NOTES FOR CONTRSEUTORS

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.

EAIJHS BULLETIN

I0VEMBER/DECEM3ER 1977

COIJTERTS

Lavra Spiders, . , « , , , , , . , . , , , , ,

New Record of Tiang in Northern Kenya , , , ,

Some Notes on a Pair of Captive Common Genets
Caracal in Karen

Pugu Hj.lls Eorest Reserve 5 Bar es Salaam . , ,

Pood Storage in Indian House Crows , , . , , ,

Identification of the Hoopoej Upup a ep op s . ,

Preying by fiscal Shrike on Streaky Seed eater
Interesting Bird Recovery
The Tale of a Skin

Wasps on Aloes , , , , , , , , , . , . . . , ,

Record Section ,,,.,,.0000,.,..
Letters to the Editor

Cov/ries on the South Kenya Coast
Nest Record Scheme
Book Review , , , ,

Society Lecture Notes
Scopus

Society Notes , ,

New Members . ,

Society Functions

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'LAV/K SPIDERS’

Recently several members have come to the Museum to find
out about the Spiders which make si^k-lined holes in their lawns j
so I thought I would write a lit tie ' about them®

The Spiders concerned are in the
Wolf Spiders» They are rather advanc
and usually hunt by dayj creeping up
All the species that I know have disp
like all Spiders 5 each one trails a s
it to objects in its path from time t
does not hunt in the sen:e that the o
do, but waits for some insect or othe
heard of them catching small skinks )
can jump on it suddenly*

family lycosidae, or the
od and have good eyesight
on their prey by stealth,
enced with making a web, and
ilk line behind it, touching
o time. The ’Lawn Spider’
ther species in the family
r small creature (l have
to blunder past so that it

7

The hole itself is usually about 1 to 1o5cm across and the
silk round the top is laid down by the Spider to stop loose part-
icles of soil raining down on it when a large animal comes near.
The silk also gives the Spider a good grip on the side of the
hole. The Spider itself is quite large, being about 6cm across
the legs. The female is usually much larger than the male and
very much stouter. Their colour is light grey-brov/n with the
jaws bright orange, as are also the bases of the front legs in
some specimens. The abdomen has a weak pattern of darker brown
across it.

Most people when talking about Spiders want to know if they
are poisonous. Though this species is very closely related to
the ’Tarantula’ of Southern Europe, it should be stressed that
the poison is very weak, and only one Spider is known at present
to cause any worry in this part of Africa - the Black Widow
Spider which is very uncommon. To go back to the ’Tarantula’ of
Southern Europe, this is completely harmless and it is thought
that the fits and fevers associated with it are caused by tick
borne viruses which appear at the same time as the male Spiders
go courting. The true 'Tarantula' is quite a small Spider and
nothing at all to do with the big ’Bird-eating’ Spiders of the
tropical parts of the World.

V/'hen the 'lawn Spider’ reaches maturity, after about 8 moults
(as was the case in Deolycosa maderiana v/hich I bred in England,
a species with a leg span of about 10cm and the second largest
in the family), the male begins to wander looking for a female,
and often comes into houses. When the male finds a hole with
a female rn , v/hich he can tell by the chemicals on the silk round
the hole, he starts making a special tapping motion on the ground.
This quietens the female so that he is able to approach, and

124

finally go into it to pair. After this the female usually chases
the male away rather than eating him, a thing that does not
happen as often as would be thought amongst Spiders, She then
seals off the top of the hole, goes to the bottom and, making a
thick sheet of silk, deposits the 100 or so eggs on it, covers
them with silk and stands guard until they hatch. The young
take about a year to reach maturity.

These Spiders are quite common in the lawns around Nairooi
and are almost as plentiful in the rank grass of waste places
around the city, but are not so easy to see. They form an impor-
tant part of the diet for the Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagadash
and the African Hoopoe, Upupa op op s af r i c an a in one particular
garden in Nairobi. It is interesting to see these birds probing
dovm the holes for the Spiders which often make a bond in their
tubes round a rock a few centimetres below the surface. How do
the Spiders dig their holes ? Simple, they chew the soil out
with their strong jaws and carry it away,

M.P. Clifton,

P.O. Box 40658, NAIROBI.

NEW RECORD OP TIANG IN NORTHERN KENYA

At about 6 p.m, on 15th June 1977 I was flying with Dr Lamp-
rey from Maikona to Mt Kulal in Marsabit District, As wo flew
over Gamura, a waterholo on the edge of the Chalbi Desert, we
saw two animals which on close inspection proved to be Tiang,
Dasmaliscus korrigum tiang. Although, of course, from the air
we could not be certain that these were Tiang rather than Topi,
Dasmaliscus korrigum topi, it would seem to be more likely.

The nearest record of the Tiang is from Allia Bay on Lake Turkana,
some 170 km to the North East, while the nearest for the Topi is
from North East Mt , Elgon approximately 340 km away. Topi to
the North 'West of Lake Turkana can be safely exclp.ded os possib-
ilities as the lake and the Omo River are effective barriers to
their movement. (Por details see Stewart and Stewart (l963)?
Journal of the East Africa, Natural History Society 24 (3) and
the E,A, Wildlife Society (l977) Report of the Working Group
on the Distribution and Status of East African Mam.mals,)

It is interesting to speculat
to be at Gamura, One possibility
much larger and hitherto unrecorde
the edge of the Chalbi when it was
pastures along its shores. The se
have come from the Allia Bay popul

e on how and why th
is that they are a
d population which
a lake v/ith season
cond possibility is
ati on ,

e Tiang came
relic of a
lived along
ally flooded
that they

I tend to support the latter theory since we do not know of

125

any references among the local G-abra to their occurance in the
area. Also the recent y widespread and heavy rain may have enabled
the Tiang to cross what would normally prove to be inhospitable
to them. ^

Dr Christopher R. Field,
UNESCO Arid Lands Project,
P.0, Box 30592, NAIROBI.

SOME NOTES ON A PAIR OE CAPTIVE COMMON CENETS

The
December
prompted
of Common
duties as

recent tv/o part article by Mr Prickett in the November/
1976 and January/Pebruary 1977 Bulletins on Genets has
me to recall my own experiences with a captive pair
Genets, Genet ta genett a. These I kept as part of my
a keeper at Melbourne Zoo, Australia in 1974.

Firstly a word on their husbandry to set the scone. This
was relatevely simple, indeed standardised and the same as prac-
tised for other small and medium sised non-aquatic carnivores I
kept at the same time such as Geoffreys Cat, Felis geof f royii ,
Leopard Cats, tigrina , a Tiger Cat, Dasyurus maculatus ,
Quolls, D^. viverinnus and a Mongoose of indeterminate taxonomic
status. The Genets enclosure had dimensions of 1.5 x 4.5 x 2,2
metres, constructed of v/eld mesh and had a southerly aspect.

It contained a coarse-grained sand floor, standard steel water
bowl and a nest box of 80 x 30 x 30cm, The nest box was set
1,5 m above the floor and v/as reached by an arboreal freeway of
stout branches. No nest:|.ng material was supplied intentionally
and no attempt was made by the Genets to gather anj?- of that
inadvertently introduced, of a supposedly suitable nature.

They were fed and watered daily, with two starve days a week
if they were in good health. Food consisted of dead rats, mice
and day old chicks and regularly a special minced preparation
with nutritional supplements added. My observations must, by
the nature of my association with them, be limited by the short
time I could spend daily in their company and the confining
environment in which they lived.

My introduction to the Gen
check out everything in the off
newly made responsible for. No
I was somewhat mystified by an
a promising nest box in the far
my first impression was flavour
of the nest box, I looked into
my nose accustomed to the smell

ets consisted of being told to
limits section of the Zoo I was
thing loath to meet my new stock,
apparently empty enclosure with
end. On entering the enclosure
ed by the overpowering musky odour
the entrance of the box and as
and my eyes to the dark I noticed

two pairs of eyeSj one low and the other high, blinking in turn.
This revelation v/as followed by a considerable volume of hissing
and an increase in stink when I tapped the side of the box to
encourage the inmates to reveal themselves. I did not have long
to wait as two pointed faces suddenly came in my direction at
considerable speed from little distance. As I leaned back a
lithe form shot past my face and another over my shoulder, taking
a mouthful of my hair with it. Having always imagined Genets to
be little more that spotty Ferrets, I was not disappointed, and
also not a little thankful I had snibbed the door on entering.

As quickly as they appeared they ascended a branch leading to
the nest box and were gone.

old

Returning in a little while
chicks I tried a more subtle

armed with a pocketful of day
approach. I placed a chick

(these were dead of course I ) in the mouth of the nest box
preparing to wait for a little action at such an invitation.
There was an immediate shuffling inside as two bodies rearranged

themselves, but the chick remained,
and then grew impatient. Distracted
Honeyeater nearby, I looked back and
so shy after all I I put another in
no messing around this time for as I
eared into the recess of the smelly nest box with a little
hissing and spitting as a probable dispute as to prior claim
took place. Content at ha,ving at least invoked e. response of
sorts I deposited my pocket load of chicks, and later some rats
on the floor.

I watched, and watched,
by the alarm call of a
the chick was gone. Hot
its place and there was
removed my hand it disapp-

After having made their acquaintance for a few weeks I put
their apparent shyness down more to mishandling or at best a
rough and tumble relationship with keepers, and the hypodermic
syringe and thermomet cr of • ve ts , than their supposed 'inherent*
shyness and 'strickly' nociurnal habits. In fact I found that
these inquisitive animals V/ere often active, if undisturbed by
man or other large creatures, in the early morning, dusk of
evening and on overcast days, coming out and ferreting around
and fossicking at any changes I might have made in the enclosure.

With the continuing hon-sucess of v/inning their trust by
bribing them with our one link, their daily ration, I tried to
watch them at the most opportune time my routine allowed, after
clocking off in the evening. With only thirty minutes of view-
ing time left I did not put out their food till I was ready to
watch them, so I could catch a, ma.ximLim of activity. I scattered
small game all over the place, sometimes hanging it from the walls
or hiding it under leaf litter (v/hich had to be removed as it was
considered insanitary and unneccesary by my supervisors). It
v/as curious to see that they often collected the day old chicks

127

and micej sometimes two at a time and almost invariably took them
back to the nest box to consume. Sometimes they picked all of
these up and deposited them in the nest box before eating any-
thing - though this happened only casionally. This habit
often resulted in the most revolting messes of yolk (as day old
chicks still have quite a proportion of yolk) glueing down mice
tails and pathetic looking pink chicks legs to the nest box
floor. Dead rats, as an article of Zoo Genets dietj v/ere trea-
ted rather differently to smaller fry and were literally attac-
ked and shaken before being consumed on the ground y only the
odd incisor or tail-end remaining.

On two occasions I gave my Genets live food, by way of
e:<periment, and expected them to be mystified since they were,

I believe, either captive at or from birth, and not fully conv-
ersant with the correct form of hunter/prey relationships, For
beginners they seemed to have killing instinct plus, especially
the larger of the two. It attacked a live guinea pig in a flash
and killed it by a quick bite across the back and a ripping with
the back feet. It later excelled itself by catching a live
Sparrow in the air by leaping from its nest box.

I am left in no doubt of the adaptability of the Common
Genet! if this species took up a feral existance in Australia
it would survive v/ith great sucess, probably to the detriment
of Rodent populations. Indeed, twice I found decapitated
Spotted Doves, Streqtopelia chinensis» pulled up close to the
Genet enclosure, so I can only presume these dim— witied birds
put their heads into the enclosure only to lose them to a hungry
Genets flash attacks a sort of one way ticket to Golumbif orm
Valhalla 1

Any distinct changes in the interior of the enclosure such
as nev/ stumps and branches resulted in the larger Genet closely
followed by the smaller tentatively high stepping along the
wall until each now or changed object was investigated, I did
not observe any obvious attempt to scent mark the new object,
but probably the whole enclosure was so saturated with the over-
powering odour of Genets so as to make it unneccosary.

Both Genets appeared to bo extremely watchful of birds,
and large ones such as Ravens, Corvus mollori and _C. coronoides
flying over sometimes caused them to rush into their box, if
they were still up and about when the Ravens v/oro waking up.

They always appeared quite well groomed and occasionally could
be seen to lick themselves, particularly their feet, I never
saw them lick or even intent ionally touch each other and they
did not appear to give themselves the sort of ritual toilet
the domestic cat docs, as I thought they might.

Scats were always left in the same spot along a bit of
open wall and although they were removed every day and I might
have changed the decor somev/hatj I suspect the musky old Genet
smell v/as strong enough to compel the lasting use of this spot.
This might have boon inconvenient as I once left a stump on the
latrine spot and the next morning the scats were deposited on
the top of it. They could have made their latrine spot a lot
further away from their nest box if they had wished to.

I was unable to find out the sex of my Genets and no one
seemed any the wiser than me j till due to my good natured folly
one of them had to be caught. I had neglected to remove them
from their nest box in the morning for a fev/ days running for
the regulation daily inspection to make sure of their health.
Since it always seemed to leave them in a dither I had left
them alone. A tell tale streak of blood and pus revealed that
something was amiss and it proved to be the larger Genet had
an absess in the middle of his tailj as ho proved to be a *him*j
and he lost half of it, I nearly lost my job for such incompet-
ence, probably, rightly so, though at the time I felt differently,

That I kept any records of the Genets apart from my regulat-
ion daily Zoo diary of births, deaths, arrivals and departures,
and the occurance of escapees and diarrhoea, was due to their
active and engaging nature when compared to other carnivores in
the extremes of close captive existance. These personal records
are scanty enough and v/ere made as jottings in a note book
which was soon lost so the fallible memory had to be relied upon.

One wonders v/hat other keepers world v;ide , must see and
learn, only to be forgotten as memories fade and no v/ritten
records remain.

Simon Townsend,

13 Parkstone Avo , Pascoe
Vale South, Victoria 3044,
AUSTRALIA,

CARACAL lU KAREN

I live on the Eastern sid
where I have a two hectare plo
October I was pottering around
mann Pinscher began barking ex
which grows at the back of the
side of my lawn, a mere 10m fr
found he was being answered fr
ious spitting and hissing, Th
and out of the thicket came a-

e of Ndege Road, Karen near Nairobi
t. At about 11 a,m, on I6th
in my garden when my large Dober-
citedly around a thicket of bush
herbaceous border at the far
om Ndege Road, I went across and
om within the thicket by a feroc-
e second Lobermann then arrived
Caracal, Eelis caracal , He passed

5

129

within four metres of me an
the house to the other end
him come out on my side of
give chase.

d then lolloped across the lav/n^ past
of the garden. The dogs had not seen
the thicket so fortunately did not

He was a large mature Caracal,
that he was a male and he appeared to
I had known for some months that some
in my garden and indeed the dogs have
hush before v^ithout driving him out.
the animal and certainly never suspec

Prom his size I would imagine
be in magnificient condition
type of wild cat was living
barked around this same
But I had never before seen
ted that it was a Caracal,

Our house is at an altitude of exactly 1829m5 and I would
not have thought that a Caracal v/ould choose to live in a resid-
ential area at this altitude. Admittedly he has the Karen Golf
Course and a vlei behind us to range in search for food but
■ apart from the Crowned Ploverj Vanellus c oronatus there are few
ground birds in the area. I v/ould assume he is living mainly
on rats and mice.

Oh for the old days when a good sized domestic cock cost
-/50 cents I 1 v/ould happily have bought him one daily to keep
such a delightful animal living on my plot but alas feeding him
today would be too expensive an undertaking - anyhov/ he seems
to bo able to do it himself,

Eric Risleyj

P.O. Box 24751 j HAIROBI

THE PUGU HILLS POREST RESERVE, BAR ES SALAAM

An excellent spot for bird watching and natural history
study of all kinds is the Pugu Hills Porest Reserve near Bar es
Salaam, Tanzania. This relatively well preserved area of forest
has some highland as v/ell as coastal affinities. It is one of
the few readily accessible forests in Tanzania. Although the
forest is suprisingly little known in viev/ of its proximity to
Bar os Salaam, the Bats have been extensively studied by Br Kim
Hov/ell of the University of Bar es Salaam, B.A. Turner, M. Robb-
ins and I visited the forest on 17th July with Br Hov/ell.

The Porest Reserve can be reached by proceeding 14km beyond
the Bar es Salaam International Airport on the road to Kisarawe.
At this point, a turnoff to the loft leads to the Minaki Secon-
dary^ School, Just opposite the bus stop at the school a track
leads down to the left to the school’s pumping station and a
small lake. This track is excellent for forest birds, including
Harina’s Trogon, Apalo derma narina , Green Tinkerbird', Pogoniulus

simplex , Kretschmer’s Longbillj Macrosphenus kertschmeri, and
Crested Flycatcher, Trochocercus cyanomelas . On this track we
also saw two uncommon forest birds, the Eastern Least Honey-
guide, Indicator meliphilus and tlr^B Uluguru Violet-backed Sun-
bird, Anthrept 0 s neglec tus « A very rare Tanzanian endemic,

Mrs Moreau’s Warbler, Bathmocercus winif ridae , has been recorded
from the forest.

Another, more extensive fo
ing right at the 14km crossroad
the. kaolin mines. This track c
the Pugu Station, The Bat Hav/k
been recorded from here. With
birds being done on the Kenyan
the Pugu Hills Forest might she
migrations and v/intoring quarto

rest area can be reached
s on a track v/hich leads
rosses the railway lines
, Macheirhamphus alcinus ,

by turn-
down to
near
has

forest

the extensive studies of
coast, more thorough study of
d light on such questions as the
rs of coastal forest birds.

J , L. G-erhart ,

P.O. Box 41081, nAIROBI,

FOOD STORAGE IN

INDIAN HOUSE

CROWS

On Mombasa Island between 15th and 17th October 1977 I kept
under observation for several hours daily, six Coconut Palms,

Cocos nucif era because of the great nesting activity of the
Indian House Crows, Corvus splendens . Pour of the trees had
completed nests containing well grovm chicks, 4, 4? 4? and 3 in
number, and in the remaining two trees nests were near complet-
ion, During the late afternoon the chicks were very active,
testing out wings, pushing each other around near the edges of
the nests and much begging for food when the adult birds were
nearby. The inside gape of the chicks was a bright coral-
orange colour.

On several occasions the attendant adult birds on the
occupied nests were seen to abstract food from the base of a
cluster of nuts near the n-est site, hold the food dov/n with one
foot, tear pieces off which they appeared to eat and food the
chicks by regurgitation. The cluster of nuts was then revisited
and the remaining food firmly stored again. The food appeared
to be mainly crabs and fish skin. No restocking of these
’larders’ was observed. No mention of this obvious larder
system could be found in any of the standard works on East African
birds ,

Mrs E, Angv/in,

P.O. Box 72833j

NAIROBI

IDENTIFICATION OF THE HOOPOE, HPUPA EPOPS

There are times in East Africa when three races of the
Hoopoe are present, thus the ideniO-Tication of the birds might
be difficult. T?/o are migrants, one from the Palaearctic. The
African Hojpoe, Upup a ep op s af ricana is with us throughout the
year and breeds regularly. These are resident birds or intra-
African which move about, appearing nov/ and then, residing a
while and then moving on.

On the other hand there is another intra- African migrant
known sometimes as the 'Somali' or 'Senegal* Hoopoe. This race
was knov/n as U.^. somaliensis or U. _e_. senegalensis and herein
lies the confusion. In Sclater's ' Syst ema Avium Aethiopicarum'
1924 the bird is known as the Somali Hoopoe, U._e, somaliensis ;
however in Mackworth Praed and Grant 1952 the bird becomes the
Senegal Hoopoe, U.^. senegalensis , but a third African race is
recognised by some as U._e. waibeli ie. in Y^hite (l965 ) Revised
Check List of African non-passerine birds with the type locality
Cameroons and it is said to range into Kenya and Uganda.

However, it appears to be doubtfully distinct in the hand
(Museum skins; and thus virtually impossible to identify in the
field .

So, for simplicity we can recognise the African, Somali and
European Hoopoes. The European v/ould only be with us from around
September to April while the Somali would overlap, arriving
around April and leaving in August/Sept ember . This race may even
breed in East Africa.

The diagramatic v/ing patterns of the bird in flight may
assist identification. All black primaries and secondaries will
be the African Hoopoe, all primaries and secondaries with a
white spot thus forming a continuous white semi-circle v/ill be
the European while the Somhli race shows the greatest area of
white p art icularly ‘ from the shoulder and across the coverts and
secondaries. There 'are intermediates as far as the degree of
v/hite or pale pattern is concerned, nevertheless these three
wing patterns should help .the observer identify his bird.

G.R. Cunninghan van Someren,
P.O. Box 40658, NAIROBI

PREYING BY FISCAL SHRIKE ON STREAKY SEED-EATER

In July wo witnessed an attack by an apparently immature
Fiscal Shrike, Lanius c ollaris on a Streaky Seed-eater, Sorinus
striolatus in our garden in Lavington, Nairobi. The Fiscal

132

wing patterns

fig 1.

african hoopoe

fig z.

european hoopoe

fig 3.

Somali hoopoe

g.n€vs. birds”

adapted from nature library

appeared to pin the Streaky Seed-eater to the ground and killed
it rather quickly, \Yhen we approached the scene this frightened
off the Shrike momentarily but he returned a few minutes later
to carry off his prey. Frightened again by a pasoerby he
dropped the dead bird some 20m from where it was killed. The
Shrike returned again some five minutes later and picked up the
dead bird and flew v/ith it out of our garden and our view.

Frank and Ruth Durfey^

P.0, Box 30137? IIAIROBI.

INTERESTING BIRL RECOVERY

I would like to draw to member’s attention the follov/ing
bird recovery, I think it is interesting as the bird, a Rod-
rump ed Swallov/j Hirundo daurica, had worn the ring for just
under eight years 5 and it was adult when I ringed it. It was
caught at Kariobangi Sewage Works 5 Nairobi on 12th September
1969 and ringed. On 7th July 1977 the same bird was captured
alive at the Firestone Factory, Nairobi and released.

Mrs Lise Campbell,

P.O. Box 14469, NAIROBI

THE TALE OF A SKIN

On the morning of 28th September 1977 I was called out to
the back of our house at Watamu, Kenya with ’Come and see this
huge snake 1 ’ There it was curled up in the branches of a
spreading Bamba-kofo Tree, Af zelia cuanzensis about 10m from
our back door, which, of course, is alv/ays used by anyone comin
into the house. It was about 3ei off the ground and right above
the path. At first it was difficult to identify as we could

but it looked
A little

not see the head, just the under part coiled round
quite large, and appeared very pale, almost white,
later v/e saw the head, comfortablv relaxed and resting on a coil.
’She’ (I’m sure she looked female; peered over at us standing
just below, seemed to like what she sav/, and put her head away
again. She was definitely a Mamba, and seemed to be pale grey-
beige on the back. Out came all the reference books we had on
snakes, and she could only be a Black Mamba, Dondroaspi s
polylepis polylepis . On reading V,F,M, FitzSimons, A Field
Guide to the Sanke s of Southern Africa v/e found ” Its great
size, alertness, extreme agility, reputed uncertain temper
and aggressiveness, together with the deadliness of its venom,
make it the most feared snake on the continent. When confronted
it often shows great truculence especially during the mating;
season ", She seemed so out of place; again quoted as "being

134

found more in open bush country where it lives in abandoned
animal holes, termitaria or in rocky outcrops. In such a chosen
hide-out it will live for years if undisturbed, and return reg-
ularly after forays for food or tc| find a mate ”, It also said
this snake was equally at home on the ground or in trees, but I
have never seen one in a tree before.

All that morning people went backwards and forwards under-
neath the snake, the dogs rushed out barking, the cats wandered
in chatting as usual at meal times, and we showed her off to
friends. No aggressiveness at all, in fact complete indifference,
though she would sometimes peer over at what v/as going on.

On

have

our plot, having a lot of thick undergrowth and trees.

a number of Green Mambas

Dendroaspis an gu s t i c e p s , an d
They sleep up in the trees in
3,30 p,m, and returning at

we

they were not at all aggressive,
the day time, going off at about
around 8,00 a,m, to sleep during the heat of the day. Very often
during very dry weather we have given them a shower when water-
ing the garden, which they love; they put their heads up and
round like a cat being scratched behind the ears.

We fully expected this very pale version of the B1

no way could v/e believe it
again in the evening. But
v/hen we flashed a torch on
Next morning she still
branch a little further up
four days and nights, and '

was a green one gone wrong
she 'was still there at 10, 30
her- again she just peered 0
there, though she had moved
and over the path. This wen
■as very puzaling indeed, 'We

contemplated calling in Mark Eas t erbrooke , our local sn
and collector but it did not seem a very nice thing to
trusting Mamba, Then on 2nd October she was still ther
a,m, when we went fishing jbut on our return at 10,30 sh
we thought, m.oved off at last. However, about an hour
went out again, and there hanging over the path was a 1
We crept up to have a look, and then realised that the
empty. There, seemingly as a reward for taking care of
she was

d e f en c e 1 e i

she

the

entrance

c are

fully

to

ely

damp „

qu

as

if takin

had
1 0

left us her complete skin,
our home J

ack Mam ba-
te go off
p , m,

ver at us,
to another
t on for
even

ake expert
do to our
e at 7,30
e had ,
later we
ong tail,
tail was
her when
draped

it out of the tree, it was still
e perfect, not a tear or a blemish
anyv/here, but as if taking off a stocking, it was completely
inside out, right to the very tip of the tail. Every scale
was marked, the scales over the face and jaw and also the eyes.
The underpart of the body v/as single horizontal scales going
right round the belly, but at the end of the body v/here the .
tail joins on, the scales divided into two, (Here no doubt
experts could tell us the snake’s sex from the size of the vent).

135

We measured the skin and it was exactly 244cm (8’ ) long^ the
length of the tail being 59cm, She must have started the peel-
ing off from her face and head, and it looked as if she was
pushed through a |V’ branch and peeled it off backwards. This,
of course, v/as the reason why she was so pale, V/hat a pity v/e
were not watching her that morning, and v/hat a beauty she must
have looked in her nev/ skini She was off and gone, and we traced
her up the path past our cook's house, over the plot next door,
and into the thick bush beyond.

It is probably natural for such a snake to take to the trees

when shedding its skin, but who can say why she came to the one

place in that area where there is almost constant human activity,
A few metres away on either side and we would have never known
she was there. One wonders if she felt safer with us, and she
knew we like snakes; though I must admit I v/as a little dubious
as to whether I really did like a Black Mamba over the entrance,

or if I was just kidding myself ? V/ill she return when the time

comes for her next skin to come off; are they normally immobile
for as long as four days and nights ? Can anyone tell me how
often a Mamba sheds its skin ? And now what can v/e do with this
beautiful, still soft and silky skin ?

Anne V, Donnelly,

P.O. Box 420, MALIBDI,

Konya

In ansv/er to Mrs Donnelly's queries, here are a few general
answers. Sankes usually are immobile shortly before shedding
their skins, but they normally hide av/ay in a safe place as,
during the early stages of the process, the eye clouds over
rendering the animal practically blind. It is suprising that
this specimen v;as out in a vulnerable position four days before
the skin was shed - presumably its eyes had already clouded and
it took its time over the actual shedding.

Black Mambas are common along the coast particularly in the
thick scrub on coral rag, v/here the Green Mamba is rather uncomm-
on, .The Black Mambas are more territorial than Green Mambas
and are more likely to enter houses and lie up in store rooms
and packing cases etc, which makes them rather more dangerous.

Hov/ often do Mambas shed their skin ? It is very variable
and depends on the snakes activity, but it v/ould be safe to say
about every six weeks to tv/o months.

Alex Mac Kay,

Herpetologist ,

P.O. Box 40658, KAIROBI.

WASPS IN ALOES

Over a period of time, a v/atcli has been kept on some culti-
vated Aloes in Nairobi in which si(^ll holes were drilled in the
flov\Tering stems by insects^ These’' holes v/ere about 2mm across
and the fibres from inside the stem were littered over the
leaves, suggesting the larvae of a Cerambycid beetle.

Investigation of a stem of Aloe secundif lora showed that
these holes were in fact made by a Sphegid Wasp, Grabro
bipunc tatus which was using the stem as a nesting site. The
hole v/ent up the stem and small cells were made by partitions
in the^^hole. These colls contained larvae and pupae and were
stocked with a large number of tiny flies, A series of about
six young appeared to be the limit, though it is possible that
they have several broods. In the A, secundif lora stem there
were three seperate nests, and one was also found in the stem
of A. graminic ola , but as the stem was still full of sap the
Y^asp had not dug out a proper nest chamber, only a hole big
enough to house itself.

The only specimens in the National Museum, Nairobi collection
before the above v/ere brought in were from Bulawayo, Rhodesia,

M.P. Clifton,

P,0o Box 40658, NAIROBI

RECORD SECTION

The following plants are all new distribution records from
the Rift Yalley for A.D.Q, Agnew’s Upland Kenya Wild Elowers .
They were all collected in August 1977 by M.P, Clifton v/hoas
collection number follows the data i

Eumeriac eae

Near Naivasha tov/n

lU maria abyssinica Hamm.

No 1214

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L, ) Medic, Cruciferae, Naivasha -

Nakuru Road, near llk-ek,

No 1381
Portulacaceae

Portulac ca foliosa Ker-Gawl.

Polygonac eae

Naivasha Town.

No 1351

Rumex bequaertii De Wild
near Ilkek, No 1399

Cyathula schimp erana Moq, Amar an thac eae
Naivasha, North Lake Road, No 1326

Abut ilon longicusp e A, Rich, Malvaceae,
Naivasha, North Lake Road. No 1306

Naivasha - Nakuru Road
Masai Gorge, Lake
Masai Gorge , Lake

157

Masai Gorge, Lake

T orilis arvensis (Huds. ) Link, Umbellif erae »

Ilaivasha, ITorth Lake Road, ITo 1301

Galium spur ium Linn, Rubiaceae, Hell’s Gate. No 1268

Gnap thalium purpur eum Linn. Compc^itae, Hell’s Gate, No 1256

Hypochoeris glabra. Linn. Compositae. Naiyasha - Nakuru Road,
near Ilkek, No 1380

W alil en b e r g i a sp. A of U.K.V/.R. Campanulac eae « Hell’s Gate,

No 1279

Barlaria micantha C.B. 01. Acanthaceae. Near Naivasha Town.
No 1234- .

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,

Cov/rios on the South Kenya Coast

I welcome the note by Mr and Mrs Dengate on page 112 of the
September/October Bulletin on living Cowries found on the reef
at Tiwi Beach, Kenya. In a paper to be published in the Journal
of the Society I record various species found at Tiwi, in
addition to others noted as having a v/idespread distribution:

I have not seen Cypraea t alp a and _C. cribraria which were found
by the Dengates - these I v/ould class as uncommon nowadays on
the Kenya coast. In addition to those noted by the Dengates I
have seen several other Cowries at Tiwi :

Cypraea arabica
f imbriat a
C , staphylaea

Cypraea chinensis
_C , nucleus
C, teres

Cypraea f elina

Cypraea chinensis was only seen on one occasion on the
lagoon side of the reef juat North of a gap opposite Tiwi Creek,

_C. nucleus was also seen only once but this was found on the sea-
ward side of the reef, where also is sometimes found _C. staphylaea
(as in _C, limacina ) . . Although _C, f elina , _C, f imbriata and
_C. teres have not beep, seen recently, some time ago they could
be found on the lagoon side of the reef in the area North from
Tiwi Creek almost, to the beach of Twiga Lodge. _C, arabica was
seen in the pools, in the reef North of Twiga Lodge.

The information that a local fisherman had specimens of
Cypraea boivinii (supposedly from Shimoni) indicates the
importance of establishing authentic records for this species
from East African coasts - I also have a specimen obtained from
a beach shell trader, .

I look forv/ard to further reports from shell enthusiasts

John' P. Osborne, P.O. Box 30148

NAIROBI

138

Dear Sirj

NEST RECORD CARDS

No wonder Dr Brown has accom|flishecl much in his lifetime if
he can fill out a bird nest record card in detail in two minutes j,
when it takes the rest of us longer than that just to spell the
name right I

But joking aside j I would like to support him in asking all
of you to fill out nest record cards. Here are a few do’s and
don’ts to simplify matters.

DO fill out a card for every bird you find nesting or feeding
young, no matter how ’common’. It is only through regular and
complete records that we will get a true picture of birds habits.
DON’T think you have to fill every space on the card. You will
not have to shinny up the tree and peer into the nest to count
the eggs I is

ird si

tting on a nest

or f e

a goo

d

enough record.

have

to

observe the n

es t f

of a

bi

rd sitting on

eggs

card

in

detail you

can.

t over

a

long period.

it wi

of value

If you are able to
be a better recor(

Even in a single observation v/rite down as much detail as possible ,
especially the plumage of juvenile birds,

DO fill out a card when you see an adult bird feeding a fledgling
( a young bird which is able to fly and is out of the nest). Note
the fledglings plumage,

DO send your cards promptly and regularly to :

Mrs Hazel Britton. P.0, Box 90163

MOMBASA,

Eleur Ng’weno,
P, 0. Box 42271 J

NAIROBI,

" BOOK REVIEW

V/ickens 5 G.E. , The Elora of J gb e 1 Marr a ( Sudan Republic ) and its
Geographical Affinities , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,

Kew Bulletin Additional Series V, London OHMS 1976,

Price £ 25 nett,

Jebel Marra, the subject of this study, is a volcanic massif
rising to over 3000m, located in the Sudan Republic near the
border with Chad. The location on the study area virtually in
the centre of the African continent makes it an area of prime
phyt ogeographical interest. An analysis of the origins of the
flora of the Jebel Marra massif is of considerable importance
to the phyt ogeography of Africa, particularly in terms of the

139

interplay of temperate and tropical elements of the African flora.

This v/ork gives a thorough ao,count of the flora of Jebel
Marraj including a detailed specials list j as well as a general-
ized account of the flora of the SQudan, Climate^ geologyj soils
and the history of human use of the massif are also considered
in some detail. The chapter on the history of botanical explor-
ation of Jebel Harra echoes the history of many other montane
areas in Africa. Only recently have these areas come under
detailed study.

The phytogeographical aspects of the study are also thoro-
ughly covered, begining with an introduction to phytogeography.

A careful and well-organized review of the phytogeographical
divisions of Africa and its neighbouring regions is of great
value as a recent attempt to define the exact nature of the
various devisions. The outline given by Wiskens v/ill be very
useful as a framework within which to consider other African
floras. The review of the literature is quite useful, as it is
well footnoted, and the minor adjustments made by the author to
existing phytogeographical theory are well-documented by a
complete catalogue of distribution maps for each species seen at
Jebel Marra.

V/ickens® review of the geomorphic history of Africa, with
emphasis on the Quaternary period is enlightening, with regard
to geologic influences on the evolution of the African flora,

For purposes of analysis, the Jebel Marra flora is divided
into a savanna element and montane and temperate elements,
Phytogeographical analysis of the Jebel Marra flora indicates
strong affinities with the floras of northeastern Africa and
East Africa. The Jebel Marra flora is considered to be a der-
ived flora, and not developed iii situ, having arrived at Jebel
Marra by various migration routes, largely from the East,

Though the survey of the montane and temperate elements of Jebel
Marra is quite complete, the author notes that there are gaps in
the phyt oge ography of Afro-montane and temperate elements due
to inadequate surveys of other African montane areas.

The Jebel Marra study is a useful reference for phytogeog-
raphical studies of .tropical montane areas. Perhaps one of the
most important conclusions of this study is the fact that much
more work needs to be done in Afro-montane floras. V/ickens has
provided an admirable model for other studies to follow, as well
as an excellent reference for comparisons of phytogeographical
analysis of floras of other Afro-montane areas.

Mrs V.C. Pay ad ,
P.O. Box 14790,

NAIROBI

140

SOCIETY LECTURE NOTES

Mr James Kahurananga on ' The Ecology of Large Herbivores in the
Siman.1 iro Plains , N.o,rt h e rn T an z an ’

On 12th Se;^tember 1977 Mr J: mes Kahurananga gave Society
members a most interesting lecture on his research programme that
was designed to complement Dr Hugh Lamprey’s classic studies in
what is nov/ the Tarangire National Park„ Dr Lamprey’s v/ork
had shown the Tarangire to be a dry season concentration area
for plains game from the huge tract of Masailand known as the
Simanjiro Plains, Our speaker’s task was to establish that
the Tarangire N,P. and the Simanjiro Plains were in fact one
ecosystem, then to study the exploitation of the plains by both
wild and domestic herbivores, and finally suggest management
plans for safeguarding the viability of the ecosystem,

Mr Kahurananga ’ s research was spread over three years. He
first recorded and accurately mapped the distribution of the
four main plant communities of the plains - these v/ere well-
drained open grassland, bushed grassland, seasonally flooded
or v;at er-logged grasslands and Acacia woodland. This work was
done by a combination of aerial and ground surveys, the latter
including many unc o"f ort able ’quadrat-hours’ to precisely deter-
mine the flora of each community.

Once the ■'egetation had been mapped, regular census flights
along 100 transect lines provided data both on the numbers of
herbivores and on the plant communities v/hich each species
particularly exploited. The latter aspect was follov/ed up in
more detail by careful observation on feeding habits from that
useful moving hide, a Landrover,

Livestock was found to represent the highest proportion of
the total herbivore biom.8-ss an " were more numerous during the
dry season when they v/ere concentrated around the very limited
number of watering points. The census v/ork very clearly revealed
the v/estward movement of wild herbivores towards and into the
National Park as the Simanjiro Plains dried out. As elsewhere,
Zebra, Wildebeest and Thoro.son’s G-azelle were found to have
different feeding niches. Zebra taking coarser and taller grass
than Wildebeest which also largely rejected stems in favour of
leaves. When these tv/o species had largely cleared an area of
grass cover the Gazelles moved in to feed on the nev/ shoots
growing up from the underground parts. Cattle and \7ildebeest
appeared to be in competition for the same food when both were
present in the same area and the invasion of the pastures by
certain woody plants was a sure indication of overgrazing.

141

Mr Kahurananga touched briefly on the problems posed by
poachers and charcoal burners. He did not consider either of
these to be too serious. Access to the woodlands is so difficult
for vehicles that the profits fronj^ charcoal are largely offset
by breakdowns of trucks and lorrieb v/hile the penalties for
poaching are nov/ sufficiently severe to act as real deterrents -
eight years in jail was quoted as the sort of sentence being
given nowadays. It was very good to hear that as a result of
Mr Kahurananga ’ s studies the Tanzanian Government management/
development plans for this part of northern Tanzania include
provision of a broad^ settler-and cult ivat ion-f ree corridor
betv/een the Simanjiro Plains and Tarangire national Park that
will permit free movement of plains game between their wet and
dry season habitats while provision is also being made to reduce
the numbers of livestock by setting up a meat canning factory
for the region.

Thank you Mr Kahurananga for providing us with such an
interesting and instructive meeting,

J.P.R.

Mrs Judith Rudnai on ^ The Ecology of Lions in Hairobi II at i onal
Park and the Ki t engela Conservation Unit ^ .

On 10th October 1977 Mrs Rudnai gave a lecture on research
that she has been doing on the factors controlling the lion
population of Nairobi National Park (NNP) and the adjoining
450 km of the Kitengela Conservation Unit (KCU). In a short
summary it is not possible to do full justice to all the inter-
esting data which members heard, but the most important conclus-
ions were :

Nairobi NP has had a stable lion population of about 30
animals for the last 30 years in spite of considerable fluct-
uations in the biomass of available prey. The KCU, although
offering similar habitats to those favoured in NNP, suffers too
much disturbance from Cattle herders to have resident lions,
though Park Lions hunt there, especially when prey is scarce
in NNP, Lion numbers, or rather lions per unit area, are
prevented from rising above a certain density by the animal* s
social behaviour, notably violent aggressive behaviour towarc^s
strange lionesses attempting to encroach on a territory, the
closed nature of the female pride to which. only adult males sire
admitted and the emigration of young males and some young
females v/hen about two years old. In due course nomadic males
acquire female prides as the old males become senile and die«

142

on predation

on livestock and

previous

find

ings on manage-

a stable

Lion

population in UUP

Imonship

with

either rainfall

^n fact

some

of the peak

oincided

v/i t h

high populations

tween 1970 an

d 1975j 92 live-

K CU an d

on r

anches to the East

e losses

are

less than 2.^0 of

of wild ungulates. Altogether
stock were killed by Lions in the KCU
of the Park and KCU. Though tb

the stock number involved they result in intense anti-Lion (and
anti-predator in general) feelings among the livestock owners
particularly where husbandary is being switched to the produc-
tion of high quality Cattle rather than simply large numbers.
During this same period the stable UITP population produced an
increment of 36 emigrant Lions. Nineteen Lions were shot on
ranches and two v/ere speared in the KCU while ten other probably
natural deaths were known 5 leaving only five of the increment
unaccounted for. It is clear that if resentment against Lions
increases to the extent that stockkeepers shoot nomadic Lions
on sight y the Lion population of UNP is doomed. There is good
evidence that in the KCU and probably on the ranches j revenue
from game-viewing could yield two or three times the income from
cattle even under the best husbandry. V/hether livestock owners
can be persuaded to adopt this form of land use is another
matter but their resentment against Lions could be minimised by
a streamlined and fair method of obtaining quick compensation
for stock killed by Lions originating from UKP,

Almost incidental to her main theme v/ere a number of other
fascinating facts about lions. For example j good hunting appears
to stimulate the onset of the females’ oestrous cycles so that
births show a peak about three months after maxima in the numbers
of availably prey. Lions start breeding younger in UUP than in
the Serengeti, Tanzania^ have a larger litter size and produce
a yearly increment of 20^ as compared with 1 ^‘fo even though the
ratio of prey biomass to predator biomass is 2-^ to 3 times
higher in the Serengeti than in UUP, The explanation of this
apparent paradox is that the main prey of Lions in UUP is
Kongoni which are resident j while the Serengeti Lions have long •
periods of prey scarcity when the ungulates are away from the
lions’ territories.

Our thanks go to Mrs Rudnai not only for giving us a most
stimulating lecture but also for being willing to talk to us at
very short notice in place of our scheduled lecturer who had to
be out of Kenya on our meeting day,

J . P , R .

143

SCOPUS

The third issue of Scopus has, been published. Your execut-
ive committee has asked me to write this note to encourage more

At present there ar^ about 1?0 scattered throughout

TT't t -v-\ "Vn

subscribers

Africa, Europe and Uorth America,

Scopus 'is published every three months, with an extra fifth
issue each year taking the form of an annual report. The five
issues will comprise about IpO pages this year. Material publ-
ished in Scopus relates to East African ornithology in the
widest sense: the style is scientific yet readable. Some idea of
the contents of the first three issues can be gathered from the
following :

contributes a
of East African

5i-

in the first
page article

Terns

The

issue .
on the
status of

A te)". page paper on bird species restricted to East Africa
by D.A. Turner appeared in the first number, an account of the
1976/77 autumn migration at llgulia in Tsavo by G.C. Backhurst
and D.J. Pearson, 3^ pages on the identification of Honeyguides
by. A.D. Porbes-Watson completes the papers
In the next, P.L. Britton
status amd identification
the recently rediscovered Friedmann
is discussed by P.C, Lack and there
ation of recent Palaearctic records
the first annual report issu.e. The
is on biological topics including a
regulatory problems encountered by birds living in hot areas by
J.F, Reynolds and a short paper by P.l. end H.A, Britton on the
interesting habit of some Sunbird.s at the coast of nesting in
houses, R.J, Dowsett reviews '^he status and distribution of
some East African Falcons and Plovers as groundwork for the forth-
coming companion volume to Hall and Moreau, Atlas of Sp ec iation
in African non -passerine birds . Lastly P.Lc Britton looks at
the' weights of some species which occur at the coast and in
western Kenya and comments on the differences found.

s Bush lark, Miraf ra pulpa
is also a two-part compil-
- clearing the decks before
stress in the third number
detailed review of the thermo-

There is also a number of Short Communications covering a
wide range of subjects. The second and third issues both contain
additions to the Kenya list ; Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
by J.F.M. Horne and L.L, Short and the Grasshopper Warbler,

Locust ella nae via by V,C, and C.C. Fayad,

Full details of hov/ to
issue. Local members of th
Shs. 50/- to D.A, Turner, S
The subscription is arnual,
all the issues published in
be out next year. People h

subscribe to Scopus are given in each
e Society may receive it by sending
copus a/c , P.0, Box 48019, Hairobi,
so those paying now will receive
1977 plus the bird report which will
aving material to contribute- and

144

all are welcome- should send it to Dr D.J. Pearsonj Department
of Biochemistry 5 P.0„ Box 30197? Bairobio

GoC. Backhurstj

P.O. Box 29003? NAIROBI

March 1977 saw the birth of the Society's ne?/ quarterly
ornithological journal Scopus , and in the first eight months
of circulation the membership is already close to two hundred?
equally divided betv;een local and overseas members? including
many oisrerseas museums, ornithological societies and institut-
ions.

We in the Ornithological Sub-Committee v/ould like to take
■this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to the Society
Chairman? Mr John Karmali ? the Executive Committee and all members
for their enthusiastic and encouraging support. It is our hope
and intention that Scopus will soon be recognised as one of the
leading ornithological publications in Africa? and one that cur
Society members can be proud to be associated with.

Ornithological Sub-Committee

SOCIETY BOTES

1978 Subscriptions It is v/ith great pleasure that I can tell you
that at the last Executive Committee held on 19th October 1977?
it v/as decided not to raise the local membership fee of Shs, 50/-,
Hov/ever? it was decided that the Overseas subscription rate
would have to be raised to Shs. 70/- as from 1st January 1978.

A membership renewal notice is enclosed with this issue, I
would be most grateful if you will fill it in and return it to
me? even if you pay be Bankers Order. last year many of these
did not come through? andiit was a great help to have the
slips giving full details of the Bank and branch from which
payment should have been made. Why not pay your 1978 dues now
before the Christmas money rush starts i

Informal Botes and Posters have arrived. These are very attrac
tive? and a set of twelve informal notes with envelopes sell
at Shs, 10/- per set. They are on sale at most lectures and
in the Society's office at the National Museum? Nairobi, An
added attraction is that they are under 10 grams in weight?
ideal for overseas letters. The Posters are a.lso very attract-
ive? and are given free to members who have an office or club
to hang them in. Please call at the office to collect them.

145

Maps Should any member leaving the country have any unwanted

50,000

maps of 1
ful to have them for
Any such maps may be

scale- or smaller, the Society would be grate-
use as reference and for future functions^

Medicinal Plants of East Africa by our

Kokwaro is
Soft Cover
Hard Cover

still available
Shs. 55/-
Shs. 85/-

at discount prii
Local postage

:ty ' s

office .

:-Chairman, Dr John

:e to

members :

Shs.

4/5 0

Shs.

6/30

to a

Doctor friend

for Christmas }

Lake Nakuru, the Lake of a Million Flamingos. This well illu.s-
trated book is still available to members at a special rate of
Shs. 50/-,, If you order by post, please include Shs 4/50 for
packing and postage^ As with the above book, copies are
avail: '-.le in the office, and would make a good Christmas present

Functions It has come to my notice that some members are signing
up for camping trips, and not arriving. If possible please
inform the Secretary either in the Society's office or on
telephone 20141 ex, 18 if you are unable to attend the
function. Members are also reminded that the indemnity clause
must by signed by participants on field excursions. While on
the subject of fu'ictions, any member who is willing to lead
and organise a funtions, cither a day trip, week-end camp or
a lecture should please contact Mrs A.L. Campbell, P« 0. Box
1 446 9 , . Hairobi ,

Car Stickers are still available from the office and at most
lectures. Only Shs. 2/- each

asked by several members recently in. the office,
like to encourage this, so if you have any ques'
bugs, beasts or botany please write to the Edit(

Bulletin who v/ill try and have your queries ans^

Museum expert on that subject. We look forv/ard
you . Also the Bulletin editor would like to have more records
of plants or animals to include in the Record Section of each
Bullet in .

c t s

have been

We

would

ons

on birds.

- of

the

red

by a

0 he

taring from

Hature in East Africa. The
between 1947 and 1950 makes
complete sets, comprising 1
the Animals of Nairobi'. Nati
to members, Shs lOO/- per s
available except for Series
Postal orders accepted, but

Society's first Bulletin, published
very interesting reading. Two
1 issues and a Special Supplement on
onal Park are available. Cost
et. Seperate numbers are also
2 No, 1 at Shs. 10/- each,
please add Shs 2.70 for postage.

146

We Y/ould like to wish all memh e'r s a very happy Christmas
I and a prosperous 1978, We hope you will continue to
enjoy the Society's facilities during the coming year.

)t7r-iv ******* **

‘ *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

a***********************************************************

NEW llEMBERS

local Full Members

Mr Be Shugol Atalias P.O. Box 30620 5 NAIROBI
Mr and Mrs A.L. Beales 5 P.O. Box 30356 5 NAIROBI
Mrs A.Eo Birnie 5 P.O. Box 30158, NAIROBI
Mrs Rosemarie Breedyk, P.O. Box 40584? NAIROBI
Mr Kenneth l.I. Campbell? P.O. Box 14469? NAIROBI
Mr Claus Coin, P.O, Box 45767? NAIROBI
Mrs Barbara J. Fit^G-erald? P.O. Box 30580, NAIROBI
Ms, Arlene 0. Frisbie, P.O. Box 30137? NAIROBI

Dr John R. Hanna, Faculty of Commerce, P.O. Box 30197? NAIROBI
Mr Robert E. Hegner, P.O. Box 35? NAKURU
Ms, Jane M. Lawry, P.O. Box 42202, NAIROBI

Dr Adrian D, lewis. Dept, of Geology, P.O, Box 30197? NAIROBI
Miss Alj.ee lobb , P.O. Box 15005 ? N'lROBI
Mr Robin P. Myall, P.O. Box 54904, NAIROBI
Ms Brends Ani_e Davies, P.O. Box 3OI6I, NAIROBI
Margaret Cnslow, c/o Mrs Sheppard, P.O. Box 24630, KAREN
Mr Hans Kann F;ism,us sc-n ? P.O. Box 1282, KITAIE
Mr H.E. Richardson, P.O. Box 30003? NAIROBI
Mr Eric Risley, P.O. Box 24751? NAIROBI
Mrs Karin Steffensen, P.O. Box 40412, NAIROBI
Ms Irene Tlioma, P-, 0. Box 20008, NAIROBI
Ms Prise lla V/hite, P.O. Box 301 25 ? NAIROBI
Ms Patricia Whitten, c/o P.O. Box 40658, NAIROBI
cal Jun io^r __M o m b e^r ’

Mr Chip Stem, P.O, Box 25270, NAIROBI

147

SOCIETY EUNCTIOITS

Monday 14th November 1977 at S«3Q p.m, in the Museum Hally
jlairohi: ' The ' Rendille ' 5 a fi about the Rendille pastoral

camel nomads in northern Kenya, produced by Granada Televis-
ion, director Co Curling. Mr A Grum who v/as anthropological
consultant v/ill introduce the film and answer questions after-
wards,

Sunday 20th ITovember 1977 ; All day field meeting to Eaagads
ltd - a coffee estate in the Thika area by kind invitation of
Mr and Mrs A.l, Clifford, Please meet at 9, 30 a.m, sharp at
the turn-off to Maryhill Sec, School on the main Hairobi/Thika
road, just before the road bridge to Thika and Garissa.

Please bring a picnic lunch and be prepared for v/alking.

Monday 3th December 1977 at 3»30 p,m, in the Museum Hall,
Nairobi: Mr J,M. Nightingale of Sasamua Estate will give a
lecture on 'Bees',

December 10th - 12th 1977, Camping week-end to Lake Jipe,

Tsavo West National Park, Leader Mr Don Turner, This
excursion will be limited to members only and to 20 vehicles
only. Camping v/ill be near lake Jipe - not at the bandas.
Pull camping equipment, food and water should be brought by
members. Those wishing to to.ke part in this excursion should
please fill in the enclosed slip and return it to Mrs A.L.
Campbell, P,0. Box 14469, Nairobi before 25th November.
Further details will be sent to applicants after that date.

Monday 9th Janur

Nairobi: Mr Simon Stagg, B

~Y...J_.?78_ at 5., 30 ,.p

Sc,

, m, in the Museum Hall,
will show a film of 'Breeding

Colonies of Great White Pelicans at Lakes Nakuru and Elmenteita*.
Mr Stagg will introduce the film and give an account of his
work ,

January 27th -
on the farm of

29th 1978 :

Mr an d Mr s

Week-end visit
R, Morgan,

to Eburru,
Details later.

camping

Y/ednesday morning b
in front of the Nat
popular walks are n

ird walks continue as usual. Please
ional Museum, Nairobi at 8,45 a.m.
ormally led by Mrs Eleur Ng'weno,

meet

These

148

THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

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

Editor, Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mas.: Mrs J. Hayes

Secretary /Treasurer: Miss D. Angwin

Librarian: Mrs J. Hayes

Ass. Secretary /Treasurer : 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 J. Gerhart, Dr J. M. Mutinga, Dr D. J.
Pearson, J. F. Reynolds.

Co-opted Members: Mrs H. A. Britton (Nest Record Scheme Organizer), Dr A. W. Diamond, Dr A. Hill,
J. Kahurananga, J. Maikweki, S. Muchiru, Mrs F. Ng’weno, D. A. Turner.

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

Ornithological Sub Committee: G. C. Backhurst, P. L. Britton, Mrs H. A. Britton, G. R. Cunningham-van
Someren, Dr A. W. Diamond, A. D. Forbes- Watson, B. S. Meadows, Dr D. J. Pearson, J. F. Reynolds,
D. K. Richards, D. A. Turner.

Joint Library Sub Committee (Society representatives): Mrs J. Hayes, Dr J. O. 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, 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 quarterly bird magazine. Cost: EANHS members
KShs. 50/- p.a., non-EANHS members KShs. 75/- p.a. All correspondence to D. A. Turner, Box 48019,
Nairobi, Kenya.

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Life .....
Institutional (schools, libraries)
Full

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

Junior (full-time student, no

Journal supplied) . . . annual payment: Kshs. iO/-

Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1st July you may join for Kshs. 35/- and receive publications
from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES