birds. These seeds are also taken by the Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata . Seeds and fruit have also to be shared with the Giant Forest Rat Cricetomys gambianus which have warrens in the forest. These are littered with croton fruit which the rats gnav; open to fill their cheek pouches and take down to their underground storage chambers.

We have a few strangers around too. For two days we were visited by a male Black-headed or Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus the first ever recorded on the plot since 1934, this bird fed vjith the mannikins on grain and Mog-food’, Another first for the plot v;as the Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus normally a bird of the acacia bush country, certainly not of a well wooded garden.

It is odd how so many birds have taken to eating quite foreign and un- natural food items. Of crumbled and slightly damp bread Reichenows Weaver takes

scraps, flies off to a perch and by one foot holds down the piece while it nibbles. Honey water is taken not only by the sunbirds but readily by the Coinmon Bulbul and Reichenov/'s Weaver, but this in part is understandable as the latter often drinks nectar from more open flowers such as Grevillia, sisal and the Australian Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (note. All exotics) . Amethyst and Variable sunbirds have discovered how to extract nectar from the complex and extraordinary flowers of the Crane Flower, as has the weaver.

The drought 'bonanza* for the birds at Hiotoni occurred on the evening of 20 July when we experienced a freak rain storm at 19.30 h with a fall of 3.85 mm which induced the alate termites Odontotexmes to emerge. They svjarmed around the security lights and I had two thoughts - collect up the insects to examine them for the predacious parasitic Bengalia sp. fly, and to accumulate a food supply for the birds. With brush and pan plus a la*cge plastic basin I svyept up, with some soil, some 2 kg of termites. Bengalia flies were present and feeding on the termites.

Early the next day, Saturday, I prepared the honeywater, spread the 'dog- food', cut the avacado halves, filled the bird bath then tipped some soil and termites onto the bird table and scattered some on the ground. At 07.30 h the first bird to arrive was a female R.eichenow’s Weaver which quickly ate 14 term- ites, some of which had not yet shed their wings, these she took to a perch where, the insect held down by one foot, the wings were pulled off and the body sxi?allowed. A family of mannikins arrived vjith a male and female Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura (the male whydah without the long tail streamers which had been shed over the previous ten days) and these birds quickly found the termites on the ground, breaking them up into small pieces before swallowing. Next to arrive was a Yellow-x-yhiskered Greenbul which took some termites and dived into the bush to eat and then returned for more,. A male and female Rei'chenow's Weaver arrived and fed, each taking 17 insects. But that vras that and the birds disappeared.

Now de-alated termites usually form? couples or multiple pairs, females being followed nose to tail by males. These then try and find a spot into which to dig to form a nuptial chamber just below soil surface. I decided to search for such chambers and vyas readily rewarded for here I expected to find termites plus Bengalia e.ggs , I searched the lawn below the security lights and found many small soil mounds but some, of these had already been disturbed x<rith no termites present, but I found the culprit, the thrush. I watched it approach a soil mound, look, clearly it listened- with bead slightly on one side, then with rapid movements of the bill the soil was removed to reveal the insects which v/ere quickly devoured. This in part provided some answer as to why the birds at the table had so suddenly disappeared -■ there were termites all over the garden and even out on the main road with many drowned in pools, so there x^fas no necessity to concentrate on my offerings,

I examined many scores of these mounds in the grass picking up the inmates,

couples, threes, fours and even up to ten insects in one chamber. These were

bottled for further examination.

Sunday 22 July, the same procedure of putting out the food, this at 07.20 h. First to arrive and quite unexpected was a female Amethyst Sunbird which quickly captured five termites, breaking each up with much effort before swallowing the pieces. A male appeared, hovered over the table but did not take an insect. Next came, in a bunch, a pair of Yellovr-whiskered Greenbuls, a pair of Holub's Weavers, and a sxyarra of mannikins - much to do and compet- ition, more so when a pair of Reichenow's arrived in aggressive mood. A White- eyed Slaty Flycatcher arrived at the table , soon caught on and feasted.

Quite unexpected was the arri.val of three Olive Mountain Greenbuls who quickly discovered the insects. The female Amethyst returned, unconcernedly hopping on the ground amongst the other birds. A pair of Red-cheeked Cordon- bleu Uraeginthus bengalus arrived^ they took termites but were immediately robbed by the mannikins, but they persisted and eventually obtained a share.

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Slender-billed and Yellow“whiskered Greenbuls arrived to join .the throng but the thrush was late, took one termite, but it was aloof and as few termites were left it flew off.

It was the Reichenow’s Weavers which shov/ed acumen and an activity I had not previously noted. They worked the debris on the table and on the ground, peering under small lumps of soil and pushing these up with the bill or with side to side sweeps of the bill as they unearthed more termites that had hidden themselves away.

Monday, 23 July at 07,15. First along was a male Northern Double-collared Sunbird which snatched an alate and was followed by a Yellox^T-whiskered Greenbul which took a dozen insects. male Reichenow Weaver was feeding on the table.

A single termite was taken by the ’Glass-eye’. Mannikins arrived, then the YellovT-vented Bulbuls to feast at the table and so it x^rent on until no more termites remained.

It had rained overnight, around 7.7 mm I judged by the pools on the road, as the rain gauge had been knocked over by the monkeys and I had no checPv.

These were the sort of events over the next two days

So next time the termites fly, out with the brush and pan and have a large plastic basin handy. Store the insects in jars and put in the fridge, food for another day and we hope not a drought day x-^hen food is scarce. Dead or alive the birds will appreciate a meal of termites.

G.R. Cunningham - van Someren, Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Box 40658, Nairobi.

SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL

On IS July, 1984 at about 09.00 h driver Stephen Mutua of Governor's Camp and I observed an adult and an immature Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus feeding on a small piece of carrion. They were on an open grassy hillside about 2 km east of Governor’s Camp. They would appear to have been a mother and her three-quarter grown cub. They allowed us to approach x^ithin photographic range before running off. Both animals had very clear white tips to their tails .

I submit this observation as neither Stephen nor I had seen Side-striped Jackal in the Mara before though it appears that this pair have recently quite frequently been seen by other drivers.

Eric Risley, Box 24751 , Nairobi.

THE NANDI BEAR

No doubt many of us have heard mention of the mysterious Nandi Bear, but I for one cannot remember seeing anything of substance in print. Recently, however, I came across the notes made by Richard Meinertzhagen on 12 July 1905, in his diary.

He recorded that all the Nandi he had questioned on the subject said that the animal was very hairy and sometimes stood on two legs. I'^en asked to trace the outline they always shox^red it in the erect position. Additionally they had told him that when they first came into the area, some hundreds of

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years ago, it was said to be common.

At the time of receiving this information Meinertzhagen imagined the animal V7as some sort of anthrapoid which had become extinct because of a decrease in rainfall over the area. This was confirmed, he says by a curious coincidence. Upon the occasion of the coronation of Edward Vi 1 , in Britain, five men of the King’s African Rifles were sent to join in the celebrations, and one of them was a Nandi. IJhilst in England their programme included a visit to a zoo, and upon being introduced to a chimpanzee the Nandi soldier exclaimed with delight, "There is the Nandi bear!".

Maybe, as can be the case with the shyer animals, the Nandi bear moved to remoter places as the area it inhabited became, subjected to the pressures of man . , • \ '

No doubt the mystery was a fairly common topic of conversation at the turp of the century and I wonder jUst how the subject first came to the ears of the early Europeans in the area.

PEFEPvENCE

Meinertzhagen, R; 1957, Kent^a Diary 1902-1906. Edinburgh; Oliver and Boyd, Peter Squelch, Box 24220, Nairobi.

A PLANT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANTS

We are all familiar with the oval, bald patches that occur in dry grassland in Kenya. They are several metres across and usually have in the centre a small pile of gravel mixed with the husks of grass seeds. Within the patch the soil is completely bare, all plants having been removed down to th,e last shred.

The bald patches overlie the nests of the harvesting ant Messor cjephalotes (Emery), and you can see the busy streams of satiny, reddish ants converging along tracks through the grass, and disappearing dovm a- small hole or holes in middle of the bald patch. No one seems to know why the ants make the bald patches, but it may be to regulate the temperature and/or humidity in the seed stores underground.

At Ilkek, near Gilgil in the Rift Valley, the grassland is dotted with these bald patches. However, a few of them instead of being bare support a thick mat of a leafy, creeping plant, one of the Curcurbitaceae . with tiny greenish flowers and small, hard globular fruit about the size of a Cape Gooseberry.

The texture of the stems and the finely divided leaves is extremely harsh, resembling nothing so much as emery paper.

I took this plant to the East African Herbarium, vrhere it was identified as Myrmecosicijos messorius C. Jeffrey. According to Agnew (1974) Upland Kenya Wild Flowers y this is "A rare endemic - - dependent upon harvester ants ~ for its survival, for it has been found only on the bare ground around their nests'" (p.l77).

I wonder what effect the plant has on the ants nest? The ants would surely not go to the trouble of clearing the bald patches unless they have some function. Whatever it is, this unwanted thatch must interfere. The plant is apparently taking advantage of the total lack of competition from other plants in this very restricted habitat. I imagine that the ants' attempts to remove the plant are foiled by its abrasive texture.

Jo Darlington, c/o Section of Entomology, National Museums of Kenya,

Box 40653, Nairobi.

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MORE ABOUT HORNBILLS AND MONKEYS

In the aulletin of May/June 1984 {EANtiS Bulletin 1984,i 58), Adrian Lewis made some interesting cororaents relating to an earlier report of Grey Hornbills Tockus nasutus associating with Olive Baboons Papio ci^nocevhalus near Lake Magadi, Kenya, by Michael Gore (EANHS Bulletin 193is 1!5).

In 198!, I observed two Grey Hornbills with Tantalus Monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops 'tantalus in savanncih near Kaduna, Central Nigeria, and feel that I have heard of other sightings of this type. Certainly, Williams and Arlott in the Collins Guide to the Birds of Eeist Africa and Guggisburg in his book mention the association of Wliite-crested Hornbills Tropicranus albocristatus with Colobus Monkeys; and Mackwor th-Praed and Grant also allude to this but do not specify the Colobus species involved.

As suggested by Michael Gore, it is probable that the association of the latter insectivorous hornbills with monkeys is for the purpose of preying on insects and the like, disturbed by the monkeys. However, on a number of occasions I have seen (and heard) large forest hornbills such as Black and White Casqued Hornbills Bycanistcs subcylindricus and Yellow Casqued Hornbills Ceratogymna data with forest monkeys e.g. Mona Monkeys Cercopithecus mona, in high forest of the Oban Rills, S.E. Nigeria. In this case, I imagine the apparent association is solely due to a mutual attraction to a tree bearing ripe figs or other fruit; both parties being largely frugivorous.

Colin Ryall, Box 83692, Mombasa.

BREEDING OF VERREAUX’S EAGLE OWL PREVENTED BY CROWS

On reviewing our bird diary, I came across something which may be worth record ing. Through the years 1977 and 1934 in Mwitu Estate, Karen, we used to hear Verreaux's Eagle Owl Buho lacteas quite often. Occasionally we saw one of these owls.

In AiUgust 1982, a pair of owls attempted to breed in the garden. The pair were first seen, on an unrecorded date, late in July or early in August by our gardener. Two birds were together on an abandoned nest. This nest has been used every year before and since, by a pair of Black Kites Milvus migrans who have reared their young sucessfully several times . Our observations, recorded in our diary, with regard to Verreaux's Eagle Owl are as follows.

5 August 1932 “ One Verreaux’s Eagle seen in the nest about 25 m above

ground. Observation period was xvas approximately I5 hours before sunset. During this time, several interactions took place between a pair of Pied Crows Corvus albus and the eagle owl.

6 August 1982 - Owl sitting on the nest throughout the day.

7 August 1982 “ Tvto owls were seen, one sitting on the nest and the other one

was perching in a nearby tree. Upon arrival of a pair of crows the owl which was j^erched in the tree near the nest tried to intercept the crows and to distract them by flying low above the nest and then flew in tight circles above the nest and the crows. Then the owl flew to his perch.

This interaction was repeated many times and lasted for about an hour.

The owl which was sitting on the nest remained there motionless through- out the observation period (16.30 to 13.30 h) .

8 Aiugust 1932 - After a downpour at 17.30 h, both ox^ls were perching in a tree

near the uest when the crov/s arrived and flexiT straight to the nest where

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they were intercepted by the larger of the two owls ( presumably the female). This owl sat on the nest and remained there motionless. The crows started to 'bump'' the male ov/l’and actually flew into him several times. The owl did not defend himself, but flew from branch to branch p pursued by the crows. At nightfall the crows departed..

9 August 1982 - The nest was not Oiccupied. The owls had left.

The owls were not seen or heard for several months after this episode.

Imre J.P. Loefler, Box 47964, Nairobi.

THE ONE"DAY WORLD RECORD COUNT FOR BIRDS

The article entitled 'Kenya breaks big-day birding marathon record’ cannot go unchallenged! In about 1972, if I remember correctly, Patricia and Michael Fogden recorded 297 in one day in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. They also believed that 300 + in a day would be possible.

The record was the more impressive because it was achieved within a single National Park.

Of course one should not take these things too seriously, for the fun of it, who would like to top the following, all 'records’ b}- 'yself. E .ch refers to a single terrestrial habitat, and no vehicles V7ere irvclv.- h (More species in a given time are usually possible in good aquatic h ibit' .

10 minutes - 21 species, Karongo Farm

30 minutes ~ 33 species, Ruiru Golf Club

60 minutes - 49 species, Karongo Farm.

D.E. Pomeroy, Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

REVIEW

TWO BOOKS ON VOLCANOES

Beyond the collecting of rocks, minerals and fossils, of which at least the last is illegal here in Kenya, the science of Geology tends to be largely ignored by many amateur naturalists, often because it entails at least some knowledge of involved and obscure concepts, so that many superb an"^ intriguinp- geology texts tend to be in langua'ze that is too specialised for the layman (for a marvellous exception to this, see Celia Nyamweru's Rifts and Volcanoes: a study of the East African rift system (nubl. Nelson Africa; available at any good bookshop at Sh.60 or so), which is a thoroughly well written and explained account of much East African geology, including simple progression to alobal concepts, suggestions for further realing and a very useful glossary of geological terms). Particularly here in the tropics, of course, geology is at the further disadvantage that there is usually more striking and immed- iate pleasure to be had’ in, for example, the beauty of a rare flower or the activity and fascination of a special bird or animal.

Thus, beyond, special minerals and especially gemstones, or fossils, the contemplation of, for example, the rift valley’s faults or volcanoes has but a limited attraction. But volcanoes are amongst geology’s most dynamic and at times awesome features, and we in Kenya are fortunate that all those we see are dormant or extinct, since further eruptions on the scale of the not

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too distant past could make life here, at least in the highlands, larp^ely untenable. At the sajae tine thou ah we have no opportunity to appreciate these impressive, albeit relatively minute, expressions of our planet’s immense internal power: the output of electricity from the Olkaria peothermal power

station near Naivasha, which is already provilin?? a substantial percentage of Kenya's needs, is really our only indication of the vast pother anl activity that here, near the continental split that is the Rift Valley, lie only a few kilometres beneath our feet.

Here we have tvjo very different books about vo 1 canc es both valuable in their ov;n ways. Ihe first, Volcances of the Norld^ compiled by T. Sirakin,

L. Siebert, L. McClelland, D Bridge, C. Mewhall and JcF. Latter and published by the Smithsonian Institution, is an exhaustive reference work to all the volcanoes on the Earth that are believed to have been active during the last 10000 years. This enormous bulk of information is of necessity largely coded, and the clearly wri'".ten and very useful introductory sections fully amplify the use of the various directories, as well as touching upon fascinating topics like de'ndrochronolgy (the dating of eruptions by their effect on trees’ annual growth rings) and lichenometry (the dating of recent lava flows using the extent of their lichen encrustation) , as well as the horrifying aspects of eruptions, such as the huge tsunami sea waves, and the Nuees ardentes ^ which are "hot glov/ing avalanches that move down, slopes at hurricane speeds, devast- ating all living things in their path" - do you still wish that we had some active volcanoes?

The main body of this book are the four data collections;

DIRECTORY - 1343 volcanoes believed active in the last 10 000 years. Arranged by region, with locations, heights, types, known eruptive histories and behavioural characteristics.

CHRONOLOGY - 5.564 eruptions from 8 000 B.C. through (not my Amer icanese) 1980 AoD. Arranged chronologically, with durations, explosive magnitudes., and volumes of products.

GAZETTEER - 5345 cross-ref erencedvo 1 c ano e c namesynonyms and feature names. BIBLIOGRAPHY - 709 sources for more detailed information arranged chlono logically by region.

This docs not, of course, make for the raoistest of readinu,, but it is undeniably an enormous compilation of data and a very comprehensive reference tome .

The second of these book is very different; Krakatau 1883: the volcanic

eruption and its effects by Tom S5.mkin and Richard S. Fiske, has b^een published (also b}' the Smi thsonian Institution) to mark the centenary of the largest and most catastrophic volcani<': eruption of historical times; on 26-27 August 1883, on the island of Krakatau or Krakatoa, in the Sunda Straits between Sumatra and Java, This book has everything. There are marvellous old prints of steam- ships swept miles ix'J.and, colour paintings of the fabulous sunsets that the volcano’s ash produc-ed wiiils i: in orbit around the Earthy then eyewitness accounts, tran.scripto -of telegrims ~ "Serang in total darkness all morning - stones falling. Villages near Ar.ijer washed away", facts and figures - 36 417 people killed, the Sun turned blue or preen, sea waves reaching 40 metres above sea level and carrying 600 ton bl.ocks of coral ashore, the explosion heard over 1/1 3th of the Earth’s surface; do you still wish that vxe had active volcanoes,, in Kenya?

Then there is the first English translation of an important 1885 monograph on the eruption, accounts of subsequent eruptions (including a stunnine photo- graphic sequence of a thousand metre hich cloud of dust rising in 36 seconds, very much like an atomic bomb, from a previously tranquil landscape) and summ- aries of all the scientific papers on the geology, the air and sea waves caused by the blast, the atmospheric effects, the climatic effects and the biology, a full bibliograph]/ and an index.

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All in alls ^ thoroughly fascinating, well produced book-for anyone with an interest in natural events s delve into it and become absorbed Both these books are now in our library.

Adrian D. Lewis, Geolc'''ys Box 30197, Nairobi

SOCIETY VISIT TO ELSAMERE CONSERVATION CENTRE

Twenty one members of the EARHS visited Joy A.damson’s hone, Elsamere, over the weekend of 11/12 August 1984, and were able to experience, as Joy's searching, tempestuous and talented spirit must often have done, its serenity and beauty.

It is a aem of a place, by a jewel of a lake. Large yellow-barked acacias frame the pearl-grey lake, and the lawn is lush and green. A pair of fish eagles in the acacia canopy, heads thrown back, gave their loud ringing chall- enge intermittently throughout the weekend, a sound which for me will always recall the sights and sounds of Africa to mind. As a bonus, a grey-capped warbler, hidden in the tangled creepers, sang his heart out. The acacias also provide an appropriate setting for the graceful ^^ymnastics of a small group of Colobus monkeys that live around the Centre, and who came for an early morning treat of potato peelings. They reminded me of a group of soberly dressed church elders, white hair peeking out from dark caps, peering bad- temper edly at a group of admiring sinners on the ground below.

The accommodation is charmint? and comfortable, and the reception from Enid and Jock Dawson, the wardens of the centre, made us feel like welcome friends. Enid's splendid catering and concern as to whether or not ^^;e had had enough to eat, completed the home-from-home feeling.

There is a small museum in the main building housing memorabilia depicting Joy's many and extraordinary talents, with fine photographs of the animals in her life and many small and simple things that must have had much meaning for the owner, that the visitor can only guess at.

The Dawsons organised a safari into He-ll's Gate. Enid was so disappointed that only one family had a 4-wheel drive car, as she said there was a rather difficult but most spectacular route that Jock would have shown us, but the 'easy' route we took probably had hazards enough for the layman, with panoramic views and animal si shrine’s enough to thrill the most jaded palate. Jock is an ex-hunter and with the naked eye c'^uld spot gam.e that was difficult to find with binoculars, ani because of his expertise we had fine views of Steinbok and Chandlers Mountain Reedbuck the same colour as the drought-brown hill, standing as still as a stone. There was plenty of plains game dotted around. Grants, Tommy, Elanr'! and many, many Kono-oni . There were also many Masai with their cattle, desperately seekin- grazing. There had been a couple of showers and one good downpour, so the grass was beginning to shoot.

We drove as far as was possi^^le up the gorge, to the place where the Sheena film unit ha.l wreaked havoc. They had cut out a wi'^e 'staircase' down to the streaiii bed, which was a nice bonus for us for easy access, though what d.amage it will do to the habitat when the rains do eventually come,- is anyone's guess.

We re- traced our route to reach our hill top destination, where we ate our fill on the picnic fare provided iy Enid, sating our sight on the marvellous views .

Aill in all, an enjoyable, interesting and highly successful outing, and our thanks to Barbara Bryan for organising it.

Dorothea Brass, Box 59196, Nairobi

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WARNING ?

CONTINUED BANGER FROM LIONS

IN THE ABERDARE MOUNTAINS

For some time nowj there has been a ban on camping in the Aberdare National Park due to problems with lions around the campsites;, but this was thought to have been alleviated to some extent by the capture and transfer of soma of the animals.

However, on 20 May 1934, the following incident occurred, which we bring to the notice of anyone contemplating out-of"car activity in the higher areas of the Park; where walking is normally permitted.

The details are too horrific to dwell upon, but in summary a woman has been severely mauled by a single lion at the picnic site at the Chania Bridge, as she was walking along the path that leads to the Chania Falls viewing platform. A cdr was driven at the lion which thereupon dropped the woman, suggesting that she v^as about to be dragged off as prey.

Thus please be aware that, for the moment, any walking, hiking, fishing, birdwatching etc. indeed any activity that involves leaving your vehicle for even limited periods, particularly in the Chania Falls area, could be exceed- ingly dangerous.

■Adrian, D. Lewis, Vice-Chairman, E.A.N.H.S.

SOCIETY NOTICES

LIBRARY LUl'ICHTIltE OPENING HOURS". The Joint Library of the E.A.N.H.S, and the National Museums will now be open at lunchtime on Monday and Friday to coincide with the opening days of the Society office. This will be for a trial period of three months, after which the situation will be revievred and if the library is not well patronised during these times, the facilitv will cease. So this is an appeal for members to use their excellent library.

JOURl'IAL PUBLICATIONS; The latest issue of the journal has been numbered 190 in error. It SHOULD be 180 and the next Journal part will be No. 131.

PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE; The Society has a stock of various interesting books on Natural History and reprints of Journal papers for sale as well as other scientific papers. A recent aldition is the various parts of the Flora of Tropical East Africa. These are published as separate papers for each family and published by the Ministry of Overseas Development. Prices vary from Sh.7/- to 110/- per paper.

NEW SECRETARY AND ASSISTANTS NEEDED URGENTLY; As detailed in the last Bulletin, the present Secretary, Mrs Barbara Bryan, is leaving Kenya in September, so the Society would appreciate the assistance of any member for the position of Secretary and any volunteers to assist the Secretary, The job involves keeping the office open during three half days per week, attending monthly executive committee meetings, duplicating the bi-monthly Bulletin, handling correspond- ence and keeping the membership records up-to-date. An honorarium is paid monthly as an appreciation, of the work involved, .

If no person is forthcoming, the office will have to CLOSE, yet again, until such time as someone can be found to continue with the job. This could be as soon as 10 September, Please contact the Chairman, Prof. J. Kokwaro, Box 30197, Nairobi if YOU can help or if you know of anyone else who might be interested.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

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SPECl^Jj MEMBERSHIP: The Chairman has nominated five people from Uganda for

special membership of the Society. They are,

Mr Michael Oneko, Uganda Institute of Ecology, Box 3530, Kampala, Uganda.

Mr Justus Tindigarukayo-Kashagire, Game Department, Box 4, Entebbe, Uganda.

Mr Jonathan Baranga, Zoology Dept. Makerere University, Box 7062, Kampala.

Miss Dorothy Eroori National Research Council, Box 6884, Kampala.

Mr Joseph Buruga, Botany Dept. Makerere University, Box 7062, Kampala. •

FOR SALE: "Sounds of Nature in the African Rain Forests" (Double long-playing

record - recorded by Stuart Keith. Published by Federation of Ontario *

Naturalists & the American Museum of Natural History, 1971. Price Sh.90/- available from the Society Office.

SOCIETY FUNCTIONS

MONDAY 1st October, 1984: In the Museum Hall at 5.30 p.m. Adrian Lewis will give a talk entitled "The Kenya bird atlas: the results". For well over three years noxc, well over 200 of you who now have the Bulletin in your hands have found nothing better to do with life than fill in bird atlas checklists, and to submit them to a faceless disaster that can only reply with vague but nonetheless impertinent enquiries as to the strength of your collection of bifocals, the history of hallucination in your forebears, or which end of your doubtless appalling binoculars you actually squint down. Well, now the chance of retri- bution: do come along on October 1 , SEE the disaster and feel free to laugh,

hurl ridicule, eggs or rotten fruit but, ABOVE ALL, come and see some of the mountain of results that is accumulating from what is 'essentially YOUR project.

I'JEDNESDAY MORNING bird walks continue, led by Mrs Fleur Mg'weno. Please meet at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. sharp.

INFORMAL "Pot Luck" outings are held on the second Sunday of each month.

Mrs Ng'weno cannot always lead them, but members wishing to participate are invited to attend with good ideas as to V7here to go, and are asked to invite one of their number to lead them if Mrs Ng'weno is unavailable on that day.

With regard to the Society talks, attendance in recent months has been highly variable. The Functions Organizer is appealing for 'feedback' as to reasons why this should be so: whether the tim.e of 5.30 p.m. is not convenient for most

people: whether the topics discussed are outwith the general interest or whether

a talk every month is too frequent. It is sad but true that the, reception to certain speakers of late has been very poor and^bearing in mind that these individuals have put time and effort for the occasion, a lack of response is both disappointing and detrimental to the society in general.

As Functions Organizer, I should be delighted to receive any views on this subject from members and, if possible, any ideas or suggestions for forthcoming talks and excursions.

Graham D.F. Reid, Box 30197, Nairobi.

110

THE EAST AFRICAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Chairman: Prof, J O. Kokwaro Vice-Chairman: Dr. A D Lewis

Joint Editors: Jl E. African Nat. History Soc. Nat. Mus: Dr. J.J. Hebrard and Dr. D. Widdowson Secretary: Mrs. B. Bryan Treasurer: Dr. S.G. Njuguna Hon. Librarian: Miss P. Allen

Executive Committee: (in addition to the above) Mr, G.C. Backhurst (Ringing Organiser), Mr. N.K. arap Chumo, Dr. D.J. Pearson, Mr. D.K. Richards, Mr. D A. Turner.

Co-opted Members: Mr. P, Davey, Mrs. J. Hayes, Mr. J.S. Karmali, Mrs. F, Ng'weno, Mrs. A.L. Campbell,

Dr. C. Gakahu

Journal Editorial Sub-Committee: Dr. J.J. Hebrard, Dr D. Widdowson

Ornithological Sub-Committee: Dr. D.J. Pearson, D.A. Turner, G.C. Backhurst, Dr. A.D, Lewis, T. Stevenson,

D. K. Richards, Dr. M E. Smalley, Dr. K.M. Howell & N.E. Baker (Tanzania), Dr. M.J. Carswell, Prof. D.E. Pomeroy (Uganda), B.S. Meadows, J.S.S. Beesley & J.F. Reynolds (United Kingdom).

Joint Library Sub-Committee: (Society representatives) Miss P. Allen & Mr. N. arap Chumo.

Nest Record Scheme Organiser: Mr. P.B. Taylor Bulletin Editor: Mrs. D. Backhurst

MEMBERSHIP

This offers you free entry to the National Museum, Nairobi; free lectures, films, slide shows or discussions every month in Nairobi; field trips and camps led by experienced guides; free use of the Joint Society-National Museum Library (postal borrowing is possible); reciprocal arrangements with 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 African Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists 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, which 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. BULLETIN

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.

SCOPUS

The Ornithological Sub-Committee publishes this bird journal five times a year. Cost: EANHS members KSHS.75/- p.a. All correspondence to D A. Turner, Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES

LOCAL OVERSEAS

Institutional (schools, libraries) ... annual payment:KShs. 1 00/- US$ 1 1 .00 f st. 7.00

Full Local and overseas . . annual payment: KShs.100/- US$ ll.OOfst. 7.00

Junior (full-time student, no Journal supplied)

... annual payment: K Shs.10/- US$ 4.00 fst. 2.50

Life Membership KShs.1500/- US$ 144.00 fst. 90. 00

Subscriptions are due 1 st January From 1 st July you may join for KShs.50/- and receive publications from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi

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