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CO z ^ ^ ^ >\ ^ .V -zl -H ^ 2 C/) ‘ " 2 (/) 2 c/) inillSNI NVINOSHIIIMS S3ldVdan LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOliniliSNI NVINOSHIIWS I ^ ^ Z , ^ CO „ - CO ^ ^ 2 \ ’Ci CO V ^ uj a hi 7 BULLETIN Editor: Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya EANHS Secretary: Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instriictions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G.C. Backhursc, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. E.A.N.H.S. BULLETIN JANUARY 1973 CONTENTS Attack on a Giraffe and calf by a Lioness in Nairobi National Park - - 2 A Sunbi rd fight - -- -- -- --------------------3 Sorre interesting species of t i rds recently observed in Arusha N. Park 4 Hazards to breeding bi rds - -- -- -- -- -- --.---------5 Albino Tree Hyrax -----------------6 Letters to the Editor -------------------------7 Elephants end Hyrax - --------- - ---------------9 Request for information Wanted ------------- -------------------10 Not ice - - --10 Society Functions I mportant Not i ce ATTACK ON A GIRAFFE AND CALF BY A LIONESS IN NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK We first se\i the lioness moving fast through the long grass, below the Campi ya Fisi rocks towards the Niokoyeti stream in Lion Valley. We followed the track along the edge of the stream but were unable to find her and, as the track became wet and soggy decided to retrace our steps. We then saw that the lioness had crossed the stream and was watching a female giraffe with a neu'-born calf half way up the hill towards No. 18. The lioness stalk- ed up through the grass but the giraffe had seen herso was moving off to- ards the No. 18 road, she was not able to move fast as the calf was extremely wobb I y on it’s I egs . We hurried round to find that they had crossed the road; the lioness was lying only a few yards from the giraffe who had her calf standing between her forelegs under her chest. The lioness kept circling them and, whenever it came close enough the mother would swing round ready to attack by smashing down her fof'efoot. If this vicious kick connected with the lioness’ head it would have smashed her skull, this the lioness knew for she maintained a respectful distance. Each time an attack from the giraffe took place it was acccmpanied by a deep growling roar. We took this to be the lioness but then realised That it was the giraffe making the noise as we could see that she swe I led out her throat and cheeks as well as contracted her stomach to expel air when making it. I did not see the giraffe open it's mouth when making the noise. Streams of saliva trai U d from the mouths of both rrother and calf. At other times the mother blew through her nose very 1 i ke a horse. The roar was loud and menacing and must have been stimulated by the great stress upon the giraffe. The miother walked away exposing the calf to an attack; her actions appeared almost deliberate, as when the lioness attacked she wheeled round jabbing at the lioness with her forefeet. Once the calf was knocked down and the lioness received a glancing blow from a hoof on her shoulder; after this she was oven more careful of moving in close. This sparring continued as the giraffe moved down the grass covered hill towards the Omanayi stream. The lioness managed to knock the calf down two or three times but did not have time to get hold of it's throat before the mother attacked. Each time the mother advanced the I ioness backed away not wishing to lay herself open to those deadly hooves. The calf was kept, most ot the time, between the mother's forelegs, it appeared bewildered as it sometimes strolled off shakily at a tangent, but was always quickly covered by the mother. When- ever the mother moved off followed by the calf, the lioness advanced. This drama attracted other giraffe feeding along the Omanayi streami who just stood watching - at one time it looked as though a large bull was coming to help the distressed mother - but he evidently thought discretion the best move as he remained watching from a safe distance. In fact, all the giraffe kept their distance, leaving the poor mother to fight her own battle. It appeared that the mother was trying to get to the riverine scrub along the banks of the Omanayi, but the banks were too steep for her to get her calf- across the river. The lioness kept up her waiting tactics, but charged in whenever an opportunity occurred. She knocked the calf down 2 repeatedly but it staggered back onto it's unsafe legs - each time seeming to take longer to recover. Just before dark, another lioness pushed past our Land Rover having come from further upstream, no doubt attracted by the roars of the gi raffe. This extra adversary made the mother's task more difficult as now, both lionesses kept circling the mother and calf. The giraffe miaintained her thrusting attacks although the calf was obviously tiring. Once the mother thought the calf was finished as she started to move away but rushed back as once again it struggled weakly to get up. The lionesses moved in closer but were still unable to make the final kill as they were bravely attacked by the mother. At last, after an attack from one of the lionesses the calf gave up struggling and the mother also seemed to give up. The urge to leave a dangerous sifuation was uppermost in her mind as she moved away only to return when she remembered her calf lying on the ground. It was a case of an inner tumult of self preservation and motherly love and she seemed torn between the two. It was we I I after dark before we left this grim drama when the outcome was obviously in favour of the lions. The mother giraffe was still in the vicinity on the following afternoon, walking round in circles watching the lions, she eventually moved off towards No. ISA. C.E. Norris, Box 42406, Nai rob i . A SUNBIRD FIGHT On Tuesday 2ist November 1972 in the morning at eleven o'clock, my son took the car out, and as he drove down the driveway, a pair of small birds fluttered down and fell struggling to the road in front of hi mi. He pulled up and backed. The birds were locked in battle, hooting did not put a stop to the combat but drew my attention and I went out to see what he wanted or what was happening. On the road were two male Collared Sunbirds Anthreptes oollaris struggling fiercely while a third, probably a female, sat watching the fight from a convenient shrub. The fighters rolled, twisted, turned, wings alternately open or closed, tails fanned. This way and that they struggled stabbing at each other. 1 approached to within a metre, thinking I should stop the fight but deciding after all, it was not my affair and that I should not interfere. Their feet and claws were interlocked, the birds breast to breast, roll- ing on the ground. One clearly had the upper hand and the second lay on its side with wings half-spread. The upper bird rained blow after blow with its sharp bill at the head and breast of the bird below, these were vicious stabs and attempts were obviously made to strike the opponent's eye. 3 With one wing supporting below and the other raised, the stronger bird kept its balance while raining these savage blows and all the while it sang, a chirrupy little warble. I approached closer and still the combatants took no, notice of me. The fighting was i ntense ■ and’ had lasted a full three minutes, the second bird was, clearly losing the:battle and the hen fluttered over the pair oblivious of me as she watched the fight. The weaker bird managed to lock its bill with its opponents and they rolled over and over, feet still, closely locked. The stronger., managed to tree its bi 11 and again proceeded to stab countless rapid blows into the breast end heaa of the other. They were nearly- exhausted and I had now decided I must stop the fight and maybe capture the weaker bird to examine its injuries but my approaching hand was enough, the birds parted fluttering weakly away together into a bush, the female in pursuit. I could not find them again, but trust that the loser made good his escape. The Collared Sunbirds are now nesting and I have found several nests. It would seem we had been watching a battle royal for the favours of a mate. It was a wicked fight while it lasted and all of five minutes. G. P. Cunningham - van Some.ren, Box 24947, Karen. The above reminds me of an incident which happened in Tsavo National Park (West) near Kamboyo on 23rd November 1971. I was driving along when I saw a ''ball*' on the ground on the right-hand side of the road. I drove slowly alongside, opened the door, and picked up the "ball" which consisted of two Crombecs Sylvietta brachyura locked in combat. 1 separated the birds which then flew away. Ed. SOME INTERESTING SPECIES OF BIRDS RECENTLY OBSERVED IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA I, Hi Idebrandnt's Starling Spreo hildebrandti. This starling is a common bird in dry woodland country and wooded grass- land at 1300m alt. within 6km- of the northern boundary of the park, but is rarely seen inside the park. During August, September and October 1972, I saw several feeding on fruit of a tree Turraea vohusta. This is a tree of the dry evergreen forest which does not occur in their normal habitat. The- ripe fruits had attracted the birds and they left after the fruiting season was over. It seemed that the resident birds recognised the new-comers +o their habitat because I saw a Ruppell’s Robin Chat Cossypha semirufa and a White- eyed Slatey F lycaicher Melaenomis- choQolatina chasing the Starlings from the tree. 4 2. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea. This p i geon i s also very seldom seen in the Arusha Park, it is also common in the drier and lower country to the north. I had a good view of the pigeon using binoculars 7 X 50. I noted the vinous-chestnut back, grey underparts and white spots on the wings. In January and again in July 1972 I observed a flock of these pigeons in Juniper Hi I I forest at 1500m ait. below the eastern slopes of Meru Mountain. I once noted this bird trying to enter the eaves of a house in a native village a few kilometres outside the park boundary, possibly searching for food. 3. Lilac-breasted Roller Covacias caudata. This roller is also a very common bird in wooded-grassland areas, but is very se I dom seen in this park, I observed this bird in the park during March and October 1970 and again in November 1972. On the last occasion I observed a pair sitting on a twig of a dead Acacia tree. I noted the tail streamers, lilac throat and breast and greenish-blue belly. After watching them for about 15 miinutes they flew away. I do my observations as part of my daily duties as a Field Assistant in ■Tanzania National Parks. S i f ae I i Mungure , Kusare Research Camp, Arusha National Park, Box 3134, Arusha, HAZARDS TO BREEDING BIRDS Our experience at Karen with nesting birds has been very much the same as that of Bees ley iE.A.N.H.S. Bulletin 1 972 ; I 80- I 8 1 ) . Over a ten year period all nests found were mapped. Many were examined regularly, with observations made for long periods while studying nest behaviour or the nests were subject to long periods of photography from a hide. Breeding success in any one year was seldom more than 30^, eggs to fledge- ling, due to predation or other factors. We regard the mere fact of having found a nest, even without touching it, reduces the chance of its successful completion by 30/L Predation was responsible for 45 to 55? loss, more so with loss of eggs. In several cases the predator was seen in action, even photographed in the act! The predators have been Genets, Mongoose, Rats, Squirrels and Snakes. The Galago was not above suspicion in one or two cases. The following birds were also predators: Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris ^ Boubou Laniarius ferrug- ineus and the Puff-back Dryoscopus cubla with the Coucal Centropus super- oilliosus. and Fischer’s Flycatcher Melaenomis ohocolatina as well. Down the Magadi road over four seasons now, the nest loss is around 60?, excepting colonial tree-nesting spe;cies such as weavers, and oven they 5 suffer from the hands of man. Tracks in the dry dusty soil have indicated snakes, mongoose, Ground Squirrel and Masai * watoto’’ and their destructive cattle. The Masai have a bad habit of ’bottling’ up the Red and Yellow Barbets TraohyphorMS erythrocephalus in their nest holes at night and then digging out the birds. Their skins form part of the headgear for circum- cision ceremonial purposes. I know of several colonies destroyed for this purpose. On one occasion the predator, at Karen, was a very young Mkam.ba who had been engaged as garden help, 'We caught him raiding the nest of the' Streaky Seedeater Sevinus striolatus and he popped the warm living, naked young bird into his mouth - ’’Tam’ Sana*' 1 That was many years ago, for later this chap turned out to be an expert nest finder, he always carried a rusty pair of old 12-bore gun barrels vrith hirti which he used after the fashion of a diviner’s rod. He said, after they wore sot swinging, that where they pointed there would be a nest! He found a very great numiber of nests. Other predators encountered have been hornbiils and various hawks. The Goshawk Accipit^r taohiro has taken ducklings and is suspect, with the large-mouthed Black Bass, of taking young waterfowl in my dam. The Spectac- led VIeeyer Ploaeus ocoularis was busy nest building last Sunday tearing strips of palm fronds at 08. 30h but at lO.OOh I found its remains on the lawn, the work of the Goshawk or the smaller Little Sparrow Hawk A. minullus. Domestic cat., are a curse. ”Siafu” Dory line ants, took two chicks of the Wh i te-starred Bush Robin Pogonocichla stellata v'hich hc-t a nest in n:y plant house after I had waited patiently for the eggs to hatch before setting up the hide for photography. My late cousin, Dr V.D. van Someren recorded a Simi lar incident when the trogon’s nest iApaloderma narina) which he was about to photograph was raided by those ants. Bees have caused desertions of hole nesting species, an example of which is that of the Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri In the Nairobi National Park recently. G.R. Cunningham - van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. ALBINO TREE HYRAX AT KAREN It is. my custom to tap with a stick all trees with holes as I wander around. This is done to flush possible hole nesting bi rds. On 20th November 1972, I tapped a gnarled old Warbiirgia ugandensis tree in my forest and much to my surprise, out of the hole popped a three-quarters grown albino tree hyrax Dendrohyrax avboreus about 3m above me. VJe Indulged in a staring match for a few minutes then the animal disappeared into another hole. I do not recall any record, in the extensive literature on the Hyrax, of a true albino spec i men . G.R. Cunningham - van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, I was pleased to see the tribute to Dr L.S.B. Leakey in the December Bulletin. I should, like to suggest that the Society has an ''L,S=B. Leakey Memiorial Lecture*' each year. The subject could be on any aspect of natural science and a distinguished speaker, either from within East Africa or outside, could be 'invited to deliver the lecture. Such a memorial lecture would cosi' the Society nothing other than a : certain amount of hospitality. It would seem a fitting tribute. to one who, apart from his international reputation, did a great deal for this Society. John E. Cooper, C/o Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Kabete. Sir, I was interested in W.G. l-iarvey's contribution in the Bulletin for October 1972, about Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus near Dar es Salaami. I used to see the soecies, including young birds of the year, quite frequently ■there although my surviving records only mention occurrences in October and March 1947-48, in the Mj i mwema~S i nda island area to the south of the harbour mouth. However, I do have one definite Tanzania breeding record of a pair at their nest, in the fork of a baobab, discovered on 15th August 1948 about lOOkm from Dar es Salaam and a few kilometres downstream of the ferry where the Morogoro road used to cross the Ruvu ri ver. The sarre author in the same issue of the Bulletin refers to the occurrence of Caspian Plover Chavad'pius asiatious at Dar es Salaam. 1 believe the first record there and second record of the- species on the East African coast ( ~ see British Birds 49:282, 1956) was of a ’trip' of eight which frequented the playing fields and golf course of the Gymkana Club from 18th September 1955 for abc^ut a week. It looks as if the species tends to visit the coast rather early in the season, conceiit rat i ng in its more usual up-country haunts (where most of my records were between mid-November and March) after the onset of the short rains. Hugh F. I . E M i ott , 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford, England. Sir, I have been told that the following observations on the eating habits of the Fiscal Shrike Lanius oollaris , normally an insect eater, may be of interest tc members. A Fiscal Shrike was observed to eat bread at my bi rd table on 14th Nov- ember 1972 during a rainstorm, and has since eaten fried tomato skin and 7 fried bacon rind, both of which it seems to take in preference to the breed. The shrike has also been seen feeding one of its two very demanding young- sters w i th bread. Incidentally, the above mentioned bird table was set up in April 1972, but no bird was observed near it for approximately six months, even though bread was put on it fairly regularly. Then suddenly one morning in October a pair of Reichcnow's Weavers Ptoceus baglafecht arrived at the table, shortly followed by three other species of bird. Since then the table has been visited by numerous birds every day. D.W.G. Smith, Box 40584, Nai rob i . Sir, Having returned once more from tht land of the Midnight Sun, I am sur- prised that no one has mentioned in the Bulletin a delightful little place in Malindi called Birdland. Perhaps some members may be coming to the coast during the Christmas holiday who would be interested in visiting this place, which is on the left on the tarmac road leading to the Marine Park. It is signposted, entrance is 5/- and it is open all day. The owner tells me that this goes towards feeding the birds on fish, meet, fruit, seeds etc. There is a good collection of Kenya’s most beautiful birds. Mary Buckle, Box 57, Ki I i f i . Sir, TRACKS OF EAST AFRICAN ANIMALS I have long felt the need for a guide to the tracks of East African animals, especially the smaller mammals such as the mongooses, genets, zorilla, rate I etc. I am equally sure others must also have felt this need and that there are miany knowledgeable people who could provide such a guide. The Bulletin seems to me an admirable place for such a publication. Ken Bock is giving us an excellent guide to coral reef fishes, will some expert 'tracker’ do the same for animal tracks and spoor? D.L. Ebbels, Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania. Si r. On 30th July 1972, at about 6.30 p.m, , in the lower Mara River area, Kenya we observed a lone bull elephant, ful I grown, feeding on the upper branches of an acacia and standing unsupported on his hind legs in order to reach the topmost branches. The elephant was watched until dusk, and it was unfortunate that the-; light was insufficient for photography. The excercise was repeated several times, and on each occasion the procedure was the same - an exploratory 8 search with the trunk, a brief 'mark time' with the forefeet, a flex of the muscles followed by reari ng straight up on the hind legs. We timed the elephant cn six occasions while he remai ned upright as fol lows; 5s, 7 - 10 - 4 " 6 - 8 s. At no time were the forefeet rested against the trunk of the tree and the animal was quite unsupported. A remiarkable sight, which I had not seen before, and so far 1 have not found any one else who has done so, despite having consulted a number of authorities. Are there any other records of this? D.H. Round-Turner, Box 14249, N?'i rob i . ELEPHANTS AND HYRAX Dr Sale's lecture on 4th December on Elephants and Hyrax was for me one of the most interesting heard in the National Museum Hall fer a long time. Dr Sale talked about these two animals and showed how they are related. The Superorder Paenungulata has three living orders, the Hyracoidea (Hyrax), Proboscidea (Elephants) and the Sirenia (Dugong and Manatee group). Little was said about the dugong in the lecture. The foot structure in the Elephant and Hyrax arc similar, each having five digits and ending in small hooves which look like nails. Again, tusks in the two groups point to simi larities, the elephant has the two upper incisor teeth elongated to form the tusks we know so we I I, and the hyrax has the two upper incisor teeth elongated in comparison to the rest of the teeth. The elephant has the bottom incisors missing, but the hyrax has a special comb- 1 i ke structure on its bottom incisors which is used for grooming the fur. The special adapt- ation of the trunk in the elephant does the job that normal incisors would do, that is biting off food. In the hyrax, the front incisors are too long to be very efficient in this, so they bite and chew with their molar teeth, another adaptation has come in here, that is a blade- like projection on the molars which is used to cut the food. Mammary glands point to another similarity, with one pair between the forelegs in the elephant and one pair at the front end one at the back in the hyrax. The Dugong also has the mammae situated at the front. As Dr Sale printed out, in most mammals except primates, when there is, only a small nunsber of mammae, those are situated at the back. Testes again show simii larities, in the three groups of the Superorder these are placed internally. Just below the kidney. Although this is normal in an aquatic animal like the dugong, it is most unusual in the land mammals. The fact that Elephants and Hyrax are very unselective in their feeding may be one of the reasons why they have survived so long. With a very wide range of food, changes in climatic conditions mean that they can easily adapt to new food. 9 Dr Sale then went back to the fossil record and explained that the two families probably came from an animal called PloeT-i-theTium in the Eocene- times. This creature, about the size of a modern cow had a skull 60cm long, and this is remarkably similar to that of the present day hyrax. From this fact stems the question, why, from Moeritherium did the elephant grow larger and the hyrax smaller? 1+ is believed that from the cow sized ancestor, the elephant continued to grow because of the abundance of food and the lack of predators. On the other hand, the hyrax was probably the same slow creature that he is today, and when predators arrived he was very vulnerable, and so took to living in caves as a means of protection. Firstly, small holes in rocks are much, more numerous than large ones, and secondly, if the entrance to a cave was large enough to admit a cow sized hyrax, it would be large enough to let in a predator. Therefore the hyrax slowly became smaller to escape predation. Dr Sale also noted that in areas where leopard, the hyrax’ chief predator are com, men, they will I i ve i n caves with smell entrance holes, but in non-leopard areas will live happily In caves with large entrances. A fact which brought gasps from the members at the lecture was that the gestation period for the hyrax is 7? months, about the same as that of the Impale, and this is probably a left over from Moeritherium. Also the new born are very large, about a quarter the size of the adult. D.A. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION BREEDING COLONIES OF THE WH ITE- FRONTED BEE- EATER AND PIED KINGFISHER: I am studying the colonial behaviour of the abevement i oned two species; if any members could help with information and exact Iccations of known breeding co I on i es / w i th the dates of norma! breeding times, I should be extremely grateful for your assistance, please. AM sites will be mapped to serve as a basis for an itinary of visits and all records will be acknow- ledged. G.R. Cunningham - van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. WANTED East African postmarks especially of the smaller offices, slogan type post- marks, clear parcel type postmarks, meter cancellations, postage due and other postal markings. The absence or presence of stamps is immaterial. W , Colley, 22 Victoria Road, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Scotland. NOT 1 CE Members are reminded that subscriptions (Sh.50/~ full, Sh. 10/- junior) fall due on 1st January 1973, and prompt payment saves a great deal of office work. Secretary . 10 SOCIETY FUNCTIONS Monday^ 8th January 1975, at 5.15 p.m. at the Museum Hall, Nai robi : Mr G.A. Classen will give an illustrated lecture on ''Hunting Succulents in East Af ri ca*' . Weekend (12th) 15th and 14th January 1973: Camp at the Arboretum nr. Kericho leaders Mr & Mrs L.A.S. Crumb ley, by kind permission of Messrs Brooke Bond Liebeg Kenya Ltd. Camp will be set up in the Arboretum border i ng a dam, which is a bird sanctuary. This locality should offer a good opportunity of seeing western Kenya birds and studyi ng' trees, which are labelled in the Arboretum. The highland Mau Forest and the lowland between Kericho and Kisumu are eesi ly reached too. Campers should be self contained with fcod, epuipment and drinking water. Washing water and firewood will be available. T rout fishing will be allowed by courtesy of the Kericho Fishing Association. A visit to a tea estate and factory can be arranged for those interested on Saturday 13th January. It is suggested, therefore, that members wishing to take advantage of this offer should travel on Friday or early on Saturday morning. Owing to the limited space, 17 parties only can be accomodated, if you wish to come, please return the enclosed slip to Mrs A. L. Campbell, Box 14469, Nairobi as soon as possible. Applications will be accepted as they arrive, and a map of the route to the camp site wi I 1 be sent thereafter. Monday 5th February 1975, at 5.15 p.m. i n the Nat i cna I Museum Hall, Nai rob i ; Prof. J.W.S. Pringle will give a lecture on '’The Flight of Insects*’, this will bo fol lowed by a short film entitled *'The Wing Mechanism of the Bee". Weekend 16th - 18th February 1975: Society camp at Bushwhackers Safari Camp. For bookings, please contact Mrs Stanton, P.0, Kibwezi. Monday 12th March 1973, at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum! Hall, Nai robi : Annual General Meeting cf the E.A.N.H.S.. The meeting will be followed by film.s loaned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Details later. PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday morning bi rd walks, led by Mrs Fleur Ng’weno are held every week, please meet at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. IMPORTANT NOTICE Although the Annual General Meeting will not be held until March 1973, members are requested to send their nominations for Office Bearers for the Executive Oommittee for 1973 as soon as possible. As far as is known all are standing for re-election, please send your nominations to the Hon. Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi. NEW MEMBERS - JANUARY 1973 Full members ; Mr J.S. Olaleye Ayen i , Dept, of Zoology, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mrs K.C. Bennett, Bex 14157, Nairobi. Mrs V.V. Bowles, C/o E.A.I.R.O., Box 30650, Nairobi. MrT.W. Briddes, Box 2i064, Nairobi. Mr G.W. Frame, Bex 6021, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha, Tanzania. Mr A. Julian, Box 21148, Nairobi. Mrs E.F. Julian, Box 21148, Nairobi. Mr & Mrs P. Ketner, Box 30592, Nairobi. Mrs R.N. Koine, C/o National Museum, Box 40658, Nairobi. Mrs K. Rodhe, Dept, of Meteorology, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mr R. Tucker, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mr J.W.M. Whiting, C.D.R.U., Box 30197, Nairobi. J un i or members ; kiss Susan Julian, Ec.x 21148, Nriroti. Miss Sandra Julian, Box 21148, Nairobi. H. Sanderud, Faculty of Education, Box 30197, Nairobi. FOR SALE Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees and Shrubs. Offers to Mike Sugg, Agoro Sare High School, Box 10008, Oyugis, S.Nyanza. Mr A. Abel 1 of Box 25277, Nairobi, has a number of Africana books for sale, members are invited to write to Mr Abell for his list. He also undertakes a search service and may be able to help you find a particular book you want. 12 a/^ 7 EJ3.^- EZ E A N H S B U l 1 E T I N Editor: Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya EANHS Secretary: Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya NOTES FOR CONTRBBUTORS 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 each month 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 and should be sent to: G C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. E.A.N.H.S. BULLETIN FEBRUARY 1973 CONTENTS Myxomycetes in East Africa--------------------- M Boat trip through southern Kenya & Tanzania waters to Mafia Island - 18 Hunting Succulents in East Africa ---------------- - 20 Camp at the Arboretum^ Chagaik Estate, Kericho - -- -- -- -- -- 22 Library Notice --------------------------- 22 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 23 Reviews ------------------------------25 Important Notice -------------------------- 27 Donation ------------------------------ 21 Society Functions ------------------------- 21 New members - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -28 For Sale ------------------------------28 Wanted 28 MYXOMYCETES IN EAST AFRICA The Myxomycetes are a delightful group of organisms which are common in the wetter parts of East Africa, but about which very little is known here. They are. easy to -collect, many species are exceedingly beautiful, and they are of no economic significance. Thus they form an ideal subject for investigation as a hobby. In the last ten years the study of Myxomycetes has become popular among naturalists and amateur mycologists in the U.K. , and some species have been used in certain branches of genetical research. The Myxomycetes, or Slime Moulds, occupy that no-man ’ s- I and between the plant and animal kingdoms, usually being treated as primitive fungi. They exist as a multinucleate plasmodiurn in the assimilative stage. Plasmodia are bounded by only a thin plasma-membrane and are of different types, ranging fromi minute, static, protop I asmodi a to larger forms capable of movement and in which protoplasmic streaming m.ay be easi ly observed. Plasmodia are often brilliantly coloured and feed on microorganisms and organic debris in soi I, leaf litter, or rotten wood, emerging onto a more exposed surface to produce the fruit bodies (sporangia). The change from pi asmodi a to sporangia can be very rapid (a matter of minutes) but more usually takes several hours, often occurring overnight. Sporangia also are often colourful and may be stalked, sessile, or aggregated into an aethalium, the fruiting structures usually being about 0.5 - 2.0 mm high. Classif- ication -rests largely on the. structure of the sporangium, the stalk and outer wall of which may often contain much calcium carbonate. Within the mature sporangium there is usually a mass of branching and ornamented threads (the capillitium) which are hygroscopic and twist under the influence of changing moisture content, flicking out the ripe.spores when the sporangium wall ruptures. Under suitable conditions a mobile zoospore emerges from the sporangi ospore which soon dispenses with f I age II a;te ^motion and becomes amoeboid. These myxamtoebae fuse in pairs and subsequent growth produces the new (diploid) plasmodiurn, meiosis havi ng occurred during spore formation within the young sporangium. Good places to look for myxomycetes are logs and stumps so rotten that they offer little resistance to a poking finger, dead leaves, rotten thatch and the bark of trees. They are most common in damp climates and in East Africa the highland forests and old shambas in upland areas are likely to be the best hunting grounds. Many species can be obtained by ' i ncubat i ng bark or other suitable substrates in a damp chamber (jam jar with damp blot- ting paper) for several weeks. Indeed, some species are difficult to obtain in any other way. Plasmodia can also be collected and allowed to fruit in such a container. Fruiting myxomycetes are collected together with a sliver of their sub- strate, by which they may be pinned to cork lining the bottom of the collect- ing tin for easy transport home. When carefully dried, myxomycete specimens can be stored indefinitely in much the same way as an insect collection. Individual specimens are commonly housed in match boxes, the drawers of which are fitted with removable white card trays to which the specimens are glued. 14 Unfortunately, the most informative works on the myxomycetes are often difficult or expensive to obtain. However, there is a good concise introduction to the subject, with a key to British genera, by I ng (1965) and a general review by Alexopoulos (1963), both of which should be available in many East African libraries. A comprehensive and expensive ($30) work by Martin & Alexopoulos (1969) has recently appeared. A basis for tropical African records is provided by Farquharson & Lister (1916), and a beautiful series of myxomiycete paintings were published in colour in the National Geographic Magazine (Crowder, 1926). Farquharson & Lister (1916) do not quote details or localities of specimens for their East African records and many of these could probably be tracked down only by time-consuming personal visits to the large mycological herbaria in Europe and the U.S.A. I have collected myxomycetes in various places in East Africa when the opportunity has occurred and, in collaboration with Mr P.C. Holland, London (who did most of the determinations), I have so far recorded 12 species, as detailed in the accompanying list. Some of these are reported here for the first time. In the list below the locality is given first, followed by the district, country, date of collection, altitude, notes, and herbaria accession numbers- MiYXOMYCETES RECORDED FROM EAST AFRICA Arcyria cinerea (Bi.'l L) Pers. Kabale, Kigezi, Uganda; 6.vi.l970; 1900 m. On rotting papyrus thatch. DLE 129, 136; IMI 151246, 151255 (Ebbels, 1972). Bunduki , Morogoro, Tanzania; 15. v. 1972; 1500 m, Uluguru Mountains; on rotten tree stump. DLE 260, 263; PCH 2855, 2858, det. P.C, Holland. A, denudata (L.) Vtettst. Kenya. C.A, Thorold 100, det. G. Lister. (Nattrass, 1961). Kabale, Kigezi, Uganda; 6.vi.l970; 1900 m. On rotting papyrus thatch. DLE 128, 133, 134, 137, 138; IMI 151245, 151250, I5I25I, 151255. (Ebbels, 1972). A. ferruginea Sauter East Africa. • ( Farquharson & Lister, 1916). A. inoar'nata Pers,. Kabale, Kigezi, Uganda; 6.vi.l970; 1900 m. On rotting papyrus thatch. DLE 139; IMI 151256 (Ebbels, 1972). *A. insignis Kalchbr. & Cooke Bunduki, Morogoro, Tanzan i a; 1 5 . v. 1 972 ; 1500 m. Uluguru Mountains; on rotten tree s turnip. DLE 139; PCH 2856, det. P.C. Holland. 15 Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (MeulL) Macbr. East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). C. f, var. ftexuosa A, Lister East Africa. ( Farquharson & Lister, 1916). Comati'ioha laxa Rost. Kabale, Kigezi, Uganda; 6.vi.l970; 1900 m. On rotting papyrus thatch. DLL 130, 131, 132; IMI 151247, 151248, 151249 (Ebbels, 1972). Comuvia serpula (Wigand) Rost. East Africa. (Martin & Alexopoulos, 1969). Diachea leucopoda Rost. 7 ' Kenya. C.A. Thoroid 99, det. G. Lister. (Nattrass, 1961). *D, radiata G. Liste.r & Retch Ukiriguru, Mwanza, Tanzania, 21. ii. 1972; 1200 m. On living Tiddax pvocumhens L. DLL 237; PCFl 2851, det. P.C. Floliand. Diderma radiatum Morg. var. atro-purpureum Lister Kenya. C.A. Thoroid 97, det. G. Lister. (Nattrass, 1961). Didymium minus (A. Lister) Morg. (= D. melanospermum (Pers.) Macbr. var. minus) East Africa. ( Parquharson & Lister, 1916). Fuligo septica (L.) Web. East Africa. (Farquharson d Lister, 1916). • ■ Uemitriohia serpula (Scop.) Rostaf., East Africa. Farquharson & Lister, 1916). *7/. stipitata (Massee) Mlacbr. Ngurdoto Crater, Arusha, Tanzania; 26. vii.1971; 1800 m. On fallen log DLL 203, PCH 2723, det. P.C. Holland. Bunduki , Morogoro, Tanzania; 15. v. 1972; 1500 m. Uluguru Mountains; on rotten tree stump. DLL- 262; PCH 2857, det. P.C, Holland. Metatrickia vesparium (Batsch) Nann-Brem. (= Hemitrichia vesparium (Batsch) Macbr.) East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, -1916). Perichaena depressa Lib. East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). 16 Physanm bogoriense Racib. East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). *P. cinereum (Batsch) Pers. Ukiriguru, Niwanza, Tanzania; 4.iii.l970; 1200 m. On lawn grass Cynodon daotylon (L.) Pers. OLE 174, PCH 2635, det. P.C. Holland. P. echinosporum A. Lister Found at Kew and attributed to Kenya. (Partin & Alexopouios, 1969). P. javanioum Racib. East Africa. (Martin & Alexopouios, 1969). ^P. nueleatum ReX Bunduki , Morogoro, Tanzania, 15. v. 1972, 1500 m. Uluguru Mountains; on rotten tree stump. OLE 259; PCH 2854, det. P.C. Holland. *P. ob latum Macbr. Magamba, Handeni, Tanzania, 1 7. v. 1972, 600 m. On underside of rotten log, profuse fructification. DLE 257, PCH 2852, det. P.C. Hoi 1 and. P. pezizoideum (Jungh) Pav. & Lag. (= Triehamphora pezizoidea Jungh) East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). *P. pusillum (Berk. & Curt.) G. Lister Bwiregi, North Mara, Tanzania; 23. v. 1969, 1700 m. On banana leaf debris. OLE' 173; PCH 2634, det. P.C. Holland. Stemonitis fusoa Roth . East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). 5. splendens Rostaf. East Africa. (Farquharson & Lister, 1916). Stemonitis sp. Magamba, Handeni., Tanzania, 17. v. 1972; 600 m. On underside of rotten log. DLE 258; PCH 2853, to be further investigated by P.C. Holland. * This is believed to be the first reported record for East Africa. Herbaria accession numbers. IMl, Commonwealth Mycological Institute. DLE, D.L. Ebbels. PCH, P.C. Hoi land. 17 REFERENCES: Alexopoulos, C,J. (1963). The Myxomycetes 2. Bot. Rev. 29:1-78. Crov;der, W. (1926). Marvels of Mycetozoa. Rat. Geog. Afag'. 49 :42 I -443. Ebbels, D.L. (1972). Additions to the- mycoflora of south-westarn Uganda. JV E. Afr. nut. Hist. Soe. No. 133: 1-6. Farquharson, C.O. & Lister, G. (1916). Notes on south Nigerian Mycetozoa. J. Bot. Lond. 54:121-133. Ing, B. (1965). An introduction to the study of the Myxomycetes. Hews Bulletin^ British Mycologieat Society^ No. 24: 13-21. Martin, G.W. & Alexopoulos, C.J. (1969). The Myxomycetes. University of Iowa Press. Nattrass, R.M. (1961). Flost lists of Kenya fungi and bacteria. Mycological Papers, No.8l, Conimonwea I th Mycological Institute, Kew. D.L. Ebbels, Uk i ri guru , Box 1433, Mwanza, TanzanI a. BOAT TRIP THROUGH SOUTHERN KENYA AND TANZANIA WATERS TO MAFIA ISLAND A party consisting of Mr & Mrs Pat Hemphill, Alison Hemphill, my wife and I made a trip starting on 9th November 1972 via Tanga, Mziwe, Dar es Salaam, Nyororo, Tutia to Mafia Island and Chole Bay, returning via the northern tip of Mafia, Latham Bank, Dar es Salaam and Tanga. The main purpose of the trip was a reconnaissance for big game fishing, but it was liberally sprinkled with goggling, bird watching and photography. Of interest to me, from the ornithological point of view, work! ng ch rono- logically through the trip were the following: M'Z I WE ISLAND on our second night out; this is a very small coral atoll with a sandbank cf about half a hectare, with a small grove of Casuarina trees. I thought I heard an Osprey Pandion haliaetus calling but on investigation of the trees I could find no Osprey, but I did see a pair of Indian House Crows Corvus splendens which I gather, from Pat and Maia, are resident on the Island. Also on the island, a pair of Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer a flock of Grey P\o\/er Charadrius squatarola and a small flock of terns which were, I think. Swift Terns Sterna bergii. The next few days we were busy at sea and not unti I TUTIA SANDBANK at the southern tip of the Mafia group, did we take note of any birds. On this small sandbank, covering about half a hectare at low tide, were the usual group of terns, a flock of Grey Plovers and an Osprey which had rrosumahly 18 dropped in, as we had, for some fishing. The goggling was superb with a very good selection of Butterfly Fish Chaetodont i dae and Squirrel Fish Fiol ocentri dae. One morning, at about 05.30 h, just before dawn in CHOLE BAY, we saw about thirty Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber flying down through the bay in a southerly direction low over the water. They did not look to me as if they were migrating, but gave the impression that they were flying to their feeding grounds. However, we were up early every morning and were there for five nights but did' not see them again. Goggling round the small islands the selection of Butterfly Fish (Ghaetod- ontidae). Wrasses (Labridae), Squirrel Fish (Hoi ocentri dae) and Surgeon Fish ( Acanthuri dae ) were only capped by a very good view we all had of a Leopard Trigger Fish Balistoides conspieulum and an attendant Pomocanthus imperator. On the morning of 22nd November we regretfully turned our backs on MAFIA ISLAND where, i n about a weeks fishing, we had three Sail fish ranging from about 27 kg to about 40 kg, several King fish, the biggest up to about 22 kg, Wahoo between about 27 and 31 kg. We caught an assortment of Rock God on Honolulu lures, the most beautiful of which was Cephalopholis argus , a beautiful pink fish covered with a mass of i rri descent blue spots. We left the northern tip of Mafia at about 04.30 h heading in a northerly direction, soon after dawn we met Sooty Terns S. fuscata mostly in pairs and in adult plumage flying south. We were followed by at least two White-tailed Tropic Birds Phaethon lepturus which also appeared to be heading in a southerly direction but broke off to follow us for a while. We were in sight of LATHAM BANK by about 10.00 h and by this time the number of birds passing, or heading out to sea had increased in numbers to include the Masked Booby Sula daotylatra, a small flock of pratincoles (pmbably Glareota ocularis) , and a Phalarope which, I think, was the Grey, Phalaropus fulicarius. Also of interest as we approached the island and one could see the bottom i.e. 10 fathoms down (20m), was a large porpoise, not the common Porpoise but one with a very blunt head, who appeared to be on h i s own . As we approached Latham Bank, the cloud of birds was visible to the naked eye from about 3 km and gave the impression of smoke rising from the island. At about I km the sound of birds was audible over the sound of the surf, and as we anchored the more inquisive Sooty Terns and Noddies Anous stolidus flew slowly by us to have a good look to see what we were. The first party went ashore between about 11,00 and 13.00 h and had a good look around. As prepar- ations were being made for this landing party, we saw a small group of Oyster Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus flying along the shoreline; none of us had seen this species in Kenya waters. During the heat of the afternoon we lazed on board watching the enormous spiral of assortd birds going up into the sky. While we watched this scene, two very long winged dark birds appeared dive-bombing through the spiral; as they came lower they were clearly recog- nisable as Frigate birds Fregata sp.. They appeared to be dive-bombing for the sake of dive-bombing as the circling column of birds was certainly not returning from fishing. Later on in the evening when we went ashore, we had a better look at this bird at close quarters. After discussion and 19 reference to Mackworth-Praed & Grant, we came to the conclusion that it was the female of the Great Frigate Bird Fregata minor as it was definitely very dark on top and below it was white on the throat and chest. Unfortunately, the second bird did not turn up in the evening. We saw this bi rd dive- bombing the Boobies until sunset and I can oniy assume that it must have spent the night on the island. Also, on the island in the evening, we saw a smal I party of Turnstones Arenaria interipres and a small fami ly of six or eight very large rats living under the rocks near the derelict hut on the island, presumably these creatures were introduced by Homo sapiens. it was interesting to note that the Terns were flying to the island until nearly 03.00h. Why is it necessary for them to return to the island at 3 a.m.? Do they fish at night or have they been flying back from their fishing grounds for some eight hours? Breeding on the island were, I would say, no more than 200 pairs of Masked Boobies. Their breeding stage seemed to be anywhere from eggs to almost mature chicks. There was one bird with a brown head which, on closer investigation, we . consi dered to be a juvenile dactylactra and not the Brown Booby S. leucogaster which it appeared to be from a distance. There were a i so between approximately 200-500 pairs of Swift Terns; the chicks all appea to be at the samestage of development, about one week old, and I could not find eggs anywhere; there were a number of shells around, pinkish white base with large brown blotches. Dotted around the island were four small colonies of 5 - 10 birds and two large colonies of 50 or more Noddies. It was interesting to note that they kept very much to themselves and made an attempt to build a nest of small stones and bones, all the nests were raised above the ground, albeit by only a few centimetres, but mostly on the rocky promontories on the island. The remain- der of the Island was virtually taken up by myriads of Sooty Terns, the numbers of which I could not begin to estimate, in a number of areas it was impossible to put your foot down without brushing against a chick or rolling an egg along the sand. Somewhere between 50000 and 100000 birds might not be an unreasonable estimate. Though how many were breeding and how many roosting, I just did not know. Around Latham Bank and on the way to Dar es Salaam we caught a large Caranx also VJahoo, Sail fish, Yellowfin Tunny, Rock Cod, Baracuda and saw an unidentified Sharl<;, which ate our Wahoo. All in all it was, to me, a most interesting trip and one which I would want to repeat at a moments notice. Terry Mathews, Box 47448, Nai robi . HUNTING SUCCULENTS IN EAST AFRICA ILLUSTRATED LECTURE BY Mr G. CLASSEN Members who were able to attend this unusual lecture were extremely fortunate for Mr Classen has pursued this fascinating hobby for many years 20 during which he has achieved the tremendous task of bringing together hundreds of live succulent plants from all parts of Kenya to create an unique rock garden on his estate. East African succulents miostly thrive in arid and semi-arid areas. They all have one basic characteri st i c in common, namely the amazing ability to remain dormant for months during droughts and until the next rain when they burst into life appearing in full bloom within a very short time. They are extremely diversified in many aspects and belong to many different plant families. Sizes vary greatly and range from the gigantic baobab to minute Stapeli2 species with coral las measuring from 5 mm i n diameter. Succulence may occur at the root, in the stem or trunk, as in the baobab, in the leaves as in aloes, while many succulents can dispense with leaves altogether. The adventurous hunter must look for thorny bits in short grass in order to find an euphorbia or a karal luma. A thin green rope seen in dry bushes for instance, miay be either a ceropegia or another species of euphorbia, or perhaps the only "cactus species" in East Africa, known as Rhipsalis and are quite thornless, and so on. Of course there is also the possibility of making an unexpected discovery of a new species unknown to science, and in fact some new species found in Kenya have already been named after members of our Society. Mr Classen showed us his beautiful slides illustrating his hunting grounds in Kenya, areas not often visited by plant lovers. They ranged from the Coast to the northwestern Kenya/Uganda border and over the eastern Kenya/ Somali border. Views covered the Ki nyang/Karpeddo district, the Baringo district, the Kerio Valley, Marsabit and Maralal regions and slides for Ukarnbani included the Mtomo Plant Reserve. This reserve, which covers a small mountain with wonderful rocky cliffs, was set aside at the recommend- ation of Mr Classen and Mr Peter Bally about ten years ago. It is a lovely spot for plant and bird lovers and two ban das are now available for the convenience of visitors. Other colour slides showed numerous exquisite close-ups of succulents in flower. Thee were craterost i gmas (over life-size), stapeleas and karal lumas with their rich colouring and gem- 1 i ke symmetry of corollas. There were shots of the beautiful, ephemeral baobab flowers made of shimmering white satin with a centre tassel bearing grains of gold. We saw desert roses in their scarlet splendour, almost as large as trees, growing either on coral rocks;at sea level or up-country in the desert of Baringo district. Euphorbia trees, those "spiny horrors" with their fascinating gold and maroon bead-like flowers running up the edge of branches, were not forgotten e i ther. According to Mr Classen, the succulent plant hunter needs a well-trained eye, unflinching perseverance and love of hard work. Only then can he hope to make a success of this very rewarding hobby. J.R.O. 21 CAMP AT THE ARBORETUM, CHAGA I K ESTATE, KERICHO A very interesting camp was enjoyed by some 25 members at Kericho for the week-end of 13th January, at the invitation of Mr L.A.S. Grumbley. The camp was held under particularly luxurious conditions in the Arboretum at Ghaqaik. This arboretum was started by Mr Grumbley and many of the trees were grown from seed.. All are labelled and members interested in trees had a profitable time. The ''Kenya Magnolia" Conopharyngia holstii was especially conspicuous, tents were pitched on mown grass under some of the trees, and we can only hope that the Kericho climate wi I 1 soon erase the marks of our wheels on the sward. Many of the birds as we I I as the trees were new to most members. Mac- kinnon's Shrike Lanius mack'innoni replaces cur common Fiscal Shrike Lanius GoZZavi.8. On the grass, Cape as well as Ye I lew Wagtai Is MotaoiZla capensZs and M. flava and Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis were running about. In a hole in a tree by the dam a pair of V\laller's Chestnut-wing Starlings Onyoognathus walteri evidently had a nest and were feeding young. The weather at Kericho is inconvenient. How else can it be so green and full of beauty, and grow so much tea? On Friday evening the rain did not come down until rTembers had had a chance to look round and watch the evening light on the yellow bills and green speculum of the ducks and the glowing red bi Ms of Moorhens reflected in the water of the dam. In the reeds, a colony of Grosbeak Weavers Amblyospiza albifrons (the western race with russet heads) were breeding. The nests were finished and the males were displaying, clinging to the nests and waving their black and white wings. On Saturday evening black clouds made bird watching virtually impossible, and rain pelted down just as we were starting to enjoy the magnificent fire that Mr Grumbley had built for us. However, the mornings were glorious, with light that showed up every feather of the birds drying and preening themselves in the sun after the wet, cold night. On Sunday morning Mr Robin Blake took members for a walk along the forest edge and many birds were seen. The Banded Prinia Prin-ia bairdii sitting and sunning itself was a special treat. White-chinned Prinia P. leuoopogan were also seen. Buff-throated and Black-collared Apalis Apalis flavigulavis and A. pulahra and the Mountain Yellow Flycatcher Chloropeta simzlis and members had an excellent view of the male and female Purp le-throated Guckoo-shri ke Camp&phaga quiscalina. Mr Grumbley and his staff took a great deal of trouble to make this camp a success, and we are indeed grateful to them. P.M*A. L I BRARY NOT 1 GE Africana Vol.4 Nos. 3 & 4 are missing from the Library set. Has any member copies of these numbers that he could donate? 22 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 1 Sir, 1 *'L. S. B. LEAKEY LiEMORIAL LECTURE'* I read the letter in the last issue of the Biilletin ; I quite agree with Mr John Cooper. I think it would be a very good thing if we had a Memorial Lecture once a year on the anniversary of Dr L.S.B Leakey's ''-cth. I also think it would be very nice to have a film about our friend Dr L.'S.B. Leakey. T.S. Edmunds, (Ju.Ucr f'tember), Box 30197, Na i rob i . Si r. With reference to the letter from i4r D.H. Round-Turner in the January issue of the Bulletin, I would like to confirm that we too have seen such a performance by an elephant. In September 1972 leaving Ngulia Self-Help Camp for Kitani (both in Tsavo West National Park) wo came across an elephant just off the road with its trunk straight ur searc;hing for titbits among the higher branches of an Acacia tree. We stopped to watch him - ■ ,oi ■ ’;.f;n 1 y , with a little dance, he was up , on his hind legs to snatch the favourite bit he had selected from the top of the tree. Ho stayed thus suspended without any visible means of support for his fore legs which remained in the air for a few seconds. Down ho came, had a little rest, and i'hen repeated the whole act. On the second occasion he grabbed a high branch with the tip of his trunk, got a good grip on it and dragged the whole lot down with him as he gently lowered his fore legs to the ground. We were thrilled to see such a performance but did not realise it was so rare until we read Mr Round-Turner's letter. Mavis M. Heath, Box 271, Ma I i ndi , Kenya . Si r, Referring to the observaf lon of a bull elephant rearing up on his hind legs while feeding, by D.H. Round-Turner antea 8-9, I have found the follow- ing reference to such behaviour; Sikes (1971, p.53) states that "... in search of palm fruits and high, branches, a wild elephant may sometimes be seen in a bipedal stance, reaching far above his head with the trunk cameramen have, in the past decade, actually captured such scenes, and their authenticity in the wilds is now proven (plate 15). Pienaar (1967) described the manner in which cow elephants 'actually reared up on their hind legs and attempted to pluck the helicopter from the air with their trunks' during a cropping programme in which live calves were immobilised by t rang u i 1 I i zer 23 darts A photograph is reproduced showing such an instance, credited to a Martin Isherwood (place not indicated). From the wording quoted above it is clear that such behaviour must be rare. In four years in Tsavo National Park, I have not seen it so far. It would be interesting to know whether such behaviour could perhaps develop as a local tradition, in response to certain feeding conditions. REFERENCES; Pienaar, U. de V. (1967). Operation "Khomand I opf u" Koedoe 10:158-165 (quoted in Sikes, 1971). Sikes, S.K. (1971). The Natural History of the African Elephant. London, Weidenfeld & Nioholson, 397 pp. VJalter Leuthold, Tsavo Research Project, Box 14, Voi , Kenya. Si r, Members might be interested in a couple of unusual sightings on the Aberdares on 31st December 1972. Whi 1st on a trip over through the Aberdare National Park from Nyeri to Naivasha, we stopped at the Gura and Karuru Falls for a picnic lunch. After lunch we returned to the main road and after proceeding for about 2 km our attention was drawn to a young lion about 20 m off the road. Another car had stopped, otherwise I do not think we would have spotted him. He looked in prime condition and seemed to be enjoying the scenery at that high altitude as much as everyone else. About a ki lometre further down the road towards Naivasha we then saw what appeared to be a black Serval Cat trotting along the edge of the road. He jumped up the bank to watch us whilst I hurriedly fitted a telephoto lens; too late, another car came along and the Serval disappeared into the heather. My wife and I are convinced it was a Serval because of its height, its large upright ears, and its gait. F. J . McCartney , Fa i rvi ew Estate , Box 168, Kiambu, Kenya. Si r. * KITE” V. BUZZARD An amusing incident took place at my family's Traditional Christmas Breakfast -four generations of us. It is always held in the garden; long trestle tables and benches are piled up with presents for everyone, beside their individual places, all very gay and festive. One small bey had, among his gifts, a fine kite. 24 cleverly designed to simulate an Augur Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus - size: markings etc.: all correct. Of course, the kite must have its '‘proving flight" as soon as breakfast was over> and we al I watched it soari ng up to a very considerable height, making use of the thermals in a very realistic manner. Suddenly, 'out of. the blue' swooped a real, live Augur Buzzard, which proceeded to 'mob' the impudent intruder who was violating his airspace. The kite continued to soar and dip, with the buzzard still trying to attack. Eventually, we presumed the buzzard's talons touched the kite's string, and alarmed he flew off, probably muttering to himself - "V^/ell, anyhow, that'll "larn' him''I A very sincere tribute to the designer of the kite! Mrs E. Pol hi II , Box 91, Na i vasha, Kenya. REVIEWS THE PALAEARCTIC-AFRICAN BIRD MIGRATION SYSTEMS by R.E. Moreau. xvi + 384pp, 31 black and white habitat photographs, 9 text figures, 21 tables, 162 species distribution maps and two endpaper maps. 1972, London: Academic Press. U.K. price £7.80. This long-awaited book, promised in July last year, published in November, has finally reached East Africa. Its binding is uniform with Moreau's earlier The Bird Faunas of Africa and its islands - a nice touch. It is difficult to criticise the new book after reading the Foreward (by Dr J.F. Monk, who saw the work through the printers after Moreau's death) and the Preface: as Moreau himself writes - 'M know it is full of imper- fections and inadequacies and that readers will find errors from which I cannot be absolved. They will enjoy spotting them but I know too that in not a few places in the book they will find themselves surprised and st i mu 1 ated" . The reviewer was in constant correspondence with Reg Moreau until his last days, the rush was incredible; even more incredible is the thought that he was also writing to many other people at the same time. In the event, there was just not enough time to sort out everything; Dr Monk has done a tremendous job in tidying up the loose ends but, inevitably, errors and misinterpretations remain which would have been avoided if Reg had lived. Before describing the book in some detail it will be as well to mention the kind of 'errors' which exist. New information was coming in all the time up until his death; most of this was not published by the finders (there was no time) but Reg was often given "the story so far" and this is usual ly far from complete. In other cases he misread information from correspond- ents (poor handwriting, perhaps?). Most of these mistakes will be corrected in the periodic literature in the future, although a revised edition of Reg's book in a few years time would be the perfect answer and one of which I am 25 sure he would have approved. The first eighty or so pages cover general topics: The sources of the migrants (four chapters) and Africa as a reception area (also four chapters). Next comes one hundred and thirty pages dealing in turn with each species covered, plus short summaries and discussions. This large section is follow- ed by two short chapters on the maintenance neec.ls '"■f migrants in /Africa and on recurrence in winter quarters and itinerancy. K.D. Smith has provided an Appendix listing those Holarctic species not treated in the main text. The small distribution maps occupy fifty six pages. Needless to say, when reviewing a contribution by ('Moreau, the list of References is very full and contains many obscure papers - a great service to other workers in the field. Smith’s Appendix has its own three-page list of References. The book is a ’must' for those ornithologists seriously interested in Palaearctic migrants; it will not answer all thei r quest i ons but it will enable them to spot some of the gaps in man's knowledge and, hopefully, will stimulate them to work along productive lines. It is arguable whether it should have been published as a book at ail; much of the material had already appeared in Moreau’s two long Ibis papers (1961:373-427; 580-623. 1967:252-259). It is the personal opinion of the reviewer that the work should have formed a special, commemorative issue of Ibis; as it is, at £7.80 in U. K. (no doubt nearer £10 in Kenya), the book wi II be out of reach of many who would benefit from owning it. G.C.B. THE ECOLOGY OF INSECT POPULATIONS IN THEORY AND PRACTICE by L.R. Clark, P.W. Geier, R.D. Hughes and R.F. Morris. Published as a paperback in the "Low-priced Textbook series" by Methuen. Price in U.K. £0.75. This book has seven chapters, in which the various theories on insect populations in relation to their environment and their effects on each other are given. The basic idea is first put forward, usually as a direct quotat- ion from the original author of the idea, then gradually through its various stages until the modern interpretation is reached, almost always with quotations from the authors concerned. In the later chapters these ideas are related to a series of insect populations. The book is very well laid out and, once the terms used in it have been mastered, quite clear in its content. It would have been better to have given a glossary of the terms used at the back of the book instead of the index to the term.s, which is ail of the same type-face, causing the reader sometimes to look at ten or more pages to find the definition wanted. if the definition page number had been put in a different type-face, it would have made the book much easier to use. The lay-out is readily adaptable to other groups of animals, and quite a number of the theories in the book are taken from studies on plants, mammals etc. A very full bibliography covering fifteen pages is given at the back of the book. This is obviously a book for all ecologists, even though it is biased towards entomology. It is well worth the price for the amount of information 26 which is given and is an excellent book for the field ecologist as well as for students. M.P.C. IMPORTANT NOTICE The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held in the National Museum Hall on 12th March 1973, at 5.15 p.m. Nominations for Office Bearers and Members of Committee and notices of matters to be included in the Agenda should be sent to the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi before 15th February 1973. As the Secretary, Miss Angwin, is resigning nominations are requested for this position which carries a small honorarium. Miss Allen has agreed to continue as Assistant Secretary and all other Office Bearers and Committee Members are standing for re-election. DONATION The Society has received a donation of shs. 3500.00 from members of the National Audubon Society who visited East Africa last year from the U.S.A Shs. 500. 00 of this has been given to the National .Museums of Kenya. The remaining Shs. 3000.00 will be used to finance publication of the Journal. The Society is extremely grateful to the Audubon members and to Mr Don Turner, who organized their visit. SOCIETY FUNCTIONS Monday 5th February 1973, at 5.15 p.m; at the National Museum Hall, N.airobi. Professor J.W.S. Pringle will give a lecture on ’’The Flight of Insects”, followed by a shr rt film - ’’The Wing mechanism of the Bee”. Saturday lOth February 1973: Afternoon birdwatching in the garden of Mr and Mrs J. Ball, Karen. Please meet at Karen Dukas at 2.30 p.m. sharp. Weekend 16 - 18th February 1973: Society camp at Bushwhackers Safari Camp. For bookings, please contact Mrs Stanton, P.O. Kibwezi. Monday 12th March 1973, at 5.15 p.m.: at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi. The Society’s Annual General Meeting followed by films loaned by the Royal Society for the Protection oc Birds. 27 Wpekend loth, 17th and 18th March 1975: Camp at Thiba Fishing Camp, nr. Embu. Leaders Mr and Mrs Standish King. Details next issue. Monday 9th April 1975, at 5.15 p.m. : at the National Museum Hall, Nai robi . Mr E.T. Monks will give an illustrated lecture on "Poisons & Poisoners". NEW. MEMBERS - FEBRUARY 1973 Full members : Dr D.E. Brooke, Box 30125, Nairobi. ' Prof. H.M. Cameron, Box '30588, Nairobi. Mrs E.'M. Griffin, 81 Fi rswood Avenue, Ewell, Surrey, England. Mr A.J. Holcombe, M.A., M.B.O.U., 7 The Ridgeway, Tonbridge, Kent. Mr Robert Hooker, Box 30183, Nairobi. Mr W.N. Ken rick, c/o Mowlem Construction Co., Box 30078, Nairobi. Miss S. MacIntyre, Box 40469, Nairobi. Mr J.M. Me lack, Box 40469, Nairobi. Mrs A.P. Moore, Box 48451, Nairobi. Mrs Bruce Scott, Box 42878, Nairobi. Dr Ni Is Tarras-Wah I berg, Science Teacher’s. Training Col lege. Box 30596, Nairobi. Mr J.W.M. Whiting, O.D.P.U., Box 30197, Nairobi. J un i or membe rs : Stephen Bamlett, Box 30151, N.airobi. Paul Bridgland, Mgulia Safari Lodge, P.O. Mtito Andei , Kenya. FOR SALE One Mvu'le Butterfly Case. 16" x 40", 26 drawers, will hold over 1000 specimens. Shs.750/-. Contact John Bowes, Box 140, Eldoret, Kenya. WANTED Could any member give or lend a desk, large or small, with drawers,.for the use of the Society's Secretary? Mr Bernhard Rebel, a German zoologist, is looking for accomodation (care- taking, guest-house etc.) in or around Nairobi for three months from 1 st February 1973. 28 (SlH 7 BI3$- sl E A N H S 6 U I 1 E T I N Editor: Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya EANHS Secretary: Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya NOTES FOR CONTRSBUTORS 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 each month 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 and should be sent to; G.C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. E.A.N.H.S. BULLETIN MARCH 1973 CONTENTS A record of the Purp le~th roated cuckoo-Sh ri ke ------------30 Fishes of the Kenya Reef -VI -------------------- 31 Mechanical Pathology in the shoulder of a bi rd ----------- 33 Two new breeding records for Kenya - -- -- -- -- -- 39 Unusual seabird records off Watamu - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -^g Nai robi National Park game count - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -^.q Revi ews - -- -- -- -- -- --------------------41 Letters to the Editor ------------------------43 Camp at Bushwhackers - -- -- -- -----------------44 Society Functions ------------------ -------- 45 New members - ----------------------------45 Accomodat i on 47 A RECORD OF THE PURPLE-THROATED CUCKOO-SHRIKE CA^IPETEERA QUISCALIEA IN THE ARABUKO-SOKOKE FOREST On 5th January 1973, when in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, I saw several males arid one female of a cuckoo-shrike which apparently can only be the Purp le-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Compethera quiscalina. They were with a party of other insectivorous birds feeding quite low down in the branches of a Bvachystegia tree, and were viewed in full sunlight at a range of less than 25m through X 12 binoculars. At one stage a male and a female perched together about 30cm apart on a bare twig. The almost plain olive-green back and yellow underside of the fem,ale at once struck me as quite different from that of the female Campethera phoenicea^ which is also barred beneath, and which I see regularly near my house at Karen. The female seen in the Arabuko forest did not have a .part i cu I ar ly grey head, as shown in P 1 . 74 of Mackworht-Praed & Grant, Vol.2. However, I have since checked specimens of this cuckoo-shrike in the National Museum and remain convinced that this was the species seen. Some females of C. phoenioea have less strongly marked backs than others; but all are more or less strongly barred with black beneath, which was not the case in the suspected female C. quiscalina at Arabuko. The males, of which there were at least three with this one female, were all black, showing no tufts; however, as these ere not always seen in other male black cuckoo-shrikes, this is not necessarily good confirmation of the species concerned. Whi le remaining myself convinced that this was the species seen, after careful checking with skins in the National Museum and other sources, this would represent an extension of the known range of C, quiscalina by several hundred kilometres, and a groat difference of habitat, since it is normally a highland species in Kenya. A.D. Forbes-Watson , who has studied the Sokoke Forest thoroughly, tells me that he has never seen or collected it there. However, there have been so many surprises from this forest in recent years that I think this record worth mentioning, though evidently it requires confirmation by a specimen. Les I i e Brown , Box 249 16, Karen . ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Members are reminded that the Annual General Meeting of the Society will take place on 12th March 1973, at the National Musem Hall, Nairobi at 5.15 p.m.. The meeting will be followed by films, ’The Snowy Owls of Shet- land’ and ’The Kinfisher’, loaned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds through the British Council, Nairobi. 30 FISHlS of. the FENYA ; REEF - VI: CHAETODON r I DAE , THE BUTTERFLY FISHES The Chaetodonti dae or BuTterfiy fishes are among the most gracefully agile and attractive of roof fish a.id as a family are unmistakable. All have a slim, pointed snout; the mouth has fine bristle- I ike teeth, a characteristic whicii gives them their fami iy name (chaefa, a bristle; -odon, teeth.) ' The pointed snou+ is presumably an i ' the ; ; imculer .ceding habits of the famii !y, food is solemnly inspected, and then daintily picked out of crevices and crannies in the corals. i have not studied closely what the food is, but suspect, rrnong othei' things, the inevitable small crustaceans and, possibly, cerfain algae or small coe lenterates . 1 have once observed Butterfly fish eating small sea anemones. In two genera, Chelmon and Foroip- iger, the snout is eiongated and tubular; these are conveniently known as the long-snouted bu+terfiy fish. Butterfly fish do noi gru',.' to a large size; few attain 30cm iChaetodon lineolatus may, and is probably the largosi' species) and adult specimens generally vai'y between 15 and 23cm.., Most species conform to .a siandard fami Iy shape, and are mainly disting- uished by markings. Aii have a vertical eye stripe, almost Invariably black. Although at first sight thev appear a bewi Idering group, species ere easi Iy recognisable, n^'cvided one has done sor.ej horr,ework on body markings and colour. A few species exhibit m.ai^ked differences between juvenile and adult forms. Chaetodon lu.iid-a juvenii.es are the most likely to he encountered and 1 have illustrated the differences for this species. I have attoiipted to indicate in the diagrams the main recognition marks of each species; a summai'y here 'vi II not co.to amiss. A total of 22 species might be encountered in our area; 20 are iMustratod and described. Of these, 3 ere ve.'7 easi iy recognised; the two long-snouted Butterfly V\ s\\ , Foi^iignaer Longglvocdvi-s and Chelmon rostratue , and the Coachman, Hen i ochue acu, ninatu.3 . Of the !7 species of Chcetodon, 16 may be usefully divided into 2 colour groups; those having a body colour yellow, orange or brown (7 species) and those with a white, greyish or silver-grey body (disregarding the fins, which are generally orange or yellowish.) The seven teeth species, C. meyeri, has a spectacular blue body with unique markings and cannot be mistaken for any other. Having placed as. unknown Chaetodon into the ''yellow*' or the **white''’ group a careful merit a i note shculd be made of the following: (1) presence or absence of narrow, often black, lines, and their arrange- rrent (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, V-shaped) (2) presence or absence of b 1 ad; bars (as opposed to lines) (3) pres-nce of a large black spot (ocellus) on the body (3 species only, ! : nimoo-ulabus ^ aanzibarensis , hennetti) 31 (4) presence of small clefinitti spots on the body (2 species only, kleini and guttatissimus. ) There remain two other species which I have not i I lustrated. Heniochus monoceros is essentially simi lar to h. acuminatus , the Coachman, but in this species a small horn develops on the head with age. Henritaurichthys zoster is apparently rare; the body is divided more or less equally into 3 bands, the middle band being light coloured and the other two dark. I have never observed either along the Kenya coast, but both ere recorded from i'he Seychelles and there is no reason why they should not occur here. In the recognition notes of the species I have indicated whether they are apparently rare, common or abundant. These obviously may not be correct for al I the areas of the coast, and a species I have labelled as rare or uncommon may be locally, or seasonally, common, or even abundant. Ken Bock,, E.A.A.F.R.O. (Mugaga), Box 30148, Nai rob i . CHAETODONT I DAE - BUTTERFLY FISHES CheZmcn rostratus. Snout elongated, tubular; body silver, with four reddish brown vertical bars lined blue; black ocellar spot with pale blue halo. One record; Kisiti Island. 2. Foroipiger longirostris. Snout elongated, tubular; body bright yellow or yellow brown without vertical bars; upper half of head black, lower half of face, breast and snout white. Small black ocellus on fin below tail. ? Un common . 3. Heniochus acwnincctus , (Coachman) Greet elongation of 4th dorsal fin spine to form a pennant; body s i I ve ry-wh i te , w i th 2 broad diagonal cross bars. Unmistakable. Common, often abundant, in shoals. 4. Chaetodon meyeri. Complicated, flowing pattern of black lines on blue body; body extremities yellow. Only blue-coloured Chaetodon in our area. Unmistakable. Uncommon. 5. C. guttcctissimus. Pol^ cck'U red, silvercrwith yellowish hue; numerous small black spots on body. Distinctive eye stripe, pale centre, black border. Unmistakable. Recorded at Diani and Kasiti Island. 32 CHAETODONTIDAE 33 CHAETODONT I DAE - BUTTERFLY FISHES BODY 6. Chaetodon auriga. 1. C. vagabmdus. 8. C. lineolatus. 9. C. falcula. 10. C. xanthocephalus . M . C. chrysurus. 12. C. trifasoialis. 13. C. leucopleura. COLOUR WHITE, SILVER OR GREYISH Body white with 2 groups of diagonal bluish black lines set at right angles; soft dorsal and anal fins orange. Black ocel I us on soft dorsal; 5th. 6th, or 7th ray of soft dorsal filamentous. Common. Body whitish to si I very grey with 2 groups of diagonal lines set at right angles; soft dorsal and anal fins orange. Curved black ban from soft dorsal to anal fin. Common, often wandering about the lagoon far from coral. Body silvery grey with numerous vertical black lines; black bar below soft dorsal; broad black eye stripe. Attains at least 30cm, probably the largest species. Body whitish with vertical lines; two roughly triang- ular black bars on back, one at front and one at rear of spiny dorsa 1 . Body bluish-grey to silver with 6 slightly curved vertical lines; dorsal and anal fins orange. Head, snout and breast orange in juveni le; lower part of head and breast orange in adult. Eyestripe narrow, not extensive. This fish often appears to have a characteri st i c steep ’’slope" to its back along the soft dorsa I . Body white with dark V-shaped lines directed forwards; rear part of body, dorsal and anal fins brilliant orange. Rare. Body silvery grey with numerous V-shaped lines directed forwards; soft dorsal ends in a point; eye- stripe broad. Common at Kisiti. Body white or greyish, few horizontal red lines on belly and red spots on breast; fins yellow. Uncommon. Seen at Diani only. 34 , . CHAETODON : body colour white, silver or greyish 35 CHAETODONT I DAE - BUTTERFLY FISHES BODY COLOUR YELLOW, ORANGE OR BROWN 14, 14a. Chaetodon lunula. Body rich orange brown with diagonal reddish stripes; reddish spots on breast. Pure white area behind eyestripe, then 2 large curved black marks as indicated. Black stripe along back below dorsal, ending in a blob at base of tail. Juveniles without this stripe; instead a black ocellus with pale orange halo on soft dorsal. Unmistakable, common, often locally abundant. Juveniles in reef and rocky shore pools. Smith describes this fish as ”a disc of molten gold.*' 15. C. melanotus. Body yellowish, with bluish black diagonal lines and dots; black bar at base of tai 1. 16. C. trifasciatus. Characteri st i c shape; snout not pointed as in other Chaetodons. Body rich orange yellow, with horizontal brownish- red lines. Black below soft dorsal and anal fins. Three black bars on head; at extremity of face, the eyestripe, and a third behind the eye. A gloriously attractive fish, often in pairs. Common at K i s i t i . 7. C, zanaiharensis. Body yellow; large black ocellus 18. C. unimaculatus . Body yellow; large black ocellus; distinguished from zanzibarensis by black edging to rear of dorsal and anal fins, and black bar at tail base. 19. C. hennetti. EJody yellow; black ocellus with blue halo; 2 bluish stripes as an inverted V from behind eye to anal fin. Eyestripe edged blue. 20. C. kleini. Body yellowish-brown, with numerous distintive small white spots. Snout black; rear of dorsal and anal f i ns edged b 1 ack. 36 CHAETODON: body colour yellow, orange or brown 37 N€CH.AN1CAL PATHOLOGY IN THE SHOULDER OF A BIRD ILLUSTRATING ITS MECHANISM OF ACTION For five months a Ground Hornbi II Bueorvus caffer was seen unable to fly near the Mi ombo Research Centre in the Selous Game Reserve, SE Tanzania. One wing could flap but the other only remained folded at its side. Expect- ing to find interesting pathology, the bird’s precarious existence was termi rated. Turning the b i rd on its back, it was noticed that the non-moving wing would open and spread as easily as the normal one. The examination of the shoulder joints revealed a normal left one with smooth glistening articular surfaces and a pathological right one, with fibrous inflammatory tissue adhering to the joint components. The explanation of this immobilization may be understood by knowledge of the mechanism of the wing function. The figure shows how the tendon of the supracoracoi deus muscle passes through the foramen triosseum to be inserted on the upper surface of the humerus; contraction of this muscle raises the wing (even though the muscle is situated below the wing). Although the supracoracoi deus would contract normally, the fibrous inflammatory tissue would prevent the tendon from moving in the foramen triosseum to elevate -the wing. The joint’s mobility would not be impaired how'ever, if, as in this case, the fibrous tissue was not enough to fuse the joint, which is why the wing was easi ly opened by forces other than the b i rd’ s own. The examination also revealed an abscess in the lung. ' if the pathology originated in the joint and organisms entered the blood stream the first caps Mary bed to be encountered would be the lungs. Or, as the synovial membrane of a joint Is also a capillary bed, organisms in the blood from elsewhere may have localised here as well as in the lung. supracoracoi deus tendon Bob Gainer, Mi ombo Research Centre, Selous Game Reserve Project, Box 25295, Dar es Sa I aam. 38 TWO NEW BIRD BREEDING RECORDS FOR KENYA Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea On 30th May 1971, I found a nest of this species by the I kuywa River in Kakamega Forest. The nest was a very small cup of fine grasses and flat lichens on a hanging branch at a point where it tri furcated about 7m above the ground. The contents could not be examined, but the female was sitting. On 13th June I saw a pair of adults in the vicinity of the nest, but saw no evidence of juvenile birds. Whistling Cisticola CisticoLa lateralis On 24th May 1970, in a grassy glade on 1 he north western edge of Kakamega Forest I saw two juvenile C. lateralis accompanied by a small group of adults. They differed from the adults in having stumpy tails, and being rather reddish above. They celled constantly as they fluttered from bush to bush and were occasionally fed by one of the adults. On the same day, a few hundred metres away, I found another group containing two completely grown j uven lies. There is an earlier, unpublished, breeding record for Kenya, viz. an incompletely grown juvenile, weight I2.0g, wing 52mm netted at NgMya on I3th July I969 by P.L. & H.A. Britton. C.F. Mann, Box 337, Kapsabet, Kenya. UNUSUAL SEABIRD RECORDS OFF WAT AMU, KENYA Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus Iherrrrinieri On 3lst Decem.ber I972, when fishing about 3.5km out to sea from the mouth of Mi da Creek, a single shearwater was observed flying round other seabirds attending shoals of Tunny Euthynnus sp. Good views were obtained of. the bird in flight, showing the white underside clearly. Later, it settled on the water, end allowed us to drift gently to within 5 metres of it before taking wing. On this occasion all the distinguishing features of this shear- water were visible with the naked eye. In flight it could be distinguished from a possible Dusky Shearwater P. assimilis hailloni (which is recorded at Seychelles but not off the East African coast by Praed & Grant) by the dark underwing coverts. A white ring round the eye and a whitish streak on the side of the head were clearly visible in the bird on the water. There there- fore seems little doubt that this was a Audubon's Shearwater, of which there are, I believe, only two other Kenya records, one of them obtained at the base of the Limuru television mast, and now in America. It is possible That more than one individual was present on 3i st December, since several times one was seen flying; they may have all been the same bird 39 coursing over the saine area of sea, however. Another individual, less likely to have been the same bird, was seen on 6th January 1973, in roughly the same area, but rather further north and a kilometre or so more out to sea, again associated with other seabirds following shoals of Tunny. Brown Booby Sula leucog aster On 3rd January 1973, in the same general area about 3.5km off the mouth of Mi da Creek, a single adult Brown Booby was seen at a range of about 200m. I am thoroughly fami liar with this species elsewhere in tropical seas. The solid dark brown breast distinguishes this species in adult plumage from any possible confusion with the immature of 5, daatylatra. This is tho first time I have seen species of booby offshore when fishing from Watamu. Little Tern Sterna albifrons In view of th: rothor scarce d*. finit-: records ■: f Littl-^ Tern on the Kenya coast (Britton & Brown, in prep.) it seems worth recording four or five seen on the evening of 5th January 1973 in Mi da Creek. I have previous records of this species from Mi da Creek, and, as cn ail other occasions when I have seen this species, they were fishing at the very edge of the rising tide, as the water welled into the hollows in the sandflats and presumably caused certain small fish to become active. They disappeared after a short time, and were in view for only about a quarter of an hour, fishing in various places where they presumably caught their immediate needs. Larus spp. undet. There has recently been controversy over the identification of small gul Is, either L. genet or L. ridibundus off the East African coast. In August 1972 I saw several small gul Is which, r.t a distance of less than 100 metres with X 12 binoculars, but in rough seas, I was convinced were L. genet. In December 1972 and January 1973, on the fishing expeditions in the course of which the shearwater and boeby were seen, 1 saw large numbers, possibly 200, of a small gull which appeared, without doubt, to be L. rtdt~ hvndus. The descri pti ^;ns of winter plumage of beth these gulls in Praed & Grant are of little help; but from Archer & Godman (The Birds of British Somali- land and the Gulf of Aden, 1937) it appears that the Slender-billed Gull always has an entirely white head when adult. However, the matter can only be satisfactori ly settled by col lecting a specimen, which could easi ly be done off Watamu in December. Les I i e Brown , Box 249 16 , Karen . NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK GAME GOUNT The Warden of Nairobi National Park would be glad to hear of Volunteers to be put on the reserve list for game counts. These counts take place on the last Sunday of each month, i .e. March 25th, Apri I 29th, May 27th, June 24th, July 29th, August 26th, September 30th, October 28th, November 29th, 40 December 30th. These counting use their own vehicles, and normally work up to lunchtime, depending on the number of animals in a particular area. Volunteers would be informed by telephone if they were required for a partic- ular count. Anyone willing to take part should inform the Viarden, Box 42076, N a i rob i . REVIEWS THE GARDENERS OF EDEN by A.D. Graham. 246pp., 16 black and white photographs 1973, London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. U.K. price £4 (80/- to 88/- in Nairobi bookshops). The gardeners of the title refers to conservationists, and the book is an attempt to show that conservationists of every degree, whether professionals such as Game and Park Wardens, or ’nature lovers’ are really what they are through "a manifestation of intense hatred’ . As a bi rd-watchor myself, I find i t most interesting to, discover that I watch birds because cf their ’’potent sexual symbolism” (p.l67). As a laymian in the field of psychology I am utterly unable to criticise such reasoning but, having a certain know- ledge of b i rd-watchers, I would tiiink it a gross eve rs i mp I i cation to suggest that their motives are identical. One suspects, therefore, that much of thc rest of the book may be over-si mp I i f ied, and it certainly seem.s that many of the data presented in it are biased to fit into the authors argument. Indeed, a psychologist analysing this text would surely discover much about the author. For instance, what motive caused it to be written in the first place? It can be seen then, that this is a cent rovers i a 1 book, and any review can only be from a very personal viewpoint, therefore it should be judged by each reader individually. The high price will no doubt put many people off buying their own copy, but the Natural History Society Library will have the review copy available to members. The theme cf man's antagonism to animals becoming love and protection for them is developed through ten chapters: For whom the wi I do mess?: In the pride of his grease: Ginderella; Valkyrie: In the beginning was the deed: The Mcwgli complex: Tall ho.': The oracles cf Delphi: Strawberry fields for ever: The garden of Eden. Other examples of this sort of labelling can be found in the index: Cinderella syndrome: Death Row complex: Gamekeeper’ chorus; Great Game Animals: Limpid Eye Index. Tc me this 'clever' writing obscures some genuinely good points; one example will suffice. From p.l98 onwards, after a cutting descripticin of 'professional game savers’ (much of it only too true of certain, but by no means all, of them), wc are taken on an imaginary tour of a National Park. Graham’s justifiable criticisms of the DO NOT s\^v\s etc. lose their impact through the ridfculous lengths his fantasy takes him. Many wi II feel that the extracts from Game Department annual reports etc. are quoted out of context and, as rrany of the authors are still alive, it would only have been a courtesy to get their present views. For instance. that grand old man Capt. C.R.S. Pitman, first Game Warden of Uganda, rates nearly a whole chapter ('’Valkyrie’'), and to my mind should certainly have had a say ( I f he had wanted one!) in the present work. As I have said, the author has some genuinely valid points, but I found the book hard to read or ’get in to', with the chapters too long and the facts too often obscured by the very personal sidelights and i nterpretations which broke the thread of the argument. When my friend Alistair Graham asked me to review this book for the Bulletin I suspect he knew that it might take this form - I suspect he will be pleased that at least one reviewer has been a little provoked! His analysis of me based on this review would be appreciated. A.D. F-W. KENYA'S NATIONAL REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT Available from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Box 30126, Nairobi No price given. ix + I03pp, paper cover. This report was prepared as part of Kenya’s contribution to the United Nations Gonference on the Humian Environment in 1972. Data wore cbtained both from published material and from Information supplied by many experts within Kenya. The first part of the report covers three aspects: Human settlement, Natural Resources and Pollution. Each aspect is explained in depth and the difficulties and problems that are facing Kenya are outlined. Even though the information consists mostly of facts, figures and tables they are easily understood; and often conveys, as only a factual account can, a chilling pic- ture of how some of Kenya’s natural resources are rapidly disappearing. Some of the figures are startling to a layman, such as the loss of up to 1,000,000 tons of topsoil (an admittedly high figure) a day, through indiv- idual rivers; also every year an average of 6,000 hectares of forest reserve is officially converted to agricultural settlement. Part two of the report deals with past and future actions to control the problems outlined in the first part. It is very reassuring to find that at the planning level remedies have been suggested or in somo cases, implemented for most of the stated problems. However, although the remedies are often studied in depth many of themi remain just studies; the report emphasises that Government legislation, intense research and ihe input of both finance and manpower are essential. The report also emphasises that these problems should be taokled now ^ and not left for future generations when the cost of restoring the environment could be enormous. However, I found the report encouraging in that the Kenyan Government obviously realises the dangers and has no wish to see its country emulate some of the polluted and en vi ronment I y despoiled developed countries. One can only hope that it manages to succeed. One last point is that the cartoons by Terry Hirst are a surprising and welcome Inclusion; they often sum up the problems involved more succintly than a wealth of data could. 42 W.P.H.D. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, In the January 1973 Bulletin I noticed an article about an attack on a giraffe and calf by a lioness in which it is mentioned that the giraffe roared, I have never heard a giraffe use any voice, and always understood they couldn’t. f'-'i ss Eery Rickman, Pioneer Ward, Nairobi Hospital, Box 30026, Nairobi. Sir, With reference to Mr D.H. Round-Turner’s letter in the January issue of the Bulletin, and to the fol low up letters in the February issue. Dr L.S.B. Leakey in his National Geographical Society book ’’Animls in East Africa” has a photograph (p.35) of an elephant partially rearing up on its hind legs while feeding. Jean Brown, National Museum, Box 40658, Nei rob i . Sir, On Nth February 1973, while b i rd~watch i ng near Small Mome I a Lai^e in the Arusha National Park, I saw what I believe was an Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonarae. I was standing 30m from the lake-edge when this unfamiliar looking falcon flew past mo, low along the shore. It swooped up, twisting and turning as if hawking for insects, but then I noticed that it was carrying what appeared to be a small bird. It continued on, low over the shoreline, until it flew out of view behind a small hillock. A minute later it reappeared again briefly about lOOm from me still carrying the bird. A.l though it could not have been in view for more then a mJnute I had good views of it, since it was late afternoon with the sun behind me and I was using a good pair of 8 X 30 binoculars. The following is a description of this falcon. it was Peregrine sized or possibly larger, but much slimmer, the wings being narrower and longer and the tai I very noticeably Icnger, in fact, in shape (but not in size) it resembled a kestrel and had the more liesurely, shallow wingbeats inter- spersed with a short glide so typical cf a kestrel. The upperparts were a uniform dark blackish brown and the cheeks were very noticeably white. As I was above the bird, I was unable tc see the unde rparts . I may have mistaken this bird for a banner Falcon Falco biarmicus which is also a large slim falcon, but the banners I have seen have given a. patterned appearance above with the pale brown head and tail which is barred 43 and the dark brown wings and back. Leslie Brown, in his book, ''African Birds of Prey’ notes that Eleonora’s Falcon may move inland on migration to feed on the insects that emerge after a rain front has passed. So it may be of interest to note that a large storm had passed an hour or so before my sighting. Colin Corf i e 1 d, c/o L.D.E.F. Vesey-Fi tzgera I d , Arusha National Park, Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania. Backfiurst, Brittc-n & Mann (in press, 'The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania’) give a resume of the stafus of this species which breeds very late in the year in the eastern. Mediterranean and winters in Madagascar. The above mentioned authors could give only two records for the two countries; it is recorded in the Ruaha National Park, Tanzania by Williams (1967, A Field Guide to the National Parks of East Africa), accord- ing to the Warden, J. Savidge, in December, end once from near Arusha in January 1971 (J.G. Williams in litt.) . Ed. CAMP AT BUSHWHACKERS About 45 members and their fami lies took part in this camp. Old members know that they cannot be disappointed in Bushwhackers and this meeting served as an introduction to some new ones. Rain had refreshed the vegetation and brought up the river. On one occasion no less than 10 crocodi les were counted end on another, 3 Hippo were seen. A Little Ringed Plover Chavadvius dubius was spotted and Three-banded Plovers C. tricollaris , Greenshank Tringa nebularia. Common and Green Sandpipers T. hypoleucos end T. oohropus. At one point the largest of the Herons and one of the smal lest, the Goliath Ardea goliath and the Green-becked Butorides striatus could be seen together. There was much activity on land too. The young of Von der Decken's and the Red-bi I led Hornbi I Is Tookus dsokeni end T. erythrorhynchus were out of their holes and being fed at the bird tables, begging with the same hunger calls that lately issued from the holes. A Yel low-bi I led Hornbi I I T. flavirostvis was seen by some of the party; this bird is nc.-w unfortunately rare in the neighbourhood. Stripe-breasted Sparrow Weavers Plocepasser maha.li , Grey- headed Sparrows Passer griseus and Superb Starlings Spreo superbus were all being followed about by big young. Five species of Kingfisher were seen and one member found the nest hole of the Grey-headed Halcyon leucocephala. Another member noticed the beautifully woven nest of the Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis in a tree just outside the common-room banda right in the middle of the camp. This is a new bird for the Bushwhackers list. It seems curious that neither this nor the Red-headed Weaver Malimbus rubri- ceps which also breeds in tht: camp, come to the b i rd tables, although these 44 ere very close to their nests. By special permission; a visit was paid on Sunday morning to the dam on the DVt/A Estate. This represents a different habitat and another 22 species were recorded; the Broad-bi I led Rol ler Eurystomus glaucurus and the Trump- eter.HornbiM Byeanistes bucinator being particularly conspicuous. We always enjoy Bushwhackers with its friendly atmosphere, and hope +c invade it again soon as a body. Many members will, no doubt, be revisiting it meantime in a private capacity; the address to write to (as most of, us know) is Mrs H.R. Stanton, Bushwhackers, P.O. Kibwezi. P.M.A. SOCIETY FUNCTIONS Monday 12th March 1975, at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi: The Society's Annual General Meeting followed by films; ''The Kingfisher'* and "Snowy Owls of Shetland" loaned by The Royal Society for the protection of Birds through the British Council, Nairobi. March 16th - 18th 1973: Weekend camp at Thiba River Fishing Camp on the southern slopes of Niount Kenya, altitude approx. 1900m, leaders Mr & Mrs Standi sh King. Camping will be at the forest edge under large shade trees. Washing water and firewood will be available, but please bring drinking water. There will be a small camping fee. The space is limited and the number will be restricted to 17 cars. All campers (including children over 10 years) must hold a valid Kenya fishing licence (5/- fcr a weekend obtain- able from the Fisheries Department, next door to National Museum) and there may be a further smell charge for wood end water. Interest: Forest birds, indigenous forest, plants etc. If you wish to conie, please send the enclosed form to Mrs J.Standish King, Box 40058, Nairobi. Route map wi I I be sent. Monday 9th Apri I 1975, at 5. 15 p.m. at the National Museum Hell, Nairobi: Mr E.T. Monks will give an illustrated lecfure on ‘''Poisons and Poisoners". Monday 14th May 1975, at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi: Mrs Jean Brown of the Institute of African Studies of the University of Nairobi will give an illustrated lecture on "Adaptation to Environment" (the use of natural materials in the Arts and Crafts of the Peoples of Kenya). Wedensday morn i ng Birdwalks: meet in front of the National Museum, Nairobi every Wednesday at 8.45 a.m. . 45 NEW MEMBERS - MARCH 1973 Full members: Mrs J.W. Ash, Box 30282, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Miss H. I . Barker, Box 30465 ,■ Nai rob i . Mr Dallas L. Browne, Institute of African Studies, Box 30197, Nairobi. Dr A.B. Carles, Box 29053, Nai rob i . Mr H.F. Cox, Box 14103, Nairobi. Dr Stephen Emien, Cornell Universiity, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A. Mr Dale K. Fisher, Cheptenye Secondary School, Box 83, Kericho. Mr J.G. Francis, 43, Archway Street, Barnes, London, S.W. Mrs Eddah Gachukia, Dept, of Literature, University of Nairobi, Box 30197 Dr B. Harbott, Lake Rudolf Fisheries Research Project, Private Bag, Kital Dr Juliet Hayden Box 30129, Nairobi. Mrs Lorna Hindmarch, Box 81, Njoro. Mr P. Kinnear, 2, MIounthooly St., Lerwick, Shetland, U.K. Mr C.P. Luxmoore, Box 40031, Nairobi. Mr Alan Magary, Box 14023, Nairobi. Mr B.S. Meadows, Box 30521, Nairobi. MirP.L. Miller, Box 30772, Nairobi. Mrs W.S. Morrison, Tigh-na-Creag, Pitagowan, by Blair Athol, Perthshire. Mrs Jane Nandwa, Dept of Literature, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mr P.J. Oliver, 53, Ember Farm Way, East Molesey, Surrey., Mrs A. Osanya-Nyyneque, Box 44111, Nairobi. Mr P.D. Paterson, Box 24909, Karen, Nairobi. Mrs M.C. Roggen , Box 45335, Nairobi. Mrs A. Sauberl i , Box 14259, Nairobi. Dr Julian Shepherd, Box 30772, Nairobi. Mr A.J. Simipkin, Box I, Limuru. Mr D.S. Thomson, Box 40426, Nairobi. Mr C.E. Wheeler, 3, Woodhurst Close, Cuxton, Rochester, Kent. Prof. Allan Wi Ison, Dept of Zoology, Un i versi ty of Nai robi , Box 30197. J un i or member: Carolyn Bell, Box 407 1 o , Nai rob i . ACCOMODAT I ON Members who have not heard of it, might like to know of the Miwasungia Scenery Guest House in the beautiful Taita Hills about one km from Wundanyi . (40km from Voi on the tarmac road). Only food need be taken as sheets, blankets, towels, lamps and hot showers arc provided. There is a very fully equiped kitchen with ’fridge and gas cooker, and a living room, well stocked with books. I can highly recomimend it. Phone Mr Mwachala Nbi. 50643 (Box 6519, Nairobi) or phone the guest house direct. ALSO I have a very beautiful large 18th century house in Lamu, furnished with traditional furniture, which I let in aid of the Lamu Museum. There are t c double and five single beds as wl, I I as a large makuti covered roof where guests can sleep.. Guests need only take bed linen & towels, resident servant. Cost Sh50/- per day. Contact me by post the Museum or phone M;i ss Sedgewick, Nbi,533b3. 46 Jean Brown, Box 40658 , Nai rob i . h ^ Nj B U 1 1 E T I N Editor: Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya EANHS Secretary: Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G.C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. E.A.N.H.S. BULLETIN APRIL 1973 CONTENTS Mi^r.?tin^ Butterflies: Effect of cicud sh?ricw on movement - ----- - 48 More unusual Larids in Tanzania ------------------- 50 Index - Notice - -- -- -- - _ 51 Nest of Red-wing Starl ing ----------------- ----- - 52 Hc-neyguice Host - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - - 53 Parasitic birds of Kentc-n Collepe, Nairr-bi ------------- 53 Rhino - Elephant assoc i at icn -------------------- 54 Reviews -------------------------- ----- 55 Letters tc' the Editor---- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 57 Society Announcements ------------------------ 58 Society Functions - - - - - ----- _ - _ _ _ 59 Request for Information ----------------------- 59 Library Notice - ----- - ----- - 50 New Members ----------------------------- 60 MIGRATING CATOPSILLA FLORELLA FABRIC I US (PAP I LL I ONO I DEA : PIER I DAE) BUTTERFLIES ; EFFECT OF CLOUD SHADOW ON LOVEFENT AND THE SEX RATIO The influence of shade ^ as an i nte rmi ttant c loud-shadcv/, on an otherwise bright sunlit day can have a profound effect cn the flying activities of butterflies. This is probably more marked in certain Pierines than in other fami lies. Catopsilla florella is a species prone to considerable migration move- ments in East Africa and a migration of this species, ell flying more or less east to west, has been observed at Karen, near Nairobi, Kenya. In order to study the sex- ratio and the effect of cloud shadow, time was taken on the morning of 16th December 1972 to make counts and observations. All specimens moving between four points, in a garden environment over an area of some 50 by 50m, were counted and recorded in consecutive intervals of five minutes duration and at the same time notes were made of the periods of cloud shadow and full bright sunlight, to the nearest half mi n ute , The females arc.- cle^'r yellow and the males green-tinged white, thus they can be clearly differentiated in the field. The first butterflies were noted just prior to I0.30h, when the study was commenced. It was anticipated that as the temperature rose, a controlling factor in flight activity, that there would be a sharp and steep bui Id-up of numbers on the wing. Temperature in the shade at the time was around 21 C. This was the case for the first fifteen minutes then the cloud shadow put down all the insects to rest on foliage or on the ground; cloud was only present for one minute but this was sufficient to cause the cessation of flight. However, in the next ten minute period, there was a rise in numbers passing in full bright conditions. Two minutes of cloud shadow at the start of the seventh five-miinute period, at I I.OOh, halted movement but thereafter numbers rose steeply to 45 and 42 in the next ten minutes of un i nterrupted sunshine. From the histogram the effect of the prolonged shadow or "blinking*' periods, intermittant c L' ur'-sun-c 1 c ud rf she rt intervals, cm be readily seen in the period between 11.20 end II .25h when only a single butterfly passed. A bright period between 11.30 and I I . 35h saw the numbers increasing, from 5 to 31. Blinking periods intervened, erratic short spells of full and obscured sun for ten minutes, f rc m periods fourteen to sixteen, when there was little miovement. V.'ith mere and longer periods of sunlight, numbers increased sharply, from 6 - 17 - 1 9 - 24 - 30 - 48 to 50, to period twenty- one at I2.15h, thereafter intermittant bright and cbscurod sun periods were frequent and caused very erratic flight numbers until I3.00h, when a pro — longed period of blinking cloud shadow occurred with little movement until 13.15h with only a tew insects on the wing. Observations ceased at I3.l5h as the sky clouded over with dark rain clouds and all butterfly movement ceased completely. It was noted that resumption of flight took between thirty seconds to a full minute before the butterflies left their resting positions and resumed flight. Females appeared to be the first to get under way, as In periods I, •48 Histogram showing Cloud shadow periods and numbers of Butterflies O >0 W7 *-7 to g AJ Sf <£) ♦ rrf CJ N vd iy> more well known amongst bird parasites. On leaving the house on the afternoon of 2nd March 1973 I heard the plaintive and incessant cheeping of a young bird which turned out to be a fledged Emerald Cuckoo ChvysococQvx aupreus. Intrigued to see what was feeding this bird, I waited and watched, and to my surprise up flew a female Bronze Sunbird Neotarinia kilimensis . The young cuckoo cheeped more frantic- ally, fluttered its wings in a helpless manner and the sunbird proceeded to feed it, stretching up to reach the mouth of the much larger cuckoo . This, was repeated at regular intervals for two days. At times the cuckoo would suddenly lose its helplessness and fly after the sunbird. On several such occasions the cuckoo was chased by Fiscal Shrikes Lanius collaris and Reichencw's Weavers Ploceus haglafeaht. The question is; 'Did the sunbird rear the cuckoo from the egg?*' If so, how did the adult cuckoo lay its egg in the sunbird’s tiny nest, end hew did the sunbird cope with such a large fledgling in her nest? If net, who did rear the cuckoo and why did the sunbird take over the upbringing? S.J. Stagg, Kenton Col lege. Box 300 17, Na i rob i . RHINO - ELEPHANT ASSOCIATION 1 ! On Nth February 1973, in the evening whilst sitting at Madana Rock in \ Tsavo National Park (East), we observed a rather unusual sight. From a long distance away we saw a small rhino leading an elephant right through the bush to the water at Madana. It was very apparent that the two animals were ■ together. At the water-hole there was already ano'ither rhino, the small rhino did look at the bigger rhinc- as it passed but did not stop, but carried on leading the elephant to the water. Both animals got into the water and drank. Having had its fill, the elephant began to move off, but as the small rhinc' remained in the water, sometimes turning to look at the other rhinc-, the elephant waited on the bank. As his little rh i no * friend' still remained in the water with no sign of coming up the bank, the elephant returned to the water and stood beside the rhino, obviously waiting for it until it was ready to leave too. It would be interesting tc hear if any other reader has seen a similar j 'friendship' between those animals, or whether it is unusual. I understand i, that once rhinc move into an area the elephant tend to move out. Mavis M. Heath, | Box 271 , Ma I i n d i , I Kenya. j 54 REVIEWS GUIDE TO THE RUWENZORI by H.A. Osmaston and D. Pasteur. X + 200pp., colour f rontispiecG; 16 black and white plates, 15 text figures, 10 text maps. Mountain Club of Uganda (P.O. Box 2927, Kampala) 1972, sh.40/-. Also obtainable from West Col Productions, I Meadow Close Cor i ng-on-Thames , Reading, Berks, U.K. When 1 first visited the Ruwenzori in 1968 all 1 had for guidance was a map and a battered sheaf of duplicated notes produced by the Mountain Club of Uganda. The notes had passed from party to party within the Kenya Mounta Club and also through many a Ruwenzori bog so it was just as well that the map was good. It was fun feeling like explorers in this Incredible and fascinating area, but on the other hand, like most parties we had limited time and money and a full guidebook would have made a great difference to the trip. Thus this first edition of a GUIDE TO THE RUWENZORI is a very welcome addition to the literature on East African mountains. In the tradition of that literature the guide caters for far wider interests than that of the pure climber. Of the 200 pages Just 82 are devoted to the climbing routes, and these are explained very clearly with the liberal use of maps, drawings and photographs. The remainder of the guide falls into chapters as follows. 1) General information - access, epuipment, porters, huts etc. 2) Walking routes ~ a total of 30 described 4) Natural History ~ everything from glaciology to insects. 5) History - starting from 500 BC and then almost year by year for the last hundred, plus a section on place names. 6) Bibliography -- with 368 classified references. There is even a Kiswahill vocabulary. Considering that the small print used gives up to 500 words per page one can see there Is good value for the high purchase p ri ce . There can be little doubt as to tlie accuracy of the essential information - the guide has evolved from a long series of well used duplicated notes. The peripheral information is presented in such a clear and scholarly manner that it Is obviously the work of authors used to presenting this sort of information for professional purposes. As a source book it is excellent: for instance in the Bibliography I counted 81 references classified under Botany and Zoology. The guide is produced as a true pocket book, II X 17cm on waterproof insectproof paper, but it is a pity that the covers are of board rather than the conventional and well tried plastic covers used on other mountain guides. ^ An index would have been useful, but would have Increased the cost even further and i t must be remembered that the guide has been produced by a small amateur club. It is hoped that this guide will encourage more natur naturalists and geographers to supplement the numbers of climbers visiting the Ruwenzori - there Is tremendous interest and scope for study in this area. It is also hoped that access to the . Ruwenzori will not be restricted to the local poachers for too long. A.R.W. 55 THE CICHLID FISHES OF THE GREAT LAKES OF AFRICA Their Biology and Evolution by by G, Fryer & T.D. I les. 64lpp,, 350 text-figures, 10 black and white photographs and colour plates. 1972, Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. U. K. pri ce £ 12 .00. This i s ■ an outstand i ng book, boi'h in scientific content and in its superbly written, readable style. The Authors have not assumed us to be expert i chthyologis'fs; it is indeed refreshing to be able to read (so as to clearly understand) a vyork of this scope and magnitude. The cichlids, whicl'i include the genus T'ita.'pia, are a family of that vast order, the Perci formes, or perch- 1 ike fishes. They are of great significance as a sour'ce of protein food, being one of the most important resources of the region. They also rate as one of the most exciting subjects in i'he study of evolution. From the time when their progenitors first colonised the Lakes, they have proceeded to occupy every ecological habitat in an explosion of acapti^^e radiation and speciation. There are phyto- and zooplankton feeders; deposit feeders; epiiithic (rock surface) algal feeders; epiphyton (algal growth on i^ater plant) feeders;, leaf- ■ choppers; mcllusc, insect and other arthropod feeders; piscivores; highly specialised species which feed on fish eggs, embryos or larvae; there are. scale eaters, fin-biters, and bizarre, and grisly eye-biters. It is quite irnpcssible to precis a book of this depth in a brief review, and there is no course but to sevorely I'estrict oneself to some highlights. There are absorbing accounts of higiiiy complex behavioural patterns, especially in relai'ion to territory, courtship and breeding. A feature of the cichlids is parental care: females of many species collect and brood their eggs and young In their mouths. There are chapters on means of communication (the cichlids i jve a highly developed system of visual signals), and on other specialised habits such as shoaling and physical tolerance (the Lake Magadi Tilapia grahami lives in saline lagoons fed by 37 - 45C hot springs.) Colour and colour patterns, species interrelation- ships, community structure, genetic polymorphism (species with two or more colour forms), growth phenomena, and cichlids as a natural resource are dealt with masterfully, but always with simplicity: the amount of accumulated knowledge on this group is astonisITng. A splendid chapter on the history of the Afri can . Lakes is a prelude to the climax on adaptive radiation d speciation. I wonder how many naiuralists in East Africa are aware that Lakes Malawi, Victoria and Tanganyika eaoT, con ta i n more species of fishes than any other lake in the world. For those -w'ho are interested in numbers, there are 242, 208 and 193 species of fish in Ma 1 a'w i , V i ctori a and Tanganyika respectively; what is more remarkable, more than, 200, 170 and 126 respectively are cichlids. They show a very high degree of endemism: in Malawi, all but 4 of the 200 are endemic (i.e. they occur nowhere else); In Victoria all. but 6; in Tanganyika all 126 arc endemic. Nor does it stop there. Lake Albert has 10 species of cichlids (4 endemic); Rudolf 5 (2); Edward/George 28(19); Kivu 9 (8); Rukwa 2 (I); Bangweulu 9 (1); Mwei'u 12 (4); Chllwa 5 (0) and Nabugabo. 10 (5). A staggering total of 540 endemic species. 56 Seen in this light, the achievements of those foremost examples of adaptive radiation, Darwin’s Finches of the Galapagos (with 14 endemic species) pale into insignificance. I did not know ab.out any of this unti I I read the book. I can recommend it as a classic thesis on natural history and evolution. Even if you are not interested in fishes. K.R.B. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Si r, THE C. J. P. I ON IDES MEMORIAL FUND C.J.P. lonides the well known herpetologist and naturalist, died in Kenya in 1968. He had collected reptiles in East Africa for nearly thirty years and had contributed greatly to East African herpetology. In addition he had played a very significant rcHe in the development cf the National (formerly the Coryndon) Museum', Nairobi and personally collected many of its rarer mamma I s. There is no memorial to Icnides in East Africa and we feel that some tribute to his work is long overdue. A fund has therefore been started named ''The C.J.P. lonides Memorial Fund*' in order to purchase and erect an exhibition cage and commemorative plaque to him in the Nairobi Snake Park. Icnides collected large numbers of reptiles fr r the Nairobi Snake Park an:’' did much to establish its world-wide reputation. It wC'Uld seem fitting therefore that a tribute to his work in the form of a plaque and special exhibit should be displayed within the Snake Park. If dcnaticns exceed the figure required for such a cage anc plaque, the excess wi II be used for an extension to the Snake Park buildings. We welcome the opportunity, through the Bulletin, of drawing the attention of all miembers to this appeal. A large number of pecple met Icnides and worked with him,, many others will have read c~f him. We invite subscriptions to this appeal which should be made pccyable tc: "The C.J.P. Icnides Memcrial Fund' and sent to The Standard Bank Ltd., Bex 14438, Nairobi. All donations will be acknowledged and details cf the memorial project will be published in due course. J.H.E. Leakey, Lake Baringo, Box 1141, Nakuru, Kenya. J.E. Cooper, c/o Veterinary Services Division, P.O. Kabete, Kenya. C.R.S. Pitman, Leicester Court Hotel, 41 Queen’s Gate Gardens, London. A. Duff-Mackay, The National f'luseum. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya. Marianne Mitten, 16 BailleuI Road, Delville, Germiston, South Africa. 57 S i With reference to Miss Rickman's letter in the March Bulletin regarding the roaring giraffe: seme years ago^ when I was capturing giraffe near Kitale, we found that giraffe calves when first caught would open their mouths and roar as lustily as any domesticated cow's calf, and when tamed they would sometimes 'moo' very softly, though without opening their mouths However after a few months they seemed tc lose the abi 1 i ty to do this. We certainly never heard an adult roar, though two males fighting (which they did by swinging their heads at each other) sometimes made a noise seme thing between a grunt and a growl. This sound however would seem, to come from deep inside their bodies and to have nothing tc do with vocal cords. Hugh R. Stanton, Bushwhackers Safari Camp, P.O. Ki bwez i , Kenya . A. G. M. 1973 The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held on 12th March 1973 in the National Museum Hall, Nairobi. Mr Karmali reported on the year's achievements which gave cause for encouragement: the Journal contained twice as many pages in 1972 as in 1971 and the finances (reported by Mr Clifton) were in a healthy state. The new Excutive Committee members were elected nem. con.; their names will be printed inside the cover of next month's Bulletin. After the official business was concluded, members were shown three excellent bird films very kindly knt ty tho British C-runcil. Ed. SOCIETY ANNOUNCEMENT The East African Standard of 9th March 1973 carried the following news item on its front page: '‘Drop title of president The ■ fo I I Gwi ng statement was issued yesterday by the Kenya C vc-.rnfPont : "The existence of the title of "presi dent*' amongst the posts of officers of societies, trade unions, companies and other associations can cause confusion with the title of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya. 58 "in the circumstances, the Government of Kenya requires that the constitutions () 'f l, ■V) • i’,.| ; f ''■|- •*.' 'U'i.'i i‘\C ' „ , .. .. . • - -y-, a; ■,2W^i^4' ' ‘^;_ ’■ V. ; jV' i '■;'■■■' ' ' -or ^ ifi'&' i ■ . I ■ r . > , 'f . . . .. ,. -^rvr i '. ' -■f- ^ a.-. i,y,^p: . .H-',;.' ■ O' ■: ..■■ ■; ■ :.; ,,i,; f ^ •- .' ' !:s^^3 ... ■•'. „ . . .M':'.;v .■"f V:. i. >!v . • I •;>Ka ■ iO, We do not know whether the second bird seen was a Red-footed Falcon. No other Palaeartic raptors were seen that day, although Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo, AquiZa eagles and a few Hobbies pass annually over NgMya Hilj on southward passage, mainly during October. Both Ng'iya and Lake Kanyaboii in Central Nyanza feature as localities for ext ra- I i mi ta I Palaeartic species in Backhurst et at. (1973). It is worth noting that the exceptional fall of migrants at Lake Kanyabolr in November 1969, referred to in that paper on p.23, was never repeated in subsequent seasons (1970, 1971, 1972), although less important falls were noted. Thus we did not subsequently record either the Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator or the Nubian Shrike L. nubious there. The records of the Woodchat Shrike given in that paper might suggest that its status is comparable to that of the Redstart Phoenicurus phoeniaurus , but the latter is annual in very small numbers in western Kenya south to the equator, and there is a further record of a male ringed at Ng’iya on 1st December 1971. The rarer Palaeartic ducks are unaccountably absent from Nyanza yet several are regular as far south as Arusha (Backhurst et al, 1973). A fine view of a drake Teal Anas crecoa at Lake Kanyaboii on 13th March 1971 is our only Kenya record for any of the ducks dealt with in that paper. Peter L. Britton & Hazel A. Britton, Sh i mo- I a-Tewa School, Box 90163, Mombasa, Kenya. A RECORD OF THE CORNCRAKE CREX CEEX FROM DAR ES SALAAM In their recent paper on the Less Common Palaearctic Migrant Birds of Kenya and Tanzania, Backhurst, Britton & Mann (1973) Jt E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. S nato Mus. 140, point out that little information is available on the movements of the Corncrake Crex crex. They note the following records (sight or specimen) f rom Tanzan i a: Sanya (April); Ugalla River Game Reserve (mid February); Iringa (March and early April); the Rukwa (February -- mid April); and Lake Manyara ( Apri I ) . On 29th Apri I 1973, a. day on which Dar es Salaam received about 1 00mm of rain, a male Corncrake was brought to me by a grounds worker at the Un i vers i ty . Because the bird’s feathers were completely wet, it had been easily captured in the tall grass which surrounds the University’s sewage oxidation ponds. The bird was in breeding plumage and very fat. It had testes of 4 X 2mm. The length of the wing was 147mm, the weight 193. 7g. Four Mallophaga of the species Ratlicola ortygernetrae (Schrank, 1781) were removed from the wing- feathers; these were kindly identified by Dr T. Clay of the British Museum (Natural History). The bird, prepared as a study skin, is catalogued as UDSM-B-39. This record, if it were to be supported by further sightings or specimens. 95 would lend credence to the idea that many records from Nairobi and the Kenya Hi gh I ands ref lect the numbers of interested observers there rather than a lack of movement of birds in other areas. Intensive observations and netting effort in areas known to be suitable for crakes along the East African coast might prove rewarding from February to Apri I, the known northerly migration time for these birds. Such observations might tell us if the Corncrake and the Spotted Crake Porzana porzana both move regularly at least about the same time in eastern Tanzania and on the coast of East Africa, as might be indicated by the records from Ki losa (14th Apri I) and Zanzibar (no date given) in Backhurst et al. (op. oit. ) . On the following day, while walking at the edge of the oxidation ponds, I saw a Greenshank Tringa nehularia which was as wet as had been the Corncrake. The bird was completely soaked to the skin. It was unable to fly and could only run rather poorly in its efforts to avoid capture. After a quick exam- ination, it was released. I did not observe its preen gland, but that of the Corncrake seemed to be functioning normally, judged by the copious quantity of oil which flowed from it. The large pile of detergent foam which was present at various points on the surface of the oxidation ponds, on the out- flow stream, and on the surrounding vegetation might have been responsible for destroying the water- repe I I i ng quality of the feathers of both birds, if they had come into contact with it. None of the other birds present, including other Greenshank, seemed to have been affected. K. M. Howe 1 I , Department of Zoology, Box 35064, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. SOME RECENT RAPTOR RECORDS FROM EAST AFRICA Aceipiter rufiventris Rufous Sparrowhawk Impenetrable Forest, Uganda; one seen on 9th August 1971 at Ruhizha (2500m). Mann (1971) listed only six records from Uganda, including two from the Impenetrable Forest. Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle Ngong Hills, Kenya: excellent views were obtained of a dark phase adult on 21st October 1972. Backhurst, Britton & Mann (1973) had only eight records from Kenya; Rolfe & Pearson (1973) added two more. P&mis apivorus Honey Buzzard Kenya: Gedi - one flew over at tree top height on 22nd August 1972. Mosoriot, near Kapsabet - one flying over main road towards dusk on Nth May 1973. Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater - one in forest on rim of crater, mid-December, 1964. 96 c.50km south of Korogwe - one by road, 20th December 1972. Backhurst et al. iop. ait.) found only five definitive records for Tanzania. Uganda: Sqroti - one on 21st November 1966. , Budongo Forest - three were seen heading north-west sometime in April 1967. Falco amurensis Eastern Red-footed Falcon Makerere Hill,: Kampala, Uganda: a female perched at about 4m above the ground on a branch of a Blue Gum {Eucalyptus sp . ) in Apri I 1965. It was extremely tame and could be observed at close quarters. Copious notes were taken at the time, but I can no longer find these. However, I do remember being' distinctly certain of the bird's identity, and the record was entered without query into my files. I believe this species has not been recorded in print for Uganda before. Falco chicquora Red-necked Falcon In contrast to the situation in Ugandq, this would seem to be an extremely uncommon bird in Kenya. I have identified it at and around Malindi in August, and in Meru National Park in January. I have no records from Tanzania. Falco ccncolor Sooty Falcon I found this species widespread in small part i es during Ap ri I 1967 in the Murchison Falls National Park and the Masindi area. I have not observed it before or since in East Africa. As far as I can gather, the species has not been recorded before in Uganda, although it appears on the Uganda list in both Backhurst & .Backhurst (1970) and Forbes-Watscn (1971). Moreau ‘ ( 1969) gives one record from Lake Victoria (Ukerewe Island, Tanzania) but nothing more westerly in East Africa. Brown & Amadon (1968) suggest that it might follow the Nile and Rift Valley in its migrations from the breeding grounds in northeast Africa to the wintering grounds in East Africa and Madagascar. Although I had not seen the species for a I most f i ve years (I spent some tirre studying them on their breeding grounds on the Dahlac Islands off the Red Sea coast of Ethiopia in 1962) I had no hesitation in identifying them as this species on plumage and 'jizz'. They are qui te di f ferent from the Grey Kestrel F. ajpdosiacus , another species with which I am very fami liar, although they resemble each ether in plumage. This latter species, common in Uganda, normally occurs in pairs, is shorter winged, plumper and a much more sluggish bird with different feeding habits. The' leg colour is also different; in concolov it is orange while in ardosiacus it is yellow. I do not know Eleonara's Falcon F. eleonorae but this is a much larger bird and even less likely to occur in Uganda. Falco fasciinucha Taita Falcon Kabarnet, Kenya: an adult in mid-March 1970. Lake Magadi , Kenya: 4 birds (2 adults) flying around a crag a few kilometres north of the lake on the Olorgesailie road on 19th March 1970. The Kabarnet bird and the two 1 judged to be adults at Lake Magadi (the other two were not clearly seen) were characterised by their rather plump appearance, with the shape in flight of a very small Peregrine F. peregrinus. 97 The upperparts were dark grey to blackish contrasting with a conspicuously pale grey rump; some chestnut on head, moustachial stripe black. Underparts varied from whitish on chin through various shades of tawny, becoming darkest around the vent. No markings could be seen on the underside. On size, ’jizz’ and plumage I was able to eliminate all other East African falcons. This rare species is previously only recorded in Kenya from Malindi, the Taita Hills and Voi . Clive F. Mann , Box 337, Kapsabet, Kenya. REFERENCES: Backhurst, G.C. & Fiackhurst, D.E.G. (1970) A Preliminary Checklist of East African Birds. Kabete, Nairobi: duplicated. Backhurst, G.C. , Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. (1973) The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. J1 E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. & nat. Mus. l40:)-38. Brown, L.H. & Amadon, D. (1968) Eagles^ Hawks ecies. The response was particular 13'- strong in a pregnant female C. diZepi-s ^ where it was accomx^anied by expansion of the throat and the display of orange stripes . TEMPERATURE CONTROL; In sunlight all species at times present the maximum body surface to the rays by flattening themselves, and they become dark. This behaviour is particularly well seen in the early morning and after periods of dull weather. REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR: Mating was witnessed on 21st March between a male and female C. dilepis on the bach seat of our, car. The individuals had been picked off the main Mombasa road near Sultan Hanud a few minutes previously. The male swiftly climbed on, the back of the female and copulation lasted less than two minutes , Thereafter the female threatened males when they approached. Judging from the number of crushed corpses on the road, many chameleons are on the move at that tine of the year. One day after mating the female moulted and ate her cast skin. For the next few weeks she fed prodigiously and grew very fat until on 11th May 36 eggs were laid. On 10th May she started digging in some sand provided in a bucket and by the 11th she had reached the bottom through l8 cm and would probably have gone much deeper had it been possible. She dug a tunnel using fore and hind legs and made a wider chamber at the end in which she could turn round. The tunnel collapsed behind her and she remained concealed for one night when she laid the eggs . Two days were then spent in returning to the surface and burying the eggs by carefully patting sand on top of then and butting it into place with her head. When the operation was completed she was very dirty and her ■fore cla^s were completely worn down; she seeaed very weak. She recommenced feeding, moulted again and soon regained her strength. To date (4th September) the eggs have not hatched. Clare (11) and Edward (9) Miller, 68, Blenheim Drive, Oxford, England. A NEW GULL FOR KEI'JYA - LARUS ICHTHYAETUS? On l4th July, 19T3- at the mouth of the Nderit River at the southern end of Lake Nakuru National Park, I noticed two large slender necked gulls , among a group of Grey-headed Gulls Lavus cirroaephalus and a few Black-headed Gulls Lotus vidibundus . These two birds were in rather scruffy, immature plumage but it was quite clear that they were of the Black-headed Gull type, but on a much larger scale. A mottled grey-brown head indicated the birds would eventually have a similar head pattern to the more familiar Lotus ridibundus of which there were a few in full summer plumage nearby. The most striking feature of these two gulls was their rather long slender necks when standing upright, and their large heavy yellowish bills. Body size was large, I would say certainly comparable to that of a. Lesser- Black-backed Gull Lotus fusous, Althou^ I have never, seen a Great Black-headed Gull Lotus iohthy aetus , I immediately felt reasonably confident that these two birds were of this species mainly due to a process of elimination of all other possibilities. (I now understand that Dr. George Watson of the Smithsonian Institution agrees with mv diagnosis.) 138 In addition to these birds, I also counted some thirty dead \^^lite Pelicans Petesanus cmocvotatus littering the shore of the lake at the nouth of the Nderit River. One living Pelican vas very near its end, being hardly able to valk, merely stumbling a few metres when disturbed. Can anyone throw any light on the cause of death of these Pelicans? D.A. Turner, Box J+8019, Nairobi. A RECENT BREEDING RECORD OF SKIMMERS RYNCEOPS FLAVIROSTRIS - TMZANIA In the course of collecting information for a paper on the breeding Lari of East Africa, P.L. Britton asked me if I had any recent information on Skimmers breeding in Tanzania. Britton's paper is in press and I will only anticipate it to say that there are very few published records for this country and all of those refer to sandbanks in rivers in the south. Skimmers have often been recorded on the great sandbanks of the Rufiji River, e.g, near Utete, but as far as I Icnow there are no breeding records for this river. Following up Britton’s request for information I visited the Rufiji at Utete on 20th August, 1972. Large sandbanks had been exposed for over ten weeks and saw only two skimmers (both aCults and apparently a pair) but no sign of breeding. It is possible that I was too late. On 23rd June, 1973 I again visited Utete with R, Gainer of the Selous Game Reserve. The rains were very late this year and although the sandbanks were appearing and the water level dropping at the rate of 1-1 ^m a day we were probably rather early for most sandbank breeding birds. However, we quickly found nine Skimmers on a small sandbank well out near the main stream of the river. With the aid of two local fishermen and a very efficient dugout canoe we made our way to this sandbank. After a short search we found eight round hollows in the sand from which Skimmers had been flushed. Six of the hollows were empty but one contained one egg and another two eggs. The eggs were large and oval shaped with huffish ground colour irregularly blotched with purple and dark brown. They were very like large terns’ eggs. The nest hollows were about 50 mm deep with straight sides and with a diameter of 150- 170 mm. They were in fairly firm sand and had no lining although the sand in the bottom was soft and fine. While examining these hollows we were constantly mobbed by the screaming birds. It is possible that the other s:’x hollows were future nests as they were within 20 m of the occupied nests. If so there must have been other Skimmers in the area, which we did not see. Incidentally, among the other species of birds on these sandbanks were at least a hundred Pratincoles Gtaveola -pratinoola. They were in pairs and behaved as if they were breeding on a flat area of recently dried out sand. An extensive search was fruitless, but we were probably a few days too early to find eggs . W.G. Harvey, Box 9100, Dar es Salaam. 139 ON THE WINTERING OF THE SFROSSER LUSCINIA LUSCINIA AND THE MARSH WARBLER ACROCEPHALUS FALUSTRIS IN KENYA There are a nuznher of Kenyan Sprosser and Marsh Warbler specimens in collections dated November and December. On the basis of these, Kenya has been included in the wintering range given for the two species by Vaurie, White and Moreau (19T2 The Palaearctio-Afriaan Bird Migration Systems, London: Academic Press). VJe now know, from ringing studies, that both occur as passage migrants around Nairobi in late autumn and less frequently in April, and both have recently been found to be extremely abundant on southward passage through Tsavo between late November and early January (Pearson & Backhurst, in prep.). Most past Kenyan records of these species, many of them from the early winter months, evidently refer to birds on migration from an autuan non-breeding area farther north (presiiraably in eastern Ethiopia) to late winter quarters in Southeast Africa (Natal - Tanzania) . Until very recently, there was no evidence that Marsh Warblers remained throughout the winter as far north as Kenya, and apart from a specimen in the National Muse’om, Nairobi, from the Chyulu Hills, dated 2Tth January, there was no available evidence of overwintering in the Sprosser either. The following observations from the Kibwesi/Mtito Andei area, S.E. Kenya, are therefore of interest. On lUth January, 1973 Lusoinia song was heard in a damp wooded hollow with dense green undergrowth 5km west of Mtito Andei. Brief views of some of the birds concerned proved them to be Sprossers . Small, unstreaked Aorooephalus warblers seen and heard calling (but not singing as Reed Warblers A. scirpaoeuA ' frequently do at this time) were thought to be Marsh Warblers. Investi- gation of other patches of similar habitat a few kilometres farther west revealed the presence of more Sprossers, singing and apparently resident. To ascertain that these really were wintering birds, another visit was made to the same area on llth/l2th February, Singing Sprossers were "romd again and appeared to be quite common in most wooded hollows and river courses near Kibwesi and Mtito Andei. Small unstreaked Aorooephalus sp. were again seen- none was in song, and most were in the early stages of wing moult, and this together with the uniformly greenish plmage tone of all birds seen closely was considered confirmation that these were indeed Marsh Warblers (most Kenyan wintering Reed Warblers moult before arrival; a few begin in December and January). On the same weekend, a moulting Marsh Warbler was caught and two Lusoinia sp, (assumed to be Sprossers) were heard at Ngulia, Tsavo National Park (West). Other migrant passerines of interest seen in the area during the weekend included single Basra Reed Warblers A. griseldis , one at the original Sprosser site and one along a dry water course just west of Mtito Andei, and two Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus. It therefore seems that the late winter quarters of the Sprosser and the Marsh Warbler do extend north as far as the southeast corner of Kenjra, not surprising perhaps in view of the southern African type of rainfall regime experienced by this area. It remains to be established whether these species overwinter in suitably wooded areas farther north in eastern Kenya, such as the Tana River valley. D.J. Pearson, Box 30197s Nairobi. CAMP OU MR. C.H. MAYERS’ FARM, KEDONG, l4-l6 SEPTEMBER This vas another very successful camp and ve are most grateful to Mr, and Mrs. Mayers for their invitation. We could see rain on the Western escarp- ment, hut this part of the Rift Valley was very dry, and there was no water flowing in the river hy which we camped; only occasional pools. However, the hushes and trees along the hanks were full of Elack-hreasted Apalis A-palis flavida and Grey-hacked Cameroptera C, brevioaudata. Many of the thorn trees were in flower and were alive with Sunhirds, and the Banded Tit-flycatcher Parisoma hohmi was singing ever;/where. One or two of the birds we saw remain especially in my mind. Foremost perhaps are the White- fronted Bee-eaters Melittophagus buHockoides hawking in the Mayers’ garden and catching butterflies. The garden with its thick turf, running river and sprinklers is a green oasis in the brown land. The White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicoll'is was seen near the Grenadilla plantation. The Scaly-throated Honey-guide Indicator variegatus gave us a lot of fun. There were several along our dry river bed calling from the tops of Acacias. The last time I had seen one was on our camp on the Wei-wei two years ago, where we also saw a young bird being fed by a Nubian Woodpecker Campetkera nubica, but I had not learnt the call and this perpetual churning puzzled us greatly until at last we saw the bird, recognised that it was a Honey-guide and looked up the call. They seemed to have very small terri- tories and to stay more or less in the same place. Another puzzling bird that was very conspicuous was the Red-backed Scrub-iobin Cerootrichas leuoophrys ^ which was singing all around. It is worth noting that the sub- species that we see round here, C.Z-. brnnneieeps^ has much more white on the wing than the one illustrated in Praed & Grant’s plate. Compare the Photograph Ph.x, A Black Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga sulphurate with yellow shoulder patches was living in a tree at the end of the camp site, and was I think seen and enjoyed by everyone. I must end as I began with this delightful weekend. many thanks to fir. & Mrs. Mayers for providing P.M.A, JObT.WALS A new list of Journals and reprints for sals is enclosed with this Bulletin. The last list was made by a volunteer, I-irs. E. Darlington, in February, 1970 and brought in quite an amount of money for the Society. At the last Annual General Meeting, the Hon. Treasurer noted that there had been a falling off in receipts from this source. Now another volunteer has made a new list (it really is a major operation and we owe her many thanks) and we hope that this will renew interest in our back numbers. Please bring it to the notice of anyone likely to be interested. Further copies can be obtained from the Librarian at the Museum. lUl PAWANUS 'EMBUENSIS' (ST. JOH]\J INED . ) AN INTERESTING ' SCREW PINE ’ IN JIEED OF PRESERVATION Pandanus ^ embuen.sis ^ first discovered in I96I by Prof. H. St. John of Hawaii, the well-knovm expert on this widesjread tropical genus of curious and useful pala-like trees. Prof, St. John intends to describe it formally as soon as finoaice and press\ire of other work permit. It is the only species known from the interior of Kenya, although P, kirkii, Remdie and P. rc:.bato?2£'i0 Rendle are_ not uncommon near the coast. P, ^ embuQns'ia *' is a curious3.y shaped dioecious tree with stilt roots about 2m tall, rod like prickly stems 10-13 m tall,, short horizontal forking branches ending in tufts' of narrow saw-toothed leaves, beautiful white clusters of fragrant male flowers appearing at the end of August and cone like fruits vi-hich are immature in October. Its embu name is MURIRA. Prof. St, John’s single locality is on the Ena River some 25 km east of Embu at IO5O m altitude. In 1970 Mr. R.B, Faden found a small colony on an island in the Thika river at 37^" 26’ E, II70 m altitude. This year the present writer found severaJ. groves on islands in the Tana River at 840 m at Seven Forks about 1 Icn above the head of the lake formed by Kindaruma. dam and several kilometres east of the new dam new being built at Kamburu bridge. The south bank opposite these islands is readily reached by a track leading to the pump which supplies the Kindaruma staff houses with water. The Pandanus is associated with Paplvia and Phoenix palms and with various interesting water-lov;.ng trees and sLnhs including Poly siphaeria sp.? new ExQoeoar-ia Venenifera^ Adina micro eephala^ Baphia keniensis ^ Craibia breviaavdata and Sorindeia madagasocj>iensis , Perhaps because some animal which does not readily cross rivers eats the young plants the Pandanus is confined to the islands, which are rather inaccessible, since the water between them and the south bank, even when the river is low, is rapid, over Im deep and contains crocodiles. In both the Ena River and the Thika River localities the species is in danger as the local cultivators cut it for poles. There are no cultivators at Seven Forks but this colony will be wiped out within a few years as the Kenya Government, in a very necessary attempt to minimise the approaching energy famine, is certain, sooner or later, and preferably sooner, to build a third hydro-electric dam just shove Seven Forks, between it and Kamburu. This dam, except in times of flood, w.'ll divert the whole stream at Seven Forks into a tunnel, and the water-loving pJants there will die. It is no be hoped that some reader of these notes who owns, or is in charge of a large garden below 2000m afoOve sea level in which there is a permanent stream, will establish both male and female trees in cultivation and thus save this attractive Kenya endemic from extinction. Nothing is known of its propa- gation but Bailey’s standard CycloxDedia of Horticulture and the R.H.S. Dictionary of Gardening state that some species of Pandanus may be reproduced by seed, which must be fresh, end most by suckers produced near the base of the stems. It is expected that the newp dam at Kamburu will be filled during the short rains in November or December, 1973. At that time the river will be reduced to an unusuaU.jr lew” level and the islands at Seven Forks should be more accessible than at any other time. J.B. Gillett, E.A. Herbarium, 142 Box 45166, Nairobi. BOOK REVIM'f THE PRINCIPLES OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY Ly V.B. Wigglesvorth (Seventh edition), PTiblished by Chapman and Hall in the lov-priced edition, U.K. price £2.50 Hiis is the classic vork on the physiology of insects and it is very pleasing to see it in the low-priced text -book series. There are fifteen chapters, each followed by its own set of references (5^TQ references in all) and it is a pity that the notes on the more recent findings are included after the chapter concei’ned instead of in it. The references are laid out similarly, but th‘.'‘ee . supplements to the main body of them is both un'wio .'.d:/ to use and also a. source of annoyance. Other than these, admitt- edly minor diiu.'icultiec , the book is very good. The chax:>ters deal with eveiy/ aspect of insect physiology and include embryology, the outer surface of the insect, gro^rth, muscle systems, nervous and gland sysberas, sense organs, behaviour, respiration, circulatory system, digestion, excretion, metaboli.sm» water and temperature, and the reproductive system. All these subjects are gone into in exhaustive detail in the 763 Xcages of text and it is complete up to the end of 1971, A useful of the book, which covers pages 765 - 793 gives an alphabetical list of the authors used in the references with the page where these references are to be found. This book has always been one of those which should be on the book-shelf of every entomologist but it has hitherto been too expensive for most of them. This low-priced edition should be the remedy, M.P.C, SOME RECENT PERIODIC LITERATURE AVAILi^iLE IN THE LIBRARY Ash, J.S, - Luscinia niegrjrhynohos and L. luscinia in Ethiopia, Ibis, 115, 267, 1973, Contant , E.B, - Regeneration in the African Lungfish Protoptevus „ 3. Regenoration during 3?asting & estivation. Biol. Bull. ,2ii8 ,1973. Gargett , & L.H. Brown - Replacement rate, subadult mortality and longevity. Ibis, 115, 285, 1973, Goddard, J. - The Black Rhinoceros, Eat .Hist .B .Y . 82, No.U, p.58, 1973 Klaver, C.J.J. - Lung anatomy: aid in Chameleon taxonomy. Beaufortia^ 20, ITo, 269, 1973. Linnavuori, R. - On the African Herdoniini Hem.Het .Mividac, Mivinae Ent.Tidskrift, 93, 131, 1973. Mahher^ey, D.J, - Evolution in the Giant Groundsels, Kew Bull. ^,6l, 1973. Verdcourt, B. - Miss D, Napper. Kew Bull. 28, 1, 1973 143 SOCIE’TY FUHCTIOWS 6th/7th October, 1973 ^ Week-end camp at northern end of the Chyulu Hills . For full details please see September issue of the Bulletin. Monday, 8th October, 1973: at the National Museum Hallj Nairobi ’'Natural History Observations during the Eclipse” by members of the National Museum Expedition to Lake Rudolf during the Eclipse. 3rd/^th November, 1973: Week-end camp at the "Marina”, Lake Naivasha, Special rates have been offered to the Society for this week-end. Full board in cottages Shs.60/= per person. Do-it-yourself cottages Shs.50/= double. Camping Shs. 12/50 per tent per night (no limitation on numbers of people). Visit will be arranged to Crescent island. If you wish to take part in this excursion please send full payment by crossed cheque, made out to Naivasha Marina and post it to Mrs. A.L. Campbell, Box lhk69^ Nairobi before 25th October, 1973. Monday, 12th November, 1973 at 5.15 p.m.: at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi Mr. John Cooper, M.R.C.V.S. will speak on the care and treatment of injured wild mammals and birds . 8th /9th December, 1973: Visit to Ngoina Estate, Kisii District. Leaders - Mr. and Mrs. L.A.S. Grumbley. Details later. Monday, 10th December, 1973 at 5»15 p.m.; at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi Mrs. J. Rudnai will speak on ’’Lion Behaviour”. NEW MEMBERS - SEPTEMBER 1973 Full Members : Mrs. June Bapp, Box 30259s Nairobi, Dr. C.H.D. Clarke, Box 313^, Arusha. Mr . J . C . Haigh , Box 291 , Nanyuki . Miss Julia Horne, Box 2^622, Karen. Mr, Tliomas R. Huels, Bushwhackers, Kibwezi. Miss Ingerborg Karlgard, Box Ll08l, Nairobi. Mrs. Anneli Lewis, Box 30024, Nairobi. Miss Valerie Martin, St. Mary’s School, Yala, Nyanza. Mrs. G.E.L. Nicholson, Box 5, Malindi. Mr. Tiiomas J, O’Shea, Bushwhackers, Kibwezi. Mr. M.T. Warwick, Box 30486, Nairobi 144 Co tT| ^ E A N H S H /35~ BULLETI N A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings. NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN NOVEMBER 1973 CONTENTS Broad-bi I led Sandpipers on the Kenya Coast - -- -- -- -- -- -- - 145 A Record of the Bat - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 147 Correction to "Contents” Page, October issue ------------- 147 A Note on the Nectar of Acrocarpus Fraxintfolius and Sunbirds ----- |48 Obituary - Miss Mary Rickimn - -- -- -- -- -- - — \^\ News from the Lib ran/ - 152 Help Needed ------------------------------152 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 153 New Members - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 153 Membership Subscriptions for 1974 - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 154 Society Functions --------------------------- 154 BROAD- BILLED SANDPIPERS ON THE KENYA COAST In recent years the Broad-billed Sandpaper Lim-icola faloinellus has been r'ecorded In all three East African countries, both inland and at the coast (Backhurst et al. 1973, Harvey i97l, Hopson & Hopson 1972, 1973). Prior to 196 1 this Palearctic migrant was unrecorded in easter'n Africa south of Eritrea, and the main wintering area of birds breeding in northern Europe is sti M unknown. It is mainly recorded south and south-east of- its breeding area, as far afield as East Africa and Sri Lanka (Ceylon); an eastern popu- lation, breeding in Siberia, winters from south-east Asia to Australia. On 5th August, 1973 we found three Broad-bi I led Sandpipers at the mouth of the Sabaki (Galana) River near Malindi on the north Kenya coast. Like Harvey’s bird, near Dar es Salaam, or; 2nd August 1971, they were In complete oi' virtually complete nuptial dress and had presumably only recently arrived from their breeding grounds. In this plumage they were unexpectedly distinct, being dark chocolate brown above with pale buff areas, which, together with ihe pure white belly, gave them an almos'f pied appearance. They were cons I dei'ab I y smaller than nearby Sanderling Calidris alba and Curlew Sandpipers C^ferruginea, and were probably a little larger than a Li tt le Sti nt C, rrlp.uta, although this species was not present for comparison. The legs appeared very short and the bill was rather heavy with a decurved tip; bill and legs were black. The virtually white superciliary stripe wa.s very obvious but the snipe- I ike cr'own markings were less distinct than implied by -most texts. One bird did not feed and had a persistent habit of swaying its body while facing backwards, bill on mantle. In this position the head siTipes were obvious. No call was heard, but all three birds were distinct 1,1 flight with two pale buffish longitudinal, areas on the mantle. They v;ere watched for about 25 minutes at ranges down to 12- 15m. When the next visit was made on -13th August, there were nine Broad-billed Sandpipers feeding in a loose flock on the same tidal fiats near the river mouth. These were less distinct than the earlier birds, being far more gr'eyish above, though still retaining some dark areas. If the same birds were involved as part of this flock their moult to winter dress must have been rapid. In this and later plumages they might at first be confused with Dunlin C. alpina^ but the shorter legs and the head markings (if looked for) are good 'characters; and 'the Dunlin is anyway har'diy known from East Africa (Backhurst et al, 1973). No Broad-billed Sandpipers were seen at the Sabaki River mouth on two subsequent visits (27th August and 16th September). The only previous Kenya record is of up to ten seen by the Hopsons at Lake Rudolf in September- October, 1972. Peter L, Britton & Hazel A. Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. 146 REFERENCES: , Backhurst, G.C. , Britton; P.L. & Mann, C.F. (1973). The less common Paiearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soo. Nat. Mus . \ A \ : \~38 . . Harvey, W.G. (1971), The second Broad-billed Sandpi per' for Tanzan ia. EANHS Bull. I97T ;■ 16 I , Hopson, J. & Hopson T. (1972). Broad-billed Sandpiper at Lake Rudolf. EANHS Bull. -1972 : I 70- I 7 I . Hopson, T & Hospon, J. (1973). More Broad-billed Sandpipers at Lake Rudolf. EANHS Bull, J973 : 52. A RECORD OF THE BAT SCOTOECVS HINDEI HINDEI (VESHERTILIONIDAE) FROM TANZANIA In December, 1972 a young adult male Sooteocus h. kindei preser'ved in formalin was sent to me from Dodoma. The bat had the following measurements in millimetres, ex formalin: total lengfh 87; length of forearm 35.2; length of tai I 25; length of hindfoot icu) 6; length of ear from notch 9; length of tragus 4. This specimen, which was sent to me by Mr. M.K. Green, appears to be the first definite record of the species in Tanzania. Mr. J.E. Hill of the British Museum (Natural History) who kindly identified the specimen, informs me that although there, is a manuscript note in the British Museum's copy of Swynnerton and Haym.an's "A Checklist of the land mammals of the Tangany ika Terri tory and Zanzibar Protectorate" (1951 JI..E. Africa Nat. Hist. Soc. 20: 274-392) of "a specimen from Lake Mangona in the collections of the BM" , such* a speci men cannot now be found. The Dodoma specimen is catalogued in the British Museum as B.M. 73.27. K.M. Howe I I , Dept, of Zoology, University of Dar es Salaam, Box 35064, Dar cs Salaam, Tanzania. CORRECT I ON Bulletin 1973; 133. Apologies for putting the wrong date on the "Contents" page of the last issue. This should be October and not September. An amended, replacement "Contents"' page is being sent out with this issue. 147 A NOTE ON THE NECTAR OF ACROCARPUS fRA'KIMFOLIVS AND SUNBtRDS During the course of a study of the nectar taking methods employed by sunbirdSi (Nectari n i i dae) samples of f bowers of an i ntroduced Austra 1 1 an species of tree, the ‘iShingle tree" Acvocarpus froarint/o lews. ( Leg umi nosae^ Caesa ip i noi dea) , were examined to ascertain the nectar volume per flower and. to test for sugar types and the percentage of sugar in the nectar-. The trees can grow to a considerable size and 'the original samples avai iable were rather ta I I trees so that the first flowers to be examined were those found fallen on the ground. An astonishingly high sugar content of the nectar was recorded on the ref ractometer i.e. 58^ sugar. The highest percentage recorded to date from over 90 different species 'of flowers examined. The high figure gave rise to doubts that maybe sugars in fermenting nectar of oid flowers nay have been misleading as to the'actual sugar content in living blossoms. Fresh samples were eventually obtained when surprising differences in nectar volume and sugar content were found. The yield of nectar from flowers increases f i om the time of opening and release of pollen so the- figures irvthe accompanying table reveal that the older the flower and its nectar, the higher the sugar percen+age. The oldest flower with a nectar content of 52% and the youngest at I I to \2% sugar. The flowers are not ephemeral but remain on the i nf lorescence for several days, thus the oldest flowers con+ain the greatesi" volume of nectar. The volume is measured in microtitres or lambdas (1000 microlltres to 1 millilitre) and is extracted readi ly by means of a fine capi Mary so that accurate- measurement's can be achieved. ' ■ The example given in Table'! Is for each flower from a single inflorescence commencing at the first or basal flower and working, flower by flower, in order, up to the apex which consi ctS- of ' immature flowers, still buds without external protruding stamens. Flowers mature more or less evenly in succession from the base to the' apex. Of additional Interest is the flowers' ability to replenish nectar taken (by birds, etc.). Two inflorescences were exanined and. all nectar removed and measured f romi se I ected flowers, old near the base and one/fwo day o I d flowers about midway along 'fhe raceme. Results are shown in Table 11, A being of 10 basal flowers with nectar removed at 19.00 hours 'and the volume found 17.5 hours l.ater; B simT larly, of 20 random flowers. The two inflorescences were kept overnight standing in water. It is thus probable that on a living uninjured branch nectar replenishment couid be even greater. TABLE 1 NECTAR, VOLUME IN LAMBDAS AND SUGAR PERCENTAGE, OF FLOWERS ON A SINGLE INFLORESCENCE OF A. FRAXINIFOLIUS F tower Lamibdas Sugar % F 1 ower Lambdas Sugar % 1 45.72 - 52 34 24.41 - 14.4 2 12.97 X 35 79.20 18.6 3 53.99 49 .5 36 43.56 12.6 4 42.64 41.8 37 4.63 X 5 38.31 42.2 38 67.98 23.0 M8 F 1 ower Lambdas Sugar % F 1 ower Lambdas Sugar A 6 7 1 .07 31 .0 39 60.32 13.0 7 43,56 58.0 40 3.39 X 8 67.36 28.6 4 1 25 . 33 16.4 9 79 . 1 0 31.8 42, 38.31 12.8 10 71 .68 33.8 43 79.10 16.4 1 i 68,59 30.2 44 68.83 14.0 !2 67.67 36.8 45 39.55 17,4 !3 cO.54 30 2 46 0.92 X 14 ■ "'80.64 ' ' 25.6 47 25.33 13.2 15 66.43 28.0 48 72.6! 13.8 16 68 . 59 26.0 49 0 X 17 80.75 20.4 50 30.90 13.0 18 39.55 2 1.4 5 1 0 X 19 68.90 15.4 52 0 X 20 30.36 15.4 53 21 .63 12.0 2 1 79. 10 20.0 54 0 X 22 70.45 14.4 55 29.35 12.0 23 36. 15 16.2 56 0 X 24 92.70 15.8 57 0 X 25 68.83 13.8 58 19.77 14.0 26 27.18 16.4 59 0 X 27 32.44 1 1 .0 60 2.78 X 28 77.25 15.0 6 1 2.47 X 29 19.77 13.0 62 0 X 30 31.26 25.4 63 7. 10 ■< 3i 62. 10 13.4 64 0 X 32 52.22 25.0 65 0 X 33 35.84 12.4 66 , 0 X TOTAL 66 open or opening flowers plus 16 buds. Total 82 Measu red v/ith nectar 57 Tota 1 nectar 2667.48 i ambdas Mean ot 5 7 ■ 46.80 1 ambdas Maximum percent sugar 52.0% Mini mum 1 1 .0% Sugar percent Mean 21.6^ (48 flowers) X = i nsuf f i cierit nectar to obtain ref ractometer read! ng . TABLE I I NECTAR REMOVED AND VOLUME REPLENISHED AFTER 17.5 HOURS, PER FLOWER, . IN MICROLITRES A. 20 RANDOM FLOWERS B. 10 SELECTED BASAL FLOWERS No. removed replen i shed No. removed rep len i shed 1 0 0 1 1 . 1 3.39 2 0 0 2 2.7 8.32 3 0.2 0.6 3 5.7 17.6 1 4 0 0 4 4.2 12.97 5 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 6 3.0 9.27 7 0 0 7 0 0 8 3.6 11.12 8 2.7 8.32 9 0 0 9 0 0 10 0 0 10 0.2 0.60 1 I 2.3 7.10 12 0 0 13 4.0 12.36 14 0 0 15 1.5 4.63 16 0 0 17 0 0 18 0,4 1 .23 19 1 .2 3.70 20 4.5 13.90 NOTE: AM these flowers had had their nectar extracted during the course of the morning. The amount extracted was in the flowers at 15.30 hours and replenished nectar was removed at 08.30 hours the next day. Many non-ephemera I species of flowers can replenish their nectar as the present study has revealed, and one good example is Sisal Agave sisalana, whose nectar is much app rec i ated by birds. Acrooarpus fraxinifolius is thus an important nectar source for sunbirds and insects, particularly Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, hornets, etc.) and Di ptera ' ( f I ies of many kinds). A small plantation of the trees in the Forest department opposite my resi- dence at Karen is alive with birds and insects, particularly honey bees (15.6.73 The following species of sunbirds have been recorded taking nectar: Co I I a red Sunb i rd Amethyst " Malachite Hunter's " Bronze " Anthreptes cotlavis Eectavinia amethystina N. fames a N. hventevi N. kilimensis Go I den-w i nged Eastern double-col Scar I et-chested Tacazze Vari ab I e N. veiahenowi a red P. mediocris N. sene galen sis N. tacazze N. venusta ACKN0WLEDGEMENTSj_ Special thanks to Dr. Frank Gi M for the provision of th,e ref ractometer and other equipment for the study. G.R. Gunn i ngham- van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. obituary'” MISS MARY RICKMAN, a member of the Society since 1952, died on 23rd August aged 87, after a stay in Nairobi Hospital of just over 2 years following a stroke. She was an English gent lewoman ■ i n the best sense of the word, a breed that is now practically extinct. Brought up partly in London and part ly in the country, country pursui ts' were a permanent interest in her life, and she also had all a gentlewoman's sense of respons i b i 1 i ty for her poorer neighbours, including her less fortunate fellow subjects in what was then the colonial empire. During the first world war she worked in Woolwich Arsenal and the Foreign Office. It was here that she earned her M.B.E., and it i s good to know that part of the expense of her long stay in hospital was defrayed by a grant from St. George’s Society, .which has funds especial ly to help those who worked for England, She came out to this country in 1928 under the Church Missionary Society, and spent the rest of her life conveying to this country what she considered of universal an d .ne rmanent value in the heritage of the West. A woman of cultivated tastes and wide interests, she had none of the narrow and gloomy outlook which I am afraid some of us have come to associate with her profession. Her work was mainly in the field of education and she was a pioneer of women's education at a time when there was much prejudice against sending girls to school. Working in the Kikuyu country she travelled about first on mule-back and later in a car which her friend and colleague. Miss Edith Wiseman, learnt to drive, and many are the now prominent citizens whom she knew in their early days of struggle in rural schools. Among her other hobbies, she worked the tapestry of Upper Kabete in the series now in the Parliament Building. It was designed by Miss Wiseman and worked by Miss Rickman and took a year and a half to complete. Birds and flowers of the district are worked into the border round the frame. Her I asf illness was rather long and tedious. She gradually seemed to become weaker and smaller, but her mind remained clear and strong. She finally passed away at 2.00 a. mi. at a time when the vita! spirits are at their lowest. But a convinced and practising Christian, this dissolution held no terrors for her, and she was never a depressing person to visit. She always encouraged me to tell her about the activities of the Society and whet birds I had seen. I rememiber telling her about our trip to Lake Rudolf to see the eclipse, and in a sudden fit of detachmient seeing myself chatting away, pouring it all out, as to a sympathetic and interested listener, not to a dying woman. We cannot regret her death, as it was due: but 1 miss my visits to he r . 15 I P.M.A. NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY 1. CORYNDON MUSEUM EXPEDITION TO THE CHYULUS, 1938: Members who went on the recent week-end camp may be intested to know that the reports of the 1938 expedition were published in cur Journal in ten parts over a number of years. They are: Part I. Van Someren Part 2. Van Someren Part 3. Van Someren Part 4. Van Someren Part 5 . Peter Ba My Part 6. A.F.J. Gedye Part 7. G. Marshall Part 8. E.P, Uvarov Part 9. W.D. Hi neks Part 10. A.F.J. Gedye Of these No. 3, 4. 6, 7, 9, & 10 are still are available in the Library. 2. THE SLUG, THE GARDENER' S FRIEND: - General Narrative Bi rds Butter f'l i es Reptiles & Amphibia - Notes on the Vegetation - Coleoptera pt. I Coleoptera pt. 2 - Grasshoppers Dermaptera (earwigs) - Coleoptera pt. 3 available for sale. All of course Whi le sorting seme reprints the other day I came on an article by our former Chair'man, Dr. Malcolm. Coe, on "The activity of the slug Tin-chotoxon acpleyi copleyi Verdcourt" (which bears the names of two other members of the Society). It is no doubt the fat white slug which appears with the rains and which most of us detest. Dr. Coe marked 33 specimens and followed their movements. He writes, "At no time was a slug observed feeding on green material.. The preferred diet seemed to be dead vegetable material usually in the form of small twigs, or other mere or less elongated pieces of dead plant tissue... There is little doubt in the highlands of Kenya that slugs form an important link in the invertebrate decomiposer chain." iE . Afv. Wildlife Journal Vol. 9, p.170, 1971). There are possibly other molluscs which the gardener does well to hate, but It is something to be thankful for if we can spare ourselves the particularly revolting task of ki.lMng these (we now know) amiable creatures. P.M. Allen. HELP NEEDED , . The Librarian would be very grateful for the help of any member who could come in for (say) one morning a week and help with odd jobs. Also additions are needed to the pane I of people willing to come and help with the Bulletin, usually during the last week of the month. It is quite impossible to get the Bulletin out on time without such help and the whole Society should be grate- ful to these who volunteer. P.M. A. 152 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, THE C.J.P. I ON IDES MEMORIAL FUND The above Fund was launched in February of this year in order to erect a Memorial to the late C.J.Fc I on ides, the well -known herpetc I og i se and r.ctura I i st , ■ A considerable number of donations have already been received and p re I i mi nary plans are now under way to build a suitable Memorial Cage at the Nairobi Snake Park. Details of the project will be published in due course. The purpose of this letter is tc announce that the Appeal wi II close on 1st December, 1973. All those who wish to donate, end have not done so, should fonvard their contributions before that date. We should like to thank all those who have contributed tc this Fund so far. J.H.E. Leakey, Lake Baringc, Box 1141, Nakuru, Kenya J.F. Cooper, c/o Veterinary Services Division, P.O. Kabete, Kenya C.R.S. Pitman, Leicester Court Hotel, 41 Queen's Gate Gardens, London A, Duff-Mackay, The National Museum, Box 40638, Nairobi, Kenya Marianne Mitton, 16 Bailleul Road, Delville, Germiston, South Africa. NEW MEMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1973 Full Members Mr. F. earlier. Box 30262, Nairobi Mr. Robert A. Cox, UNESCO Project, Faculty of Education, University of East Africa. Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Edwards, British High Com.mission, Box 30465, Nairobi Mr. Michael J.S. Goddard, Nyandarua Secondary School, Box 61, 01 Kalou Miss Johanna Hundertmark , German Em.bassy, Box 30180, Nairobi Mrs, B. Lang, Box 14319, Nairobi Mr. David T.E. Lloyd- Jones, Box 30100, Nairobi Miss Joan T. Macdonald, Box 14 16 7, Nairobi Miss D. Wester, Netherlands Embassy, Box 4 1537, Nairobi Student Members: Mr. H.K. Bhatia, Box 10269, Nairobi Miss Yasmin Kassam, Box 45567, Nairobi Miss Elizabeth Ngure, Box 30197, Dept, of Zoology, Nairobi. 153 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 1974 I 4 P : ■ -r-; :'ui:;5crip'ti CHS,- which has mounted steadily voi" The last three years, wi II show a distinct drop for the year 1973. This is particularly unfortunate in view of the rate at which the costs of printinn and despatching the Bulletin and Journal have risen in recent months. While your Executive Committee is keeping a very close eye on the situation I am asking for your help towards resolving this problem. How? I. PAY YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS PROMPTLY: Renewals for next year will be due on. 1st January, 1974. Please make a note to pay your Shs. 50/= (full member) or Shs. IO/= (student member) promptly after that date. Payment can be made by cheque, cash or by Bankers' Order. This last method is very convenient. Wi I I members already paying by Bankers’ Order make sure that the correct amount of Shs. 50/= is paid. We sti II receive some payments of Shs. 30/= although subscriptions went up over four years ago. Defaulters wi II receive a last reminder with the February issue (posted at the end of January) of the Bulletin. After that they wi II not receive any publications or notices of functions. 2. ENROL A NEW MEMBER: You know what the Society provides and what good value it is. Please persuade your friends to join, A 20^ increase in membership would solve our financial problems. 3. PUBLICIZE THE SOCIETY: This is directly connected with increase in membership. 1 am continuously surprised to learn from people out here for a couple of years or so that they didn’t learn of the Society’s existence unti it was too late for them to join. In view of the large turnover in our memi- bership (nearly 5Q%\) the publicity is most important. Talk about the Society and its activities whenever you get an opportunity. Please help us to help you' John Karma I i Chai rman. SOCIETY FUNCTIONS 3rd/4th November 1973: Weekend Camp at ’’Marina”, Lake Naivasha. For detai Is please see last issue. Monday 12th Ncvenber 1973, 5.15 p.m. at National Museum Hall, Nairobi. Mr. John Cooper, M.R.C.V.S. wi II speak on ’’The Care & Treatment of injured Wi id Mammals and Birds”. Saturday 24th November 1973: Mi ss P.M. Allen w i 11 lead a b i rd wa I k in a . , locality near Nariobi. Please meet at the National Museum at 2.30 p.m. and bring a picnic tea. (7th) 8th/9th December 1973: Weekend visit to Ngolna Estate, Kisii District. Leaders- Mr. & Mrs. L.A.S. Crumb ley. Distance from; Nairobi - about 6000 ft,, in high rainfall area. Weather in December should be dry, but no guarantee and in any case nights wi I 1 be cold with heavy dew. Estate is run as a mixed farm and belongs to Brook Bond Liebig (K) Ltd. There is an interesting vari- ation of flora in the 1.962 acres of undeveloped ground, varying from heavy forest to patchy scrubland. Fauna is fairly well rep resented , as are western Kenya birds. Members should be self-contained with all camping equipment, food and drinking water; firewood and washing water wi II be avai lable at the camp site. Members wishing to take part in this excusicn please fill in the enclosed form and return it to Mrs. A.L, Campbell, Box 14469, Nairobi not I later than 28th November, when further detai Is and route maps will be sent to you. Monday IQth December 1973, 5.15 p.m. at the National Museumi Hall, Nariobi - Mrs. J. Rudnai will speak on ”Lion Behaviour”. 154 THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Chairman: J. S. Karmali Vice Chairman: Mrs A. L. Campbell Editor, Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. & Nat. Mus.: Dr P. J. Greenway O.B.E. Secretary: Miss J. Ossent Librarian and Assistant Secretary: Miss P. M. Allen Treasurer: M. P. Clifton Executive Committee (in addition to the above): Miss D. Angwin; G. C. Backhurst (Ringing Organizer and Editor EANHS Bulletin); A. D. Forbes-Watson (Co-Editor Journal); Mrs. J. Hayes; R. E. F. Leakey; E. T. Monks; C. E. Norris; Co-opted members: Mrs H. A. Britton (Nest Record Scheme Organizer); A. Duff-MacKay; J. Gerhart; T. D. Morris; Mrs F. Ng’wano; Mrs A. Sparrow. 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 month; 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; the Society 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 a leading and highly respected scientific journal — The Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists usually of one paper, however, some- times 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 monthly magazine 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), P.O. Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Line drawings will be con- sidered if they add to the value of the article, photographs cannot be published. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES Life ..... One payment: K shs. 500/- Institutional (shools, libraries) annual payment: K shs. 50/- Full . annual payment; K shs. 50/- Junior (full-time student, no Journal supplied) . . annual payment: K shs. 10/- Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1st July you may join at half the yearly rate and receive publi- cations from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi. E A N H S H 13S J BULLETIN A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings. NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN DECEMBER, 1973 CONTENTS A Visit to Taveta, Lake J i pe & the Teita Hills------------ 156 The Fiery-Necked Nightjar in Kenya - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 158 Sight Record of Nest Making by Green-backed Herons ---------- 159 Hornbi I Is and Bats - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - |60 Sound Recordings --------------------------- |60 Death of a Young Elephant ---------------------- 151 i Marina Week-End - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15 j Library Notices - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 152 Reviews - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - — 153 Now Members - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 155 Society Functions 155 155 A VISIT TO TAVETA, LAKE JIPE AND THE TEITA HILLS During early November we visited three of Kenya’s lesser known though extremely rewarding binding localities: The Ki tovo forest reserve near Taveta, Lake J i pe at the extreme southern edge of Tsavo West and the Te i ta Hills. Our route to Taveta and J i pe took us through Ambose 1 1 and Tsavo West, then via the main Taveta-Voi road to the Telta Hills and finally returning to Nairobi from Voi along the Mombasa road. We would strongly recommend this to members of the Natural History Society for one of their weekend camps. A base camp could be set up at either J i pe or Taveta, as both the lake shore and Ki tovo forest can easi ly be covered in a weekend visit. The Ki tovo forest reserve lies some eleven ki lometres south of Taveta township and Is a ground water forest, which as far as we know is unique in Kenya, though it does resemble some of the Kenya south coast forests. It is very si mi lar to Lake Manyara ground water forest in many ways, though lacking the larger game animals. Nevertheless there is an abundance of Greater Bush Babies, both Blue and Colobus monkeys, whi le Red Duiker and Bush Buck can be seen in the deeper parts of the forest. A number of ideal camp sites are to be found, and ample fresh water is avai lable from a fast flowing river, where no less than four species of Kingfishers were seen: Giant Ceryle maxima. Half-collared Alcedo semitorquata, Malachite A. cristata, and Brown-hooded Halcyon albtventris . Hornbiils and birds of prey are common, with the Si I very-cheeked HornbI I I Bycan-istes brevis and Trumpeter Hornbill Byaanistes buainator being particularly vociferous. Honeyguides are quite numerous and Kitovo must be one of the best localities for seeing the Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor. Others seen were Sea I y-th roated Honey- guide Indicator variegatus and the rather rare and local Eastern Least Honeyguide Indicator mteliphilus . Greenbuls were unusually scarce for such a lush locality, though we were fortunate In seeing on a few occasions the local and uncomrron Grey-Olive Greenbul Fhyllastrevhus cerviniventris known only from a few localities in Kenya and Tanzania. Indeed, many other species otherwise rather local and uncommon in Kenya were seen, notably: Kenya Crested Guinea-Fowl Guttera pucherani , Palm Nut Vulture Gypohierax ojigolensis , Yellow Bill Ceuthmo chares acre us , Violet Wood-Hoopoe Phoeniculus granti , White-eared Barbet Buccanodon leucotis , H\ cat or Nicator chloris and Red-capped Robin Chat Cossypha natalensis . Our main interests however lay in trying to locate two extremely ra;e species. Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli and Kretschmer's Longbill Macrosphenus kretschmeri , but without success; maybe some other time. Nevertheless, for anyone visiting this area both these species should be looked out for, particularly the Longbill, as Kitovo forest is the only known Kenya locality. Altogether we recorded a total of ninety species in the one and a half days, and undoubtedly many more can be added. 156 Lake Jipe is eas i ly reached from Taveta by a good road through the J i pe Sisal Estates, and this must surely be one of the most outstanding localities if, East Africa for waterfowl. In many ways we feel it is superior to Lake Nai vasha, as one can easi ty drive along the edge of the extensive reed beds, dotted here and there with patches of open water, and with the North Pare ["■ountains on the far shore outlined in the setting sun, it must be one of the most beautiful settings in Kenya. To our surprise we found large numbers of Black Heron Egretta ardesiaoa, with one flock alone of 250+ birds. In ail we estimated at least 500 on one smal I section of the lake shore, and this must be without doubt the I argest concentrati on of this species in East Africa. We have only recorded similar numbers in Madagascar, In addition we saw an abundance of herons, egrets, storks, spoonbills, ducks and geese. Noteworthy species seen were Pigmy Geese Eettapus auritus ^ Lesser Jacana Miaroparra oapensis , Long-toed Lapwing Vaneltus orassirostris , while in the adjoining grassland a small flock of Zebra Waxbi I I Estrilda subflava were seen. The sight one morning of one vast flock of 500+ Black Herons E; ardesiaja and Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides flying over the reed beds wi II remain with us for evermore. In addition to the bird life, large numbers of game drink at the lake. During our visit we noted elephant, rhinoceros, eland, zebra, giraffe and water buck, whi le lion were heard in the night. Camping sites are avai lable close to the airstrip, sufficiently away fromi the lake shore to escape the mosquitoes, and for those who travel completely self-contained a most enjoyable weekend can be spent in this relatively unknown corner of Tsavo West The Teita Hi Ms are easi ly accessible from the main Taveta-Voi road, the tarmac now extending up to Wundanyi, and the forest is only six kms further cn. Here in an isclated patch of forest, one can easi iy observe by means of good forest tracks and forest edge paths, nc less than two endemic sub-specios Teita Olive Thrush Turdus otivaceus helleri and the Teita White-eye Zosterops poliogastra silvanus . In addition three species are found only in this locality in Kenya, Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris ^ Ye M ow-th roated Woodland Viarbler Seioerous ruficapillus and Bar-throated Apalis Apalis murina (also an endemic sub-species). Other species of interest seen here included St rf pexheeked Greenbul Andropadus miZanjensis , Orange Ground-Th rush Turdus gumeyi. and Evergreen Forest Warbler Brciypterus harratti , Altogether A.D. Forbes-Watson has recorded one hundred species from the Teita Hi Ms, giving an indication of the richness of this isolated forest. AM in all a most enjoyable five days were spent in areas hardly ever visited, yet so easily accessible from Nairobi, Arusha and Mombasa. Should anyone be interested in our complete bird list of each locality, together with a detai led sketch map cf how to get there, please contact either of us. A.D. Forbes-Watsen, Curator of Birds, National Museum, Box 40.58, Nai rob i . D.A. Turner, Box 40658, Nai rob i . 157 THE FIERY - NECKED NIGHTJAR IN KENYA The Riery-necked Nightjar Capvimulgus -peotovalis is not given for Kenya by Jackson (1938),- Mackv-zorth-Praed & Grant (1957)^ White (1965) or Williams (1963, 1967), (Mackworth-Praed & Gi'ant refer to this species as C. feviridus , no. 55 1, but following White and other recent authors we use the name C. 'peotovalis. This is rather confusing since Mackworth-Praed & Grant give ih i s name to the Dusky Nightjar, no. 548, which is referred to as C. fvaenatus by White, Williams and other recent authors.) Ripley & Bond (1971) have extended the range of the form C .p . fervidus from north-easte rn Tanzania to coasi'a I Kenya, on the basis of a female in breeding condition col looted by A.D. Forbes-Watson in the Sokoke Forest on 26th November, 1964. WniiST camping in this forest on some thirty nights since 1969, in April, August, September, October and December, we have always heard this nightjar caMing, It is mainly heard soon after dusk and before dawn, and calls far more on bright moonlit nights. Its beautiful liquid call is distinctive, consisting of two whistling notes, followed by a soft, musical trill. Judging from the frequency of calling it may be equally common in the closed-canopy "thicket*' on red soi I as i n the more open wC'Odland with Bvaahystegia spicifovmis on white, sandy soils. In Zambia we caught and ringed several Fiery-necked Nightjars by dazzling them on roads through Bvaahystegia woodland at night, yet we have never recorded this nightjar on roads in Kenya, despite our many drives along forest tracks at night. At dusk on 6th October, 1973 we ringed a male, captured in a mist net along a track Through red soi 1 "thicket*' in Sokoke forest; but previously we hcsd no more than glimpsed this species in Kenya. Elsewhere along the Kenya ccast we did not hear this nightjar in several nights at Witu and Garsen in August, but we did hear it with Leslie Brown and Stuart Keith at the edge of the Boni Forest near Bodhei on 26th August, 1971. 1 1 may therefore occur sparingly in suitable habitat north of the Tana River, perhaps as far as the Somialia border. According to the maps in Mackworth- Praed & Grant (1957), and the data in Jackson (1938) and White (1965), this nightjar occurs along both the Tanzania and Uganda shores of Lake Victoria, but is unrecorded in western Kenya. In September, 1971 we camped in an extensive area of thicket at Bar Olengo, south-west of Siaya township, western Kenya, end heard the unmistakable call of this species, which, we had heard only a few days previously at the coast. Subsequently we visited this site Ten or more times, often trying especially to capture this nightjar, but we fai led to more than glimpse It. We heard it most nights we were there, and there is no doubting Its occurrence in western Kenya, perhaps the form C .p . nigviscapulavis which Is widespread In Uganda. Its west Kenya habitat is extensive areas of thicket in the drier southern and western areas of Siaya District, Central Nyanza, The Tsetse Fly has been only recently eradicated ff'om. these thicket areas which are now being settled, with consequent hab'tat destruction. Trees are up to only 5m high, often partly covered with lichen, and much of the ground is covered with mosses. 158 Characteristic trees are Harrisonia abyssinioa, Combretym molle , C. bindevianwn , Albizia zygia. Gardenia lutea , Euphorbia spp., and others, Tr.cse thicket areas look potentially interesting for birds, but the only other birds recorded there which we did not record elsewhere in Central Myanza were the Snowy-headed Robin Chat Cossypha niveicapilla and the Black-bel lied Waxbi I I Lagonostiota rara. Thus the Fiery-necked Nightjar occurs in Kenya in suitable thicket/ woodland habitat both along the coast and inland in the extreme west, near the shore of Lake Victoria. A specimen from the latter area might well prove to be C.p. nigrisoapularis , a form yet unrecorded in Kenya. Peter & Hazel Britton, Box 90163, MOMBASA . REFERENCES- Ripley, S.u. & Bond, G.M. 1971. Systematic notes on a collection of birds from Kenya. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, III: 1-21. White, C.M.N. 1965. A Revised Check List of African Non-Fas serine Birds. Lusaka : Government Printer. Wi 1 liams, J.G. 1963. A Field Guide to the Birds of East and Central Africa. London : Go ! I i ns . Wi I liams, J.G. 1967. A Field Guide to the National Parks of East Africa. London : Collins. SIGHT REGORD OF NEST MAKING BY GREEN ~ BAGKED HERONS BUTOPJDES STRIATUS On 20th August, 1973 at Seronera river I saw a pair of Green-backed Herons bui'ding a nest, A loose platform nest was built amongst tail, dense reeds 2rr nigh above the water level. The male bird brought bui I ding material and offered it to the female who stood waiting by the nest. In accepting the material, the female shewed her appreciation by raising iier crest and uttering a low croak before adding the material to the nest, Meanwhi le the male stood by and constantly jerked his tail up and down. After placing the material on the nest the female coaxed her partner ana sometimes a I lowed him to mate with her. After tnati ng the female affectionately stroked the male with her beak and this seemed to please him. He then flew off a short distance and brought some more building material immediately. Dry, thorny twigs, dry branch lets and dry grass stems were used to make the nest which took three days to complete. The first egg was then laid. I was unable to make further observations because I left Serengeti for my station in Arusha National Park. Si pae I i A. Mungure, Arusha National Park, (Kusare Research Camp), Box 3134, Arusha. 159 HORNBILLS AND BATS At four o’clock on 19th October, 1973 two Si I very- cheeked Hornbi I Is Byoanistes cristatvs alighted on a large A lb i zz i a- I i ke tree in which a colony of about 20-25 Lesser Fruit Bats Epomcphorus labiatus was sleeping at about lOm height amongst dense foliage. One of the Hornbi I Is pounced on a cluster and sent the bats flying in all directions. After circling round close to the tree a few bats perched on the upper branches of the same tree, whereupon the second Hornbi II proceeded to chase them away with the assis- tance of the first Hornbi II. The two birds then inspected the entire tree, hopping from branch to branch in different sections of the canopy and tilting their heads in all directions. A few minutes later, however, three or four bats settled on the upper branches of the adjoining tree; the Hornbi I Is were quick to notice this and chased them off the second tree as well, even pursuing them in flight. AM the bats were dispersed eventually except for one that circled near the two trees. It was noticed by one of the Hornbi Ms which dived on it in flight but was snapped at by the bat, (this incident took place at a distance of a few metres from where I was watching end I was able to see clearly the open mouth of the bat with all the teeth showing and the twist of the head as it snapped at the bird. I was not able to distinguish whether the Hornbi 1 I was injured or not). The Hornbi 1 I returned to the tree with all its feathers ruffled and the bat flew away. The two Hornbi I Is remained in these trees for some time after all the bats had been chased away, sti II hopping from one branch to another, then pausing to look in all directions, especially upwards and downwards through the leaves. Two Hornbi I Is, presumably the same ones, returned to these trees during the early afternoon of the fcllowinc day and chased off one or two bats. On the third day two Hornbi I Is were honking loudly in the topmost branches of these trees, no bats were seen. NOTE : Between 20-25 bats had been roosting regularly in this particular spot for at least four weeks. Hornbi Ms had also passed by regularly but were usually in the canopy. The bats have not been seen again. Mrs . J . Ki ngdon , Xeno Farmhouse, Lyamungo, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania SOUND RECORDINGS A note of interest recently seen in Ib'is Vo 1.115 p.444, July, 1973: KER, A. 1972. Safari 99. Narration by Peter Clare. Cassette tape i\i i.p.s.) - duration I hour. ESS 1001. Price K.Shs.50/=. From Equator Sound Studios Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya. The quality of this cassette tape is remarkably good and compares favourably with many L.P. discs. Of the 99 recordings 54 are devoted to birds. The cuts are short but adequate and usually representati ve, and most are free from serious background noise. The spoken comments are brief and pertinent; no tape- space is wasted. Latin binomials are not given but an accom.pany i ng check list includes short descriptions of physical characteri sti cs and some notes on habitat. Anyone with an in te rest in East African wildlife will wel come this tap 160 DEATH OF A YOUNG ELEPHANT In the afternoon of 4th Ootober, 1973 whi le driving along the banks of the Tsavo River, we oame across the swollen carcase cf a deed cow elephant Loxodonta afriaana. Twenty metres beyond the corpse, on a bend in the track we saw a very young baby elephant also lying dead, close to the road. The baby’s corpse had been covered over with the branches of a nearby acacia thorn bush, by the baby’s irate mother, who was now guarding her fallen of fsp ri ng . She was shuffling about in the road blowing dust all over herself. On several occasions we attempted to get past the obstruction only to be greete by the enormous hulk of the charging mother, who was determined that no one was going to get nearer than ten metres to her dead calf. She indicated without hesitation that she would have flattened us to the ground had we ventured any closer. We left the area with no alternative except to turn back the way we had come, I suspect the dead calf, as wel I as the dead adult, had died of malnutri- tion, as both carcases were very thin with cracked, slaty hides. I think much of the vigour exhibited by the bereaved cow in her vigi lance can be attributed to the possibility that this was the death of her fi rst-born calf since she herself was not very old. Elephants, have been known to cover the remains of dead people with branches from nearby bushes... There have aJso been recorded cases where e lephants' have covered, up sleeping men with branches. From the above mentioned episode I have come to the conclusion that there is far more psychological make up of elephant than apparently meets the eye. They are evidently emotional beasts. Mark Warw i ok. Box 30486 , NA I ROB I . MARINA WEEK - END During the week-end 3rd/4th November the Society had a most enjoyable excursion based at the Marina Club, Nai vasha, where we had been offered very favourable terms. Some members stayed in style at the pleasant bandas on th cliff top, others in do-it-yourself bandas and yet others camped. Bird watching was superb on the mudflats on the. lake shore, some of the most interesting recordings being: a Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca doing its characteristic fishing by shading the water with its wings, a Turnstone Arenaria interpres and two Grey Plovers Pluvialis dominioa fulva, the latter two species more often seen on the coast than inland. Also numerous Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferr'uginea, Little Stints C. minuta, and two Bar-tailed Godw i ts Limosa lapporvtca were seen. Several Ospreys Pandion haliaetus were around as well as flocks cf Lovebird sp, which seemed to roost for the night in an old Fish Eagle nest. The Coypus seem to increase in number every time one visits the lake. ,nis time they were quite easi iy observed sitting out of the water on liftle mounds of water li Iy leaves. On the muddy banks numerous crayfish were observed. For most members this was completely new, and they are apparently an American type of crayfish, which was introduced into the lake some years ago, and now seem to have bred up to quite a large number judging from the numerous animals seen in the small area of the lake that we visited. On Sunday a visit was made to He I I’s Gate. Unfortunately the Lammergeyers Gypaetus harbatus mevidionalis were not seen on the cliff face - probably due to climbing activity in progress at the time. The birds had been seen by a member three weeks previously about 9.00 a.m. and at about midday the previous day. During the search for the Lammergeyers a banner Falcon Falco biamriaus was seen. We then visited the nesting colonies of Ruppells Griffon Vultures Gyps rueppellii and it was amazing to see how these huge birds completely disappeared once they had settled on the ledges on the cliffs, so that it was difficult to pick them out even if one had seen them landing. . A surprising number of mammals were seen - in particular groups of Klipspringer Greotragus orectraguc together with Steinbok Rccphicerus campestris & Chanler's Reedbuck Redunoa fulvorufula. At Fischer’s Tower the Hyrax Heterohyrax bruceb were remarkably tame - in fact so tame that they came running up to greet the visitor and look for food. One wonders if such friendliness could in future be a danger to their safety ... L.C. LIBRARY NOTICES The Library needs a copy of The Leopard by Turnbul I Kemp. Bai ley Bros, and Swi nfen, 1967. We understand this book is out of print. Wi II anyone who kn :ws of a copy for sale (or aval lable as a gift to the Library) please let the Librarian know. Praed & Grant: Birds of Eastern and North-Eastern Africa. 2 vols. Nice copy for sale - Shs . 1000/=. Please apply to the Librarian (who will do as she did last time - wait a month to allow applications from up country to come in and then draw ) . There are a number of back issues of the Bulletin for sale, price Shs. 2/=. Apply to the Librarian, stating which issues you neea. (Some are out of print.) P.M.A. 162 REVIEWS ■A FIRST GUIDE TO THE INDIAN OCEAN SEASHORE by F.M.J . Finn Nairobi, Oxford University Press, 1973. Price Shs. 7/=. This book is the first and only successor to Mr. H. Copley's "Wonders of the Kenya Seashore" published by the Ndia Kuu Press in 1946 and long cut of print. The publishers state that it "has been graded to be suitable for standards 6 and 7 in Kenyan Primary Schools, but that it will also interest"the genera E reader and tourist". Mr. Pinn was a member of our Society while in this country and many of us remember his talk on the Kenya Reef and his delightful slides. Some of us too cannot help remembering that in some cases he was none too sure of his identifications. 1 remember in miy own youth being told by the dentist who was about to extract one of my teeth that wh i le he had to exert a pul I of x lbs in the desired direction, he also had to exert a pressure of y lbs in the opposite direction in order to get perfect control. This, to me, puzzling piece of information given at such an impressionable moment, has remained in my mind as an example of the apparently disproportionate amount of effort that has +c be made to achieve a seemingly trivial result. The writer of a book for chi Idren must have an easy flowing style and much background knowledge, and his book should certainly, if it is any good at all, be interesting to o 1 de r peop I e as well. I cannot help contrasting this book rather unfavourably with its predecessor. Certainly Mr. Copley managed to te I I us in 78 pages infinitely more than Mr. Pinn tells us in his 74. According to Mr. Finn's index, he deals with 39 creatures or objects. Mr. Copley describes or mentions the same number in his first 24 pages, and these include a chapter on the causes t;f 1 i des and the formation of the reef, subjects which Mr. Pinn hardly mentions. He says, "The tides are very important to us when we stay at the seaside. We should know something about them. When the sea goes out we say 'the tide is going out’ but when the waves are slowly moving up the beach again, we say ’the tide is com.ing in'." Another short paragraph in the same style and that is all. He then takes up a whole page with a reproduction of the tide table for August, 1971. Mr. Copley says, "Now you won’t be at the seashore long before you hear about high and low tide, sc perhaps we can say a few simple words on tides and how they are formed. Owing to the pull of the mass of the moon ..." and so on, and he gives us a page of diagrams. Mr. Finn’s style does not flow and somehow dees not inspire confidence. He explains elaborately any words he uses which he thinks children may not understand - ’beach-combing’, ’fidler’, 'camouflage'. He gives no scientific names. Presumably the book is intended for African children, and they of course should be taken straight on to scientific names, which are no harder for children to learn than English ones, if they are not frightened off them by injudicious adults. What use is a name like "Peacock worm" to an African chi Id? He had better be told straight away 163 that it i s a Sabe I I i d or Serpu I i d or whatever i t I s . I do not know myself as Mr. Finn has not told me and it is one of the few creatures whose scientific name Mr. Copley doesViot supply. And rather than tell us that the Razor Shell is called "Chinaman’s fingernail" in Australia, more attention could surely be paid to Swahili names. When I was with Myles North at Ki unga we found that the fishermen had names for all the different species of Tern, though I found them very difficult to distinguish, and they surely have names for all or most of the creatures mentioned by Mr. Finn, many of them very likely charmingly descriptive such as the one for a Starfish - *'Kiti cha pweza", the seat of the octopus. It may be complained that I am asking for the book to be much larger, but as it is the pages are nearly all half blank and only half printed on. The i llustratiorts are mostly good and clear, though it is a pity that the first one, intended to be a general view of the beach, is ©o fanciful. But many of the drawings would have been just as clear if they were smaller, especially if some of the crabs are only to have six legs. "Little boys first" said Mr. Robson, preparing to show some of his collection of shells at the end of another of our lectures. I was with a little boy, a junior merrtier of the Society, and I can bear witness to the pleasure that that announcement gave. "I thought I wasn’t going to be able to see them" explained my small companion. By all means little boys first ~ and little girls too. There just did not happen to be any little girls at that particular lecture. But it is a pity to aim so low that anyone over the age of four w i 11 rea I i se that he is being talked down to. F.M.A. "AVIAN ANATOMY - Integument" Farts 1 and M by Alfred M. Lucas and Feter R. Stettenheim. Agriculture Handbook 362, United States Department of Agriculture in co-operation with Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, September, 1972. This "Handbook" comprises two separate volumes which beteeen them contain 750 pages of text and 422 i Mustrations. The book constitutes Farts I and I I of a series of publications on the anatomy of the fowl and other domes ti c b i rds . The book deals primari ly with the chicken, turkey, duck, quai I and pigeon but particular emphasis has been laid upon the chicken. In addition how- ever, reference is made to a very large number of other avian species (ranging from ostriches to humming birds) and it is refreshing to find a classified list of these, with scientific names, rather than just their English nomenclature. The book deals with the skin and other integumentary appendages (feathers, comb, wattles, oil gland etc.) of birds. Each topic is discussed in meti- culous detai I and the chapters cover such subjects as feather structure and tracts, the moult, growth of follicles and feathers and microscopical structure of the various skin derivatives. The final chapter on "Techniques" 164 is of particular value since it describes the authors’ experiences of a wide range of procedures including anaesthesia, skeleton preparation, histological methods and illustrative techniques. The list of references is also useful; it consists of over 900 references and in each case the title of the paper or book is gi ven i n f u I I . There is no doubt about the merit of this book. It is a we II written account of years of study and the authors have done well to make the text of such a detailed treatise so readable. No glaring printing, spelling or grammatical errors have been noted but there is a (corrected) mistake under ’’Contents" in Part II and the word "data" is used as a singular word in the Preface and thereafter (correctly) as a plural noun. It is regrettable that in some places the literature cited is not entirely up-to-date; a striking example is under anaesthesia where the latest reference is 1965, seven years before this book was published. Mention should also be made of the method of ki Ming birds by electrocution recommended by the authors; the reviewer has some doubts as to the humanity of their techniques. This book will, undoubtedly, remain the standard text on the avian integument for many years. It wi II prove of great value to zoologists, avian ana.omists and pathologists, veterinary surgeons and, probably, to those involved in the genetics of poultry breeding. However, it is likely to prove too complicated and detailed to have much appeal to the field naturalist with the possible exception of the useful data on techniques, especially skeleton preparation and the photographing of feathers. The professional ornithologist may, as the authors hope, find it of value; but even here his concern is I i ke ly to be on I y w i th specific topics such as the section on the moult and plumages or, perhaps, the very valuable revision and clarification of anatomical terminology. J . E . Coope r NEW MEMBERS FOR OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 1973 DR, A.E. Butterwcrth, Box 43640, Nairobi Mr. & Mrs. T.F. Corf ie Id, Box 14705, Nairobi Mr. Patrick Duncan, Box 42481, Nairobi Mr. & Mrs. S.A. Ombler, Box 3006 1, Nairobi Mr. John C. Onyango-Abu je , Dept, of History, University Nairobi Mr. Gary L. Siglar, 599 South Str. , Glendale, Cal 91202, USA. LARVS IChTHYAETVS vHth reference to the record of Lotus 'ichthyaetus in the October Bulletin (p.l38), it might be interesting to recall that in January, 196 1, when I was in Uganda, a member of the Society, Mr. Robin Palmer, told me that he had seen a Great Black-headed Gull at Entebbe. It seemed unlikely, but was so positive that I made a note ct it. He said the size and the marking of the bill i dent i f i ed it. P . M . Allen 165 SOCIETY functions Monday^, lOth December, 1973 et 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi - change of programme. There will now be a FILMSHOW, "Trout Stream", "Waterfowl - A resource in Danger" and other wildlife films. January I2th/I5th, 1974: By special arrangement we have been offered a weekend at Cottars Camp, 20 mi les from Mtito Andei on the Ath i River: Members should make their own way to the camp. Vehicles are parked on the Mtito Andei side of the river and guests are ferried across to the camp. Game watching away from camp takes place in h i red vehicles. if you want to take part in this excusicn, please send full payment (in cheques made out to "Forest & Frontier Lodges") to Mrs. A.L. Campbell, P.O. Box 14469, Nairobi, as early as possible and net later than 15th December, 1973, giving full address and telephone number. Members should bear in mind that letters sometimes take over a week to reach Mrs. Campbell, Monday, 14th January, 1974 at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi. Mrs. J. Rudnai will speak on "Lion Behaviour". February 9th/IOth, 1974: Weekend at Chemoni Estate, Nandi Hi Ms. Leader- Mr. D. Cape. Full details will be available in the next issue. Wednesday morning birdwalks: meeting at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. These wi II continue in December and January with the following alterations: There wi II be _no birdwalk on I2fh December (Independence Day) or 2nd January. On 19th December it will be an all day trip so please bring a picnic lunch. Birdwalks will be held as usual on 5th December, 26th December (Boxing Day) and the rest of January. Students and beginners are welcome. Small children may come too, as long as they are supervised. Full board, adu I ts Full board, ch i I dren Use of veh i c le Shs. 80/= Shs. 40/= Shs. 150/= (for 7 persons) 166 THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Chairman: J. S. Karmali Vice Chairman: Mrs A. L. Campbell Editor, Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. & Nat. Mus.: Dr P. J. Greenway O.B.E. Secretary: Miss J. Ossent Librarian and Assistant Secretary: Miss P. M. Allen Treasurer: M. P. Clifton Executive Committee (in addition to the above): Miss D. Angwin; G. C. Backhurst (Ringing Organizer and Editor EANHS Bulletin); A. D. Forbes-Watson (Co-Editor Journal); Mrs. J. Hayes; R. E. F. Leakey; E. T. Monks; C. E. Norris; Co-opted members: Mrs H. A. Britton (Nest Record Scheme Organizer); A. Duff-MacKay; J. Gerhart; T. D. Morris; Mrs F. Ng’weno; Mrs A. Sparrow, MEHBERSHIP 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 month; 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; the Society 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 a leading and highly respected scientific journal — The Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists usually of one paper, however, some- times 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 monthly magazine 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), P.O. Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Line drawings will be con- sidered if they add to the value of the article, photographs cannot be published. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES Life ..... One payment: Kshs. 500/- Institutional (shools, libraries) . annual payment: K shs. 50/- Full annual payment: K shs. 50/- Junior (full-time student, no Journal supplied) . . annual payment: Kshs. 10/. Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1st July you may join at half the yearly rate and receive publi- cations from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi. , , ■ m - • ,v 'i E A N H S Qh 7 £~/36r s.r BULLETIN A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN JANUARY 1974 CONTENTS The Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus in East Africa - -- -- -- - Pomarine Skua on the Kenya Coast - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - White- faced Tree Ducks nesting on islets off the Kenya Coast - - - - Rearing a nestling Pigeon - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Two exciting Kenya binding spots ------------------ Letter to the Editor------------------------ Request for information - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Society Functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Important Notice - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Ringing News ---------------------------- ForSale------------------------------ 2 4 5 7 9 9 10 10 I I I I I I Li t rary Not i ce 12 THE LONG - LEGGED BUZZARD BUTEO RUFINUS IN EAST AFRICA Backhurst et al, (1973) give on i > Two East African records of the Palae- arctic migrant Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus ; both from Kenya in Nov- ember (1958 at Loiengalani and 1966 at Naivasha). They mention only one other record from further south (Zambia - also in November), Moreau (1972) says it reaches South Africa,, apparently following Mackworth-Praed & Grant (•1962) who record it from South West Africa, but Bolton & Clancey (1972:202) state that it is unacceptable so far south, although they have a photograph from Mata-Mata, near the southern border of South West Africa, which ■’’appears to be B.i‘. rufinus'' . We have the fol lowing recent records from Uganda and Kenya. On 24th and 25th March 1970, DAT saw 4 and 2 respectively in the Kidepo National Park, N.E, Uganda which were identical to the figure on plate 22 in Peterson et at, (1954). He also heard from D. Ebbutt {in litt,) who had seen one at Gu I u on 2nd Oci'ober 1967. Rolfe & Pearson (1973) recorded one near Mt. Kadam, eastern Uganda on 29th December 1971. These appear to be thvo only actual records for Uganda, although Williams (1967) says it is ''■ar uncommon winter visitor . , . . to Karamoja”. D.A. Zimmerman and L Binford (pers. comm.) saw a single B. rufinus on the Kinangop, central Kenya, on 19th October 1973 (they will be reporting thei ; -obse rvat i ons in this Bulletin). A-f about noon on 3rd November 1973 at 3.24’S., 37.43’E, ic. 5 km east of Taveta, S.E. Kenya) we saw a bird of prey perched on a baobab by the side of the track we were following to Lake Jipe. From our vehicle, at a range of c. 25 m, DAT had a good, but brief view of it before it flew, it fhen circled leisurely overhead and we both, had- very good views in very gcoc light of the upper and un der--parts ; it spiralled upwards in a thermal with motionless v/ings and eventually glided off to the east after 3 - 4 iTiinutes. (Hod it flown westward for only 8 km it would have been the ■'f'rst” Tanzanian record'!) DAT was using 8 X 32 binoculars and ADFW 7 X 50’ s. At rest it appeared a thickset dark hawk, rather larger than Wahl berg’s Eagle Aouita wanthevgi , seen by us the previous day; DAT noted upperparts dark slaty, pale forehead, yellow feet and partially feathered tarsi. in flight the upperparts were dark, tail barred and there was a pale ’''window” in the wing near the wrist, otherwise it was very like the diagram of the Long-legged Buzzard on pi. 22 in Peterson et at. (1954) iviz. a rather heavy, broad-winged bird of prey more eagle - than buzzard- like, with a loiiQ square tail: underpants rufous on body, tail and under w i no- coverts , wings otherwise whitish with faint bars, primaries black), with the notable exception that our bird had a distinct black sub-terminal tai ! bar. The "jizz” and flight pattern etc. of this bird were such that ADFW felt immediately that it was something new to him. Gn our return to Nairobi we found the following standard works do not meni'icn or figure the obvious character of the tail bar; Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1952, 1957 and 1962), Me I ne rtzhagen (1954),. Peterson et at. (1954), Cave'"'L Macdonald (1955), Williams (1967), Bruun & Singer (1970) and Heinzel 2 et al. (1972). However, Brown & Amadon (1968:623 under phase I) say that the dark phase of B.r. rufinus does have a dark tai I bar; DAT notes that their fi>j“ ure on pi. 107 is^ identical to the view he had of cur b i rd at rest, including the barred upper surface of the tail. The tail bar is also mentioned in Archer & Godrnan (1937) and Grossmann & Hamlet (1965 , with a good figure of the flight pattern). It appears, therefore, that our standard Field Guides should be amended in regard to the field characters of this species. It is tempting to suggest that this eastern Kenya record relates to the dark easterly Caucasian population, with other records from further west relating to more norma! westerly rufous populations (we do not know the phase of Zimmerman & Binford's bird, but assume it to be normal as they apparently had no identification problems). As there are already two sightings from Kenya this year, observers should locl< out for Long-legged Buzzards throughout East Africa and further south, as it may be a particularly good year for them. Moreau (1972) mentions that it is likely to occur in more arid localities than does the common migrant Eurasian Buzzard B. buteo vutpinus (the Steppe Buzzard). Incidentally, the value of bird photographs is dramatically shown by Bolton & Clancey (1972) when pictures taken by Bolton were scrutinised by Ciancey, and three species of migrant birds of prey were added to the list of birds known to have occurred in southern Africa (Red Kite Milvus milvus , Saker Fatco oherrug and Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides , often considered as a race of the Peregrine F. peregrinus) . With the possible addition of Buteo rufinus mentioned above, truly an impressive list of "firsts" for a ten-day safari; indeed, the Red Kite is the first record for the Ethiopian zocgecgraph i ca 1 region. Reproductions of some of the photographs are thought- fully published by them for individual appraisal. Archer, G & Godrnan, E.M. 1937. The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden. London: Gurney & Jackson. Vol. 1:237. Backhurst, G.C. , Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less common palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa Nat. Hist. Soc & Nat. Mus. 140:8. Brown, L.H. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles^ Hawks and Falcons of the world. Feltham: Hamlyn for Country Life Books. Vo 1.2. Bolton, E.L. & Clancey, P.A, 1972. Some interesting records of wintering palaearctic raptors from the northern Cape. Durban Mus. Novit. 9:201-207. Bruun, B. & Singer, A. 1970. The Hamlyn Guide to birds of Britain and Europe. Feltham:Hamlyn :78-79. Cave, F.O. & Macdonald, J.D. 1955. Birds of the Sudan. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd: 94-9 5. D.A. Turner, Box 48019, Nai rob i . A.D. Forbes-Watson , Box 40658, Nai rob i . REFERENCES: 3 Grossman, M.L. & Hamlet, J. 1965. Birds of Prey of the World. Bonanza Books; 268. Heinzel, H, Fitter, R. & Parslow, J. 1972. The Birds of Britain and Europe. Collins: 16-11 s, 88. Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. 1952 (1957 2nd ed.). Birds of eastern and north eastern Africa. London; Longmans, Vol . I : 195-196. Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. 1962. Birds of the Southern third of Africa. London, Longmans, Vo I . I : I 75- I 76 . Pei nertzhagen , R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. Edinburgh, Oliver & Boyd: 355-356. Moreau, R.E. 1972. The palae arctic- African bird migration systems. London, Acedemi c Press :202. Peterson, R., Mountford, G. & Hoi lorn, P.A.D. 1954. A field guide to the birds of Britain and Europe. London, Col!ins:7 , 76. Rcife, J.G. & Pearson, D.J. 1973. EANHS Bull. :65. Wi I liams, J.G. 1967. A field guide to the National Parks of East Africa. London, Coll ins: 2 32. POMARINE SKUA ON THE KENYA COAST The four species of skua or jaeger are piratical sea-birds closely related to gulls. The three sm,a Her species nest ci rcumpo I ar I y in the arctic tundra, and winter in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, frequently south of the equator. The Great Skua Stercorarius skua nests ci rcumpol ar ly on sub-antarctic islands and a discrete population nests in north-west Europe. Two of the exclusively northern species have wandered to Kenya, each once: the Arctic Skua S. parasiticus at Malindi and the Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus at Lake Rudolf (Backhurst, Britton & Mann 1973). The southern form of the Great Skua is listed for Kenya by Backhurst & Backhurst (1970) but there is no reason to believe that northern birds reach eastern Africa. The Pomarine Skua S. pomarinus winters off the Atlantic coast of Africa, and is recorded in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1957). We know of no record from the Indian Ocean coast of Africa but there is an old specimen from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) mentioned by Henry (1971). A light phase adult seen recently near Mombasa is apparently the first record for East Africa. A.t the north end of Nyali Beach, Mombasa there is a favourite resting area for gulls and terns where we make almost dai ly bird counts. On 7th D>_'cernber 1973 we were watching a group of Sooty Gulls Larus hemprichii when a Pomarine Skua startled us by appearing suddenly at only 12 m range chasing an adult Sooty Gull. It pursued the gull for only a moment before departing out to sea as suddenly as it had arrived. It was in sight for only three or four minutes but was immediately recognisable as an adult Pcrnarine Skua of the light phase. Btiitig such a brief encounter it is relevant to mention our familiarity with this species at sea in the South Atlantic and off Sierra Leone as well as on passage in Ireland; and we have spent many hours watching Arctic Skuas and Great Skuas in their British nesting haunis. We have always found that skuas have a very distinctive ’\i i z" or "overall impression" when in flight, so that they may be identified immediately. The circumstances of this sighting prevented us obtaining phO''ograph i c or other evidence, and the description which follows is rather sparse. But sufficient points were noted for a positive identification to be .:iade, in particular the bird's size and the shape of the tail. In size it was virtually the same as the Sooty Gull it was chasing, pe rhaps. margi na I I y larger. It was brown above, including much of the head. Be'ow it was whitish on breast and neck but was dusky on the lower belly and across the chest, although the latter did not form a clear band. The bi II and iris were dark. It had the pale "window" at the base of the prim- aries which is typical cf skuas. The primary feathers themselves were very ragged, and its rather pale secondary coverts and upper tail coverts were probably the result of wear. One of the central tai I feathers was blunt and elongate (about 5 - 8 cm longer than the other tai I feathers) but the other was broken off. Peter & Hazel Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. RE rE PENCES : Backhurst, G.C. & Backhurst, D.E.G. 1970. A prelirrrinary checklist of East African birds, Kabete, Nai rob i :duplicated. Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mus. 140:1 - 38. Henry, G.M. 1971. A guide to the birds of Ceylon. London, O.U.P. WHITE - FACED TREE DUCKS NESTING ON ISLETS OFF THE KENYA COAST in most areas of Kenya away from the highlands, the White- faced Tree Duck Dendrocygna viduata is the commionest anatid; yet there is little evidence that it breeds at a I I regularly in Konya, or indeed anywhere in East Africa. The few breeding records given by Jackson (1938) are from the Kenya coast, including a clutch taken on the Kiwiyu Islands, near Kiunga on 24th August 1906. On this same date, and at the same locality, two clutches of the Fulvous Tree Duck D. bicolor were taken; and referring to this latter species Jackson remarks "it is curious that this duck, so essentially a lover of quiet, sheltered spots on inland waters, should select for nesting such exposed and wind-swept coral islets half a mi le or more from land". Jackson’s other coastal records of the White-faced Tree Duck are of ducklings 5 inland from Lamu in August and September. It is worth putting on record a subsequent instance of nesting on the Ki unga Islands, which Indicates that this may be a regular habit. With Leslie Brown we visited the Kiunga islands, north of Lamu in August 19/0 and August 1971, mainly in search of nesting terns. While searching an islet at Mlango wa Hindi on 28th August 1971, we'^found a White-faced Tree Duck nest with seven tiny ducklings. Nearby we found an identical nest con- taining six abandoned eggs, each containing a fully formed, recently dead duckling. Both nests were made of dry grass, and were situated in low cover on the top of the islet; two eggs measured 5 1 X 38 mm. Since the latter nest had evidently been only recently abandoned it is reasonable to assume that a second pai r was involved, probably this species. Having been flushed, the adults from the first nest settled on the sea, where they remained through- OU+ our stay. The islet was typical of the smaller islets of the Kiunga group, being about 12 m high, a hectare or less in area, and more or less covered with a mat of low vegetation. Unlike the larger islands nearby, like Simambaya Island, these mush roomi-shaped coral islets support no resident birds, but may be covered with nesting terns in August and September. As Jackson pointed out, such an inhospitable site is a surprising choice for nesting, especially as the adults presumably feed at freshwater inland sites. The security afforded by offshore islets at the height of the south-east micnsoon in August is a possible explanation. Man Is not however a likely predator In the sparsely populated hinterland, but the complete lack of mammalian and reptilian predators on these islets may well be important. The few coastal records available Indicate laying in July and August. Other Kenya records indicative of breeding are the birds in breeding cond- ition shot near KIsumu in March (M. St J. Sugg), and at Elgeyu, near E I dama Ravine, in August (Jackson 1926, Notes on the game birds of Kenya and Uganda. London: Wi II i ams & Norgate) . Jackson (1938) gave no Uganda breeding records, bui' the E.A.N.H.S. Nest Record Scheme includes recent records of ducklings from western Uganda in January, March, July and October (National Parks staff), and a bird incubating eggs at Soroti In June (C.F. Mann). The only definitive Tanzania record is of an adult brooding at Arusha ChinI, near Mosh i on 1 0th March (J.S.S. Bees ley). Conclusions on breeding seasons are impossible from the scant data avail- able, neither is it possible to gauge the extent to which birds seen in East Africa breed elsewhere. These are problems which only wi Id fowlers can easily solve, by recording gonad activity in shot birds, not only for this species but for all anatids (ducks and geese). For example there are no cards for the Fulvous Tree Duck in the Nest Record Scheme collection, although published nesting data exist for Tanzania (Wembere River) and Kenya (Lakes Magadi and Rudolf, and the above records from Kiunga). Peter & Hazel Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. 6 REARING A NESTLING PIGEON On 12th November, as my husband and 1 started off to the National Museum to near Dr. John Cooper's lecture on helping sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals and birds, 'we discovered a nestling on the ground just at our cate. It was covered in grey dov.'n and yellowish "hairs". It looked like a miniature haystack except for its very long, heavy bill and its bright eyes. I picked it up, packaged it carefully in a kleenex, and off we wont to learn about caring for it. Dr. Cooper examined the bird, pronounced it a healthy specimen of some species of pigeon - possibly a red-eyed dove - and suggested we try to return it to its parents. After a very interesting end worthwhile lecture, we returned home, plan- ning to put the nestling in a box and place the box in the tree where, at frequent intervals, we had seen two doves. Unfortunately it rained very herd as we were making the necessary preparations, so "Oscar" spent the night in a heated aii'ing cupboard. The next morning we placed Oscar and the box in the tree. As we observed frcm the window, one of the doves entered the box several times. It was a rainy, chilly day and we were concerned that the little fellow would die from hunger and cold, so I brought him indoors. i prepared a porridge of bread, milk, uncooked egg yolk, and raw, finely shredded beef. 1 rolled the mixture into very small balls and forced them between his mandibles from the sice, a dozen or sc went down his gullet before he began to resist. Then 1 used a medicine dropper to give him some water - a glucose saline solution that Dr. Cooper had recommended. The bird liked the plastic dropper, and tapped at it eagerly, perhaps responding to it as he might to his mother's bill. Fed and watered, he marked me with his appreciation and fell asleep. AnC'tlier night in the airing cupboard. For three days we placed him in the tree but although the parent doves stayed on a bough nearby, they performed no useful function that we could see. Sc.' we adopted him; I continued to feed him the balls of porridge mixture, hut as I had no idea of his requirements, I force-fed him every hour unti I he re si sted. By 15 th November, his straw- 1 ike hair began to thin out and his feathers unrurled. On loth November, he began to peck at his food, the plastic bowl, and his long toes whenever he happened to see them, Now brown feathers dominated the the grey down. Occasionally he stretched his wings and on the 17th he began to preen, his cheeping became distinctly audible, and he wing- stretched frequently. Out-of-doors , he reacted with fear to a pied crow that flew low overhead even though he was safely ensconced on my lap. He cocked his head with interest when he heard a dove cooing. Later, indoors, the cuckoo in my clock startled him, but he showed interest rather than fear. On 18th November, we measured him from breast to tip of tai I (i couldn't get him to hold his head still): 14 cm. We estimated that he had grown 2.5cm since the day of discovery. Ho weighed approximately 56 g. As I did not want a retarded bird, I encouraged him to perch on a dead branchti-iat I had placed on the grass. He seemed steady enough, but obviously did net like 7 the hot sun for he side-stepped clumsi ly along the branch into the shade. In the afternoon, he sipped too much glucose saline (I assume) for he had diarrhoea and looked rather miserable. However, by the evening he was quite perky again and clawed and fluttered onto my shoulder where he roosted cont- entedly unti I he was placed in the airing cupboard for the night, A week after his rescue, he pecked his porridge, sipped his water and perched without assistance or encouragement and- flew 25 cm. from my lap to the arm of the chair in which I was sitting. On the 20th, he had doubled his weight to 1 12 g and now measured 15 cm breast to tai I tip. On 22nd, he weighed 140 g and measured 17 cm. He flew I m just above the grass and was so astounded by his daring performance that he did not try again unti I the next day when he flew 1.5 m at about 1 m above the ground. He rested on my shoulder, wing and tai I stretched, preened and fluttered but refused to take another flight. It is the 24th November as I write this - he has pecked at some wild see." unsuccessfully, walked about on the grass pecking at everything and nothing, and now is sitting on a branch some 3 m above my head. He flew there with a great fluttering but made a perfect two point landing. I am not sure that he is pleased with his position for he is wing shivering and cheeping loudly, every time a Fiscal Shrike, who is feeding two fledglings, approaches he presses down against the branch. I imagine that he is quite defenceless so I am on constant guard. The entire incident has been interesting to us and ! feel somewhat victor- ious and because I thought fellow novices and non-experts might be interste.j, I have wriiten the story in some detai 1. But a word of caution: I have heard that the success rate is low and if your emotions become involved, as mine have, it can be a very sad affair. The Joys of dove ’'motherhood” are not unalloyed either. I have had to curtail my usual daytime activities to stay with the little bird, feeding him, talking bird talk, protecting him from fells, wind, other birds and my jealous cat who is an ardent b i rd-watcher. Despite the fact that I love the little creature, he has been a burden (aural pun intended). Next time I would set up a small aviary where a young bird could prepare for flight and, though unattended for short periods, be safe. Now 1 have the task of returning him to his natural life-style and I am not sure that it wi I I be easy for either of us. Oscar thinks I am his mother and at this moment is wing-shivering and cheeping for rescue and lunch. Jane VH I I i ams-Chand ley , Box 30465, Nai robi . 8 TWO EXCITING KENYA BIRDING SPOTS During a visit in early October to Man da Mtoto Island in the Lamu Archi- pelago, I watched thousands of migratory birds. In addition to the more common waders and plovers, at least two hundred Curlews Numenius arquata, dozens of Whimbrels N. phaeopus , a lone Osprey Pandion haliaetus , plus dozens of Little Terns Sterna albifrons; also thousands of other species of terns which were not identified specifically due to lack of time. At least four Oystercatchers Haematopus oetralegus and two dozen Caspian Terns Sterna oaspia were also seen. Ras Kitau Beach Hotel and its environs situated on the main Man da Island, offers a bewildering variety of bush country species and migrant waders. I counted twelve Spotted Morning Warbler Cichladusa guttata in a half km racius, and they, plus numerous other species provide a memorable dawn chorus. The management of Ras Kitau are geared to cater for ornithologists who wish to visit different islands in the archipelago, and in addition can supply camping equipment. For a different type of ornithological experience, a couple of days spent at Elephant Camp, about 22 Km south of Garissa on the Tana River is recomm- ernended. In the thick thorn scrub and riverine forest at least fifty species can be identified in a day. The Tana River area with its camels, crocodiles, elephants etc. and the friendly Malakote, Orma and Somali peoples is fascin- aTing; in addition, the wi Iderness of the Northern Frontier Province wi I I appeal to all lovers of the African bush. D.D. Spindlow, Box 18240, Mai rob i . LETTER TO THE EDITOR' r i r. FOSSORIAL SNAKE GIVES LIVE BIRTH With reference to Stephen Spawls letter in the’ September Bultetin , James Ashe, when in charge of the Nairobi Snake Park, had sent to him a female example of nominate Aparallaetus jacksonii, collected at the south- ern foot of Mt . Kenya. Shortly after receipt this snake gave birth to three very large size young (not measured), in appearance identical with the i r parent . C.R.S. Pitman, 41 Queen's Gate Gardens, London SW7 5NB 9 REQUEST FOR I NFORMAT I ON FRESHWATER MOLLUSCS AND MAPS I am studying the taxonomy and distribution of freshwater molluscs in East Africa, with particular reference to the intermediate hosts of Bi lharziasis in Kenya. The 10 km squares of the Universal Transverse Mercator Grid provide a convenient means of mapping distributions (and classifying locality records), but apparently this grid is available only on maps of the 1:250000 Series Y503. There is a possibility that a map of more suitable scale for plotting extensive distributions, about 1:2000000 could be specifically prepared, and I would be glad if any members interested in using such a map would let me know their likely roqui rements. I would be very willing to identify freshwater shells and mussels sent with locality data. D.S. Brown, Medical Research Council Project, Box 1971, Ki sumu. SOCIETY FUNCTIONS January 12/ 1 5th, 1974: Weekend at Cottar’s Camp, 32 km from Mtito Andei on the ■ Ath i Ri ve r. Monday, 14th January, 1974; at the National Museum Hall, Nairobi. Mrs J. Rudnai will speak cn ’'Lion Behaviour”. February 8th - 9th/ 1 0th, 1974: Weekend camp at Chemoni Estate, Nandi Hills: Leader Mr Duncan Cape. Campers should be self contained with all equipment including drinking water - firewood and washing water will be available. The Estate is 357 km from Nairobi on tarmac except for the last 5 km. The area consists of high altitude tea gardens, pasture and idigenous forest and borders the South Nandi Forest. If you wish to take part in this excursion, please fill in the enclosed form and return it to Mrs A.L. Campbell, Box Box 14469, Nairobi before 25th January. A route map will be sent to those p a rt i c i p at i n g . Wednesday Morning Birdwalks: Meeting at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. A Birdwalk wi 11 be held as usual on 26th December and throughout the rest of January. 10 IMPORTANT NOTICE The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held in the National Museum Hall on llth March, 1974 at 5.15 p.m. Nominations for Office Bearers and Members of Committee and notices of matters to be included in the Agenda should be sent to the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi before 15th February, 1974. RINGING NEWS First, I must apologise for various mistakes in the 1971 - 1972 Report whic!'! was sent out with the December Bullet-in. The most annoying mistake is titat the left hand column of numbers ringed on pages 3-12 should have been headed ’1971/72’. The list of birds ringed (Table I) is very long and expensive to produce the list would be even longer in the 1972/73 report because a number of ’new’ species have been ringed. In the next report I propose that only the Palaearctic totals be listed in the table; should an Ethiopian species be recovered I will give the number ringed under the recovery detai Is. I realise that this scheme may not meet with everybody's approval, please write to me if you disagree strongly and maybe a compromise can be reached, A few recoveries are coming in, full details will be in the next Ringing Report. At last a Little Stint Calidris minuta has been recovered (or more correctly, controlled), in Zaire having been ringed at Magadi ; a Swallow Hirundo ruetica from Athi River was controlled in Kazakhstan and a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria ringed in Tsavo National Park was shot in Saudi Arabia. Three recoveries of fore i gn~ri nged birds have been notified; an Algerian ringed White Stork Cioonia eiconia to Mau Narok, a South African ringed Ruff Philomaahus pugnax to Butisba in Uganda and a Swallow to Busia in western Kenya. Graeme Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete . FOR SALE Grampian Parabolic Reflector with DP 6 Microphone and leads etc. Contact: C.W. Barwell, Box 304 70, Nairobi, Telephone 28776 Ext, 46 or 22574. SOME RECENT PERIODIC LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY Bolton, M. 1965. Hartebeets in Ethiopia. Oryx 12:99. Jarrian, P,J. 1973. The free water intake of Impala in relation to the water content of their food. E.A. Agric, For. J. 38:343. Marais,' W. 1973. Notes on African Iridaceae. Kew Bull. 28:311. Mi tte rme i e r , R.A. 1973. Colobus monkeys and the tourist trade. Oryx 12:113. Owrn, J.S. 1973. The Lamai wedge in Tanzania. Oryx 12:24. Vaurie, C. 1973. Sc fair and foul a bird (the Hoopoe). Nat. Hist. (New York) 82 (6) :60. E A N H S QN 7 sj: BULLETIN A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings. NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN ^ FEBRUARY 1974 CONTENTS Bats col lected at Lake Rudolf -------------------- 14 A note on the Pintai I Whydah -------------------- 15 A Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Kerio Bay, Lake Rudoif - -- -- -- -- 17 A ^'urther record of the Kentish Plover at Lake Rudolf - -- -- -- - I8 At sea off Watamu |g Honey Badgers at Gedi - visitors or residents? - -- -- -- -- -- 20 Nest Record Scheme (Notice) --------------------- 2O East African Nest Record Scheme - -- -- -- ------------21 Probable Wedge-tai led Shearwater off Watamu -------------23 Jamhuri Camp at Ng'oina Estate - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --24 Flora of Upland Kenya ------------------------25 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -25 Annual General Meeting -----------------------25 Functions--- - - --26 Library Notice - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----26 Some Recent Periodic Literature avai table in the Library ------ 27 Editorial Notice - -------------------------28 New Members - ----------------------------28 Photographic Exhibition -----------------------28 BATS COLLECTED AT LAKE . RUDOLF While studying bird migration at Lake Rudolf in March 1972 (Fry, Britton, & Horne, in press) Dr C.H. Fry and Mrs J . Horne netted several bats which were sent to me. The names of these are listed below, with notes kindly provided by the collectors. Only one of these species, Nyateris hispida, is recorded as having been collected at Lake Rudolf by Harri son (1960): two of the species, Cardioderma COT and Idyot'Cceius iScoteinus) sckl-ieffend are recorded by the same author from Lodwar. All but two of the Megade rmat i ds have been deposited in the British Museum (Natural History) and were identified by Mr J.E. Hill. The specimens of Lavic frans and Cardioderma cot are catalogued in the University of Dar es Salaam Vertebrate Collection as numbers M-146 and M-147, respectively. Fami ly NYCTERIDAE: The hairy Slit-faced Baf NyctCTis hispida. One on Ceritral Island, 30th March 1972 in Salvadova thickets on the edge of Lake A; another at Ferguson's Gulf, March 1972 in Acacia thicket. Fami ly MEGADERMAT I DAE : The Heart-nosed Big-eared Bat Cardioderma cor. One specimen taken at Ferguson's Gulf, March 1972 in an Acacia thicket. The Yellow-winged Bat Lavia fTons. One specimen taken at Ferguson's Gulf, March 1972 in an Acacia thicket. Fami ly VERSPERT I LI ON I DAE : The Banana Bat TipistTcllus nanus,. Two specimens, one at Ferguson's Gulf on 19th March 1972 in dense Acacia thicket; the other at Kalakol, March 1972 in Acacia-SaVoadova scrub. Schlieffen's Bat Nycticeius iScoteinus) schlieffeni. One specimen taken at Ferguson's Gulf, March 1972 in Acacia th i cket . K.M. Howe I I , Dept, of Zoology, Box 35064, University or Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. REFERENCES: Fry, C.H., Britton, P.L. & Horne, J.F.M. (in press). Lake Rudolf and and the Palaearctic exodus from East Africa, Ibis. Harrison, D. L. I960. A Check-list of the Bats (Ch i roptera) of Kenya Colony. Jt Eo Africa nat. Hist. Soc. 23:286-295. Rosevear, D. 1965. The Bats of West Africa. British Museum (Natural Hi story) ' London . 14 A NOTE ON THE PINTAIL WHYDAH VIDUA MACROURA During early November 1973, our bird-table at Karen attracted many birds, often over 100 Mannikins Lonchuva cucullata and others but also Pintails in all stages of plumage, adult males in female-like part breeding dress to full breeding plumage. Young birds were also in the parties. Grain "Mwele*’’ Rennesetum typhoides is placed on the table around lunch time so that we can watch the birds while having our m.id-day meal. It soon became obvious to us that there was a pecking order among the pintails wi fh a dominant male in full breeding plumage. He was a real nuisance, repeatedly diving amongst and upsetting all the birds. He attacked his kind and others i ndi scri mi nate I y , seemingly for the ’fun of it’ for he did little feeding. He attacked by diving down from his vantage point, the highest culm point of a bamboo. He drove off any bird that settled on this topmost culm, it was his territory not to be usurped by any other bird. \ (0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held in the National Museum Hall on Nth March . 1974 at 5.15 p.m. Nominations for Office Beares and Members of Committee and notices of matters to be included in the Agenda should be sent to the Secretary, Box 4486, Nairobi before 15th February 1974. As the Secretary, Miss Jean Ossent is relinquishing the post, nominations are requested for this position which carries a small honorarium. Someone with secretarial experience would be desi rab I e a Ithough enterprise and ingen- uity are also desirable attributes, as this is by no means a routine job. Any member able and willing to volunteer is urged to get in touch with Mr J.S. Karmal i , Box 42202, Nairobi, Tel. 46270 (mornings only) or with the Secretary, FUNCTIONS Febi'uary 8th - 9th/IQth 1974: Weekend camp at Nandi Hills. Please see Jan. Buttatin, Monday, Nth February 1974 at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall: Mr John Hopcraft will give a lecture on Baharini Wi I d 1 i fe Sanctuary, Nakuru and wi 1 I show a fi Im on the t i rd I i fe at Nakuru. Mcnriay, Nth March 1974 at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall: Annual Ce;neral Meeting fol lowed by a fi Im by Alan Root. MB. It is requested that members arri ve before lectures start, as it is most disturbing for lecturers and audience to be interrupted by late comers. Young children who are likely to get restless during serious lectures should not be brought. Complaints of disturbance have been received from members . LIBRARY NOTICE Several books, and periodicals are missing from the Library, having been taken out and not signed for. Those listed below are a few of them; a complete check would doubtless reveal more. The Librarian would like to appeal to anyone who knows anything about any of them to let her know, and a I sc to appea.l to borrower to s-gn for anything they take and to return anything that they have at. present which they took without signing for it. Even i f they have every intention of returning it, much time and worry would be saved by giving a signature. Annals of the South African Museum, bound Vols. Nos . 52 ,54 ,56 , Vol57, No. 5. (The loss of these bound volumes is especially serious. We have the complete set from Vo 1.3, 1905. Journal of Ecology (Given by Dr Greenway) Vo 1 58, No. I . or Nazural History (New York) 1972, practicaily the whole volume has disappeared, only three issues being left out of ten. 1973, Nos. I 7 2. (! have written to New York and find that none of the missing issues is replaceable). Oryx Vol.ll, No. 6 (the last issue but one). SOME RECENT PERIODIC LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE L I BRAiRY Akester, A.R. , Pomeroy D.E. & Purton, M.D. 1973. Subeu+aneous air pouches in the Marabou Strrk Leptoptilos orurrteniferus. J, Zool 170:493. brc’Wn, L.H. , Powe I I -Cotton , D. & Hopcraft, J.B.D. 1973. The breeding of the Gr eater Flamingo and Great White Pelican in East Africa. Ibis 115:353. Campbell, H.W. 1973. Observations on the acoustic behaviour of Crocodi I i ans. Zoologica /l/.J, 58:1. Cox, N. & Young, J.O. 1973. A new species of Hydra (Coe lente rata) from Kenya. J. Zool. 170:441. Dupin, F. de S. Heterop teres Hydrocorises de I^Afrique orientate. Monit. Zool. Ital. Supp 1,5, No. I : I Ja.rvis, J.M. 1973. The structure of a population of Mole-rats Taohyoryctes splendens (Rcdentia: Rh i zomy i dae ) . J. Zool. 171:1. Kaszab, Z. 1973. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Meloiden (Col.) aus Ostafrika. Monit, Zool, Ital, Supp I, 5, No. 5:43. Keck, D. Die Gattung Hemimerus Walker (Insecta: Dermapt. ) ihr Wirt Crioetomys gambienus Waterhouse (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Ostafrika. Senckenbergiana biol. 54:1. 1973. Manton, S.M, 1973. Arthropod phytogeny - a modern synthesis. J. Zool 117:111. Mc-rrett, N.R. 1973. A new shark of the genus squalus (squalidae: Squeloidea) from the equatorial western Indian ocean; with notes on Squalus blaiyivillei, J, Zool, 171:93. Moriarty, C.M. & Moriarty, D.J.W. 1973. Quantitive estimation of the daily ingestion of Phytoplankton by Tilapia nilotica Haplochromis nigripinnis in Lake (feorge, Uganda. J. Zool, 171:15. Mute re, F.A. 1973. A comparative study of reproduction in two populations of the insectivorous fat Otomops martiensseni , at latitudes 1.5’S. and 2.30’ S. J. Zool. 171:79. Okia, N.O. 1973. The breeding pattern of the Soft-furred Rat Praomys morio. in an evergreen forest in Southern Uganda. J, Zool. 170:501. 27 NOTICE It is very much regretted that this issue of the Bulletin has had to be- printed on yellow paper; this Is because no white duplicating paper is available In Kenya at present. NEW MEMBERS - FEBRUARY 1974 Fu I I members : Mr Motokazu Ando,' Box 40469, Nairobi. Mr John D. Bell, Box 14385, Nairobi. Mrs L.M. Berger, Box 29147, Nairobi, Mr I. Doug I as-Hami Iton , Box 38, Naivasha, Kenya. Miss Sylvia J. Dupre, Box 4812 1, Nairobi. Mrs V. Ha I pin. Box 30465, Nairobi. Mr W.J.E. lnr>r:^' Box 1020, Kianyaga, Kenya. Miss C. von Kaickstein, Box 45895, Nairobi. Miss Deborah Libby, 86 Bluff Avenue, Rowayton, Conn. 06853, U.S.A. Mrs B.B. Maloba, Box 30197, Nairobi. Dr Derek E. Pomeroy, Dept, of Biol. Sciences, Kenyatta Un i vers ity College, Box 43844, Nairobi. Miss Patricia Temple, Box 1492 1, Nairobi. Tsavo Research Project, Tsavo East National Perk, Box 14, Voi. Wing Commander J.A. Worrall, Box 30465, Nairobi., Dr & Mrs D.A. Wykoff, Box 30137, Nairobi. Li fe member: Mr Andre J.H. Moureau, Box 209, Kigali, Rwanda. J un i or members : ■ Jane Buckley, Box 48629 , Nai rob i . ■ Matt Vaughan, Bushwhackers, P.O. Kibwezi. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION There will be an exhibition of colour photographs of birds, taken by our Chairman, John Karmali; in the New Stanley Art Gallery, Nairobi from 1st. February. The exhibition is expected to last for a few weeks. 28 E A N H S 7 BULLETIN A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings. NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN MARCH 1974 CONTENTS A probable Sandwich Tern on the Kenya coast ------------- 30 Sandwich Tern on the Kenya ccasf' - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- A second Porr.arine Skua on the Kenya coast - -- -- -- -- -- -- -31 Skuas at Lake Rudolf ------------------------31 Further records of the Broad-billed Sandpiper from Lake Rudolf - - - 33 Lake Rudolf Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Correction - -- -- -- -- - Birds recorded on the Kimiiili Track, Mt. Elgon, Kenya - postcript - 34 Exploitation of a food supply in a feeding association of Whydahs - - 35 First record of the Dwarf Slit-faced Bat Nyeteris nana in Tanzania - 36 Nest Record Scheme - -- -- -- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 37 Ri nging News ------------------------ ----- 38 Expedition to Chemomi Estate, Nandi Hills, Kenya --------- --39 Reviews ------------------------------- 4G Exhibition of Bird Photographs by John Karmali -----------41 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 42 Society Functions-------------- - - 44 Some recent Periodic Literature available in the Library ------ 45 New Members - -- -- -- -- -- -- ----------------45 A PROBABLE SANDWICH TERN ON THE KENYA COAST On 23rd and 24th April, 1973 at Jadini, south Kenya coast, I saw a bird which had the appearance of a normal Sandwich Tern Stevna sccndvicensis in non-breeding plumage. On each occasion it flew along just off shore in the late afternoon, when the tide was fairly well in, to perch on a pole stuck up in the water about 40 - 50 m out. The forehead was white and there was black on the hind crown and around the back of the head. The bi I I was long and strong ' looki ng and was distinctly black with a pale tip. It was this feature which drew my attention to the bird since it contrasted markedly with the Lesser Crested Terns S. bengatensis which I had seen frequently there. The bird seemed shy, for when I tried to get closer to it, it flew off. It also appeared to be solitary. I am familiar wi th -Sandwi ch Terns, having watched here in Devon at Daw I i sh Warren for many years as well as elsewhere, and I have no doubt at all that the bird I saw at Jadini was of this species. However, since learn- ing that there is no previous record of the Sandwich Tern in Kenya I realise that there may not be enough detail in the description above to allow this record as the first for Kenya. I would add however, that even had I been fully aware of the species’ rarity in Kenya, I could not have added anything much to my description without having a telescope at hand. Graham Madge, Fi rway End, George Hill, Creditor, Devon, EX 1 7 2DS E n g I an d . SANDWICH TERN ON THE KENYA COAST The Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis is a common migrant in southern Africa, regularly east to Natal; however, the two birds seen by Harvey ■.l.Y.CB' Bull. 1972:137) at Dar es Salaam in June 1972 and the record of Madge (above) sourh of Mombasa in April 1973 represent the only published records from East Africa. Whi le observing a resting flock of Lesser Crested Terns S’, bengalensis and other larids at the mouth of the Sabaki River, near Malindi, on 22nd December 1973, 1 noticed an adult Sandwich Tern in non-breeding dress. I was able to observe it at rest for 15 minutes at rarvges down to about 18m. "’’here was no sign of i t on two subsequent visits. In size, shape and stance the Sandwich Tern was i ndi sti ngui shab Ic from the Lesser Crested Terns alonside. All were facing into the north-east monsoon so that neither species showed any ’crest’. The Sandwich Tern differed in being a pale silvery grey above, very much paler than the Lesser Crested Terns , an d probab ly still paler than the Gul l-bi I led Terns S', ni-lotica seen a few minutes earlier. The bill was long, black and rather slender, with an i V'_ ry or cream tip. Both at rest and in flight. the primaries and the tips of the innermost secondaries appeared darker, more 30 grey than the remainder of the upperpatrs. The black on the nape extended forward to beyond the eye, but was flecked white on the crown; forehead and forecrown were pure white like i'he underparts. Legs and feet wer'e black. These few ' s i ght i ngs in Kenya and Tenzan i a ( Harvey op, cit,) represent the only records of the Sandwich Tern cn the east coast o-f Africa north of southern Mozambique. Peter L. Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. A SECOND POMARIME SKUA ON THE KENYA COAST On 9th January 1974 I saw an immature Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomavinus near Likoni Ferry, Momtasa, flying low over the water into a small party of Hemprich’s Gulls Lavus hempvi-chii , which it dispersed. It then soared rapid- ly upwards to such a height that it was no longer distinguishable as a skua, and then moved off southwards maintaining this altitude. This is the second record for East Africa, the first being that reported by P.-S, H. Britton 1974 (Pomarine Skua on the Kenya coast. FJANHS Bull, 1974:4-5.). The following notes I think suffice to eliminate the other species of skua, yes. Great Skua S, skua, Arctic Skua S. parasiticus and Long-tai led Skua S. longicaudus. Larger than Sooty Gull, and perhaps almost as large as Lesser Black-backed Gull, L. fuseus, V)ings pointed and narrow,, 'Jizz' of Arctic or Long-tailed Skua, but without the light, bouncy flight of the latter. (The Great Skua is a mass i ve- looking bird with rounded wings.) General colour dark brown, darker on head' and mantle. Rump palish, ba*~red dark. Tail dark and wedge-shaped with no sign of elongation of the central feathers. Underparts paler with pronounced barring on breast and flanks. IVhite flashes in otherwise all dark wings were not large and pronounced as in Great Skua, but could be seen with- out di ff i culty . Clive F. Mann, Box 337, Kapsabet, Kenya. SKUAS AT LAKE RUDOLF During late September and early October 1973 at least two immature skuas were present in the vicinity of Ferguson's Gulf, Lake Rudolf. The first sighting was on 24th September when a dark brown skua, intermediate in size between a Grey-headed Gull Lotus cirrocephalus and a Lesser Black-backed Gull 31 L. fuscus was seen briefly from R.V. HALCYON, about I km off Ferguson’s spit, at rest on the water. At the approach of the ship the bird flew off in a south-easterly direction and was soon lost to view among the vast flocks of terns and gulls circling over the sand bars. The same bird was seen on several occasions up to the second week in October but it was only on the afternoon of 29th September that we were able to observe it at close quarters from the beach on the open shore to the east of the Lake Rudolf Angling Lodge . Colour, mainly dark tobacco brown; a c I ear I y-marked white stripe on the underside of the wing at the base of the primaries and whitish shading along upper ribs of primaries; two thin transverse bars (dark brown on a pale ground) on rump; under wings with clear but rather heavy barring of dark brown on a paler ground. Underparts plain darkish tobacco brown, shading to paler towards the rear, under-tail coverts pale brown with heavy bars of dark brown; bill and feet dark. Tail wedge-shaped with very small central prot- uberance; bill rather on the slender side. The bi rd flew back and forth patrolling the shore and harrassing terns, particularly Caspian Terns Sterna caspia and during the intervals between sallies it rested briefly either on sand or on the lake just off the shore. A second individual was seen flying over the shore stretch of road between the vi I I age of Kalokol and the west shore of Ferguson’s Gulf, on the morning of 29th September. The entire head and throat were dark blackish-brown; underparts conspicuously white; upper wings all dark, underside of wings dark with clear white stripe at base of primaries; tail wedge-shaped with slight central protuberance . This bird was similar in size and build to the one seen near the Angling Lodge. Immature skuas are difficult to identify in the field, but from their sizG it seems likely that the two birds seen by us were either Long-tai led Skuas Stereorarius longicaudus or Arctic Skuas S, parasiticus. A.D. Forbes- Watson observed a Long-tailed Skua at Ferguson’s Gulf on 25th-26th August 1961 (Backhurst et al. 1973). Patricia Robertson, Lake Rudolf Angling Lodge, Ferguson ’s Gulf. Jane & Tony Hopson, Lake Rudolf Fisheries Research Project, Fisheries Department, Ferguson’s Gulf, Private Mail Bag, Kitale. REFERENCE: Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less common palaearctic mugrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Eat. htu.s. FURTHER RECORDS OF THE BROAD - BILLED SANDPIPER LIMICOLA FALCINELLUS FROM LAKE RUDOLF The occurrence of Broad-bi I led Sandpipers Limicola faloinellus at Ferguson's Gulf, Lake Rudolf, has been noted in two previous communications (Hopson & Hopson 1972, 1973). Up to nine individuals were seen on various dates between 8th September and 15th October 1972. More were seen during August to November 1973 and it appears that this species may be a regular visitor to this area on autumn passage in small numbers. The records are as follows: I9th August, one (summer plumage); 26th August, two (one summer, the other with pale grey winter plumage streaked with dark and with a dark patch on the carpal joint); 2nd September, three (one summer, two winter); 9th September, six (all summer); 30th eptember, one (summer); 9th October, one (transitiona Nth November, one (transitional). Jane & Tony Hcpson, Lake Rudolf Fisheries Research Project, Fisheries Department, Ferguson's Gulf, Private Mail Bag, Kitale. REFERENCES: Hopson, J. & Hopson, T. 1972 Broad-billed Sandpiper at Lake Rudolf, E Aims Bull. 1972:170-171. Hopson, T. & Hopson, J. 1973 More Broad-billed Sandpipers at Lake Rudolf. EANHS Bull. 1973:52. LAKE RUDOLF BUFF - BREASTED SANDPIPER - CORRECTION There was an omission in the description of the Tryngites subrufiaollis note which appeared in last month's issue iEAimS Bull. 1974:17). The third paragraph, sixth and seventh sentence should read as follows: Wings and upperparts brown, with each feaiher clearly outlined .in .light warm buff, giving a scaly effect simi lar to the upperparts of a Ruff. Crown and nape buff, finely streaked with brown;. Editor. 33 BIRDS RECORDED ON THE KIMILILI TRACK, MT. ELGON KENYA A POSTCRIPT The following notes add materially to the data on four species discussed in our recent paper on Mt. Elgon birds (Britton & Sugg 1973). Macronyx sharpei Sharpe's Longclaw : two specimens which we collected at 3400 m represent the only records from the mountain. We know of two further sightings; at about 3200 m on the Endebess track on 26th March 1972 by P.L.B. & C.F. Mann, and close to our collecting locality on 9th June 1972 by John Gerhart iin litt.) . It is surprising that it has been overlooked for so long. Cisticola huntevi and C. chubhi : data presented In our paper show that these are specifically distinct members of a superspecies. W'e noted that it would be interesting to show the i r respect i ve songs on sono- grams. Dr N.J. Skinner has since written to inform us that sonograms of the duets of both species are given in a recent monograph by Thorpe (1972). We have not seen the monograph, but Dr Skinner has kindly traced one example of each duet for us. As we predicted, the sonograms are very different, as are the songs themselves. Nectarirria reichenowi Golden-winged Sunbi rd ; a recent ringing recovery in Backhurst (1973) provides the first def i n i te, evi dence of altitudinal movements by this species. A male ringed near Nairobi at 1600 m was recovered some three months later at South Kinangop, 65 km away at 2530 m. Circumstantial evidence of altitudinal movements in western Kenya is given In our paper, but only ringing can provide irrefutable evi dence . Backhurst, G.C. 1973 East African ringing report 1971 - 1972. Jt E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mus. 144. Britton, P.L. & Sugg, M, St.J. 1973 Birds recorded on the Kimilili track, Mt. Elgon, Kenya. JZ E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mus. 143. Thorpe, W.H. 1972 Duett ing and antiphona! song In birds: its extent and significance. Behaviour Sup pi. 18. P.L. Britton Box 90163 Mombasa, Kenya M. St.J . Sugg, 5 The Limes, Hitchin, Herts SG5 2 AY Eng I and REFERENCES: 34 EXPLOITATION OF A FOOD SOURCE IN A FEEDING ASSOCIATION OF WHYDAHS , VIDUINES The method by which Viduines search for food is by scratching about in the soi I with either a rapid movement of one leg, in the manner of a domestic fowl, or rapid shuffling of both feet alternately then picking up the items so exposed- The purpose of this particular technique was brought to our attention when Ken Perry, a visiting ornithologist from Ireland and the writer were watching a mixed flock of whydahs feeding at a point along the Magadi road, Kenya. On 14th Apri I 1972, at 16.00 hrs. we rounded a bend in the road and dist- urbed a flock of Viduines which settled in trees and shrubs nearby, so we stopped and reversed to where the birds had been gathered. The birds returned quickly and congregated in a small area of a few square metres, amongst very dry clumps of the grass Pennisetum mezianum and sprawling Cynodon pleatostachyum, neither of which carried seed heads. The birds were so engrossed in scratching and feeding that very close approach was possible. We estimated over 100 male whydahs, in full plumage in the flock, feeding amicably, as we did not see any sign of agressive behaviour. The estimate was roughly 40^ Pin-tail Whydah Vidua macroura, 40^ Steel-blue Whydah V, hypocherina and 20% of the Straw-tai led Whydah V. fisch- eri which were accompanied by many, if not greater numbers of females. Similarity of female plumage made it difficult in the busy throng to dist- inguish the species wel I enough, despite bi I I colours or to estimate the numbers of each. After watching and counting the birds, we disturbed this mixed flock, to try to ascertain what food they were taking but here we fai led to find any obvious grain or insects, even by scratching in the grey dust. The writer, however, when passing this same spot in July, found a dense growth of a sedge Cyperus sp. of which there was no sign in Apri I (the months prior to April had been extremely dry). I believe it is now possible to suggest that the Viduines were seeking and finding the tiny hard nuts (fruit with one seed) of the sedge, which we could well have overlooked in the dusty soil in April. Whatever it was that these birds were taking was apparently of no interest to other seed-eating species which abound in the locality and more probably, it is postulated, these other species were unable to seek such, since they do not employ the scratching technique to expose seed; thus, this technique enables Viduines to exploit dry season food reserves which are unavailable to other Ploceiids. The supply of the hidden reserves must have been considerable for each bird in this mass appeared to be finding food readily enough. Cyperus sp. nuts are extremely hard and durable and after shedding would probably not be taken by roving ants which would have taken the seeds of the two grass species. The nuts would eventually become trampled and buried by cattle. The mystery remains, how did the birds find the spot in the first place and 35 and know or suspect that so desirable a food supply was available in such quantity as to induce this large mixed flock of Viduines to gather. The basic feeding habit draws a distinction between Vidua spp. and close relatives. The Viduines find food by scratching in soil or short grass and seeking any seed so turned up. The Indigo-birds Hypochera spp. and the Paradise Whydahs Steganeura spp. are also, to a limited extent, soil scratchers but seed is never in m,y experience taken by these directly from grass heads, sedges or plants, as do Wxbi Ms Estrilda spp., Amari.dava or Lonchuva spp. Granatina, the Grenadier to a limited extent feeds on the heads of certain grass species, but the Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus spp. and the Fire Finches, Laganosticta spp. seldom if ever feed in such a manner and are ground feeders picking up exposed food stuffs without scratching. (I use the preferred older generic names as there are so many habit and biological differences amongst these small Ploceiids.) G.R. Gunningham - van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. FIRST RECORD OF THE DWARF SLIT - FACED BAT NYCTERIS NANA IN TANZANIA The Dwarf S I i t-f aced Bat Nycteris nana Andersen, is distributed in the forest zone of Africa from Ghana to Cameroun to southern and eastern Zaire; it is also found in south-western Sudan, western Kenya, and north-eastern Angola (Hayman & Hill, 1971). A specimen collected in Gombe National Park (4.30'S., 29.40'E., altitude 780 m) appears to be the first record of the species in Tanzania. The specimen, a female which was collected on 12th December 1970 when it flew into a lighted room, had the following measurements (in millimetres): forearm 35.1; total length 86; tai ! 40; ear 23; length of hind foot (c.u.) 9; tragus 3. The bui Iding where the bat was taken is in an area of mixed deciduous woodland near gallery forest. The bat carried two ectoparas i 1 1 c Eoctenes nycteridis (Hovarth) (Hemiptera, Pc I ycten i dae ) . We gratefully acknowledge the help of J.E. Hill and A.M. Hutson, both of the British Museum (Natural History) who identified the bat and the ecto- parasites respectively. The bat has been catalogued in the British Museum as BM 1973. 1 14. K.M. Howell, Department of Zoology, University of Dar es Salaam, Box 35064,, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Ri chard Wrangham, Gombe Stream Research Centre, Bex 185, Kigoma, Tanzania. 36 NEST RECORD SCHEME Firstly I would like to remind all contributors to send in their records for 1973 as soon as possible. With regard to Leslie Brown’s article in last month’s Bulletin, I would like to mention that this is not the first occasion that the data in our scheme have i-'een used by an ornithologist or other research worker. As early as 1970 I started receiving requests for information. In all cases 1 have replied giving the data available from cards sent in by contri butors. However, in some cases I am aware that the data I was able to supply were too scant to be of much help. But in other cases our contribution has added significantly to the work of the researcher. Below is a list of persons who have contacted me in connection with the Nest Record Scheme: W.G. Swank A.M. Morgan-Davi es N . J . Ski nner G.R. Gunningham - van Someren G . Smeen k P. Mundy _ _ D. Jackson R.K. Brooke C.F. Mann E. K. Urban G.R.S. Pitman _ n _ P.L. Britton P.L. Britton & L.H. Brown Game b i rds Red-headed Parrot PoioeipkaluB gulielmi Grey-headed Kingfisher Ho.lcyon leucooephala Paras i ti c b i rds Bi rds of Prey Anteater Ghat Myrmeooaichla aetiops Oxpeckers Buphagus spp. Nightjars, Gap ri mu I gi dae Swifts, Apod i dae Kakamega Forest birds and Guckoos Sacred Ibis Threskiomis aethiopica Winding Gisticola Cistioola galactotes Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus Ye I I ow-ventod Bulbul Pyanenotus harbatus and Nyanza birds Terns and Gulls Lari dae Also in Brown’s note he states ”a fairly high proportion of the cards are so vague as to be meaningless”. I think this comment is a little unfair as although they cannot be used for his analyses they could be of some value. For example, a record consisting of a date, locality, nest site and a comment such as "bird apparently incubating” or "large feathered young able to fly but dependant on parents”, could be of use to someone studying the birds of that particular area or the nest site of that particular species, even though it is not possible to determine the laying date. Lastly I would like to thank those members who send in cards regularly, whether their contribution is 5 or 100 per year. Last year I received between 800 and 1000 cards, but this figure is only a tiny fraction of what we could achieve. The Zambian Orn 1 tho I ogi ca I Society has recently started a Nest Record Scheme. From their Newsletter it is obvious that In proportion to the number of ornithologists, b i rd-watchers and naturalists in Zambia they are putting in more effort than we in East Africa. Perhaps this is because they are a smaller number of people and are actively and personally 57 encouraged by the leading ornithologists. The most common excuse I am given for not filling in cards is 'but I am so busy, I just haven't got the time'. This is not really valid as some of the regular contributors are, in fact, some of the most industrious and busy members of our Society, In some cases I am embarrassed to ask members to fi I I in cards because they have to pay for them. However, the Zambian cards are more than double the price of our cards so this surely is not the reason. Can straddling the Equator cause such tropical lethargy? I am an incurable optimist and hope that this note will prompt some of those members who have promised to f i I I in cards to actually get down to it during 1974. Hazel Britton, Sh i mo- I a-Tewa School, Box 90163, Mombasa. RINGING NEWS In the January issue {BANES Butt. 1974:11) 1 proposed that the next ring- ing report should only list Palaearctic species ringed, in the interests of economy; I asked ringers (and others) to write in with their views, but so far there has been very little response although one letter has been received and is included elsewhere in the present issue. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR VIEWS FOR AIRING IN THE NEXT BULLETIN. In the next few days I will be sending co-ordinate forms to all ringers. Bob Spencer, the British Ringing Officer, has kindly given me a supply of these forms for our use in East Africa. I will be sending two forms to each ringer; please enter all your ringing localities (past and present) with their latitude and longitude co-ordi nates . Please enter the D i st r i ct under the "County" column. Send one copy to me and keep the duplicate for yourself, I shal I include a S.A.E. so please return the forms promptly. Thank you. Finally, a request: over the years I have built up a substantial collect- ion of ticks (Arachnida, Acarina, Ixodidae) from Kenya birds. In addition to my own material, valuable collections have been received from Peter Britton and John Harper. Ticks on birds are usually immature forms and should be kept alive; the most important point is to send the tick(s) off to me as soon as possible. Collecting tubes are bulky and fragile so ticks can be sent in crumpled tissue (e.g. toilet paper) in small boxes (e.g. match box, pill box etc.). When received they will either be put in an incubator to moult into adult ticks or, if the immatures are unengorged, they will be fed on a suitable host. The immature stages of many ticks are unknown accord- ing to the literature although 1 have accumulated a fair amount of ’ inform- ation on some of these species which is awaiting publication. Any ticks received will be acknowledged as will the collectors' name in all publications but, at present, I can only deal with ticks col lected from birds in Kenya. Graeme Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi. 38 EXPEDITION TO CHEMOMI ESTATE, NANDI HILLS, KENYA 8th - 1 0th FEBRUARY 1974 About 25 members and their children and guests took part In this expedition. The road was long, but tarmac all the way except for the last few mi les which were on good estate roads, and people did the journey 1 n about five hours running time. At ChemomI we occupied a delightful camp site beside the house of our host Mr Duncan Cape. The nights were cold at 1920 m but the weather was fine for the whole time of our stay. The special interest of the expedition was that wc had with us Mr Clive Mann, who put up nets in the forest and brought up by bagfuMs birds that many of us never knew existed and were new to the lists of even the oldest among us. Members using due precautions could visit the nets, but the less energetic had only to sit on Mr Cape’s verandah and watch the latest catch being ringed and measured before it was returned to its place and the next catch was brought up. In this way we were able to see at close quarters Cameroon Sombre Greebul Andropadus curvirostids , \e(^ Crested Fly- catcher Troohoaercus albonotatus , B I ack-th roated Wattle-eye Platisteira peltata, two species of Robin Chat Cossypha polioptera and ayanocampt&v and many others. it was interesting that the Blackcap Sylvia atviaapilla was frequently caught, and were the only Palaearctic migrants found in the middle of the forest. At restless moments we could explore other parts of the for'est for our- selves or potter about the garden and try to work out the difference between Eastern and Northern Doub I e-co I I ared Sunbird Nectarinia mediocris and N. preussi. A visit to a nearby dam gave an added feast of beauty. At a time when we are sad about the destruction of forests, these tea estates recur again and again to mind. i write as one totally ignorant of the principles involved; but no one can say that these estates have not been fully developed to the benefit of the whole economy. How is it then, that wo can still lie in bed and listen to the cry of the Colobus and in the morning watch the eagles fly over? Why have these lines of forest been left alone along the valleys? Is it because the experts who supervised the clearing were interested In the difference between the Mountain and Scaly-breasted IMadopsis, or thrilled by the possibility of seeing a Green Hylia? Or was it because they wished to prevent soi I erosion on the steep va 1 ley sides and preserve the water supply? In some of the Mt. Kenya and Aberdare forests the same policy seems to have been followed. Round these stations at Ragati and Kamakie there .are mi les of softwood plantations, but we were able to indulge our taste for watching Mountain Yellow Warblers Chloropeta similis in the rest-house hedge and listen to the lovely song of the Abyssinian Hi I I -babb I er /IZc-zippe ahyssin- icus as it answered the tape-recording. Yet in the west the stream beds are choked with si It and rubbish (no doubt to be further polluted by the effluent from the paper mi II ) and I have seen Colobus sitting on the ground by the side of the road with not a tree standing behind them. The progress of the country cannot be held up for them, but might there not perhaps be still a place for them if modern principles of land use were followed? P.M. Allen, Box 44486, Nairobi. 39 REVIEWS ARMY ANTS by T.C. Schneirla edited by Howard R. Topoff, W.H. Freeman & Co. San Francisco 197! pp.349. THE INSECT SOCIETIES by Edward 0. Wilson, The Belknap Press of Harvard University, Massachusetts 1971 pp.548. A CATALOGUE AND RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ETHIOPIAN ! CHNEUNON i DAE by Henry and Marjory Townes, Memol rs of the American Entomological Institute No. 19.1973 Photo I i thop ri nted , Braun-Brumf ie I d, Michigan pp.4l6. These three books recently received are of considerable interest and are aval table on loan to members on request from me. If they are not aval I able in the Library. Schneirla’s ARMY ANTS is an extremely readable account of the biology and sociology of these ants and the work Is the result of many years of study in the field, mostly on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and In the laboratory from 1932 until his death in 1968. Dr Topoff, one of Dr Schnelrla’s students has admirably edited the manuscripi and seen it through the press. There is a wealth of information on the life and habits of the two major genera Eciton and Lahidus and they are compared with other social ants in order to try to understand their behaviour, evolution and comparative psycho- logy. Days and nights were spent following these creatures in the forest, for they are constantly on the move in the nomadic phase with a new bivouac each day, unlike our local Dorylus (annoma) nigricans but like our ’’safari ant” there is a static phase when the colony settles down usually under cover, and when the brood consists of only pupae and eggs. A similar cycle appears with Neivamyrmex and Aeniotus , with the queen in the contracted state and the brood consisting of larvae for a period of some 18 days In the nomadic phase, followed by a similar period with the queen in the physog- astrlc stage and producing eggs. In our local Dorylus all stages of brood are to be found at any one time and there is no cycle of activity. This is a book that the student of insect social behaviour must read for it is full of detailed information on the evolution of the species and Inter- actions between environment and genetic influences. In INSECT SOCIETIES Dr Wilson provides the student with a great deal of fact concerning the biology of social insects, bees, wasps, hornets, ants and termites. Their social order, castes, inter-relationships, food, behaviour and even their predators, parasites, commensals, inqui lines and other symbionts. The book Is profusely illustrated with beautifully exec- uted line drawings. Chapters are arranged firstly by insect groups followed by behaviour, food exchange, alarm and assembly, recruitment, recognition, grooming and the last chapters concern Homeostasis and the Superorgan i sm, the genetic theory of social behaviour with Compromise and Optimization in social evolution. There are several references to the work by Schneirla and 44 pages of references. 40 Over the past two years 1 have collected i chneumon i ds and sent off over 600 to Professor and Mrs Townes, who are acknowledged specialists in this group of Hymencptera, which are of world wide distribution and are important in biological control as they are parasitic. Prof. Townes’ catalogue and reclassification is a must for all entomolog- ists working on this group and of course essential to any curator of museum collections, for this work brings order out of chaos. it is surprising that only 198 known host species are listed for a known 1815 species of i chneumon i d-f ly , which goes to show how little we know of the biology of this group in the Ethiopian Region. A key is provided to the genera of the Ethiopian Region which is defined as Africa south of the Sahara plus Arabia, Madagascar and certain islands. There are 331 genera of which 163 have representatives in our faunal area, the Community. I have analysed these and find that Kenya has 90 genera and 187 species, Uganda 72 genera and 141 species while Tanzania is rich with MO genera and 187 species; however, these do not compare with Madagascar with 468 species. Zaire is also rich. This suggests that much more collecting is requi red before we know how rich our fauna real ly is, for as Prof. Townes writes "perhaps 15^ of those that actually exist in the area are known". He suggests therefore a staggering potential of some 11,980 species in the Ethiopian RegionI It would be an interesting exercise to study the zoogeography of these insects based on this catalogue as I noted that several species are recorded from Kenya and Madagascar or Tanzania and the islands, which raises the subject of affinities. This revision and reclassification will require many amendments to the published literature, particularly to Le Re I ley (1959) Agricultural insects of East Africa. In this work all names except two require to be changed, I have amended my copy, and have a list available should anyone wish to borrow it. G.R. Cunningham - van Someren, Box 24947, Karen. EXHIBITION OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN KARMA LI We are accustomed to getting a great deal of enjoyment from our Chairman’s photographs, so it has been a real treat to have some of those of which he must be specially proud displayed in an exhibition in the New Stanley Art Gallery. I have visited it myself four times. I am, of course, quite un- able to judge the pictures from a technical point of view. I am sure that each one must have needed immense ski II and patience; I can see that the colours have come out better in some than in others. The photograph has not done justice to the deep chestnut and slate blue of the Goliath Heron. The "Grey Heron" is...? Well...? It is a good photograph anyway! Perhaps Herons are not very photogenic, with their exaggerated length of bill and leg and conspicuous lack of space in which a brain might lodge. Ducks on the other hand are very photogenic, and the studies of Fulvous and White- faced Tree Ducks are specially charming. I hope I get the one that is being raffled in aid of Gertrude’s Garden Hospital. Pictures, whether photographs, drawings or paintings, must of course be judged differently according to the purpose that the artist has in mind. For illustrations in a book to help identify birds it is necessary above everything to be clear and to emphasise the points that an observer must look for. In a picture to live with something else is required, some fortunate moment of i 1 ght or position bringing out the subject's special character, or forming a pattern, a composition as it would be called if the artist had made it himself. But for this, the photographer must wait with ever open eyes. All the birds photographed are magnificently alive; I think specially of the stout, aggressi ve- looking Holub’s Weaver, the Streaky Seed-eater with its strong toes grasping a Protea, and the nervous highly-strung Yellow-necked Francolin on its log. Turning to those forming a picture that one could live with, I think my favourite is the pair of Speckled Pigeons reflected in a pool. The front one has its eyes shut, as if the ecstasy of the draught blotted out all other senses. The one behind has its eyes open, watching. Next best I liked the Golden Weaver in dark reeds, the light catching the upper part of its body and its foot. But it is very difficult to choose. As a present for someone in England I ended up with the Nai vasha Cormorant. (Copies are for sale). P.M.A. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR S i r. To the list of sightings of Frigate Birds Fregata sp. off Dar es Salaam I would add the following. Since about the last week in November last year until now, the second week in January, we have seen frequently a solitary Frigate Bird in the area between Oyster Bay and the mouth of Mzimbazi Creek. Sometimes we have seen it four or five days in succession and then there has been a gap of a few days before seeing it again. With two exceptions the time has been somewhere between 4 and 6 p.m. and once at dusk at about 6.30 p.m. The two exceptions were about 7.30 one morning and about noon on another day. We were in the area almost every day driving into or out of Dar es Salaam, a long- the coast road sometime between 4 and 6 p.m. Unfortunately, being on other business, we have seldom had binoculars . with us, but the general appearance of long black sharply angled wings and long forked tail is unmistakable. It was usually flying low enough for the white chest to be clearly seen. On two occasions when we did have binoculars the white was seen to extend a little on either side under each wing and 42 there was a patch of greyish white in the middle of the chest. The under- sides of the wings and belly were a very dark brown going to black at the tail. The bill was yellowish white, long, straight and sharply hooked. It has a long gliding flight with occasional movements of its wings and spreading of its deeply forked tail. On the basis of the brief colour description given by A.D. Forbes-Watson in the Bulletin of April 1972:64 and the description given by W.G. Harvey in the Bulletin of August 1972:140 of his sightings over Dar es Salaam in June 1972 which he tentatively identified as an adult female Great Frigate Bird Fvegata minor 1 would also identify the bird we saw through binoculars tent- atively as an adult female Greater Frigate Bird. The sightings we made with- out binoculars were similar to the bird described above as far as we could tell, but it is not possible to say whether we have been seeing the same bird each time, though this may be likely in view of the frequency of sightings over this short period. Final ly, a point that may be of interest - whi le watching the bird through binoculars, twice it bent its neck and placed its bill under its left wing at the shoulder in an action rather simi iar to that of anting, but not drawing Its bill through the feathers. Each time this took only 2 to 3 seconds, but It had no discernable effect on the bird’s angle of flight and neither the wings nor tal I appeared to move to counteract tha change In the centre of gravity caused by bringing its head and bill under its shoulder. M. C. B. Willi ams , Box 9 182, Dar es Sa I aam. S i r, I read, with concern, the suggestion (EANHS Bull. 1974:11) that the Ringing Report should be pruned to Palaearctic species only and those Ethiopian species which are recovered but rarely. I would consider this move detrimental to the Society's published records since the Report summ- arises the progress of, perhaps, the most important research project the Society supports. The recoveries of Palaearctic species provide great interest, eminently worthy of publication, but we must not forget that the study of the migrat- ory habits of the Ethiopian species within the Afro-Asian region is equally imjortant although results have been astonishingly poor. However, the- latter results must be published so that anyone, anywhere in the future may assess readi ly the numbers of Ethiopian birds ringed, the recovery rate and the geog- raphical movements in order to plan further research op genera! or special topics; the information concerned could be lost, by some calamity (fire?, war?), if not published. It would be interesting to .know the extra cost of I nc I udi ng, the Ethiopian species in the printed report, since the printing costs of the whole Journal may be the real issue. Perhaps an exparided source of income (unpopular sub- scription increase?) is needed, otherwise, step by step, the Journal may be reduced to insignificance. 43 Meanwhi ie, if the Committee of the EANHS considers the Ringing Report too costly to print in toto , I would suggest that it is published as a separate number of the EAIWIS Bulletin, which T believe is a quotable publication; this would have the added advantage in that it could be published within a few months of the end of the ringing year. John Harper, Kericho High School, Box 252 , Keri chp. Dr. BALLY We are delighted to record that the University of Basle has conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Liberal Arts on Mr P.R.O. Bally, for his work on East African Succulents, the drawings as well as the text being specially mentioned. Dr Bally has been connected with our Society for many years, and was elected an Honorary Member in 1943 on the proposal of Si r Charles Belcher. SOCIETY FUNCTIONS Monday, Nth March 1974 at 5.15 p.m. at the National Museum Hall: Annual General Meeting, followed by the fi Im *'Box me a Bongo" by Alan Root. (29th) 30th/5lst March 1974: Weekend Cam.p at Minto Safaris near Naro Moru. The camp wi II be established near the Naro Moru River on the edge of the forest, and visits will be made to the lower Mt. Kenya forest. This locality should offer a good opportunity to study the forest, its wild life and birds. Fishing in the Naro Moru River will be available, if members possess a valid fishing licence. Land rover or similar vehicles will be necessary If members wish to explore the higher altitudes. Campers should be self-contained, but f i re-wood and water is available. There will be a camping fee of sh.3/~ per person. In addition there are three bandas equipped with beds and mattresses for members who may like to come but do not have tents. The charge for these are sh.7/50 per person. The camp site Is situated 8 km from. Naro Moru at an altitude of about 2300 m and will be signposted from Naro Moru. Members should make their own way to the camp site, any time from 29th March onwards. If you intend to take part in th is camp, please fill in the enclosed slip and return it to Mrs A.L, Campbell, Box 14469, Nairobi before 20th March 1974 and a map will be sent. Please do not bring dogs; barbeque , equi pment will be provided for Saturday evening, please bring meat and sausages for your own consumpti on . Saturday, 6th April 1974: Afternoon visit To Mr & Mrs Alan Root on the shore Of Lake Nai vasha. Details next issue. 44 Monday, 8th April 1974: at 5.15 p.rn. in the National Museum Hall Members’ s slide Show. Please bring 35 mm t ransparenci es . Mrs A.L. Campbell will be out of the country from Apri I to September 1974. Please contact the Secretary Box 4486, Nairobi if you have any suggestions for camping trips, day trips or lectures. SOME RECENT PERIODIC LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY Ashford, Bray & Foster 1973. Observations on Trapanecma houeti- (Protozoa) parasitic in the skink Uabuya striata and the sandfly S&rgentomyia bedfordi in Ethiopia. J. ZooZ. 171:285. Boulard, M. 1972. Classification raisonnee des Platypleures africaines (Homoptera Cicadidae). Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat .Paris 3rd series, No. 90. Compagno, L.J..V. 1973 Ctenaais and Gollum, two new genera of sharks (Se I ach i i :Carcharh in i dae>. Proa. California Acad. Sai. Vol. 39:257. Estes, R.D. 1973. Showdown in the Ngorcngcro Crater (Grant’s Gazelle). Natural History ^ New York. Vo 1.82: 70. Fain & El sen 1973 Notes sur les Acariens parasites ou commensaux des miouches Tse-tses. Aata Zool. Path. Ant verp. No. 56:61. Greenwood, P.H. 1973. A revision of the Haploohromis and related species (Pi sees :Ci ch I i dae) from Lake George. Bull. Brit . Mus. Zool. 25 Groom, A.F.G. 1973. Squeezing out the mountain Gorilla. Oryx 12:207. Hoidich & Jones 1973, The systematics and ecology of a new genus of Sand- beach 1 sopod (Sphaeromat i dae ) from Kenya. J.Zool 171:385. Keller, C.M. 1973. Montagu Cave in prehistory: a descriptive analysis. Anthropol. Rea. Unit. California. 28. - ^J1yers, N. 1973. Leopard and Cheetah in Ethiopia. Oryx 12:197. Smith-Vaniz & Staiger 1973. Comparative revision of Baomheroides ^ OligopliteSj Parana and Hypaaanthus with comments on the phylogenitic position of Campograrma (Pisces: Carangidae). Proa. Calif. Aaad. Sai. 39:185. Trewavas, E. 1973. On the Cichlid fishes of the genus Pelmatoahromis. Bull. Brit. khis. Zool. 25, No. I . 45 NEW MEMBERS MARCH. 1974 Full Members: Dr R. Adel helm, Box 47051, Nairobi. Mr Karl G. Andersen, Laboret Sec. School, Box 17, Turbo, Kenya. Mr Eric Baumiann, Box 2 3037,, Nairobi, Mr A.J. Cam, Box 1400, Nairobi. Mrs Phy II i da Cocke I I , Box 30345, Nairobi. Miss Anne R, Cross, Box 30266, Nairobi. Mrs Christine F. Gebbie, Box 47605, Nairobi. Mr & Mrs J.H. Girling, Box 42726, Nairobi. Mrs M.A.H. Harris, Box 30483, Nairobi. Mr W.N. Holsworth, UNESCO, Box 30592, Nairobi. Dr Peter Hoppe., Box 30197, Nairobi. Mr ,M.E. Hopper, Box 30028, Mai robi . Mr Peter G. Mol I, Box 40106, Nairobi. Mr C.R. Mo r rail, Box 301, Naivasha, Kenya Mr E.H. Nightingale, C.Ml.C., Box 100, Naivasha, Kenya Dr John D. Ste.wai~h, Dept, of Med., Box 30588, Nairobi. Miss Irene W, ' Sedgw i ck , Box 40433, Nairobi. Miss P.J. Vickers, Box 15538, Nairobi. Juriior Members: Lisa Lackey, Box 30261, Nairobi. Dilip Lakhani, Box 40140, Nairobi. Davinder Singh Manku, Box 30604, Nairobi. Ted Pottle, Box 42276, Nairobi. ■ Shamir Shah, Box 43579, Nairobi. Jasbinder Singh, Box 30604, Nairobi. Institutional Member: McGill University, 8459 McTavish Square, Montreal 112, Canada H3A lYT. INDEX Tite Index ior EMHS Bulletin 1973 will be published during March, subject to availability of paper. 46 T 3X E A N H S BULLETIN A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN APRIL 1974 CONTENTS Waders at Dar es Salaam - - 43 Great Black-headed Gull at Malindi --------.--------51 Observation on Sandgrouse at Seronera - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 52 Mi see I ianeous notes on the behaviour of Kenya birds --------54 Hornbi I Is and bats 55 Ringing News - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -^2 Review Editorial note - - 53 Letters to the Editor ------------------------59 Request - -- -- -- - - -- ------ - -------------61 Fun ot ions ------- ----------------------61 Help with Functions ------------------------ 62 Advet~ti seirent - -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - ^2 Wanted - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 62 Lib rai~y Notice - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - qJ) New Members .----.------------------------64 THE OCCURRENCE OF WADERS IN THE DAR ES SALAAM AREA OF TANZANIA - PART ONE There is little on record detai ling the occurrence of waders on the East African coast even though large numbers of Palaearctic waders pass through and winter in the area. With the current interest in wader populations and habitats in Europe (see BTO/RSPB Estuary Birds Enquiry and the activities of the BTO Wader Study Group) this gap wi I I need to be fi I led in order to bui Id up a realistic picture of world wader populations and their habitat preferences. Of those species of wader known to occur on the East African coast most are dealt with in the standard reference books (e.g. Williams, Mackworth- Praed & Grant) but the information given is scanty and sometimes misleading. Even Moreau (1972) does not give much'detail on Palaearctic waders in Africa although he draws attention to the gaps in current knowledge and some are filled by Backhurst, Britton & Mann (1973) in their comprehensive survey of less common Palaearctic migrants in Kenya and Tanzania. The only detailed published study is that of Fogden (1963) and that is only concerned with the Kenya coast north of Lamu for two months of one year (196 1). This paper is based on personal observations in the Dar es Salaam area between August 1970 and Novemiber 1973 on wading birds of the families Burhinidae, Charadri i dae , Rostratu I i dae and Scope I aci dae. During this period 370 visits, totalling over 500 hours, were miade to wader habitats and at certain sites regular counts were made. The area concerned includes the coast from Mbegani 76.30’S., 39. E.) to Mboamaj i (6.50’ S., 39. E.) and the coastal hinterland, inland for about 15 kilometres. Thirtysix species of wader are discussed including one (Oyster catcher) not personally recorded. Of these, twenty eight species are Palaearctic migrants and sixteen of these m.ake up the great bulk (over 90^) of the waders in the area. This paper is therefore heavi ly biased towards a discussion of Palaearctis species, indeed, the m.ajori ty of these fami I ies breed in the Hoi arctic. After a general discussion of habitats and relative numbers, each species is dealt with separately. Some records of rare species have been published elsewhere and in these cases only a cross reference is given. HABITAT PREFERENCES OF WADERS The physiography of the coastline of the Dar es Salaam area is described in detai I in Tanzemia Notes and Records No. 7 1 1970. Most of the coast is either low coral cliff with or without a narrow beach of sand or low sand barriers with broader beaches and backed with dry scrub, thicket or coconut palms. There are no large rivers but small streams enter the sea along this coast; sometimes as broad creeks fringed with mangroves and sometimes as lagoons i nterrni ttant I y blocked by sand barriers. Most of the intertidal zone is eroded coral platform of varying extent and ending in a reef. In some bays and at the mouth of creeks there are extensive areas of sand and mud. Inland from the coastal strip there is often a broad area of salt flats fringed with acacia scrub. Where creeks penetrate this, and hence 48 allow regular inundations of seav/atei'; mangroves flourish in extensive stands and on their edges salt v/orks with lagoons and pans are sometimes constructed 'where man con fro Is i'he ebb and flow of the seawater. Inland, the main habitats are the seasonal pools and swamips, the rice paddies in the low lying areas, the se'wage disposal beds and their outflow channels and, in a few places (as ai' Soga) , more extensive pools with typical fresh- water vegetation of reed and rush beds and waterlilies. Most waders feed on the exi'ensive tidal sandflats in the creek estuaries wi1h smaller numbers on the coral plai'forms and along the coral coast. The mangroves are favoured by some species v'hile the temporary brackish pools in the salt flats are pau'ticulary popular. Most species have been recorded in band freshwater sites but total numbei'S are usually small and only a few species are found there for preference. A few species, for example some plovers, can be found in dry habitats such as on the dry salt flats and short grass. The salt pans in the mangrove .zone are the main roosting area for waders from all 1 hese feeding habitats. A number of waders are present all through the day, feeding and rostino tliere, but at high tide and in the evening they are augmented by miucfi iargei' numbers. When the big!, tide is spring and occurs in the late afternoon I estimate that about 90% of the wader popul- tion collects at the salt pans along this coast, for in these circumstances there are very few I'oosting sites on ihe litforal and even such marine waders as Sanderling and Turns'rone wi M move inland. There arc imiportant salt pans and associaiea lagocns at kljimwema, Hsasani, Kunduchi and Kerega/ Rasluale and it 's here tnat most of my observations and counts have been made. The 'waders gathor in tight flocks on the low embankments and along the edge of the lagoons and if the timing is right they are loathe to fly. it Is therefore possible to get t'casonabiy close to them and to count the birds at leisure. Observations have also been made regulcuiiy at the main feeding sites, par'ti cu larb/ the extensive tidal sand flats of Ocean road, Selander Bridge (MsimbazI Creek) ano Ras Kiomboni but it is difficult to count b i rds he re, NUMBErRS OF WADERS in the species I'st that follows, .an attemiot has been made to give some idea of the size of the flocks in the area. A flock would be the total number of waders at one roost or in one feeding area fe.g. in the whole of Selander Bridge estuary). Maximum num.bers were almost always obtained at spring -fidG roosts at salt pans. The significance of these roosts is such that one would get .; r 'ar'Tic:.' ly accurate idea of total wader population in the Dar es Salaam area by counMng all ihe waders at the four salt pans at a spring tide roost in the late afternoon. Unfortunately I have not been able to do this but by collating inform- ation from different roosts 1 have arrived at the following figures for total wader populations in the area throughout the year. Peak passage (September) 8 - 10000 birds '..T. veri ng (January) 4.5 -* 6000 b I rds Peal' passage (Apri 1) 4.5 - 5000 birds Peak summering (June) ! - 15 00 birds 49 These are , 'quest! mates but they . do give an idea of the order of the total size of the local population. . THE wader’ YEAR ■ Only three species of wader have been proved to breed in the area and they breed at the end of the long rains from June to August. It is likely that the two or i'hree species which probably breed also do so at the same time. My observations have shown that the movements and relative numbers of Pa I aearct i c wade rs do not reflect a simple process of migration. It is convenient to begin the yeat' in May after most of the ‘^pririg’ passage birds have passed throi;gh. Indeec. if is fc.vards the end of this month that the lowest numbers and smallest variety oT species are recorded. However during June and July wader numbers very considerably from week to week and at times quite large flocks of oversummering individuals occur. The change in flock size, from weel; to week reflects; I thii-;k; the movement of oversummering flocks up and down the coasi' , There is also considerable variation in the size of these flocks from year to year as is indicated under the individual species. Over 90$ of the b i rds in nc~'-breecing dress and I think are probably young birds bred the year before rather than- delayed adults. Indeed for several spec'es,, particularly some sandpipers, these summer flocks can equal 13/j - 20% of iJie peak wintering flocks. This implies more than chance oversurnme ri ng cf stragglers. It may be, in the most northerly Dopulations at least. (I.e. those wnose migration route is longest and whose bt'oeding season most limited) that the b i rds do not breed unti I they are two years old oi' even that they on iy breed every second year. The first signs of return passage.- usually adults in complete or partial breed! ng ■ dress ; ccm.es in eardy .iuly and by the end of the month return passage is in full sw'ng. Aiigusi- is the peak month for flock sizes (when the great bulk cf the migrating 'waders are Little Stints and Curlew Sand- pipers) and from July to September it 's interesting that these passage flocks favour brackvish pools In the salt fiat/mangrove zone rather than the tidal sand fiats. in several species, particularly Greater Sand Plover, there are two or meve distinct waves of migration possibly indicating diff- erent origins for the : ’'rants. In most species the first migrants precede the mairi arrivals by 6 or 8 weeks and this is particularly marked with the plovers, whose peak migration ia about a month iater than that of Curlew Sandpi.pers and Little Stints, . Duriitg October -and November tc/i'ai numbers drop off although at this time and into December and January the 105“^ common species such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank, often occur. Numbers remain fairly constant from November to mi d-March for most species apart from local moveriBnts. In i ate March and early Apri 1 there. Is a very brief bui Id up during the return passage, but movement through the area is very rapid and numbers tai I off towards the end of Apri 1. OTHER SPECIES Other wader species are likely to occur in the area as vagrants. or very scarce passage migrants. It is rather surprising that the Dunlin Calidris alp'ina, which is such a common Palaearctic species, can be no more than a vagrant to Dar es Saiaam if it occurs at ali. ! nave searched carefully for it without sucl.-ss. I have a iso looked for trie Kentish Plover Chai'adrius atexcoidrinus which is supposed to occur and a I tough male Wh i te- fronted Sand- plovers (which are very closely related) in full breeding dress can look very like Kentish Plovers, I have no evidence that the latter occurs. (To bo continLied) V\I.G, Harvey, 6ri t i sh Counci I , Djaian Imam Bondjd, b7 - 59 Djakarta, I ndones i a. GRbAT BLACK - HLACLD GULL AT MALINDI The Great Black-headed Gull Lavus -iehthyoatv?: breeds in the central Palaearctic and has been recorded once in Eas'f Africa, at En+ebbe in Uganda (Pearson 1971, Mann 197!, 8ad;hurst, Britton & Mann 1973). Turner (1975) felt reasonably confident that two birds seen recently at Lake Nakuru, Kenya were this -.pecies; but they may perhaps have been Herring Gulls L. avgentc.tus (see P.L.B's letter in this issue). The great Black-headed Gull winters in the Red Sea where i has been described as uncommon by Moreau (1972) and rare by Urban A Brown (!97l). Though a regular winter visitor TO India aiiJ northerii Ceylon (Henry 1971), it can be no more than a rare vagrant in our area. On the morning of 19th January 1974 v/e found an immature Great Black- headed Gu M at the mouth of 'I'ho Sabaki River, near Maiindi, Kenya. It stood out from a large flock of gulls and terns at considerable range, and despite the lack of detai I 'wc deci ded that it was this species, which P.L.B. had seen in India in early 1973. A rising tide disfurbed the flock, and though most individuals seti led again, this bird flew strongly out to sea. Fortunately the b; I'd v;as encountered a fe\/ hours later aicnq with four other gul 1 species on the beach alongside Maiindi Fish Market, only a few ki io- rretres away. Here it was watcfied at leisure at ranges down to 25 m. It was never seen again at Maiindi but was seen and photographed at only 20 m range at the Sabaki River micuth by P.L.B. and Mrs Hazel Britton on the evening of 2nd February. It tnus sta/v.,d in the '.'icinity of Maiindi for at least two weeks, but was not seen on Three subsequent visits in February and March, nor on several earlier visits (the latest on 4th January). Black and white photographs at rest and in f i i givf show several diagnostic reatures. It was- deci ded I y larger than two Herring Gulls standing alonside, these themselves being larger than a number of nearby Lesser Black-headed Gulls L, fuscus . It had a heavy, bull-necked appearance, with a hardly sloping forehead; a heavy greyish bi 11 with a black bar across both mandibles near the pink tip; greyish legs, brown iris.. The head was whife with a dusky area behirid the eye, extending fully around the back of the head, but only well marked for a few centimetres behind the eye. Immediately below the 51 eye, in fact adjoining it, there was a very well marked dark area. An extensive area of grey flecks on the lower nape was lower down and independ~ ent from any head markings. The mantle was mainly pale grey, the colour of nearby Black-headed Gulls L. 'i^d'Cbuidus , not as dark as even the palest of the Herring Gulls. Primaries appeared to be dark brown at rest. In flight the whole wing was grey with pale brown markings, forming somewhat irregular lines along the wing. There was some white edging to flight feathers in the vicinity of the middle primaries. Tail and upper tai I coverts were white, with a broad black band at the tip of tiie tai 1. Peter L. Brirton, Philip Duff us. Box 90163, c/o Vet. Res. Laboratory, Mo'oasa, Kenya. P.O. Kabete, Kenya. REFERENCES: Backhurst, G.C. , Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa not. Hist. Soc. & Hat. Hus. 140, Henry, G.M. 1971. A quids to the birds of Ceylon, London : O.U.P. Mann, C.F. 1971. Distributional notes on some Uganda birds. Bull, Br. Orn, Club 9 1:111-113. Moreau, R.E. 1972, The t aloe arctic ~ African bird migration systems. London : Academic Press. Pearson, D.J. 1971. The occurrence of a Great Black-headed Gull Earns ichthyaetus in Uganda. Bull. Br. Cm. Club 91;i7l-l72. Turner, D.A. 1973. A new gull for Kenya - Earns ichthyaetns ? EANHS Bn I le tin 1973:138-139. Urban, E.K. & Brown, L,H. 1971. /I checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa : Hai ie Selassie I University Press. A BRIEF INTERESTING OBSERVATION ON SANDGROUSE AT SERONERA Rl VER - POOL The Seronera River in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania starts in the south-eastern part of the park, and runs to the north to join the Orangi River which flows v;es'iwards into Lake Victoria. Regular smaller rivers occur on both sides of the Seronera. flooding it in the rainy seasons. This big river does not flow in the long dry season, but as it dries up leaves many pools along its course. These pools become the favourite drinking points for both mammals and birds. During the months of June, July and August 1973, two species of Sand- grouse: Yellow- throated Fterocles gutturalis and Chestn ut--be I I i ed P.exnstus were the dai ly morning visitors to one of the river pools. The pool was sur- rounded at one side by tall aquatic reeds Typha spp. and with tall trees of Acacia spp. The southern bank, however, was a shallow sandy shore, gradual ly rising into an open grassland plain. That provided the most favoured landing 52 point for the Sandgrouse during their drinking visits. The pool lies about 6 km south of Seronera camp, beside the Seronera River drift on the Seronera to Arusha road. Sandgrouse carre in from the vast open grassland plains, stretching to the east and southern sides of the river. Arrivals of Sandgrouse started as early as 07.00 hrs on each observation morning. Arrivals were either of a pair, or flocks of ten to fifty birds and even more sometiries. There was a chosen site, some hundred metres away from the river pool, where the b i rds congregated first whi le waiting for more participants to arrive. They pecked on short dry grass while on the waiting site. The drinking behaviour of these birds was very interesting indeed. When the number of_ birds at the congregating site reached about two hundred they would start to fly in to the pool to drink in alternate flocks. The larger, ones ( Ye II ow-tn roated ) took the first opportunity into the water pool, followed by the smaller Chestnut-bellied, and towards the end of what 1 can call the drinkJng ceremcny, mixed parties of both Ye II ow-throated and Chestn u i-oe i I i ed fed lowed. The most in'beresting sight was at the water-pool when the birds went in in alternate flocks, each flock highly respecting the other. The drinking flock would fly off the water imimediately in order to give way to an advancing fiock. Someiimes a flock had scarcely drunk a drop of water when another one advanced, in that case, the "hosts" had to fly off the water, and round In circles, then back to rejoin the waiting congregat- ion, where they patiently waited for another opportunity to fly into the poo!. Meanwhile, more birds would still be arriving ar the waiting site from the plains. Once one flock had quenched its thirst, the bi rds would fly straight away back to the plains, making a lot of ncise, and as they got further away and higher they split into pairs and small flocks of five or more birds. Obviously the birds came from long distances to drink, for as I watched them flying, with binoculars, they kept on flying until they disappeared in the blue sky. There were no birds to be seen in the water-pool towards 09.00 hours on a clear sunny day, but the time would change to 10.00 hours on a cool cloudy morning, .ADD I T I ON Towards the end of August, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse started mating and as a result. of that, the drinking behaviour slightly changed. The birds became very restless at the water- hole and congreoet i ons at the waiting site became very sparse. Si fee I i A. Mungure , Arusha National Park, Kusare Research, Camp , Box 3134, Arusha. Tanzania, 53 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF KENYA BIRDS DISPLAY OF OSTRICH STRUTHIO CAMELUS .MASSAICUS On 3rd August 196 1 a male was seen to run several hundred metres towards a female; it then squatted on, its tarsi, bent its head backwards and rubbed it across its back, at the saire time spreading its wings alternately c The female took little notice. NEST POSITION OF HAr4^€RK0P SCOPUS UMBRETTA It is stated in both Mackworth-Praed A Grant, and in Dr Austin Roberts' Birds of South Africa, that the nest opening of this bird is always ou the most inaccessible side, and, in Mackworth-Praed & Grant only, that the nests are from, 4. 5 to 12 m from the ground. Hov/ever, I found a nest near Konza on 30th September 1961 that was only about 2.5 m from the base of a leaning tree, and which had the entrance hole in the easiest position for access so that I could put my hand in without difficulty. FEEDING METHOD OF YELLOW-BILLED STORK IBIS IBIS A party of ten feeding, or attempting to, at Lake Nakuru on 20th November I960 were standing in shallow water with their bills wide open and the tips of the mandibles apparently touching the mud at the bottom. Presumably they were waiting for a fish or frog to swim between the mandibles whereupon they would snap them together, but this was not seen actually to occur. NESTING OF SACRED IBIS TERESKIOREIS AETHIOPICUS On 17th June 1962 there were three nests in a seasonal swamp west of the Ngcng Hi Ms. The nests were piles of dead vegetation where the water was about 40 cm deep, and were so close together that the young birds could scramble from one to the other. There were several young altogether, all unfledged, and two of them were too small to stand at that date. FIGHTING OVER FOOD BY TAWNY EAGLES AQUILA RAPAX On 21st October 1962 near 01 Orgesai llie a Tawny Eagle flew down into a donga holding what looked like a rat in its feet. Almost immediately four more Tawny Eagles flew down "'out of the blue" and tried to wrest the rat away from the origiiial possessor who, however finally managed to swallow it. It would appear that these bi rds sometiimes keep a close watch on each others’ hunt i ng e f forts . COITION OF LAMMERGEIER GYPAETUS BARB AT US On 8th Apri I 1962 coition, or attempted coition, was observed at 07.00 hours on a very cold and misty morning high on the cliffs of "Hell’s Gate" near Lake Maivasha. The event struck me as surprising in view of the time of day and the conditions, MIGRATION OF AFRICAN CRAKE CREX EGREGIA One found dead on 1st June 1962 in the centre of Nairobi, had presumably struck a high bui Iding during tlie night whi le migrating. 54 REACTION TO DANGER OF GREEN SHAiNK TRINGA NEBULARIA In Nairobi National Park on 18th November 1950 a crocodi le was lying on the bank of one of the dams with its head close to the water’s edge. Two greenshanks which were feeding their way along the water’s edge refused to pass in front of the crocodile but instead, one flew over it and the other made .a detour on foot right round its tail. CALLS OF THE, CRAB PLOVER DROViAS ARDEOLA I have -heard the foi lowing, calls of this bird on the coast near Mombasa: (a) a nasal ”ee-ow'' -or "yow" , (b) a quiet rather high-pitched wh inny i ng .and (c) a -low Coot- i i ke noise, harsh b-ut not loud. , . FOOD OF PIED .KINGFISHER CERYLE RUDTS' The authorities all state that the food of this bird consists entirely of fish, but I have -seen the bird on one occasion, hovering over level, rough, dry grassland by Lake Nai vasha as if seeking some other sort of food further observation .seems desirable, COURTSHIP FEEDING OF PIGMY KINGFISHER CE IX PICT A On 8tii May I959 I saw two birds of this species perched on a low branch in Karura Forest, Nairobi, well away from any stream. One, which had a red bill, was holding a butt-e-rfly. The, other, which had a pale bill, and was therefore presumably a female, (the young are stated to have black bills) sidled up to the first bird and apparently solicited food by dipping its bill and wagging its tail. The (.assumed) male thereupon fed the butterfly to the other. CHAiNGE OF HABITAT OF BLUE-NAPED MOUSEBIRD COLIUS MACROURUS In July I96I, during the very severe drought, this species extended its range from the hot, dry acacia country of the Rift Valley up to the neigh- bourhood of Nairobi at an altitude of 1680 m. Presumably this would be due to the,-..dry i ng up of edible vegetable matter at lower altitudes. STEALING OF NEST MATERIAL BY WHITE-BELLIED TIT PARUS ALBIVENTRIS On 8th May I959 a Collared Sunbi rd Anthreptes oollarie was building a nest in Karura Forest, Nairobi, but almost as fast as it brought material, apparently vegetable down, a White-bellied Tit flew down and removed it in large beakfu.ls. EXTENSION OF RANGE OF YELLOW-BILLED OXPECK'ER BUPMCUB AIRlCANUS In August 196I, during a period of severe drought, this species appeared in Nairobi National Park where I had never seen it before. Was the reason in this case that in its normal habitat the drought had reduced the number of cattle and game animals, with their supply of ticks to an inadequate level, or we-re the birds forced to move by a shortage of drinking water? COLLECTION OF SPIDER’S WEB BY COLLARED SUiNBIRD ANTHREPTES COLLARIS On 2 1st May 1959 I saw a sunbi rd, apparently of this species, swinging 55 on an invisible thread high up in a tali tree in Karura Forest. After fluttering on the thread for several seconds it appeared to break loose and flev; away. I suppose that what was happening was that it was trying to break off a piece of the strong spider’s web for its nest. There is a lack of records of the rrethod by v.'h i ch birds collect and manipulate this difficult substance. VOMITING BY GOLDEN WEAVER PLOCEUS SUBAUBEUS On 6th May 1959 at Hunter’s Lodge by fhe Kiboko River on the Nairobi - Miombasa road, a Golden Weaver dashed against a window, knocking itself unconscious. We placed it on a table where it lay for a short whi le with its toes curled up. When it recovered consciousness it vomited, much to my surprise, before flying rather weakly off. PLAYGROUND OF JACKSON 's WIDOWBIRD EUPLECTEr JACBISONI f L " "cp' g ’’ j 1959 Y s a 1 rro? ; 1 ?*y ground of the males of this species actual iy within the Nairobi City boundary, between Nairobi Wi Ison A i '-port and the enf . to the National Park. As I had not seen it there before, or since, presumably the choice of a site is casual. Henry J. Lee, 42 Crofton Road, I pswi ch , Suf fol k, Eng I and. HORNBILLS AND BATS With reference to Mrs Kin gdon’s interesting note about S i I very- cheeked Hornbl Ms Bycojiistes eTisbatus ci'tacking roosting Lesser Fruit Bats Epomophor-us IcJjiatus ^ the following incident V''h i ch took place in an Entebbe (Uganda) garden may be worth recording, although it has already been mentioned in the 1955 Annual Report of the Uganda Game Department, paras. 300- 302, and in A Game f/cvden tal'es Stock (1940) pp. 257-258. The Hornbi I I in question is the large and extremely noisy Black and White Hornbi II Byoaniotes suboyVtndo'B.cus ^ a common species in fhe Botanic Gardens and in the resideninal area. It frequently captures fully-grown specimens of the smaMei' b’ res by ’crash’ taefics, hurling itself at its intended victim In the hope of knocking it off itr perch and catching it before it can recover ~ an operation v;h i ch is extremely clumsy and apt to be rather noisy. One day at noon I watched a male Black and White Hornbi M crash into the canopy of a large mango tree, temporari Iy felling a roosting Dog-faced Fruit Bat Z?. anurus which immediately recovered itself and dodged into a hedge only io be assaulted further and eventually captured. The bird’s efforts to deal with its victim were most comical - taking nearly quarter of an hour to dispose of ifs prey - at first the bat was very much alive, squeaking loudly and furiously flapping its wings. Even when the bat was dead it proved so large a morsel that it was only with the greatest diffic- uliy that it was eventually sv/ai lowed whole I The bird squatting on the ground, presented a grotesque spectacle with the large bat (at first very 56 much alive, when moribund, hanging cut of its mouth) and endeavouring to gulp down its meal. The bird flew up into a tree and then came to earth again before, at long last, it could deal successfully with its outsize meal. Lack of having a cine camera handy missed an unique opportunity of recording faithfully a remarkable episode, as the bird was so engrossed it could be approached to within a few paces. Capt. Charles Pitman, Leicester Court Hotel, 41 Queen’s Gate Gardens, London SW7 5NB. RINGING NEWS There has been very little response tc my suggestion that the long tables of birds ringed in the ringing report should, in future, list only Palae- a retie species. I'he letter published last month {EA'NES Bull. 1974:43-44) completely misses the point: in the original note {EAEHS Bull. 1974:11) part of my suggestion was that should an Ethiopian species be recovered, the number ringed of that species would indeed be given, in addition to the recovery details. There was no implication that reaoveries of Ethiopian species would be withheld. The cost of publishing the Ethiopian species' totals in full is about £100. I should also mention that there is no virtue in publishing the report very soon after the end of the ringing year as very few recoveries would have been notified by then, indeed the delay in prep- aring the 1972/73 report is cue simply to the fact that I have been waiting (and am still waiting) for news from Moscow of recoveries. 1 propose to go ahead now with the preparation of the 1972/3 report; Table 1 wi II contain only Pa I aearct i c sped es , the totals for Ethiopian species will be combined at the end of the table and will be given individ- ual ly for Ethiopian species featured in Table 2, Graeme Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Kenya. REVIEW THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THE LION A study of the behaviour of wild lions Panthera leo massaica (Newman) in the Nairobi National Park, Kenya, by Judith A. Rudnai , Medical & Technical Publishing Co. Ltd., St Leonards House, Lancaster, England. pp.l06 of text, with VII Appendices, pp.28 containing 93 black & white photographs, with 40 fables and 22 figures. Although Mrs Rudnai 's book cannot be considered the definitive work on the lion, based as it i s on a comparatively small population, many of them i n ter- re I ated , and living within the relatively small ecosystem of the Nairobi National Park, it nevertheless provides an illuminating insight into 57 the life and habits of the species. An objective system of - i dent i f i cati on , depending on the relationship between two rows of spots on the lion’s, muzzle, (described in detail in Appendix 3) enabled her to recognise every lien in the Park, using sketches and black and white photographs of their profi les made in the field; and ' thus to record the behaviour of all individuals. Amongst other aspects of her subject she deals in detai I with population structure and ranges (the percentage of juveni les in Nairobi Park is more than twice that in Lake Manyara Park); contagious activities such as greet- ing an d 'groomi ng and tiieir functions In the life of the pride; sexual behav- iour; submission and dominance; predation patterns and methods of killing. This is a scientific and scholarly work, fully and minutely illustrated with tables and figures and a large number of black and white photographs, but it is also a rare achievemnt in that it is a book which will also be of interest to the layman. The amateur naturalist visiting Nairobi Park may now endeavour to identify individual lions himself (without leaving the roads of course!), and to understand their individual and social behaviour. Th i s' b-ook: is a must for the reading list of Museum guides, of tour operators or indeed, for any of us who regularly take visitors to the P-ark. In addition, parts of the introduction and appendices provide ready inform- ation on other aspects of Nairobi Park such as its history and vegetation. As Mrs Rudnai emphasises, increasing pressures of population and numbers of tourists make it essential that our National Parks are managed on the basis of a sound knowledge of theri ecology and the- behaviour of the animals which inhabit them. Failure tc do so wi II inevitably change ihei r character and possibly reduce their attraction. Should access of Nairobi Park animals to the Kitengela area south of the Park ever be restricted, by fencing or closer settlement, the Park’s lien population would be affected in various ways. One result could be a reduction in the high percentage of cubs, so that the overall allure of the Park to tourists would be . cons i de rab ly reduced. Mrs Rudnai now has some funds to enable her to extend her lion study to the Kitengela, ano one sincerely hopes that she will shortly find someone to donate a suitable vehicle, so that she may continue her valuable and painstaking w : ‘k . One unfortunate error noted in the book is the inclusion in Appendix 2 of cheetah, hyaena and jackal under the classification of Herbivores. J.G.K. EDITORIAL NOTE Once again I have heard comp 1 ai nts . that the Bulletin contains too many articles on birds. Frankly, these complaints amaze me. The majority of the material subtnitted is published. The material Is submitted by' members; therefore, if bird articles predominate, this can only reflect the interests of the members who take the trouble to write articles. Surely these facts are easy to grasp? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, A NEW GULL FOR KENYA ~ LARUS ICHTHIAETVS ? Under the above title in this Bulletin (1973:138-159) D.A. Turner report- ed his sighting of two large gulls at Lake Nakuru on l4th July 1973, which he felt reasonably confident were Great Black-headed Gulls Lotus ichthyaetus. The rather brief description given suggests that they were perhaps more likely Herring Gulls L. oTgentatus. My only experience of the Great Black-headed Gull is the bird at Malindi reported above (pp. 51-52) and a number of sightings in India early last year. Two of its most diagnostic features are the bull-necked appearance and the tri coloured bill. Yet in Turner's birds "the most striking feature . . . . was their rather long slender necks .... and their large heavy ye I low i sh b i I I s" . There is as yet no published record of the Herring Gull from Kenya. In a paper in press for OstTioh , Britton & L.H. Brown give a single Kenya record, and 1 have a number of recent sightings from several localities on the Kenya coast which will be properly documented at a later date. Most of the adult Herring Gulls seen on the Kenya coast in recent months have had a substan- tial amount of grey and sooty streaking on the crown and nape, whereas west European adults have a pure white head. Turner's birds had a "mottled grey- brown head"' and may well have been north European Herring Gulls. Peter, L. Britton, Box 90163, Sir, Recently, on 28th February 1974, at Marsabit, on Lake Paradise we saw a Fish Eagle Haliaaetus vocifer attacking a large concentration of coots - Red-knobbed Coots Fulica oristata. Our attention was first drawn to this by the frantic activity of the coots as they churned the water, hurrying to join together in a single raft of thousands of densely packed birds. We then saw the Fish Eagl.e flying around overhead and every time it passed over the raft the coots almost dis- appeared in the spray they caused. The Fish Eagle stooped on an outsider, almost disappeared under water and then remained semi -submerged for at least half a minute. It then tried, to lift the coot off the water but failed and after struggling for about ten seconds, flew away without the coot. It circled overhiead and then came down again on to the dead coot and again remained submerged for what seemed to be a very long time of up to half a minute. it fai led again tc lift the eoot and flew off to rest on a tree on the crater rim. A series of long distance photos were taken of this hunt, but I doubt that they will be able to shew much. The second unusual sighting took place on Kisima Farm on the northern slopes of Mt, Kenya at 2600 m on 4th March 1974. A Secretary bird Sagittar- ius serpentarius was seen standing on a fresh killed and ^-artly eaten hare 59 Lepus capensis . Two rretres cway was an angry Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax. Which one had killed the hare? Which bird was trying to steal it? Recently at Kisima I saw a single Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus for the first time in my ten years in this area. A pair of Bateleur Eagles has also moved in to occasionally patrol our sky. One conclusion one may be permitted to come to is that the unusually long dry period has caused some changes in the habits of these birds. A. Dye(% Kisima, Pri vate Bag, Nanyuki Sir, in November 1973 T.O. Osborne and I established a Zambian record of 211 species of bird seen or heard in one day. We were beset by bad weather, and with better planning too have little doubt that we will push this record to more than 250 species during 1974. We would therefore be interested to know from readers what the East African and World records are for this highly enjoyable sport. R. J. Dowsett, Box 498, Livingstone, Zambia. Sir, Members may find the following notes on the Red-banded Frog Phrynomerus bifasciatus interesting. The species is not uncom,mon here it being normally a damp area, although we do not often see them on account of their being fossorial and nocturnal. I dug one up, for example, when investigating a termite mound with students. On another occasion I found one inside a rotting branch on which I was growing epiphytic orchids. My present interest is in a small one that has decided to spend the dry season in my bathroom. Its first appearance was, so far as I remember, in November last year, when I found it one evening sitting in the middle of the mi rror over the hand basin. I saw it about several times in a crevice at the end of the hand basin but did not realise what it was doing. Then in January I was away for a weekend. When 1 came back and started using the hand basin again the frog came up through the grating of the waste pipe. 1 found it sitting or hanging there with its elbows resting on the grating. It gradually oozed its way up and finally walked up the steep side of the basin. It found it a bit slippery but by going slowly and carefully it got out of the basin, walked across the ledge at the back, down the wall to the bath and finally disappeared under the ledge of the bath.. Since then, I have seen it most evenings. Its plan is to come out and absorb water from my face cloth, which I have the habit of leaving on the corner of the bath. After the room has been dark for some time it comes out and presses itself onto the cloth. It seems to absorb the water through its skin, especially of the belly and I have not seen any sign of it sucking or drinking any water. If disturbed it moves off slowly and carefully, and 60 folds itself up in the crack at the end of the bath. Sometimes it goes right away to hide. To do this it goes caref u 1 I y Onto the wall, then moves back- wards down the wall about 15 cm on to the top of the little door for inspect- ing the plumbing, which does not quite shut. It then inserts itself under the rim of the bath. It looks I i ke a climber searching for and moving with great care from one foothold and handhold to another. When we get rain I shall have to puf it out, if it does not find a way out for itself. I do not know how it got in, it may have come up a waste pipe, especial ly as there is no trap in the bath pipe. If so, it may take that way out. Having realised what it does, nafurally I see that the cloth is wet each evening. I do not know whether it is eating anything. It may be getting young cockroaches and a variety of small things that manage to get through the mosquito screening. In this rural area and with our hot climate we can never finally get rid of cockroaches and ants. Red-canded Frog: black or near black ail over with bold red bands run- ning from the snout, past the eyes to near the groin. Also a large red patch on the rump and quite a lot of red spots and bands on the legs. I have not seen the abdomen, but it is usually black with pale or white markings. Length of present specimen about 3 to 3.5 cm when folded up for sitting with its legs tucked in. Mary E. Archbold, Box 171, Korogwe, Tanzan I a. REQUEST Mrs Jean Brown of the National Museum is very anxious to contact anyone having old photographs of Kenya peoples weari ng tradi t i ona I dress and also showing any. aspects of the traditional way of life (e.g. grinding grain, digging fields, bui I ding houses, herding cattle etc.). Photographs can be copied (for research purposes) and returned to the owner. Please write to: Mrs Jean Brown at the National Museum, Box 40658, Nairobi or phone her on Nairobi 4 3090. FUNCTIONS Monday 8th April 1974 at 5.15 p.m. in the National Museum Hall, Members slide show. Please bring 35 mm transparencies of natural history subjects to the projectionist before 5p.m. for arranging. Saturday, 4th May 1974: Mrs Fleur Ng'weno will lead a morning walk for bi rds and flowers in the Nairobi area. Please meet at the Museum at 8.30 a.m. 61 Saturday/Sunday I I th/ 12th May: Mountain Lodge. This popular Lodge has been booked for the Society again at shs.90/- per. person for tea, dinner and breakfast, and of course garre viewing. No children under 12. Members wishing to take part in this excursion should please write to the Secretary, Box 44486 enclosing your cheque made out to AFRICAN TOURS AfiD HOTELS LTD., before May I. Members should make their own way to the lodge, which is on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, and arri ve about tea time. To reach the lodge, follow the main road through Thika, Fort Hall (Muranga), Sagana and Kiganjo. The way to the lodge is signposted from Karatina (there is also an a I ternat i ve road signposted from Karatina but is nof recommended if wet). Wedensday morning bird walks continue to meet in front of the Museum. (Nairobi) at 8.45 a.m. every week. Please note that Labour day, 1st May wi II be an al I day trip ~ please bring picnic lunch. HELP WITH FUNCTIONS Mrs Lise Campbell, who has so successfully organised the Society Functions for so long, will be away this year for several months. Would any members wi Ming to lead a field trip or give a lecture please contact the Secretary Suggestions for trips and meetings would also be most welcome. Thank you. Edi tor. ■ ADVERTISEMENT A GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF UGANDA by G.R.S. Pitman. Revised edition. About 268pp., with 28 coloured plates, 16 plain plates and 2 maps, crown 4to, cloth bound. Sterling £10 (U.S. $25) post free. The first edition of this book was put I i shed in Uganda in 1938 and consisted of only 450 copies. It has long been rare, and in recent years the few copies that have turned up have been selling for about £60. The author has now completely revised the text and 5 new coloured plates have been added, so that the new edition of this standard work is completely up to date. As the only comprehensive work on the snakes of any part of Africa north of the Zambesi it has an importance far beyond the confines of Uganda. A prospectus with a specimen coloured plate will be available shortly, and the book is scheduled for publication in May 1974. Wheldon & Wesley Ltd., Lytton Lodge, Codicote, Hitchen, Herts, England. WANTED Mrs Jean Brown is urgently in need of copies of the following books if any member has a copy they do not use and wish to sell ■ Margeret Trowel I ’*The Tribal Crafts of Uganda'' P.H. Gulliver "A preliminary Survey of the Turkana". -Cape Town. 1965. ( rep r i nt ) 62 Please write to: Mrs J. Brown at the National Museum, Box 40658 or phone her on Nairobi 43090. LIBRARY NOTICE Readers may have noticed the lists of '"Recent periodic literature avail- able in the Library" which appear in the Bulletin from time to time. Some background information mey be useful. Each entry is abstracted from a journal and typed on a card; the cards are fi led in classified order in a drawer in the catalogue cabinet. There is an index to the classification, so should you need some i n formati on on, say, Accalathura, you would look up this word in the index and find that its number is 595.372. Looking under this number in the card index you would see that I found an article on these creatures in the Bulletin du Musee national d^Eistoire naturelle (Paris) , No 68, 1972. The selection of [periodicals may puzzle you. Why, you may ask, do I list articles from Aeta Zoologica et Pathologica Antverpiensia and not from the E.A. Wildlife Joumall It is because I have deliberately not listed articles from specifically African periodicals. I thought workers would search these for themselves In any case, end have restricted myself to more general periodicals that I thought readers might miss. Besides, as most of the articles in these periodicals would concern East Africa, listing them would involve making what librarians call "analytics"', i .e. a separate card for each article, and there simply is not time to dc this. Wishing to find out how miuch work would be needed either in making anal- ytics or doing a search, I marie a rough count of those periodicals in the Library either issued from or specifically dealing with Africa, It came to 70, spanning the whole alphabet from African Wildlife to the Zambian Ornith- ological Society Bulletin. Of these 70, 27 are not current, either because they have ceased publication or for some reason we no longer receive them. If, therefore, you wish to find cut about some subject and to make use of the full resources of the Library, you must proceed as follows: 1. Look the subject up in the card index; if there is a relevant card, jot down the reference and find if in the appropriate jouma I 2. If there is no card for the subject, look in the appropriate reprint box (or get me to). 3. If there are no reprints on the subject, you must select the most suitable periodical and go through it systematically, begin ing at the latest issue. I wish you good hunting and wi I 1 gladly help, P. M. Allen, Li brari an , Box 44486, N a i rob i . 63 NEW MEMBERS - APRIL 1974 Fu I I Members : Mrs T, Bennett, Box 30195, Nairobi. Mr R. Briand, Box 43844, Nairobi. Mr A. Dixon, Box 24886, Nairobi. Miss Inge Dostrup, Box 44105, Nairobi. Mrs G. Hoffman, Box 46687 , Nai rob i . Dr R.L. Jachowski, Zc;ology Dept., University of Nairobi, Box 30197, N a i rob i . Mr J0rn Vestergaard Jensen, Holtevej 13, 8000 ARHUS C, Denmark. Mr I.R. Lane, Box 43233, Nairobi. Mr H. Li on net, Box 396, Kiambu, K Miss E. Oxtoby, Kenyatta University College, Box 43844, Nairobi. Mr H. Reim, German Agriculture Team in Kenya, Box 4705 1, Nairobi. Mr T.C. Teasdale, Box 81, Kijabe, Kenya. Mr S. Uehara, Laboratory of Physical Anthropology, Kyoto University, J apan . J unoi r Members : Peter Hobson, Box 300 35, Nairobi. Nicholas Pringle, Box 14134, Nairobi. 64 E A N H S (X// 7 /-/?<- 7;r BULLETI N A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings / NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN MAY 1974 CONTENTS The occurrence of Waders in the Dar es Salaam area of Tanzania ----- 66 Hi Idegaard’s Tomb Bat T-aphozous hildegaardeae First record from Tanzania 70 Further records of Madagascar Pratincole Glareola oeulavis Near Dar - - 71 Recent observations of migratory shore and water birds in Tsavo East National Park - 72 Parasites collected from a fledgling Double-toothed Barbet Lybins Bidentatus - ~ lA Correci'ion - Bats co! lected at Lake Rudolf - Kenya Trees and Shrubs by Dale & Greenway - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Letter to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 76 Contributions to the Bulletin - -------------------- - 76 Functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 76 New Members 76 THE OCCURRENCE OF WADERS IN THE DAR ES SALAAM AREA OF TANZANIA - PART TWO DROmS ARDEOLA CRAB PLOVER Common non-breeding visitor to sandy shores and estuaries. The first birds usually arrive in mid October (earliest date 12th October) and flocks of up to 300 are not uncommon by late November. Numbers decline rapidly in March and Apri I although small parties can often be seen in May and even June. A few birds (usually immatures) over summer so that t have records for every month of the year. Strictly a bird of sandy shores and usually in monospecific flocks although at low tide flocks will scatter wi del y over sand flats. Tide roosts above high water mark on beaches. BURUmm mRMICULATUS WATER DIKKOP Probably a breeding resident in very- small numbers. It has been recorded in every month usually in small parties of up to 10 birds. Between March and May, parties of up to 15 have been recorded and at this time it is particularly noisy. No proof of breeding has been found but it is thought to breed on ridges and sandbanks in mangrove swamips. It favours open areas in mangroves and wi I I feed wel I under the mangrove canopy as we I I as in area of open rrjud among mangrove stumps and on salt flats. It is strictly crepuscular and hence diff- icult to track down during the day although it wi II go out onto the embank- ments of salt pans among tide roosts of other waders. HAEimOPUS OSTRALEGVS OYSTER CATCHER Probably a passage migrant in very small numbers and apparently restricted to rocky coral shores. There are two recent records; T. Gardiner (pers. comm.) saw a party on Honeymoon Island in May 1972 and Wi i I lams (EANHS Bull. 1972:192) saw two on the Ocean Road foreshore in September 1972. 1 have not recorded this species myself but the inshore Islands where it may be more regular are rarely visited. VARELLES LUGUBRIS SENEGAL PLOVER Regular non-breeding visitor to open areas in coastal bush. Always in monospecific flocks, this species occurs commonly from late May to August when flocks of up to 60 have been recorded. A favourite site is the short grass surrounds of the University sewage beds where birds collect during the day. It also occurs in grassy and burnt areas in acacia scrub, coastal bush and sisal plantations as well as occasionally visiting dry salt flats. This species feeds mostly at night and during June and July it can often be heard flying to feeding grounds, even over suburban Dar es Salaam. 1 have one October record of 10 birds and it is possible that the species occurs in other months in small numbers. However, the general impression is that it is a non-breeding visitor that arrives In the area after the long rains, having bred elsewhere. 66 VARELLliS I.ELANOPTEWS BLACK-WINGED PLOVER Vagrani . One record of this highland species on short grass near salt fiats, Kund'Jchi 24th January 1971, PLUVIALIS DOPJNICUS LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER Vagrant. One record of two in a tide roost at salt pans Apri i 1973. {E.'MiS Bull. 1973:84-85.). FL^'^EALir e:^UA'^APOLA grey PLOVER CoiTimon non-breediiig visifor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, salt pans, dry salt flats and lagoons. .It tends to form small monospecific flocks or to mix with Wnimbrols at tide roosts alfhough when feeding it wi II scatter over sand flats with otner plovers. Small numbers recorded from coral coasts and islands and also at sewage beds and in open mangroves. Main passage in September' - October and March wfien flocks of over 200 have been recorded. Flocks of 80 - 100 ar'e more usual from November to February and smaller flocks of up to 50 occur fp-'ni Apri ! to August. CHARADRIUS HIATICULA RINGED PLOVER Common non-breeding visitor and passage mi granf- mainly to tidal sand flats and .sail' pans but also recorded from dry salt flats, coral coasts, sewage beds, mangroves, fresh water pools, wot rice paddies and even open grass in acacia busih r;fter rain. Mixes freely with other plovers particularly at tide roosts but tends to be aggressive over -f^eedinq territory. The main arrival is in nii d September and from then on until late October flocks of up to 200 are not uncorrimon . From October" to Mar'ch flocks of up to 100 are more usual. There is little evidence of return passage and by early May flocks of more than 20 aro unusual , During the period May to August small parties are freq- uently recorded and first evidence or return passage precedes the main arf'ival by up to eight weeks. Miost birds appear to be referable to the Siberian race vmdy-^ae . CEAEABRIUS DUBIUS LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Regular' non-Dree di ng visitor and/or passage mi grant in very small numbers mainly to rain water pools on dry salt flats border'ing mangroves but also recorded fr'orri salt pans and mangrove creeks. It usually consorts with other sm.all plovers. Recoi'ded between 2nd November and 25th Januai'y as follows: December 1970 (up to 5), vcj.nuary 1971 (up to 3), November 1971 (up to 3), November 1972 (up to 5), January 1973 (I). Birds were oniy once recorded on mot'e than two consecutive visits which implies that the species passes through the area but does not over-winter. CHAR/iDRIlJS FECIIARIUS KiTTLITZ'S SAND PLOVER Non-breeding visifor in variable numbers and of irregular occurrence mainly to dry sail' flats but also recorded from salt pans. Usually in mixed flocks with other species although this species is mere closely associated with dry salt flats than other small plovers. It has been recorded in every month 67 alihough most regular from Novemoer to January and from June to August. Parties of more than 15 are rare. In November 1970 recently fledged juven- iles were seen with one pair of adults and it is possible that a few pairs occasionally breed on the dry salt fiats. CHAMDRIVS TRICOLLARIS THREP-BANDED PLOVER Breeding resident in small numbers and probably also a non-b reed i fig visitor. Frequents muddy edges of both fresh and salt water pools, sewage beds, creeks, salt pans, salt flats and mangroves. Never recorded on the open shore but comes within sight of it when feeding along mangrove creeKs. The species rarely flocks and rarely mixes with other waders. Breeding has been recorded from May to July (at end of long rains) when clutches of up to 4 eggs (average of 4 = 2.25) have been found in nest scrapes generously lined with mud frag- ments and small coral pebbles. The eggs are apparently never buri.ed. This species probably breeds in several lo.calities but it favours especially salt pans near mangroves. At Msasani up to six pairs breed in fairly close prox- imity to White-fronted Sand Plovers but there is no competition for nest sites. Whereas the letter species prefers to nest well above the water level on the sandy embankments, the Three -banded Plover invariably nests within a metre or so of the water's edge along the edge of the embankment or on dried mud. Although both species are i ntraspec i f i ce I I y aggressive during the breed- ing season they do not appear to show any aggression towards each other. In June 1973 I found a very small White-fronted Sand Plover chick being brooded (but not in the nest scrape) by an adult witiiin 1.5 m of an incubating Three- banded, P lover. In spite of breeding concentrations such as occur at Msasani, party sizes rareiy exceed 6-8 birds. However, in October larger parties (up TO 15) have been recorded ana may represent either the flocking of locally bred birds or an influx of non-breeding visitors. This species is decidedly crepuscular and feed throughout the night. It is one of the few waders that will feed under the mangrove canopy. CEARADRIUS hmGINATVS WH I TE- FRONTED SAND PLOVER Breeding resident in small numbers and common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, sandy beaches and salt pans. It has also been recorded from dry salt flats and a party was once seen feeding in open grass in acacia bush after heavy rain. Tends to form monospecific parties on the edge of flocks of other plovers, even in tide roosts. Bird have been recorded in every month, and at favoured sandy beaches parties of up to 30 can be seen at any time of the year. However, there is evidence of passage in Apri 1 and May when flocks of up to 70 have been recorded. Most bi rds at this time are in nuptial dress and display; territorial behaviour and cop- ulation are often seen. During May - June a few pairs breed orr the sand emoankments of salt pans. The deep nest scrapes which are lined with mud fragments and small shells are usually in the embankments about a metre above the water level in the pans. The eggs are often half buried in the nest lining. Newly hatched young have been found in early June (1972) and early July (1973). Of the thirty plus pairs that may be seen at Msasani in May only a maximum of six pairs attempt breeding. It is possible that other pairs breed on the quieter sand beaches, but I think it likely that most of 68 the May birds are on their way to more northerly breeding grounds. By July flocks of 20 - 30 are more usual and the species becomes quite scarce from September to January. CEARADRIIJS MONGOLUS MONGOLIAN SAND PLOVER Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant in variable numbers to tidal sand flats, salt pans, dry sand flats and lagoons. This species mixes freely with Greater Sand Plovers and Ringed Plovers although it tends to form closer flocKs than either of these species and is less aggressive in defence of its feeding territory. The main arrival is in mid September and flocks of up to 200 are not uncommon until late October. During the last three seasons, numbers on passage riavo been very variable however", and a maximum, flock of over 400 was recorded in late October 1972. Between October and March flocks rarely exceed 100 and number's decline rapidly during March with little evid- ence of a return passage. Small numbers have been recorded between April and August including the first evidence of return passage which precedes the main arrival by up to six weeks. This species is much more common on autumn pass- age than in winter and the variable n'umbers from year to year may reflect difficult breeding conditions. CHARADHIUS LESCHENAULTII GREATER SAND PLOVER Very common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, salt pans, dry salt flats and lagoons. This species mixes with other plovers but is inclined to be aggressive both towards tnem and i ntraspeci f i ca 1 1 y , at tide roosts and on feeding grounds. When feeding on sand flats they scatter ■widely in the manner of Grey Plovers. There appears to be two peaks in the main autumn passage. The first flocks of up to 200 move through in late July and early August after which there is sonB decline unti I mid September. From then unti 1 late November flocks of up to 500 have been recorded and flocks of 250 - 300 are common; these latter numbers are maintained through to March when there is a peak extending into Apri I when flocks of 300 - 400 may again be seen. During the period Apri I to July small numbers are usually recorded. It is possible that the early passage is of birds which have bred on main- land Africa and the Arabian coast and that the later passage is of more north- erly breeding birds. CHARADRIUS ASIATICUS CASPIAN PLOVER Regular passage migrant in very small numbers to dry salt flats where it will mix with other plovers. Small parties of up to five recorded between late August and mid October with one record of a single bird in December 1971 {EANHS Bull. 1972:175). This species is a common winter visitor to short grass plains inland in Tanzania. W.G. Harvey, British Counci I , Djalan Imam Bondjd, 57 - 59 Djakarta, I ndones i a . (To be concluded) 69 HiLDE GARDE'S TOMB BAT TAPHOZOUS HILDEGARDEAE THOMAS, 1909 FIRST RECORD FROM TANZANIA Studies on the bat collection of the National Museum, Nairobi revealed a Tanzanian specimen of the b rown-bearded Hi I degarde ' s Tomb Bat. It was collected by J.V^.S. (i.e. JirnW. Simons of The Cave Exploration group E. Africa) on 19th February 1966 from a cave on the 1 kanga Sisal Estate near Tanga; the male specimen is catalogued NMN 7932. This bat is iiitherto unrecorded from Tanzania (cf. Hayman & Hi I I 1971), but its occurrence was to be expected. Its only known distribution was along the Kenya coast and the additional Tanzania record is the southernmost for the time being. This peculiar distributional pattern is absolute iy unique amongst African bats. A comparab le example airongst mammals is the coastal, distribution of the Ye 1 I ow- rumped Elephant Shrew Rhynchoayon chrysopygus Gunther 1881. T. hildegardeae was described by Thomas (1909) as a new species from Rabai , inland from Motribasa, including other specimens from Shimoni. It was again recorded from the latter locality 9. II. 19 1 I by Falcoz (1923) as host of the bat-parasitising f \yBraahytarsina alluaudi and also by Harrison (1961). From the same place there is a male specimen in the National Museum Nairobi, (NMN 7931, also collected by J.W.S. on 13.2.1966) and 1 took two small series from the coral caves there on 19.9,1970 and 16.5.1971. Other recorded localities are few. T. hildegarSeae was found on 12,2.19 11 in Ko I I d i n i near Mombasa ( ? or K i I i nd i n i ) as poss i b I e host of the ci mi ci d bug Loxasp-is mironda Rothschild 1912 (see Usinger 1966). Kulzer (1956) collected it in Ngombeni south of Momibasa on 17.7.1956; this locality was wrongly credit- ed to Allen & Lawrence (1937) by Harrison (1961). Unpublished locality records, based on specimens in the National Museum Nairobi, are: Ukunda (NMN 6705, 5.10.1962), Tiwi (NMN 6807-8, 7600-1; 16-17.4.1957) and Ngomeni. From the latter place 1 identified two male specimens collected in September 1959 (no collector or catalogue number available). Unfortunately 1 cannot decide whether the locality is (Ras) Ngomeni north of Mai indi or the settlement of the same name inland from Tanga. Harrison (1961) is tne only author who records this bat species in the h'nterland of the Kenya coast: he examined specimens from Masabuku (Masabubu) on the Tana River and from Chanler's Falls on the northern Guaso Njiro. However it would be desirable to have the specimens on which these records are based re-examined, especially as the latter place is the type locality of a subspecies of the quite closely related T. perforatus Geoffrey 1818, described by Thomas (1915) as headinus. Along the coast the above records prove the presence of T. hildegardeae for all seasons of the year; the longest period for which no records are avai I- able is from November to approximately mid February. This indicates that con- siderable migratory movements of the coastal bat populations are not to be expected. However, as no Wochenstubens* or kindergartens have yet been found, local migrations might be possible. * = Maternity room. 70 By these few facts and comrnen fs on our local knowledge of an African bat, I hope to stimulate interest in local small mammal faunas. Considering the wide scope of the literature c'ted, including bat bug and bat fly studies, and regarding the scanty biological observations available it should be alerting and tempting for everybody interested in biology to study more intensively the small mammal fauna of Kenya in a wider scope of its aspects than usual . Dieter Kock, Forschungs i nsti tuf Senckenberg, D 6000 - Frankfurt am Main, Senckenberg- An I age 25, Germany. REFERENCES : Allen, G.M. & Lawrence, B. 1937. Scientific results of an expedition to rain forest regions in Eastern Africa. Ml. Mammals. Bull. Plus. Qonrp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 79:29-126. Falcoz, L. 1923. Bi ospeo 1 ogi ca . XLiX. Pupipara (Dipteres) (premiere Serie) . Arch. Zool. exger. gen. 6 1:52 1-552. Fiarrison, D,. L, 1961. A checklist of the bats (Ch i roptera) ot Kenya Colony. Jl S. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. 25 (7) ( 104) :286-295 . Hay man, R.W. &HiM, J.E. 1971. In: Nteester, J. & Setzer, H.W. (Eds.). The mammals of Africa, an identification manual. Pari 2: Order Chi roptera: 1-73. Washington. Kulzer, E. 1959. Flederniause aus Ostafrika. Zool. Jb. Syst. 87:13-42. Rothschild, N.C. 19 12. On a riew genus and species of Clinocoridae (Cirnicidae) from Uganda. Bull. ent. Res. 2:363-364. Thomas, 0. 1909. New African small mammals in the British Museum. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (8) 4:98-99. - 19 15, Results from mammal survey. Notes on Taphozous Saccolaimus . J, Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 24:57-63. Usinger, R.L. 1966. Monograph of Cirnicidae (Hemiptera - Heteroptera) . The Thomas Say Foundation, Vol. 7. FURTHER RECORDS OF MADAGASCAR PRATINCOLES GLAHEOLA OCULARIS nf:ar dap, es salaam Shortly after the publication of my note in the August 1973 issue of the Bulletin I had my first 'autumn' sightings of Madagascar Pratincoles near Dar es Sa 1 aam. The first two birds were seen on 20 August 1973 followed by a party of six on 28th August and a single bird on llth September. All the birds were seen resting with large flocks of Palaeartic waders on the muddy shores of a saline lagoon at Msasani, In spite of almost daily visits to the Msasan i area during these months, These were the only sightings. The birds behaved very much the same as those seen in April, arriving late in the afternoon and spending a good deal of time circling high in the air. AM of these later birds appeared to be adults in good plumage (i.e. briqht yellow bases to the 71 bi Ms and rich chestnut underparts) and to be rather less nervous than the Ap ri I b i rds . i would suggest that these birds were on return passage to Madagascar. W.G. Harvey, British Counci 1 , Djalan Imam Bondjd, 57 - 59 Djakarta, I ndonesi a. REFERENCE : Harvey, W.G. The Madagascar Pratincole Glccreola ocularis in Tanzania. E AMS Bull, 1973:115. RECENT OBSERVATIONS OF MIGRATORY SHORE AND IN TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK WATER BIRDS Nobody going to Tsavo East would normally expect to see many ducks end waders, butthe past migration season has brought a number ot interesting and, we believe, unusual records for this area, both in terms of species seen and of numbers. Our own records for comparison go back to late 1968; in addition A.D. Forbes-Watson compiled a preliminary checklist for the park in 1967. Further information was kindly supplied by C. Smeenk for the period Juiy 1970 to January 1973, Al^: AS ACUTA PINTAIL Has been observed in several of the past years but only in small numbers (maximum 12 on 30.12.72 on Aruba Dam). Between late December 1973 and mid March 1974 regularly well over a dozen at Aruba, with m.aximum counts of 25 on 12. 1.74 and 1 .3.74. 4/7A5 CLIPEATA SHOVE LER On 24.12.73 about 15, all in eclipse plumage but one or two recognisable males, were seen on Kandetcha Dam (defunct), 3 km west of Aruba. Some water had collected there to form a shallow pond with grassy bottom. Eight were seen there again on 31.12.73, and several were found in scattered locations throughout January and February 1974. The last observation to date involved six birds at Aruba on 1,3.74. While the species is a fairly common winter visitor and/or passage migrant elsewhere in East Africa, we know of no previous record from Tsavo East. ANAS CRECCA TEAL One female was seen on 22,1.74 on a small rainwater pool about 12 km ENE of Park HQ. She tended to keep with three Wigeon (see below), rather than with Garganey (see below), that were present on the same pool. We know of 72 only one previous record for Tsdvo East: C. Smeenk (pers, comm.) saw a male three times between 7th and 24th January 1971 at Ndara Borehole. The species is said to be *'a scarce but perhaps regular migrant to Kenya" (Backhurst, Britton & Mann, 1973). AV/2S' PENELOPE WIGEON Previous records, only once or twice a year, always involved single birds only (Leutt'iold 1973), This past season we saw Wigeons at least five times between 31. 12,73 and 30.1.74; two observations concerned a pai r, and one male and two females (22.1.74). MAS QUERQUEDULA GARGANEY We have recorded this species every year, but never before- seen this season: on 24.12.73 at least 25 at Aruba and 15 on (with the Shove lers mentioned above); on 31.12.73 at least 50 10 at Kandetcha; at least 40 at Aruba on 1.3.74, with smaller between and up to 19.3,74. in the numbers Kandetcha Dam at Aruba and numbers seen in MAS STREPEPA GADWALL On 24.12.73 one female on Kandetcha Dam, together with about 15 Shovelers and 15 Garganey (see above), but keeping to itself. Seen both sitting and in flight. No previous records from Tsavo; the species seems to be very scarce in East Africa (Backhurst et al. 1973). TRINGA ERITHRQPUS SPOTTED REDSHANK While we have observed tiiis species fair'ly r'egularly in recent years (e.g. Leuthol d 1973), numibers in the past season greatly exceeded earlier records. Maximum, numbers were 10 at Kandetcha Dam on 31.12.73 and 16 at Ndara Borehole on 9,2.74 Backhurst et al. (1973) give the maximum number seen together previously as ten. CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS AE'RUGINOSUS (EUROPEAN) MARSH HARRIER Records of this species were rather spotty in previous years, with quite a few for the 1969/70 season, none for the following two years and only one in January 1973. This year we were struck by the frequency with which we saw this species; there were at least nine observations of I - 3 individuals, in different places, between 24.12.73 and 16.2.74. According to C. Smeenk (pers. comm, and forthcoming paper) the number of Palaearctic raptors varies considerably from year to year; this may be even more pronounced in a species with rather specialized habitat requirements. The above observations were unusual, i.n our experience, by either involving species not previously recorded in Tsat'o East or numbers far exceeding those of earlier years. Admittedly, we have not used strictly quantitive methods to confirm the latter aspect, but even relatively casual notes can give a reason- ab le picture of what is happening. As a preliminary explanation for the apparent "influx" of shore and water birds to Tsavo East we suggest the unus- ual rainfall pattern of the last six months. Whi le much of Kenya has had 73 considerably sub-normal rainfall, most areas in Tsavo Park received about average amounts in November/December 1973. This may have induced some birds to abandon traditional wintering areas and search for suitable habitats else- where, which they may have found in Tsavo East, at least for part of the se as on . We would be interested to hear whether other people have made relevant observations in their usual "hunting grounds", to either confirm or disprove this hypothesis. Walter and Barbara Leuthold, Tsavo Research Project, Box 14, Voi , Kenya. REFERENCES : Backhurst, G.C. 1973. Scarce palaearctic m.i grants in Kenya. EANHS Bull. 1973:113-114. Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L. & Mann C.F. 1973. The less common palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa nat. Hist, Soc. & Nat. Mus. 140. Leuthold, W. 1973. Less common palaearctic migrants. EANHS Bull. 1973:111-112. PARASITES COLLECTED FROM A FLEDGLING DOUBLE - TOOTHED BARBET LYBIUS BIDENTATUS A fledgling Doub I e-toothed Barbet Lybius hidentatus was found lying on the ground beneath its nest, about 7 m above in a hole in a tree. On examination it was found to have severe internal haemorrhage end some brain damage. It was humanely destroyed and a post-mortemi examination was carried out, during which numerous parasites were found and collected. Those are listed below: ACARINA. Two species of feather mites were identified, both belonging to the family Pteronyssi dae. Hyonyssus eurythrix (Gaud & Mouchet, 1959). 27 (10 m. ; 17 f.) individuals were co Mooted. Pteronyssus conurus (Trouessart, 1886). 103 (48 m:. ; 55 f.) individuals were collected. MALLOPHAGA. Two genera of chewing lice were identified. Fenenirmus sp. (superfamily Ischnocera). 4 specimens were coll- ected. 74 Myrsidea sp. (superfamily Amblycera). 2 specimens were collected. This genus is rarely collected on barbets (R. Dalgleish, pers. comm . ) , GESTUDA. A single imnature tapeworm, provisionally placed in the genus Raitlieti-na , was found in the small intestine. Because of the immaturity of the specimen, and hence the lack of any mature prog left ids, classifi at ion was difficult and some reservations about its placement in Raillietina must be held, especially as this genus is known to be of cosmopo I i ton distribution, chiefly characteristic of the Gall i formes and Col umb i formes (Rothschild & Clay 1952. Fleas ^ flukes and cuckoos :Cc\\ \r\s . p.l97). We should like to thank Professor W.T. Atyeo who identified soecimens of Acarina, Dr R. Dalgleish who identified specimens of Mallophaga and Dr F.K. Bitakaramlre who identified the single specimen of the Cestoda. M.D. Purton, M.K. Kigaye, Dept, of Veterinary Anatomy,* Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Nairobi, Makerere University, Box 30197, Box 7062, Kampala, Nairobi, Kenya. Uganda. *Present address. BATS COLLECTED AT LAKE RUDOLF - CORRECTION The second sentence in the second paragraph should read - "All but the two Megadermat i ds . . . etc." The last sentence of the first paragraph was omitted, this should read - "Common names are taken from Harrison (I960) and Rosevear (1965)." KENYA TREES AND SHRUBS BY DALE AND GREEN WAY (1961) This work has recently fetched high prices second hand (Shs. 300/- and Shs. 400/- signed by one of the authors). People evidently think that it is out of print. I was told on 26th March 1974, by the proprietor of Prestige Bookshop, Mama Ngina Way, that he has nearly fifty copies left selling at Shs. 135/-. He prudently bought up the entire remaining stock from the publisher some months ago. Members of the E.A.N.H.S. wishing to acquire this valuable work should therefore hasten to do so, whi le those with second hand copies to sell should wait a little to ensure a good price. J .B. Gi I lett. Box 45166, Nai robi . 75 LETTER TO THE EDITOR S i r. On monday 1st April 1974;, I found lying dead in a gutter in Wabera Street, Nairobi what I think' was a Black and White Cuckoo Clarriotor jaaobinus. It had black upperparts, a short crest and a roundish white patch (rather than a short bar) on each wing. Most of the long tai 1 feathers were missing, but the two that were left, one on each edge, were black with white tips. I wondered if the bird could have flown into a tall building or got knocked down in a rainstorm while flying over the city. Pat ri ci a PI umtre. Box 401 II , Nai robi . CONTRlBUTlOhiS TO THE BULLETIN Mr T.D. Morris write: ’'There is a dearth of articles on insects, fish and mammals in the Bulletin. Members are earnestly requested to send notes or articles to the Editor. Notes on Camp sites and out of the way places which might be of interest to members are also very welcome,''' FUNCTIONS Saturday, 4th May 1974: Mrs Fleur Ng' weno w i II lead a morn i ng walk for b i rds and flowers in the Nairobi area. Please meet at the Museum at 8.30 a.m. Saturday/Gun day 11/12 May, 1974: Mountain Lodge excursion. Full details were published in the April issue of the Bulletin. Monday, 13th May 1974 at 5.15 p.m.: In the National Museum Hall, Nairobi. Mr Mike Clifton will give an i I lustrated talk on "SorfB curious dudus I have known”. Wednesday morning bird walks continue to meet in front of the Museum (Nairobi) at 8.45 a.m. every week. Please note that 1st May, Labour Day is a public ho 1 i day and will be an all day trip. Please bring your pi cn i c I unch . NEW MEMBERS - MAY 1974 Li fe Member: Mr P. le Pel ley, Box 30333, Nairobi. Full Members: Mr B.K. Abramson, Box 82988, Mombasa, Kenya. Mr B.T. Fitton, Box 302 14, Nairobi. Dr Ing. Mario Giacolini, Stud i o Teen i co. Via Dami ane Chiesa 46, 58100, Grosseto, Italy. Mrs J.M. Gray, Box 959, Nakuru, Kenya. Mrs Audrey Read, Box 4 122 1, Nairobi. Mrs M.J. Malvestuto, Box 30518, Nairobi. Mrs S. Vames, Box 45568, Nairobi. 76 E A N H S an 7 El/3^ *y— BULLETI N A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN JUNE 1974 CONTENTS Col lared Flycatcher in Western Kenya -----------------78 Some bird notes from the Mara --------------------78 Kisumu Heronry ----------------------------79 Waders in the Dae es Salaam area of Tanzania - Part Three- ------ 80 Easter at Lake Baringo - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --^-82 Ringing Notice ----------------------------84 Bulletn Index for 1973 - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 84 Request for Information -----------------------84 White-cheeked Terns near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -----------85 Sunbird research ---------------------------86 Flora of Upland Kenya (notice) -------------------- S6 Obituary -------------------------------87 Society Functions --------------------------88 New Members 88 A RECORD OF A COLLARED FLYCATCHER FICEDVLA ALBICOLLIS SEMITORQVATA IN WESTERN KENYA Britton & Britton (1973) EANHS Bull. 1973: 94-95 record this species for the first time in Kenya, with a female, unraced, collected at Ng'iya on 2nd October 1972. On 3rd March 1974 near the Mara River, below the Siria Escarpment, and just outside the boundary of the Mara Masai Game Reserve, Duncan Cape and I managed to get brief but excellent views of a male Fiaedula flycatcher at ranges down to iO m. Brief notes and a drawing were made at the time. Aided by Graeme Backhurst I later compared these with descriptions and i I lustrations in Makatsch’s bestimmn die Vdgel Europas , 2nd Edition, 1969. I decided that the bird was a Collared Flycatcher of the race s emit or quart a. Description; underparts entirely white; crown, sides of face, neck, wings, rump and tai i black; large white patch on forehead; white in outer tail and large white area on wing apparently formed from edges of secondaries, coverts and bases of primaries; white patch on side of neck continuous with white of underparts but not forming a collar on hind neck. The Pied Flycatcher F. hypoleuca has a much smaller area of white on the forehead, and lacks the white patches on the sides of the neck. The nominate race of the Collared Flycatcher has a complete white collar and white rump. Thus these two forms are eliminated. Thus the present sighting is the second record of Fioedula alhioollis and the first of F. a. semitorquata in Kenya. Cl i ve F. Mann , Box 337 Kapsabet. SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE MARA On 2nd and 3rd March 1974 Duncan Cape and I spent some hours bird watching along and near the Mara River below the Siria (= Oloiol) Escarpment, and along the road from Mara Bridge to Lolgorien, both inside and outside the Mara Masai Ganre Reserve, Kenya. Apart from the Collared Flycatcher in the above note, the following interesting species were also recorded. CICONIA ABDIMII ABDIM’S STORK Hundreds seen on the flooded grassy plains. CICONIA EPISCOPUS WOOLLY-NECKED STORK 7+ with the abundant herons and other storks on flooded plains. Williams (1967) A Field Guide to the Rational Parks of East Africa records it as’ rare’. HIRUNDO SEMIRUFA RUFOUS-CHESTED SWALLOW A number seen with other swallows. Not recorded by Williams. CISTICOLA ERITHROPS RED-FACED Cl ST I COLA Quite common by the river. Not recorded by Williams. CISTICOLA FULVICAPILLA TABORA CISTICOLA Two pairs seen. Not recorded by 78 W i N i arns . CISTICOLA WOOSNAMI TRILLING CISTICOLA The song of this species was heard wherever there were open, rocky, bush-clad hillsides. it appeared to be quite common. The only other published records of this species in Kenya are from Rapoqi and Ovugis, South Nyanza District, Suga & Sugq (1972) E Aims Bull. 1972; 38-40. C I I ve F, Mann , Box 337 Kapsabet. KISUMU HERONRY Two years ago the Society organized a field meeting to the Kisumu Heronry, but it was not as spectacular as normal because of the poor rains. During 1973 the heronry was reasonably successful, but this year it promises to be well worth visiting. 1 visited the heronry on 1st May 1974 with my parents and we made the following estimates and notes which are by no means accurate - most likely they are underestimates: SPECIES PAIRS NOTES ON BREEDING Phalaarocorax afvicanus Long-tai led Cormorant Ardea melanoaephala Black-necked Heron Egretta alba Great V)hite Egret E. intermedia Ye 1 I ow-b i 1 I ed Egret E. garzetta, Li tt I e Egret Ardeola ibis Cattle Egret An. as t orwAS I ame lligerus Open-b i I I Stork Ibis ibis Ye 1 I ow-b i I I ed Stork Threskiomis aethiopica Sacred Ibis Platalea alba Spoonbi I t By the time this note appears, the breeding should be in full swing with the fledging starting in early June and continuing for at least a month. Those visiting the heronry should aim to be there soon after dawn (to get the best light for photography). The approach track turns south off the Kisumu-Ahero road at 8 km from Kisumu and one may be able to drive up to half a ki lorretre along the track before it becomes waterlogged; thereafter, walk for about 3 km for which a guide (local mtotol) is essential unless one knows the way. John Harper, Box 547 Kericho. 79 50 100 50 100 200 100 50 500 sitting on eggs nest bui I ding bui I di ng bui I ding bui I ding bui Iding and sitting bui Iding bui Iding - i tt ing some s i tt in 9 FHE OCCURRENCE OF WADERS IN THE DAR ES SALAAM AREA OF TANZANIA - PART THREE NmmiUS PHAEOPUS WHiMBREL Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, salt pans, lagoons, mangroves and coral coasts. Tends to form monospecific flocks, sometimes with odd Curlews and Godwits but wi II mix with Grey Plovers, particularly at tide roosts. Main arrivals in July and August and numbers bui Id up slowly to reacfi a peak in October when flocks of over 100 are not unusual. In August and September and from November to March, flocks of 50 to 80 are more usual, and flocks rarely exceed 30 from AprI I to July. NUEENIUS ARQUATA CURLEW Scar'ce non-breedi ng visitor and passage migrant to tidal sandflats, salt pans and lagoons. invariably seen in the flocks of the much commonor Whimbrel. This species is little more than a straggler to the area although bef'ween August and June theme are always a few birds about. It is most often recordod In October when parties of up to 12 have been seen. imOSA LIMGSA B L ACK-T A 1 LE D GODW I T Vagrant, One record of a single bird with Bar-tai led Godwits at Msasani salt pans, October 1972. Backhurst et al. (1973 p.20) mistakenly attribute records of mine between October and December 1970 to this species. These records rsfei' to Bar-tai led Godwits. LIMOSA LAEPONICA B7R-TAILED GODW I T Scarce but regular non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sandflats, brackish lagoons and salt pans. Usually with flocks of Whimbrel and Grey Plover. Recorded in every month from September to February and once in June. it is most in evidence in September/October (maximum 12, 14 October 1970) when the main passage appear'S to take place. From November to February odd birds and small parties are regularly recorded. The earliest date is 2 September 1971 and the latest, 24 February 1973. There is no evidence of spring passage except for a single bird (probably oversumnneri ng) on 2 J un e i 9 7 3 . TRIRGA REBULARIA GREENSHANK ComiT.cn non-breeding visii'or and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, salt pans, lagoons, mangroves and sewage beds. Also recorded from Fresh water marshes and coral coasts. Often mixes with Marsh Sandpipers when feeding and with Wh i inb re I at tide roosts. Main arrival in August and from then unt i 1 October flocks of up to 150 are regular. Between October and March flocks of up to 100 are more usual. There is little evidence of spring passage and from April to July flocks rarely exceed 50 birds and smaller numbers are more usual. TRINGA STAGNATILIS MARSH SANDPIPER Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats. salt pans, lagoons, mangroves and sewage beds. Often mixes with Greenshank. Main arrival in mid Septen;ber and flocks of around 50 occur regularly from then unti I late March. Maximum flock sizes have never exceeded 100. In March i'here is some evidence of return passage. From Apri I to August small parties of up to 10 birds occur. TRINGA GLAEEOLA WOOD SANDPIPER Common non-breedi ng visitor and passage migrant, mainly to fresh water pools and marshes, wet rice paddy fie Ids, sewage beds, mangroves, brackish lagoons and salt pans. Most birds food inland near freshwater but in late afternoon they flight to the coasf fo roost with other waders on salt pans. It is here that tlie largest fiocks fiave been recorded. Smaller numbers regularly feed by brackish lagoons and in mangroves, although rarely under the canopy. The spocies has even been recorded along water channels in tidal send flats. Main arrival in late July and early August and from then until late March flocks 40-50 are not uncommon at favoured feeding marshes or at r.''ost5. Occasionclly larger numbers (over 100) are recorded and there is evidence of ret"rn passage in March when flocks of 80-100 iiave been seen (maximum flock size 120, 1 8 March I97I). Small numbers occur between Aori I and July. TRINGA OCHROPVS GREEN SANDPIPER Scarce non-breeding visitor' and passage migrant mainly to creeks in mangroves wpere i -f will mix with Wood Sandpipers. It has only once been recorded from a i i de roost at salt pans. Very small numbers (maximum 3, 12 December I970) have been recorded between lO October and 12 December and between I5 March and 1 9 April, which may indicate that it is a bird of passage only. TRINGA FIYRGLEUCOO COMMON SANDPIPER Fairly common non-b reeding visitor and passage migrant mainly to salt pans, lagoons, mangroves, muddy creeks and esfuaries, freshwater pools and mar'shes, sewage beds and coral coasts. it also occurs on open tidal sand flats, beaches and even on dry areas in acacia scrub. It shares with the Terek Sandpiper and ihe Three-banded Plover an attraction to muddy ground, especially along small creeks in mangroves, and it will feed under the canopy. This species tends to feeo singly or In small parties, but in favoured localities wiil mix with other sandpipers. Although total numbers are relatively small, this is one of the most widespread of the visiting waders. Main arrival in August and September and from then unti I March scattered flocks of 15-20 CTre common. li is unusual for these flocks to exceed 30 birds. From March to July small numbers usually oversummer but I have seen no indications of possible breeding. TRINGA TOTANUS REDSHANK Probably a regular passage migrant in very small numbers. Two birds recorded in Decemiber 1970 and one in December I97I. In both cases the birds were with a flock of Greenshanks at a tide roost at salt pans and appeared to be of one of the grey eastern races. 8 1 ARENARIA INTERPRES TURNSTONE Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, coral coasts, salt pans and mangrove creeks. Tends to form monospecific flocks at tide roosts, although it will mix particularly with Sanderling, Terek Sandpiper and Ringed Plover when feeding along the strand. Main arrival in late October although the first birds precede this by up to ten weeks. Between October and March flocks of up to 50 are common whi le larger flocks (up to 80) have been recorded in late March, indicating a return passage. Small numbers (up to 20) are present during the rest of the year. This species feeds mainly on the coast and usually roosts above HWM on sandy beaches (often with Sanderling) or coral platforms. Very high tides drive it inland to join the tide roosts of other waders on the salt pans, and it is at these times that the largest numbers are recorded. GALLINAGO MEDIA GREAT SNIPE Probably a regular spring passage migrant in small numbers. I have only one record of at least 3 birds flushed from a grassy swamp near Mb eg an i in April 1973 but suitable habitats for the species are limited and rarely visited. W.G. Harvey, British Coun ci I , D j a I an I mam Bon d j d , 57 - 59 Djakarta, I n dones i a. (It was implied in the Miay Bulletin that the above would be the final part of this article; it is hoped that the concluding part will appear next month. Edi tor. ) EASTER AT LAKE BARINGO My wife and I were invited to stay at the Lake Baringo Lodge over Easter this year, and as it was a very wet time, the warmer drier climate there was very much appreciated. V)e have been to Baringo many times and have always enjoyed the flora and fauna there, and there is always something new to be seen. Baringo lies at an altitude of 1025 m and is about I 10 km north of Nakuru on an al l-weather road, the first 30 km of which are tarmac. The Lake is marked by the very brown colouration of the water, due to the si It in suspension. This is mainly due to the very bad erosion in the surrounding countryside which means that a large mass of silt is carried into the lake. It is very shallow and has never been clear in living memory, although it used to be a lot better than now. Sporadic winds whip the surface, which is another factor affecting the water. It has a fish population of tilapia, but these do not grow to any great size, due to the lack of feeding stuff, which in turn is due to poor photosynthesis in the murky water. The fishing is also probably unbalanced, with immature fish removed all the time. The lake has several Interesting islands, which no doubt have local names, but the main ones are known to us as North, Main, Teddy Bear and Gi bra Iter Islands. These have interesting plant populations and the most striking 82 is the largo number of desert roses Adenium ohesum, ranging through all shades, from dark red to white. These are the Somali strain, having thin narrow leaves, as compared with the broader leaves of the species found in Tsavo and elsewhere. North Island is particularly attractive, having a very large population of desert roses, as well as other interesting trees. Main Island has hot sulphurous springs bubbling out of the .ground, and these are well worth a visit. The whole Baringo area is normally very dry and eroded, but with the rains this year everything was green and pleasant. The main feature was the carpet of yellow flowers, covering whole areas of the landscape and presenting a most beautiful sight. This is the creeping annual Tribulus terrestris. The seeds of this plant are triangular and sharp printed, and are meet painful if one steps on them in bare feet. The plant is grazed by ail types of stock, and is said to be poisonous. When eaten in quantity it causes bloat and the Suk expect about 3% of their herds to bo killed through eating the plant. However, it is a case of 'Hobson's Choice' where grazing is so short. The area and the islands have a number of succulent plants which are interesting. The most obvious is Caralluma retrospiciens with conspicuous heads of dark purple flowers. Caralluma gracilipes can be seen, and also C. soootrana which was in flower when we were there, with dark brick red flowers. It has a powerful and pungent scent, which is notable even in this genus of evil-smelling flowers! Edithcolea grandt-s occurs, and the aloes and sansevieras are interesting. North Island is crying cut to be made info a plant sanctuary on similar lines to Mutomo, near Kitui, before the goats and cattle which are ferried over when grazing is short destroy its flora. The bird life at Baringo is exceptionally varied, and a list of species seen by Terence Alien during a four dciy visit in February has been deposited in the Library. The more uncommon species include Hemprich's Hornbill Tookus herrprichiij Bri st le-crowned Starling Of'iycognathuc salvadoriij Verreaux's Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus and Curl y-- crested Helmet Shrikes Pvionops plumata. Verreaux's Eagle Owl can be seen fairly easily, if one knows where to go. The Tugen make small canoes from 'ambatch' Aeschynomene elaphroxylon 3 which is a pithy shrub and grows in water on the edges of swamps and rivers at this elevation. They paddle these canoes in a partially water-logged condition across the lake, using hand paddles, and these cances are an interesting surviv/al of an age-o I d methos . It is sad to see the surrounding country being progressively devastated, by poor soi 1 cultivation methods and goats. The trees do not escape from the latter, and the Tugen climb them and lop branches for goat fodder when there is no other vegetation offering. Past experiments in land reclamation and regeneration have proved very successful if grazing is controlled and goats eliminated. However, al I these experiments appear to be of no avai I, and the local people carry on with their destructive practices, apparently without guidance or control. There is a comfortable camp on Main Island, run by Jonathan Leakey, and 83 Betty Roberts has self-service cottages anc camp sites. Lake Baringo Lodge, which has a swimming pcoi, provides an excellent centre for visiting the district. Boats to visit the islands can be hired through the Lodge. Michael and Joan Skinner, who own and run the Lodge, are very knowledgeable on local conditions and customs, and we can recommend a weekend, or a few days, at Baringo for anybody who has not yet been there and who wishes to see a new and interesting paii' of Kenya. I will be suggesting a Natural History Weekend at Baringo for the Society for 29th/30th November and 1st December this year, so look out for an announcement nearer the time if you are interested, ' Tom, Grumbley, Box 4201 I , Nai rob i . RINGING NOTICE The ringing year ends on 30th June so please send in schedules, whether complete or not, for ail birds ringed up to this date, as early in July as possible. Please also send detai Is of retraps and controls - i f you have a lot, please drop me a line and I will send some ret rap/contro 1 forms, catalogue number ERS/99-4b. Please let me have all the ’paper work’ as soon as possible so that I can get on with the next report, which wi II contain the list of Pa I ae a retie birds ringed in 1973/74, as well as those ringed in 1972/73. „ , u j. Graeme Backhurst, Ringing Organizer, Box 29003, Kabete , Nai rob i . BULLETm INDEX FOR 1973 The index to the Bulletin for 1973 is being distributed with this issue. It was kindly prepared by Daphne Backhurst. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION I am investigating the genetics of shell colour polymorphism in the land snail LimtoolaTia mavtensima Achat in idae>, a species which is widespread in East Africa. It can probably best be described as looking like a small and slender Aohatina fulioa - the East African Giant Snai 1. Like Achatina^ L. martensiana usually has a b rown i sh-ye I 1 ow ground colour covered by dark brown verticle ’streaks’, but in some populations paler varieties also occur. When adult, the shell has a height of about 40 mni, a maximum width of 10-20 mm, and 6-8 whorls. Diagrams of the common varieties are given in D. F. Owen’s Animal Ecology in Tropical Aifrica (Oliver & Boyd, 1966) as well as in his scientific papers on polymorphism in L. martensiana (e.g. J. Zool,s Bond. 159: 79-96 (1969)). I would be very pleased to receive 84 live and/or dead material that more or less fits the above description. Live snai Is should be pecked in a strong confainer, such as a tin. If the packing material (newspaper is ideal) is plentiful and dry the snails wi II aestivate and are then less susceptible to the rigours of the postal services,, The package should be sent ai rmai I and should include a note ■ giving a brief description of when and where the snails were found. I shall gladly refund the cost of postage. John A. Allen, Department of Zoology, Box 35064, Dar es Sa I aarn, Tanzania. WHITE-CHEEKED TERNS STERNA REPRESSA NEAR DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA In the August 1972 Bulletin ! recorded the sighting of a probable White- cheeked Tern at Dar es Salaam in June 1972 (Harvey 1972). From Apri I to June 1973 and in November 1973 i made a number of further sightings of terns wh i ch a 1 so appeared to be of this species. The sightings were as fol lov NUMBER DATE PLACE 1 19.4.73 Msasan i 1 agoon 8 3.5.73 Ms as an i 1 agoon c, 5 6,5.73 Dar es Salaam habour 1 2.6.73 Msasan i 1 agoon ! ^ 7,6.73 Msasan i 1 agoon 2 16,6.73 Msasan i 1 agoon 6 i7.,6.73 Dar es Salaam habour ■ 2 20.6.73 Msasan i 1 agoon 1 30,6.73 Msasan i 1 agoon 3 + 4.11.73 Kunduchi beach The Ms as an i birds appeared after heavy rain and wef^e found resting or mud at the edge of a brackish lagoon. They were ■ bedragg I ed and 'a I lowed very close approach. Most of the plumage description that follows was taken from these birds which I vqs able to compare directly w i th ,Wh i skered Terris Chlidonias hybrida and White-winged Black Terns C. leuoopterus. The harbour birds were only seen in flight among larger numbers of Lesser Crested Terns Sterna hei-igalensis and probable Roseate Terns S. dougallii. The Kunduchi birds were seen at rest on the edge of a flock of 100+ Roseate Terns, 400+ Lesser Crested Terns and 50 Swift Terns Stevn.a bergii. All the White-cheeked Terns were in si mi lar p I umage ( e i the r non-breeding or subadult) with the November birds most advanced towards full adult breed- ing dress. The following is a description of a typical individual in non- breed i ng p I umage . BUILD a small, rather squat dark tern not unlike a marsh tern {Chlidonias) at rest although with larger, thinner bill and longer tail and wings. In flight confusingly like other small Sterna terns. The short tarsii were much more like those of Arctic Terns S. paradisaea than any of the local ly recorded Sterna spp. 85 HEAD white with black hind crown and nape the lower border of which extends in a point to the eye and is invariably incurved, UPPERPARTS grey on mantle^, rump and tail becoming progressively paler towards the tai I, but never white. Tai I deeply forked, often fanned in flight and with darker outer tai I feathers. WINGS primaries dark grey with white qui Ms to the outer ones. Secondaries whitish with greyer tips. Lesser coverts grey as mantle; secondary coverts greyish. Greater coverts blackish, forming a distinct bar both at rest and in f I i gh t . UNDERPARTS considerable individual variation ranging from whitish to grey. Never pure white or pinkish end never dark blackish grey as in breeding dress. November birds darkest of all. SOFT PARTS typically slender Sterna bi II though shorter than Roseate’s. Always all-black. Tarsi and tees brownish orange to brownish red. The above records suggest That the White-cheeked Tern is a regular non- breeding visitor in very small numbers to the Dar es Salaam coast from Apri I to June and an occasional visitor at ether times of the year. W.G. Harvey, Bri t i sh Counci I , Dj elan I mam Bon d j d , ?7 - 59 Djakarta, I ndonesi a. SUNBIRD RESEARCH Dr Frank B. Gill is continuing his research on sunbirds in Kenya, and would be very grateful to know of any large patches of Leanotis, Please inform either A. Forbes-Watsc-n or Miss D. Angwin at the National Museum, Box 40658, Nairobi. Dr Gi I I would also like to hear from anybody who has good photographs of any sunbird species. His address is The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 19th and the Parkway, Philadelphia, Penn 19103, U.S.A. . AGNEW & HAN ID - FLORA OF UPLAND KENYA This book, whose forthcoming publication was announced in the February Bultetin^ is not now expected unti I late in the year, but the publishers would be glad tc^ know about how many copies members of the supporting societies will want. Members will recall that this Society gave' 2000/- towards the cost of publication, and in return members will be able to buy copies at a reduced price, probably about I20/-. The proofs were shown, at the A.G.M. Any member who expects to purchase a copy is asked to send in his name to the Librarian, or to the Hon. Secretary at Box 44486, Nairobi, as soon as possible please. Daphne Collins, Hon. Secretary, 86 OB I TUARY On the night of 3rd May 1974 Leslie Desmond Edward Foster Vesey FitzGerald passed away in his sleep of heart-fai lure, at the age of sixty-four, whi 1st staying with friends at Karen. Desmond, or Vesey as he was known by his friends, was an all-round naturalist; he trained as an entomologist at the Agricultural College, Wye, and then went to the Tropical Agricultural College, Trinidad to complete his training, after which his main line of work was that of biological control of insects. After a shori' time in British Guiana working on the pests of sugar cane, he returned to England and, havitig some money, bought his first motor-car but soon tired of a life of leisure and got a job in Nigeria. Soon he Was switched from there tcthe Seychelles to work on the Scale insects of Coco- nut Palms using the Coounetid Ladybird as a control; this work was very successful. Whi 1st so engaged he travelled extensively up and down the East African coast from Kenya as far, south as the Rovuma River in search of Ladybirds. It was about this period - 1936-1938 - that I first met Vesey when he visited Aman i in the East Usambara Mduntai ns , in the course of his search; he accompanied rre ro various parts of the mountains on my botanical excursions in the rain forest. Even then he was keenly interested not only in the insects but in frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, small mammals and birds. He was also collecting plants, sending me specimens of Utriculavia, from the Island of Mafia collected in 1936. He then went to Malaya just previous to the War from which he escaped via Sumatra and Ceylon, After this he was appointed Senior Locust Officer in the Middle East AniH-Locust Unit in Arabia for about five years during which he was awarded the M.B.E. for his work. From Arabia he came to the Game Department, Kenya in which he served for two years, then was appointed Locust Officer, Red Locusts, where he worked in the Rukwa Rift and Mwera Want i pa, Northern Rhodesia. It was then that Vesey took a greater interest in grasses, sedges and, to a certain extent, in ferns. On his retirement from the Red Locusts, Dr John Owen, O.B.E. offered him the post of Ecologist to the Tanzania National Parks where he made his base at Mcmella, the headquarters of Arusha National Park, where his interest in grasses, sedges and ferns was greatly increased by the richness of these groups of plants by which he was surrounded. Vesey was a great conversati ona I ist, a good safari companion from, whom one learned a lot about natural history, and a very charming and generous host to visitors from all parts of the world. We ought to be glad of his peaceful passing but it is a grievous loss that it was so early for one with so much sti I I to accomplish. P.J.G. 87 FUNCTIONS Saturday /Sunday 8/9 June 1974; Camp at Miss Joyce’s Farm, Ki lima Kiu. On the Sunday morning Mr Gillett will lead a plant identification walk. The farm is approximately 80 km from Nairobi; 73 km along the Mombasa road turn left at the signpost marked ’Joyce, Kiiima Kiu, Private Road’. Monday 10 June 1974: 5.15 p.m., Museum Lecture FlaM; Mr Gillett will give a talk on Plant Identification - on specimens collected at Kiiima Kiu. Saturday 15 June 1974 - FOR BEGINNERS ONLY: An introduction to the identif- ication of birds; one hcur in the Museum, two hours in the field. Please treet in the Bi rd Hall of the National Museum, at 2.30 p.m. Monday 8 July 1974 : Lecture at 5.15 p.m. - details to be announced. Saturday/Sunday 13/14 July 1974: Camp at Mr Eric Lucas’ farm, 01 ’Kalou. Camp will be on the banks of the Meiawa River. Interesting river valley for birds, and good variety of butterflies and moths. Any I epi dopteri sts with a light trap - it would be worthwhile to bring one. Trout fishing in the Meiawa is now restricted to members of a consortium, who can introduce guests at 25/- per day. 01 ’Kalou salient has now appointed fishing scouts to enforce this. Sunday 2 1 July 1974 : All -day 'dudu crawl' led by Mr Mike Clifton. Saturday/Sunday 17/18 August 1974: Camp at Lake Hannington - details later. Se p te mb e r : Nai vasha Study Camp weekend - detai Is later. NEW MEMBERS - JUNE 1974 Full Members: Mr D.R. Aspinwall, Box RW.93, Lusaka, Zambia. Mr M. Ball, Box 40677, Nairobi. Mrs Barbara Charlton, Box 7, Kikuyu, Kenya. Mr R.J. Dowsett, National Museums, Box 498, Livingstone, Zambia. Mr J.C.A. van Etten , Box 30772, Nairobi. Lt. Colonel Hilary Hook, Kiserian, Box 45, Kiganjc, Kenya. Mr D.K. Jones, Lenana School, Box 30253, Nairobi. Mr G. Matzke, Miomibo Research Centre, Box 25295, Dar es Salaam, Tan z an i a. Miss Jean Minette, c/o Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Kabete, Kenya. Rev. Hermann Pelchen, Box 47097, Nairobi. Mrs Ma 1 i n Wenner, Swedish Embassy D.C.O. , Box 4439 1, Nairobi. Junior Member: Miss Anngret Pelchen, Box 47097, Nairobi. 88 E A N H S / BULLETI N A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN JULY 1974 CONTENTS The occurrence of waders in Dar es Salaam - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 90 Ringing note - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 92 Further frigate birds on the Kenya coast - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 93 Freshwater snai Is, schistosomiasis or Bi lharzia - -- -- -- -- -- - 93 Icterine Warbler and Chiffchaff on Mount Kenya - -- -- -- -- -- - 95 Editorial help requi red - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 95 Unusual behaviour of Rufous Chatterers - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 95 A visit to Texel - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 97 Marked Great White Pelicans - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 93 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 99 Society functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 100 New members - July 1974 - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - lOO THE OCCURRENCE OF WADERS IN THE DAR ES SALAAM AREA OF TANZANIA - PART THREE TRINGA TEREK TEREK SANDPIPER Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sandflats, open mangraoves and creeks, salt pans, lagoons and sewage beds. it favours muddy ground near water, especially in areas of cleared mangroves where the stumps alone remain and along the edges of creeks where they enter the tidal flats. Feeds in scattered flocks often mixing with Turnstones. Roosts with other waders in tide roosts on salt pans. Recorded in every month although in variable numbers from year to year. Main arrival in late September through to early November when flocks of up to 80 occur. From November flock sizes vary from less than a dozen to a maximum of 120 (December 1971). Return passage apparent in late March and Apri I with flocks of up to 80 common again. Between May and September numbers are especially erratic but flocks of between 20 and 40 are always recorded for at least six weeks during this period, suggesting a small oversummering population moving up and down the coast. CALIDRIS CANUTES KNOT Vagrant. One record of at least three at a tide roost on salt pans, 17 November 1970 (Harvey 1971). CALIDRIS FERRUGINEA CURLEW SANDPIPER Very common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal flats, salt pans, lagoons, coral coasts, fresh water marsh and sewage beds. Often mixes with other waders, particularly Little Stints. Main autumn arrival from mid July to late August and flocks of up to 800 have been recorded up to late September (maximum 1000+ , 18 September 1973). From October to March flocks of 300-400 are more usual and there is some evidence of spring passage in late March and Apri I when flocks of up to 600 occur. From Apri I to July variable numbers oversummer with sone evidence of a small build up in June. In May, flocks of over 50 are rarely recorded but flocks of up to 200 birds in non-breeding dress occur irregularly in June and early July. CALIDRIS NlINUTA LITTLE STINT Very common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats, salt pans, lagoons, salt flats, coral coasts, fresh water marsh, wet rice paddyfields and sewage beds. Often mixes with other waders particularly Curlew Sandpipers. Main autumn arrival from late June and from then unti I late October flocks of 400-500 with peaks of over 600 having been recorded. From November to Apri I flocks of 250-300 are more normal and there is little evidence of a spring passage. Numbers between Apri I and July vary consider- ably both from year to year and from week to week. In June 1971 flocks of 40-50 were commonly recorded, whereas the maximum flock size at the same site in June 1973 was 15. 90 CALIDRIS ALBA. SANDERUNG Common non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to tidal sand flats and sandy beaches. Generally roosts above HWM on beaches but individuals regularly recorded with tide roosts of other waders at salt pans and, occasionally feeding by brackish lagoons on salt flats. Tends to form monospecific flocks but will mix with Turnstones and Wh i te~ fronted Sand Plovers along the- strand and with Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints on tidal sand flats and at tide roosts. Main autumn arrival is in early October but the first birds precede this by up to eight weeks. From October to Apri I flocks of around 50 are common and in favoured localities, particul- arly at high tide, flocks of over 100 have been recorded. There is no evidence of peaks in num.bers indicating marked passage however. The species has been recorded in every month but only odd birds and small parties over- summer. LIhilCOLA FALCINELLUS BROAD-B I LLED SANDP I PER Vagrant. One record of a single bird on the edge of a brackish I agocn , 2 August 1971 (Harvey 1971). FHILOMACmS PUGNAX RUFF Rather scarce non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to brackish lagoons, salt pans, mangroves, sewage beds, fresh water pools and marsh and wet ri ce paddyf ie 1 ds . It mixes freely with other waders, particularly Wood Sandpipers but numbers vary a great deal and most birds are probably passing through the area. Between August and Apri I parties oi up to 20 have been recorded although smaller groups of 5-10 are more usual. Larger numbers (maximufii 40, 19 Apri I 1973) have been seen in September and Apri I, indicating passage. A few birds oversummer so that the species has been re- corded in every month. Compared with the very large flocks which occur inland in East Africa these numbers are very small and it would seem that this is one of the few Palaearctic waders whose main migration route is i n I an d . HimNTOPUS Himi^TQPUS BLACK- WINGED STILT Both a regular breeding visitor and non-breeding visitor and passage migrant to brackish lagoons, sewage beds, salt pans and tidal sandflats. The breeding of two pairs was first noted on a brackish lagoon at Msasani near Dar es Salaam in June 197 1 (Harvey 1971). In 1972 five pairs attempted breeding without success and up to four pairs were also unsuccessful in their attempts to breed in 1973. The breeding birds first appear in late May and numibers bui Id up rapidly to reach a peak in late June or July (maxima, 1971: 20; 1972: 32; 1973: 50). Only a small percentage of the pairs present attempt to breed in June and July although most of the birds are paired, maintain feeding territories and noisly try to drive off intruders to the area. During Septemiber the numbers decline rapidly. In 1972 at least one recently fledged juveni Ie arrived with the adult birds and this, together witlt the fact that so few of the pairs attempt breeding, suggests that the birds have come from, another breeding site in East Africa. During this period (May to September) sti Its have been recorded from other coastal lagoons as well as sewage beds, but breeding has only been recorded 9 I from one other site aparf from i^isasani (one pair at Kerege in June 1973). From late September to Apri I smaMcr numbers of sti Its occur in open mangrove creeks, brackish lagocns, salt pans, tidal sand flats and sewage beds. Parties of up to 12 are not uncommon but the numibers are very variable (e.g. maximum 45, October 1972). I think that most of these birds are different from the breeding population and it is likely that they are Palae- arct i c mi grants . ROSTRATVLA BENGHALEMSIS PAINTED SNIPE Probably a local breeding resident in very small numbers. Recorded from freshwater pools and grassy swamps and the margins of a brackish stream near mangroves. I have only recorded the species in September, November and December which may indicate that it is no more than a seasonal visitor during these months. However it is a notoriously difficult bird to see and my visits to suitable sites are infrequent. All records refer to one or two b i rds . RE FERENCES Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less com.mon Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Hat. hms. 140: 1-38. Foyden, M.P.L, 1963. Early autumn migrants in coastal Kenya. Ibis 105: 112-3. Harvey, W.G. 1971. A Tanzanian r'eccrd cf Knot Calidris canutus. EANES Bull. 197 1 : 75. 1971. Ihe second Broad-billed Sandpiper for Tanzania. EAHHS Bull. 1971; 16 1. 1971. A breeding record of Black-winged Sti Its Himantopus himantopus in coastal Tanzania. EANHS Bull. 1971: 176. — . — 1972. Caspian Plovers Charadrius asiaticus at the coast. E Amis Bull. 19 72. 175. 1973. Lesser Golden Plover Iluvialis dominica near Dar os Salaam. EAmS Bull. 1973: 84. Mioreau, R.E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academi c Press . — — — 1972. Academic Press. Sutton, J.E.G. (Ed.) notes Rec. No . 7 I . The P alae arctic- A fr-i can bird nrigratian systems. London; 19 70. Dar es Salaam: City, pert and region. Tanzania Harvey, Bri t i sh Ccun ci I , D j a I an I mam Bon d j d , 57 - 59 Djakarta, I n denes i a. RINGING NOTE i n Ringers, please send me all your July as possible. Thank you. schedules and retraps/controls os early Graeme Backhurst, Bex 29003, Kabete, Nairobi. 92 FURTHER FRIGATE BIRDS ON THE KENYA COAST Se3vera! sightings of unidentified immature frigate birds Fregata sp. on the Kenya coast have been reported, in this Bulletvn. Forbes-Watson (EANHS Bull. 1972: 64) has pointed c.ut that only two species, ini'inor and ariel) are at a II likely tc occur in our waters, and that the only positively identified individual is a Greater Fri gat Bi rd F. minor cc.liected at Kipini. On 29th August 1971 I found a bleached Fregata skul I on a beach near Ki unga, close to the Somalia border, which represents a second Kenya record of minor, The.bi I I measures I 15 mm and is too long for the much sma I ler ariel. Wh i le watching gulls gathering to roost at Nyali Beach, Mombasa on 13th January 1974 1 noticed an immature frigate bird gli'Jing over my head. It was watched for 20 minutes as it glided out tc' sea and eventually disappeared froni view over bamburi Beach at 18.40 h. It was unmistakably a frigate bird, mainly blackish or very dark br'cwn, but with white head, bi II, feet and belly, the latter area extending some distance under both wings. On the evening of 2nd February 1974, .Pat Dcnnelly end Peter Squelch watched a frigate bird gliding along the beach at Watamu. Their description suggests that tins was very likely +he same . i n di vi dua I seen three weeks earlier at Nyali, some 100 km south-west, V)hi le fishing sc^me GO km out tc sea off Shimoni, close tc the Tanzanian border, on 24-25th March 1974, Pat Hemph i I I saw seven or eight frigate birds including soirie adult males. They were associated with masses of Bon i to and ether fish as were numbers of boobies Sula sp. The last of these records suggests that this and other pelagic species may be regular or common out to sea, and I would be glad tc receive and co-ordinate any casual observations by fishing enthusiasts, Peter L. Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa, FRESHWATER SNAI LS, SCHISTOSOMIASIS OR BILHARZIA Theis note is prepared at the request of a few members who have asked if it were possible to tell whether various bodies of water (dams, lakes, streams, swamps etc.) were free rm infested with the organisms which cause the disease known as schistosomiasis or Bi iharzia (after Bi lharz, 185 1). The answer to the query is 'No', unless extensive exarninaticn is made tor the intermediate stage of the parasite wfi i ch lives in certain freshwater snai Is, I would regard all water as suspect unless above 7000 ft (=2 134 m) or where the water was really fast flowing. The disease occurs in most districts in East Africa and with the wide- spread movement of potential human reservoirs, the incidence could be oven more widespread, although probably only in many smalt localised foci. Bodies of water may be infested for short periods only, depending on human centamin- at i cn and the presence of the intermediate host snai I. 93 I shewed, in 1948 durinj extensive surveys, thet most of the streams in Nairobi were contaminated from time tc time, particularly during periods of low water in the dry season. Many children were- found infected having pUiyed in the residual pools or even wh.en getting their feet wet while cross- ing a stream on their way to school. The Nairobi Dam is a dangerous potential source of infection. The life history of the trematode worm which causes this very debilitating disease is as follows: water is cc.ntami noted by eggs passed in the urine or faeces of infected poople. The eggs hatch in water to forms known as miracidia and these then find their way into suitable i nterrredi ate hosts, i.e. certain species of freshwater snails. In the snail they cevelop in the liver and multiply until the cercarial stage is reached. Cercariae are liberated into the water. They are active free-swimming, minute, just visible, fork- tai led creatures. This is the stage that penetrates the skin of the victim when they make their way, via the blood vessels, unti 1 they reach the liver c.r bladder and settle down tC' develop into mature mole and female worms, and egg production begins. Thus the cycle starts all over agai n . The worms are known as Schistosoma haernatohi'um of urinary infection and 5'. rnansoni for the rectal infection. S, bovis infests cattle along with the allied Liver Fluke Fasciola gigantea. Not all freshwater snails can act as intermediate hosts and it appears that there is considerable host specificity, however, as a guide, small snails with a sinistral (left) aperture, as Bulinus spp . are hosts whereas species with dextral apertures, as Lyrmaea spp. are not hosts of the human type of cercariae but the most important snai I is probably the ''rarn's horn*' type, Biomphalavia spp. If those snails arc seen in the water then that water is suspect, particularly if near human habitatir.n or on any drainage system. Furtivormore it has been shown, in recent years, that the Baboon can be a host of the worm and naturally infested. Even that delightful pool far from the liaunts of man may be infested with suitable snails invaded, and so infested with the intermediate stages of itie worm, sc where baboons are plentiful near streams or rivers, avoid the water; ert least stand it for 24 h cr bi'-i I it if it is necessary to use it. Cercariae are short lived but they are shed daily over long periods and C'ne snail can produce thousands. invasion of the sKin by cercariae is rapid so that immersion of the legs cr hands in infested water even for a short while can be dangerous, as 1 well know from labc.'ratory experience while working v^ith cercariae, A point ^'f interest is that the snails in Lake Nai vasha do not appear tc; be infested, the reason for this is unknown. Finally, freshwater snails may also harbe-ur the eai'ly stages of many other species of worm which infest fish, frogs, reptiles, birds and wi Id mammals. In scire places people have reported feeling a stinging or tingling sensation while in water, akin tc nettle rash. This might be due t(" attempteu invasion by non-human type cercariae c r' the L*st i-ngs'* - f rom the waterweed Bladderwcrt Vtricularia. G.R. Cunn i ngham- van Semeren, Box 24947, Karen, Nai rebi . 94 ICTERINE WARBLER AND CHIFFCHAFF ON MOUNT KENYA On 18th March 1974 along the Naro Moru track on the western slopes cf Mount Kenya we watched an Icterine Warbler Hippolais ioterina for at least 30 minutes, feeding in the mixed Ilyper'lciun and barnboc zone. It was clearly one of the yellow Hippolais warblers and the following diagnostic features (from other species of the genus, especially the West African-wintering H. polyglotta) were observed; relatively large bill, peaked crown, wings projecting well beyond the base cf the tai I, pale patch in the folded wing and liarsh ’tac’ call. Although Backhurst, Britten & Mann (1973) give only nine previous dated records for this species in Konya and Tanzania, they are mainly for the period February ~ Apri I and the present record is in line with the sugcjestic^n that this species uses a more easterly route on return passage and is the time when it should be looked for in Kenya. On the same day and in the same locality a ChifFciiaff Phyllosoopus collyh'ita was seen and heard singing. (There can be no doubt from the records which are now accumulating (see Backhurst et al. 1973), that this species is a regular winter visitor to the montane highland forests.) REFERENCE Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L. & Mann, C.F. 1973. The less common Palae- arctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Hat. Mus. 140: 1-38. B.S. Meadows, Box 3052 I ’ Nai robi . J.K. Weston, 63 Wooeberry Way, Wa 1 ton-on-the-Naze , Essex, England. Neither of the above two species has been caught in mist netting operations in eastern Kenya, even though many fhousands of other Palaearctic warblers have been ringed. It is also worth remembering that a numter of these ring- ing sites are near areas of montane forest whici; might be expected to hold wintering Chiffehaffs. The Blackcap Sylvia atriaapilla provides a simi lar example: ever 5000 Palaearctic passerines (mostly warblers) have been ringed at Ncu I i a in Tsevo National Park (West). Montane forests are found nearby (e.g. on the Chyulus and Kilimanjaro) yet only abcut ten Blackcaps have been caught at Ngulia although the species winters commonly in the forest zones. Ed. EDITORIAL HELP REgUlRED Both the Editor and the Assistant Editor of the Society's Journal are out of East Africa. Any Nairobi resident who feels that he or she might be able to help in editing the Journal is asked to please get in touch with the Secretary Mrs Collins as soon as possible. Ed. 95 UNU.SUAL BEHAVIOUR OF RUFOUS CHATTERERS At about 17.30 h on 29th October 1973 I was driving sF-wly through an area of thick coastal scrub and baobab trees near Kunduchi, about 22 krn north of Dar es Salaam^ Tanzania. I heard from the scrub the calls of a party of Rufous Chatterers Tlytrdoides rubiginosus I stopped, the car about 4 rn from the nearest bushes end stayed inside to observe them. A party of four adult and twc juveni le chatterers wore moving through the scrub close to and cn the ground. On reaching a sniall patch of send beneath the nearest bushes they stopped and their calls became mere intense. They gathered in a fairly close-knit group in the sand and began preening energetically. As they preened they continued to call periodically, usually in chorus, and shuffled round in the sand. Their actions resembled a combination of normal preening and dust bathing and I was strongly reminded of the benavicur of a Song Thrush Turdus philomelos that I watched anting in England in 1965. This reminiscence was enhanced by the nervous, excited actions of the b i rds and, if I can be forgiven the anth ropomorph i sm, the almost ’ecstatic' look in their half-closed eyes. After about five rriinutes c.ne of the adults hopped forward froni the group into a more open area and, carrying a long, apparently white object in its bill. it hopped for about a mef re then dropped the object and began to preen even more excitedly over it. The other chatferers followed (the adults coming first) and the calling increased in intensity. At this stage the calling appeared to have attracted four Arrow-marked Babblers Turdoides jardinei which, although not descending cr to the sandy p>atch, hopped round the surrounding scrub calling. The chatterers formed another group round the white c>bject and continued their actions as before. As the light was fai ling I got out of the car and, disturbing the birds, went forward to find that the white object was, in fact, a small greenish-blue snake about 15 cm long and dead. It was unmarked except for twc or three small holes in the head and neck. About six ants were found in the vicinity of the snake cn the sand. It is possible that the sname was dropped by one of a pair of Wahlberg's Eagles Aqu'ila wahlhergi which were feeding smiaM ycung in a nest in a coconut palm about 20 m away. There would seem to be three possible explanations for the chatterers' behavi our: 1. The most likely is that they were anting, using ants attracted to the dead snake. if so they must have swallowed the ants after using them. The snake may have been carried forward sc that the birds could see the ants more easily in the fading light. 2. In view of the scarcity of ants it is possible that the birds were somehow extracting venom from the snake’s poison sacs and using this to stimulate their skin in the samej way as the formic acid of ants is used. This would explain the holes in the snake's head and neck although I have never heard of such an occurrence before. Unfortunately I did not collect the snake and do not know if it had pcison sacs. 96 3. A third explandticn might b,e that the birds were engaged in a confidence building excercise of intense preening and calling at the sight of the snake. Passerine bi rds invariably react to the presence of snakes, both alive and dead, although I have never noted this sort cf reaction before. In these circumstances it must be unusual for passerine birds to pick up and carry snakes but this might be explained by the relcjtive size cf the snake compared with the chatterers. V«.G. Harvey, Br i t i sh Coun c i I , D j a I an I mam Bon d j d , 57 - 59 Djakarta, I n done si a . A VISIT TO TiEXEL Frc'm a natural history print of view, the high spot of a recent trip to Europe was a week in Texe I , and I should like to draw the attention of rrembers to Texe I if they do not already know it, as a place of special interest. It is the southernmost and largest of the Friesian Islands in the north of the Netherlands, and though it is only 25 krn long and much of it closely cultivated and thickly pc'pulated, and the west caast also a popular seaside resort, it is dotted with nature reserves and swarming with birds. Guided bird walks are organized, for which you shculd get tickets in advance as nurtibers are restricted. A nomber of our Society was made tC' feel very welcome, and even if the leader does not speak English, there is pretty certain tC’ be someone in the party who does. The leader wi II have in his pocket the Dutch edition cf ‘‘Peterson, Mountfort & Hollcni’‘, and you will have the English edition in ycur’s. Each gives bird names in the language cf the c.fher, and what with the i llustr'ations and the scientific narres you wi 1 I get on quite we 1 I withcut having to take ak.ng, as we some- times dir;, Priscilla Allen (new and revised edition) aged five, as an interpreter. She attends a Dutch kindergarren and is completely bilingual, but perhaps hardly yet able to explain the differences between a lark Alauda avvensis and a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. Some of the reserves are under tiie care of the Netherlands Society tor the Promotion of Nature Reserves and sore under that c f the State Forestry Department. The local representatives of tcth were extremely kind to us and toc;k us on special walks, Mr Boot of the N.S.P.N.R. took us tcj De Bol, which is a truly wc^ndertu'l place, a sea ct purple orchids {Orchis maculata and morio and other species as well), rrixed with campion, ragged robin, yellow rattle, eyebright, red clover, daisies and buttercups, tc> name but a few, for' we are net botanists. In tbie m,i dst of al I this Mr Boot shewed us many nests. Thcjse of the Pedshank Tringa totanus surely no one cc u 1 d find without seeing the birds come or go, and as the grass is bent right over them, Oystercatchers Haematopus osty^alegus seem to like to line their nests with goose droppings, perhaps for extra wcirmth. The Ringed Pic. vers Charadrius hiatiaula on tiie ether hand had lined their's with bits of broken shel I, and the Lapwlnc Vanellus vanellus and Common Tern Sterfza hirundo with grass. Avocets Re ourvi rostra avosetta are very numerc-us in Texe I . Mr Boot said there were 43 nests in De Bo! aicne. Though many sti II 97 hcid downy ycunc,, thc^ir main breeding seasc'n was over. They are extremely aggressive at their breedi ng p I aces . At Rotten, another reserve where the twc,. oldest members of our party stationed themselves one cay in deck chairs wh i le the others went on a more energetic expedition, it was fun to watch the Avocots attacking Jackdaws Corvus monedula, She I duck Tadomc tadorna and anything else that flew over. But when a Herring Gul I Larus arg&ntatus appeared, the whole cotTimunity, Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus and all, seemed to leap into the air to drive it av^'r^y . Mr Mantje of the Forest Department took us to De Muy in the sand dunes. The Forest Departrmsnt besides planting and locking after trees is also responsible for keeping the dunes covered, and a botanist could have fun here too. At De Muy there is the most northerly breeding colony of Spoonbi Ms Platelea leuaorodia^ and in the bushes in the warm he I lews of the cMnes we listened to a Nightingale Luscini-a rnegarhynehos singing, in the middle of the day, and were shown the nest of a Wi New Warbler Phytlosoopus tvoohilus. It seems quite easy tc visit Texe I . The Tcurist Information Office, V.V.V., Den Berg, Texe i , wi I! sup'ply fc Iders and check list and als^.i help to find accomodation. Wo took a delightful cottage, a self-service banda cn a grand scale, and the nuriber of people you fit into it is your c.wn affair, though there is a small government tax per person. Joined by various cousins c:n half-term leave from their schcols, we wore a party of nine for much rf the tine, plus the fami ly dog. The most anxi ous ' fjart was cleaning and tidying the cottage before we loft, in the hOj.e that it would pass the scrutiny of its Dutch owners. Prospective visitors shC'Uld also rorTiember that the Dutch are very punctual people. Some of us wishing to go cn a certain bi rd walk arrived two and a half minutes late at the place of m^ieting, and the party had already gone. Those accustomed to the habits cf the EANHS please note: Pri sci I I a Allen, Box 44486, N a I rob i . MARKED GREAT WHITE PELICANS On the weekends of 4-5th May and lst-2nd June 1974 Dr Emi I Urban and his colleagues marked respectively 125 and 75 young Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onoorotatus in Ethiopia. In May they placed a blue streamer cn the right leg (BTO ring cn left) and in June a black streamer cn the left leg (BTO ring on right). If anyrjne spots one of these m.arked birds would they please let Dr Urban know , his add ress is; Dr Emi I Urban , Associate Professor, Biol ogy Dep a rtmen t , Bex 1176, Ad d i s Ab aba, E t h i c p i a , John Hop era ft, Baharini Wildlife Sanctuary, Box 33, Nakuru, Kenya. 98 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, Hi I de Garde’s Tomb Bat - Tanzania I refer to the report by D. Kock EMUS Bull. 1974: 70. i consider the source of the'^speci nen col looted' by Mr J.W. Simons shC'Uid be Kange Sisal Estate.- I would support Dr Kook’s p lea, for further study in this field. In the Tanga area an ecological survey of' bet populations in caves in the Jurassic I i rrestone would add tC' scientific knowledge. From my knC'Wledge of the area I can think cf three groups of caves to be examined: 1. caves alongside the Mkulumuzi River near Kiomoni (including those shown to tourists). 2. the elaborate cave systems on Kange Sisal Estate. 3., the caves in the li rrestone north of Mawen i prison. Sorre. caves are very much populated by bats, but sorre ere free of bats. Also I have been told that bat-populated caves are a health hazard to humans a colleague of mine had to be treated for a lung complaint after a visit to some of these caves, , ^ , J . F. Osborne , c/o EAAFRO, Box 30148, . Nai robi . Si r, Eaplochil-ichthys ontinovii Ian Parker {EAI-UHS Bull. 1971:59-60) asks if this small fish had been seen lately in Lake Naivasha. For his and members’ information I can report that at a very useful and informal symposium held in the Departmenf cf Zoology, University of Nairobi, cn 17th May 1974, Steftic-n Malvestutc. told us that he has regularly taken this interesting fish in his nets in the Little Lake, in the course cf his research cn ti lapia and the parasitic werm Contracaeoum spiculigerum. May I add that this informal symposium was highly successful and inform- ative and 3 real gei'-te.gethe r cf persons who were undertaking various projects on Lake Naivasha. Those of us who attended at least obtained some idea cf what research projects were being undert.aken. The workers include geologists, geographens, I i mne I ogi sts , botanists, zoologists, entomologists, ornithologists and biologists. The Secretary of the Riparian Owners Association also attended. i3.R. Cunn i n gham- van Someren, Box 24947, Karen , N a i rob i . 99 FUNCT ! ONS . Monday, 8th July 1974: 5.15 p.m. Lecture Hall, National Museum, Nairobi. Talk on the Geology of the Rift Valley by Mrs Celia Kamau. Saturday/Sunday I 5- I 4th July 1974 : Weekend camp on the banks of the Melawa River (Mr Eric Lucas’ farm) Ol’Kak'U. FcH lew Nakuru road to Gil gi I, turn right at Gi Igi I dukas on tarmac to Ol’Kalcu and Nyahururu (=ThomiSons Falls). After 25 km cr so take the D389 road on the ri gnt signposted to Wanjehi for about 5 km when it approaches the Melawa River; Fallcden Cottage (Mr Lucas’ house) can Le seen from the road on the left across the river. There may be road diversions by the bridge, if so Mr Luces will put up siejns. Washing water can be taken from the river, Mr Lucas can supply drinking water and a limited amount of fresh milk. CHANGE OF DATE: Sunday 7th July 1974: All day dudu crawl led by Mr Mike Clifton. Meet at the National Museum, Naircbi at 9 a.m. Sunday I Ith August 1974: Day trip along the Magadi Read, primari ly for birds, led by Mrs Mere Bowles. The Magac'i Road, winding from the shoulder of the Ngong Hills down into the Rift Valley, passes through a variety of habitats. Please meet at the National Museum, Nairobi at 9 a.m. sharp or the Magadi Road turnoff at 9.20. Please wear walking shoes and bring a picnic lunch. Saturday 17th August: Marine life trip led by Mrs Fleur Ng'weno. Meet at Ccraldene Beach Hotel, Bamiburi at 8.30 a.m. and bo prepared to wade. Wednesday morning birdwalks continue to meet every week at 8.45 at the National Museum. NEW MEMBERS - JULY 1974 Full Niemibers: Mr M. Arcizet, Box 4 1784, Nairobi. Miss Victoria Balcomf, Box 44145, Nairobi Miss De 1 doros R. Boyer, Box 30261, Nairobi Mrs Marion Brokhaug, Box 30260, Nairobi Miss Jill Donisthorpe, Box 45896, Nairobi Mr Hans Gonget, Box 45767, Nai robi Mrs Tove Gonget, Box 45767, Nairobi Mrs K.M. Howard, Box 29004, Kabete, Nairobi Miss Claire Lofgren, Bex 47680, Nairobi Mr John Miskell, Box 30518, Nairobi Mrs Margaret Fattisen, Box 32, Kikuyu Mr Norman Thomsen, St. Patrick's High School, P.O. Iten, E I dcret : Mr Herbert H. Harper, 8975 No Shore Trai I, Forest Lake, Minn. U.S.A. Junior Members: I. Clifford, c/c Mr Meadows, Box 30521, Nairobi Laurence P. Scott, c/o Mr Meadows, Box 3052 1, Nairobi A. Fenton, Box 49532 , Naim.bi Simon Thc'mpscn , Box 30656, Nairobi Adam Thompsc-n , Box 30656, Nairobi Institutional Member: National Outdoor Leadership Or liege, Box 40525, Nairobi Change of rrembership status: Mr J . Leakey becomes a Life Member. 100 E A N H S 7 "3 BULLETIN A monthly publication of the East Afnca Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN AUGUST 1974 CONTENTS Forest destruction ~ ~ - i02 A June record of the Madagascar Pratincole cn i'he Kenya coast ~ - 102 Spotted Redshanks in Kenya during March 1974 - -- -- -- ---- - |03 A Bittern at Lake Nai vasha - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 104 Sisai flowers, nectar and birds ----------------- |04 Ostracised Little Swift and Loyalty of a White-winged widowtird - 107 Dr Kamau cn the. geology of the Rift Valbey - -- -- -- -- -- - |08 Camp in the grounds of FaModen Cottage, 01 Kalou -------- i09 Library Notice - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - - |Q9 For Sale - - - - - - - ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- - i |0 Society functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - ||0 New members - August 1974 - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - no FOREST DESTRUCTIOM It may be recalled that at the A.G.M. there was discussion on the subject of the destruction of Kenya's forests; there has been a certain amount of correspondence relating to this matter and the Committee thought that members might like to read two paragraphs from a letter received from Mr O.M. Mburu, Chief Conservator of Forests: (1) It has always been the practice when establishing plantations that steep valleys and river beds are not disturbed. The natural vegetation in such areas is always left. This is in accordance with normal agricultural practice. (2) It has always been our policy to encourage farmers to grow trees for thei t' fuel and also for other local uses. Paper number I of 1968. To make this more effective we have as you know established the Rural Afforestation Extension Scheme. If members notice instances of destruction not in accordance with paragraph one above, they should take all relevant details (including precise location) and report the matter in writing either to the Chief Conservator or to the Chairman of this Society. A JUNE RECCRD CF THE MiADAGASCAR PRATINCCLE CN THE KENYA CCAST The non-breeding quarters of the [Madagascar Pratincole Glaveola ocularis are still unknown . Moreau (1966) had records from the African continent for only three months of the year, i.e. August to Cctober, inclusive. With the exceptions of Cctober records from Lake Malawi and the River Zambesi all the ob- servations were from the East African coast and the majority from Kenya. Cne possibility he considered was that the species is only away from Madagascar for three months of the year, but a number of recent Apri I observations, especially during 1971 and 1972 in Tanzania (Harvey 1973), show that the species leaves Madagascar for a longer period. It appears that birds arri ve on the East African coast in Apri I end then move on to unknown off-season quarters. The many August-Septembe r records would clearly then relate to a return passage to Madagascar. A June record, which appears to be the first record of this species for the African continent for this, month, is therefore considered worthy of publication. The individual was seen at the mouth of the Sabaki River, near Malindi at about I2CC h on 18th June, 1974. It was seen in flight, and also at rest on a sandy spit where it allowed an approach to about 2C m. The bird had arrived with a party of five Little Terns Sterna albifrons and at a time when the incoming tide was flooding over the sand beaches and mud flats; it rem.ained in the estuary for about five minutes before flying inland in a NW di recti on . 102 Re ferences : Harvey, W.G. (1973). The Madagascar Pratincole Glar&ola ocularis in Tanzania. E AMS Bull, 1973^15-116. Moreau, R.E. ( 1966) . The Bird Faunas of Africa and its Islands. London. B.S. Meadows, Box 3052 1 , Nai robi . SPOTTED REDSHANKS IN KENYA DURING MARCH 1974 The Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus now winters considerably further south in Africa than formerly and although only recorded for the first time in Kenya in ,1953, it is now regarded as a regular winter visitor (see Backhurst, Britton & Mann 1973) . During March 1974 we recorded this species at the following localities; A Inland 2nd March Smart's Swamp, Limuru, 7 3rd March Lake Nai vasha, I 19th March Karatina (freshwater dam), I B Coast 6th March Malindi Bay, I. B.M. visited all three inland sites during March 1970 and all the sites during March and Apri I 1973 and saw no Spotted Redshanks, However, there may have been a larger wintering population in East Africa during 1973/74. For example, there were more records in Tsavc East than usual, possibly due to failure of rains elsewhere (Leuthcld & Leuthold 1974). Re ferences : Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P.L, & Mann, C.F. (1973). The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Africa not. Hist. Soc. Hat. Mus. 140: 1-38. Leuthold, W. & Leuthold, B. (1974). Recent observations of mi gratory shore ana water birds in Tsavo East National Park. EANHS Bull. 1974: 72-74. Brian Meadows, Box 3052 I , N a i rob i . John and Dianne Weston, 63 Woodberry Way, Wa I ton-on-the-Naze , Essex, Eng I an d . 103 A BITTERN AT LAKE NAIVASHA On 5th December 1970 I was on the lake wall in front of the Lake Hotel (Naivasha, Kenya) with my wife, when we saw a Bittern Botaurus stellaris glide into seme reed- 1 ike cover on the edge of the lake. Had this been our only observation I might have had a slight doubt when looking in Mackworth- Praed & Grant afterwards and finding how rare this was; fortunately, this was my wife's first Bittern, so I took the trouble to flush it again. It went off at about 15-20 m and 1 had a first class view with 6X30 bin- oculars before it dropped into denser cover further along the shore. I am fairly familiar with Bitterns in the wild having spent considerable time watching Harriers Circus spp. in habitats they share. I have also kept Bitterns in captivity and nursed an exhausted injured bird (found walking down a lane near my home) back to ful I fitness. I still have above average eyesight and am long past the stage cf 'collecting' records of rare birds. At the time I made the observation I had no idea that I was witnessing an unusual event. To me it was a bird as farni liar and unmistakable as a Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer would be to a Kenya bird watcher. , ,, Derek Wood, Section II, Zoological Society of London, London NW I 4R, Eng land. SISAL FLOWERS, NECTAR AND BIRDS When the sisal plant Agave sisalana (Li liaceae) ''poles'' the inflorescence produces firstly flowers, later bulbils but seldom fruit capsules. The pole may bear up to 40 lateral branches, each carrying around 40 flowers in clusters. The several hundred flowers last well and they provide a cop i us supply of greenish nectar ever several days, per flower. Furthermore, the flowers on an individual branch do not all open at one time thus the supply is spread over a period of several days. Nectar taken is quickly replaced. The flowers on the lowest branches open first and the process proceeds upwards gradually to the terminal cluster, over a period of several weeks. The flowers are pale green with a regular perianth. The anthers are protandrous and protrude beyond the perianth whi le the style gradually elongates beyond the anthers. The flowers are erect on the almost horizon- tal branches. The nectar is not rich in sugars being only 10. 8^^ sugar in solution ( ref racf ometer readings). The sugar types have not yet been analysed. If the flower is not rich in sugar then this deficiency is made up by the volume of nectar that each produces. Tests at Karen with branches of flowers have been made to record the nectar development. Freshly cut branches were quickly placed in water in a polythene bag and this tightly tied to the stem which was held in a 104 natural horizontal plane on the laboratory bench. All nectar was extracted by means- of a fine blunt needle on -a syringe and the volume measured, per flower, to the nearest two decimal places of a millilitre. In one test all necfar was removed and 48 h later the replenished supply was measured from each flower. Quantities per flower varied according tc age; for newly opened buds contain but little, whereas older flowers may have as much /as 1.20 mil. From 94 flowers on one bt'anch, 46.60 ml of nectar was recovered at 48 h, 33.85 ml after the next 24 h and 24.00 ml after a further 24 h.. At 96 h some old flowers yielded but traces of nectar but buds had opened in this time and started to produce. At 120 h a further I 1.00 ml had been produced to make a total ct I 15.45 ml or, for the 90 flowers (less damaged), a yield of 1.28 mil per flower. The maximum yield of a single flower in the tost over 120 h was 2.20 ml. This was a fully open flower in which the style had extruded and was of medium length with anthers holding exposed pcilen. The style in the bud is around 2 cm long but once the flower opens it lengthens dai ly to a maximum around 6,9 cm with anthers up to 6 cm>. As a standard, the flowers were graded by eye, as short, medium or long style ~ i.e. extending fre-m 2.0 cm. to 4.0 cmi to 6.9 cm. The short style indicating day 3 and commencement of nectar prc-duction; medium, where the flow is increasing to day 6 end Kong, full yield achieved and the flow declining around day 9. TABLE I Flower development md nectar production (mean of a sample of flowers) Flower Nectar veume (ml) Day 1 Mature bud ■ ■ 0 2 Opening, extension of style and anther 0 3 Continued extrusion of style and anther 0 4 Style at 'short’ stage, anthers open 0. 10 5 Style at short-medium, anthers c-pen 0.25 6 Style rrediurn, pcilen free 0.50 7 Style elongating, anthers drying 1 . 10 8 Sty le 1 ong 0.50 9 Style long and stigma open 0.50 10 Stylo shrivelling, anthers & perianth dry 0.25 (or less) 1 1 Sh ri ve 1 led sometimes trace 1 1 days old Total 3.20 m 1 (Nectar was extracted dai ly from these sample flowers.) From the example it would appear that the flower lasts around 9 days (developed opening bud to_ senesce;nce) . Nectar is not produced unti I the style is well exposed (short stage) and the anthers commence to c.-pen and expose pollen, this is around day 4. Nectar production then is from day 4 to day 10 - six days. At day 9 the stigma exudes a sticky substance which 105 forms quite a globule of exubate (?nectar) and after 24 h is measurable in microlitres. The ref ractometer gave a reading of just less than 2% sugar, in this muci I agi nous substance . Skead (1967) refers to the agave as "peer as an abundant nectar supplier" and he suggests that each and all flowers contained 0.5 ml at any one time. This is not so from the Karen tests however, the mean for the first day of the Karen test was 0.50 ml per flower and thereafter there was a reduction, the mean showing that the whole sample was real ly on the wane for nectar production with 19^ long styles, beyond their optimum and. 44^ flowers at optimum, but these, by day 4 had developed to long styles and nectar flow reduced. Skead quotes "0.5 cc per flower witn 80 florets per flower head and 40 flower heads (per plant) equals 50 ozs or 8 breakfast cupsfu I I" (corrected = 56 fluid oz or 1600 ml). It is not clear if Skead meant 0.50 cc per day or over the flowering period, however, by Karen standards, these 3200 flowers should have yielded 3.00 ml/flower or 9600 ml over their productive period and this equals 336 fluid oz or 2.1 gallons of nectar’. THE BIRDS As the perianth opening is wide (1.5 cm) and the style and anthers flexible, a bird can readily insert its bill into the flower and all flowers are held upright, as open cups, sc the nectar is easi ty avai lable to birds which do not crobe as do the sunbirds. Over the past few mcinths watch several flowering plants and the fol observed sipping nectar: Watt led Star I i ng Super'b Starling Blue-eared Glcssy Starling Red-winged Starling Dark- capped Bulbul Mousebi rd Northern Pied Babbler ^ Kenya Rufous Sparrow Grey-headed Sparrow Holub’s Golden Weaver Reichenow’s Weaver Bronzy S unbird Ma I ach i te Sunb i rd Amethyst Sun bird Scarlet-chested Sunbird Go I den-w i nged Sunbird as been maintained at intervals at lowing species of bi rds have been Cveatophora ciner&a Spreo superbus Lamprotomis ohalybaeus Onyoognathus morio Pycnonotus barbatus Colius striotus Turdoides hypoleucus Passer iagoensis P. griseus Plooeus xanthops P. haglafecht Nectarinia kilimensis N. fames a N. amethystina N. senegalensis N. reichenowi Damage to si sal flowers, which consists of beak- 1 ike marks at the base of the corolla, have been found and these sometimes as deep holes, right to the base of the style where the nectar is retained. Mousebirds are suspect but they have not actually been seen to peck at the flowers, but to sip nectar. As Skead iop. cit.) has pointed cut, many bird species, from crows to tiny warblers visit Aloe spp. for nectar in South Africa. I would be pleased and interested to receive any reports of any species taking nectar 106 from sisa!' or any other flowers. (At the time of writing I have ' records of, and' have examined 120 species of nect i ferous f I ewers visited by sunbirds, an d ray. study con t i n ues ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ^ My thanks to Dr Frank Gi I I for the loan of the sugar ref ractometer. FE PENCE Skead, C.J. (1967). The sunbirds of southern Africa also the sugarbirds white-eyes and the Spotted Creeper. Capetewn/Amste rdam. G.P^. Cunn i ngham-van Someren, Box 24947, Karen, Kenya. OSTRACISED LITTLE SWIFT AND LOYALTY OF A WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD We have a small colony of Little Swifts Apus affinis living under the eves of our house at Kiembu. One morning recently an immature swift was seen on the front lawn being attacked most vigerousiey by a pair of Grey- headed .Spai'rows Passer griseus viY]0 also nest under the eves. I rescued the swift, and’ found th.at it had a few small superficial wounds about the head and body. We put it in an airing cupboard to dry out, and to try tO' resuscitate it to some extent. A few hours later 1 released the bird from the front verandah. It took off fairly strongly but had not gone 20 m when the sparrows dived on it like intercepfer fighters, and knocked it down to the ground and recommenced their onslaught. Once again it was rescued, put in a cage in the- garage, and in the evening, when the swift colony was very active, I released it. again well out of view of the sparrows. It flew off but, alas, within minutes, a Striped Svial \ . Hirundo abyssinica was on it, trying tc force it down. I last saw themi disappearing over a hedge, and was une'^ble tc establish what had happened to the poor swift. Perhaps someone could explain what could have' caused such violent persecution of this Little Swift.- A great number of birds on the estate have nested rather late into May, June and July this year, mucfi to the detriment of my mulch .grass cutting. However, I had to make a start, and inevitably a White-winged Widowbird's Eupleates albonotatus nest was cut down. Some hours later I noticed the female bird taking oft from the ground amongst the cut grass. On investigation I found the nest on its’ side with twe eggs in it, I placed the nest care- ful ly in some tal I grass' about 7 m away. The b i rd found it again, and has continued to try to hatch her offspring. Once or twice the nest, having little support, has fallen ever sideways. Each time I have' righted it ■ 107 and the unswerving al iegi ance of the mother has been rewarded, another week or so should see the offspring ai rborne. I have had to postpone further mulch cutting ’pro tern.’, ^ ^ F.J. McCartney, Fai rvi ew Estate, Box 168, Ki ambu, Kenya. DR KAMAU ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE RIR' VALLEY It was a great pity, that so many members missed a most enjoyable evening when Dr Celia Kamau lectured on the geology of the Rift Valley bn 8th July. A graduate of Cambridge, Dr Kamau is now a lecturer at Kenyatta College and is an exceptionally good speaker. She started by explaining that the Rift Valley covers a distance of about 5500 km from southern Turkey to the mouth of the Zambezi River. In East Africa, the width varies from about 55 km in the Magadi area to about 320 km in the Lake Rudolf basin. Again, the altitude of the floor is very variable, being at its highest in the Naivasha area (1900 m) and lowest below the waters of Lake Tanganyika where the floor of the Rift Valley is at 650 m belou) sea level . The formation of the Rift Valley started about 23 million years ago, and ended in its present form about 2 mi 1 I i on years ago. The most recent upheaval was in 1928 when the Subukia earthquake occured. It was formed by upward doming and outward stress along parallel lines of weakness in the earth's crust. This caused' the land between the lines of weakness to drop wni le the land on the edge of the faults was thrust upwards. Normal ly there are several lines of weakness, and these form what is known as 'step scarps'. A good example of this in Kenya is the Kikuyu escarpment where the road descends down several of these steps until it reaches the floor of the Ri ft . Amongst many other complex features in the Rift Valley is 'grid faulting'. This occurs notably south of Mt. Suswa where in a distance of’ 50 km across, one crosses 60 small faults. Dr Kamau went on to explain the different types of volcanoes associated with the Rift Valley. It was interesting to note that Mts . Kenya, Elgon and Kilimanjaro are not directly associated with the Rift Valley. In the Rift floor there are many volcanic cones and mountains such as Longcnot and Suswa, and the small cones near Hell's Gate at Naivasha. On the edge of the escarpment older volcanic mountains occur such as the Aberdares and the Ngong Hills. These were formed before the main Rift Valley formiation. To conclude her lecture. Dr Kamau put forward the idea that the area east of the enti re length of the Rift Valley is slowly splitting away from the rest of Africa. The Red See is slowly widening and it is thought that the sea wi II next break through cn the Danaki I depression. This may be the start of the movement which aeons ago started, and has now formed the Atlantic Ocean. It is hoped that Dr Kamau wi II talk to the Society again cn her own research topic, the Rift Valley Lakes. 108 D.A. CAKP IN the: grounds of falloden cottage, ol kalou Some 25 people, trembers and the i r fami I ies , braved the elements last week end that camped successfully on Mr Eric Lucas' farm. It was a pity that it was sc wet, as it is a delightful place, and the camp site was cn the bank of the Mb I a’wa River where many birds could be seen at eye level, and the grass on which we camped was starred with Craterostigma and Hypoccis. Though the altitude is 2300 m the vegetation suggests dry conditions and it was asten i sh i ng , how quickly everything, tents and roads, dried as soon as, the sun came out on Sunday morning, conditions very different from those at our last high altitude camp, at Naro Moru. The birds too were a mixture of high and dry. The Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capvcola was the common pigeon, and was indeed very numerces, ' but Red-headed Parrots Poicephalus gulielmi flew over and members reported a Black Duck Anas sparsa swimming successfully up stream against the current in the swollen and muddy river. Pairs of both Grey and Cardinal Woodpeckers Mesopicos goertae and Dendropieos fuscesaens were seen and Mr Lucas told us that the Grey had nested there. The Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogeniulus leuoomystax at eye- level was a treat. There was much song from the Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus c'tnnamomeus but few members saw it as it is so skulking. When you see it singing you see that the inside of its mouth is black like that of' some cisticolas. Speaking cf cisticolas, the ubiquitous Cisticola himtcri had some of us puzzled; a forest-edge bird, it finds much of its food in bushes and low trees, and poking about there, it looks like seme sort of apalis rather than what it is. We were interested in the numerous hairy caterpillers, large and small, which were to be found in the grass. Perhaps they accounted for the large number of cuckoos which were heard and seen. Mr Lucas told us that he had seen a Black-headed Oriole Oriolus lawatus trying to swallow one of these cate rp i Me rs . There is no doubt that this, is an area that members would like to revisit, if Mr Lucas' hospitality can be stretched so far. Of the children's enjoyment there can be no doubt at ail. The Society's children provide an endless source of interest even if ell else is shrouded in fog. If devoted parents have provided an ample supper, it Is a matter of indifference to them if they have to sleep in their clothes, or go to bed without cleaning their teeth. Alas for the sensitivities of age, loading our bags with tubes and bottles and depriving the victim cf all sense cf humour if tipped out on to the wet floor of the tent because the bed was not placed square on the flat. Perhaps we should ask parents to add to their other cares a sharp eye on litter? We seldom leave any, preferring, like the Guides to "leave nothing but our thanks*'. ■ o a LIBRARY NOTICE Pius Mulwa will be away from 5th August to 3rd September. During this period I shall try to keep the Library open as usual but cannot promise absolute regularity, as 1 must remind members that I am only supposed to 109 work half-time. Opening on f^onday evenings after 5.00 and on Saturday morning will be discontinued until Pius gets back. Anyone whc comes and finds the Library shut or wishes to come after the usual hours, please let me know and .1 will try to make arrangements. Li brari an . FOR ■ SALE Two copies of Roberts’ Birds of South Africa 1st ed. These copies are in very poor condition and the letterpress has been heavily marked by the former owners, but the plates are clean and good. Removing and rebinding the plates would be a good idea since many species are illustrated which are not figured in Williams’ two guides. Prices (in aid of the Society): very shabby copy, 30/-, extremely shabby copy, 20/-. Apply to the Librarian. FUNCTIONS Monday, 5th August 1974: 5.15 p.m. Lecture Hall, National Museum, Nairobi.^-, Talk on Birds and the environment by Rcbin W. Doughty and Robert Riseborough. Sunday , I I th August 1974 : day trip along the Magadi Road miainly in search , cf birds, led by Mrs. Vere Bowles. Please meet at the National Museum, Nairobi at 9. a.m. sharp or the Magadi Road turnoff at 9.20. Please bring walking shoes and a picnic lunch. Weekend, I7/I8th August 1974: camp at Lake Hannington; please write in ,to the Secretary if you wi II be interested in going, detai Is will then be sent. Saturday, 17th August 1974: marine life trip led by Mrs Fleur Ng’weno. Meet at Coraldene Beach Hotel, Bamburi at 8.30 a.m. and be prepared to wade. Weekend, I A/ 1 5 th September: camp at Naivasha, details later. Monday, 7th October: Lecture by Mr Norman Myers on Threatened Species. NEW MEMBERS - AUGUST 1974 Full members : Miss L, Coulcmbe, Box 30261, Nairobi Mr A.T. Cutler, Bex 44882 , Nairobi Mr E. Easton, Box 129, Mwanza, Tanzania Mrs 8. Gray, Box 11873, Nairobi Miss A. McKenzie, Bex 30544, Nairobi. Mrs A. Prewitt, Box 47543, Nairobi Mr J. Tucker, Box 8096, Lusaka, Zambia. J un i or members : Dan Pfeiffer, Box 30261, Nairobi Vaughan G. Gomez, Bex 29053, Nairobi. E A N H S V BULLETIN A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 1974 CONTENTS Broad“bi lied Sandpipe"''< and Herring Gulls wintering on the North Kenya Coast I 12 Where do ai 1 the House Mardins go? - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ||3 White-fronted Bee-eaters apparently taking bread - -- -- -- -- - ||5 Bi rdwatching at Mtwapa Creek - |16 What is happening at Lake Nai vasha? ---------------- ||8 Wednesday Morning BirdWalks-------------”------ 119 Olorgesalie Trip 121 Reviev/" - 122 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |23 Request for Information - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 123 Geographical Association - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - '24 Library Notes - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 124 Theft 124 Some recent periodic literature available in the Li brary - - - - - - 126 BROAD -BILLED SANDPIPERS AND HERRING GULLS WINTERING ON THE NORTH KENYA COAST Backhurst, Britton & Mann (1973) were able to give very few records of either the Broad-bi I led Sandpiper Lim-ioola faloinellus or the Herring Gul I Larus argentatus from East Africa; but on page 14 they noted that ’'there is very little bird watching on the East African coast and it is quite likely that ttie Herring Gull and other rarely recorded birds are more frequent than the sparse records would lead one to believe.'- A few subsequent records have appeared in this Bulletin (1972:81-82, 1972:170-171, 1973:50- 51, 1973:52, . 1973:74-75 , 1973:146-147). As a resident of Mombasa since May 1973 I have collected data which suggest that both species winter reg- ularly on the north Kenya coast. Between 5th August 1973 and 12th April 1974 I made twenty visits to the mouth of the Sabaki River near Malindi at all stages of the tide, and saw Broad-billed Sandpipers on all but five occasions. The largest counts were 33 on 22nd December and 38 on 2nd March. The first count to exceed 10 was on 13th December (26 birds) so that the main arrival may have been as late as December. Dr P. Duffus, C.F. Mann, R. McVickers and J. Squires each saw the birds once, and my wife Hazel saw them several times. They are easi ly overlooked, especially at low tide, and I have little doubt that a flock of 40 or more spent much of the northern winter at this site. The mudflats near the mouth of the Sabaki River evidently provide suit- able winter habitat- for the Broad-billed Sandpiper. Though it has never been recorded in Somalia it probably winters annually at suitable coastal sites, with the Sabaki River as its nonnal southern limit. It has never been reported from nearby Mi da Creek nor from elsewhere on the Kenya coast, perhaps due to a lack cf suitable estuarine mudflats. As Is well known, the Crab Plover Dramas ardeola is common on the sand flats of Mi da Creek, where it presumably finds ideal feeding opportunities, yet I have seen it only once at the Sabaki River. The reverse may apply for the Broad-billed Sandpiper, which may prove to winter regularly in coastal Kenya at only, this one site. Harvey (1973) gave records of up to ten Herring Gulls at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between November and March, but the bird seen by A. Gi I le at Malindi in December, reported by Britton & Brown (1974), is the only published Kenya record. Between 3rd November 1973 and 30th March 1974 I recorded up to five birds together on 2 1 dates at three localities (Malindi Fish Market, Sabaki Ri'ver mouth, Nyali Beach), and others were seen in Jan- uary at Malindi (C.F. Mann) end KikambaJa (Dr P. Duffus, 5 together). 1 personally recognised at least nine different adults or subadults and two immatures. Two adults were photographed at Malindi Fish Market by my wife Hazel who saw several of the other birds too. There is considerable geographical variation in the Herring Gull, mainly in the colour of the mantle end legs. The pale grey, pink- legged nominate form which breeds in Britain and W. Europe is. unlikely to occur in our area, though one of Harvey’s birds resembled this form. The other Dar es Salaam birds were much dcrkGr wi+h ye Mow iegs and were mos-f likely heuglin'i (breed ing in N.W. Russia) as were, apparently fM ve of rny adults or subadults in Kenya. in my experience these are typically as iMustr'ated in Mackworth- Praed & Grant Vol.l, plate 26.. though the head may be virtually unmarked. They are larger than Lesser Black-hacked Gulls L. fuscus. It is noteworthy that heuglini is i-he only foi'm listed for eastern Africa by White (196?). Two adults, at Nyal i on 6th February and at the Sabaki River mouth on 2nd March, were a iii'tle paler than the heugli-ni type birds, with pink or grey-pink legs. And two adults at iMalindi between 19th January and 16th Marcri were, in mantle colouration, more or less as 1 remeiTiber nominate birds, or a shade darker', but with yeliowjsh not pink legs. It is probably not possible to ascertain the area of origin of th6 four birds but I would appreciate any suggestions. I think it uni ike!' that the Herring Gull has been overlooked in the past If is more plausible that its status has changed, as has that of many gull species here and elsewhere in recent cecaderi. Peter L. Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. REFERENCES : Backliurst, G.C., Britton, P- L. & Mann, C.F. (1973) The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E. Afr>, nat. Hist. Soo. & Nat. Niue. 140:1-38. Britton, P.L, & Brown, L.H. (1974) The status and br'eeding behaviour of East African Lari. Ostrich 45:63-82.. Harvey, W.G. (1973) More unusual larids in Tanzania. EANHS Bull. 1973:50-51, 74-75. White, C.M.N. (1965) A Revised Checklist of African Non-Passerine Birds. Lusaka: Govt. Printer. WHERE. DO ALL THE HOUSE MARTINS GO ? House Martins Delichon vivhica are seen in Kenya occasionally in small numbers ( I - 10), but observations of lar'ge numbers (50 or' more) appear to be rare, although i 'L is thought that tens of millions actually winter in Africa. This note details one such occurence and discusses the anomaly. While investigating the W'hereabouts of a IMrundine roost at Lake Nakuru on the afternoon of 8th January 1974, we came across large numbers of hirundines flying low over grassland between the lake and Lion Hill. European Swallows Hirimdo rustioa were the most numerous (5000 estimated) but there were also about five hundred House Martins. Whereas the Swallows were feeding largely at I - 8rn off the ground, the House Martins were at a height of at least lOm and were seen to be common up to 200m above ground level near the cliffs, A few flow as low as 2m and we netted and ringed 15 of them on 8th/9th January. The weather at- the time was overcast with a little rain and a light east- erly wind, the latter being insignificant in the lee of Lion Hill. Weather of this type, witii or witiic-ut rain, seorns to cause a concentr'at i on of insects (ciiiefly Cii i ronor.ii ds at Nakuru) near o round level in the late afternoon or early morning. Almost always this results in numerc;us European Swc^Mc-ws, European Sane', Marti ns Riparia vipevia and African Sand Martins R, paludioola descending to feed close to orcuncJ level. Whr?,f is unusual about this case is that, in approxi mate I y 50 days observation at Lake Nakuru in five years, we have never before seen such a concent rat i ca of Hc.'uso Martins, although we have seen and caiight cne or two birds on a few occasions. From published notes and personal records, it would appear that the hlouse Martin may be seen in small number's fair'Iy frequently in Kenya in various habitats and a'i a range cf altitudes, but probably most frequently at altit- udes of 2000m and over. Moreau ( I972) summarizes the records of recent years and they are almost as sparse as those given by earlier authors such as Chapin ( i953) for the Congo. 0!.: se rvat i ens of large numbers appear to be very few and far between (in distance and rime), perhaps the greatest concent rati on being of 2000 3000 birds in one Mt. Elgon valley seen by Rolfe & Pearson ( 1973) and their subsoquenr estimation of 50000 around I^4 . Elgon (Uganda and Kenya). This paucity of recerds is very peculiar in view of the fact that Moreau ( 1972) estimafes 'Ihat something like 90 mil Mon b i rds leave the Palae- arciic region for Africa; perhaps 50 million survive to overvnnter in Africa. It seems fairly ceriain thar tlioy fly and feed normally at altitudes beyond 'binocular sight' as do ihe larger swifts ~ indeed, on 8th January some large swifts had descended tc lOO - 2C0m apparently to feed with the House Martins as, presumably, they had not found sufficient food at higher levels due tC' we athe r cc.n d i t i on s . PossiLMy, the House Martins even roost on the wing as the larger swifts have been proved 'fo do - however unlikely it may seem for the House Martin; this might explain the epraront lack of roosts, except for one instance recorded by Sassi & Z' imer (194I) on the sc^utheaste rn Tanzania coast. However, assuming that they reest terrest ri a I I y , that the roosts are simi lar in size to those of European Swallows and that they are not just passage migrants tc southern Africa (our January record appears tc refute this), one can estimate the iikely number of roosts in any area, as follows; frem the relative numbers of Swalicws and House Martins that Moreau U972) calculated should enter' Africa (220 fc 90 mi 'lion r'espect i ve I y) , we can estimate that there siiould be at least tv.'c hlouse iMartiii rcosts in the western half of Kenya as we know of five Svrailow roosts in the same area (Nakuru, Hannington, Kisumu, Yaia Swanp and Kitale) and there ere probably more. However, finding roosts is another matter', shculd 'hhey exist. Sasoi K Zimmer (I941) descrit'ed how the House Martins c'ropped into the rOC'St at dusk; from our experience ■ wi i'h the Nakuru h: run dine roost in March 1 974, it would be almost impossible tc detect unless one were withRyi 200m of the roost at the critical 1 5 minutes at dusk as the hi run dines were 'dropping in' from some altitude with very little noise. It was only in January and February that the roost was more obvious as the birds were collecting and feeding over the lake and then 'streaming' into i'he roost at I - 2m off the ground just as the light was fai ling for effective vision. Thus, we ciO not know if H'ouse Martins roost terrestrially or on the wing and, if te rrestrl a My , we l-'.now of no roc)St sites. From this and from the fact that the iM rds rarely come close the ground, only 48 have been caught end ringed up to the present in East Africa (G.C. Backhurst pers. comm.) but thete has beeti one recovery to the U.S.S.R. (Beckhurst 197 1). We shC'Uld be very grateful to hear ot any roosts so that' we coui.d.ring House N'artins as their recovery potential must be good, having such a close relationship to Man in thep r breeding quarters, . O' 'v ■ . John and Lyn Harper, ■ ' ' ' ■ , Box. 547, , Keri cho, - Kenya . REFERENCES: Backhurst, G.C, (1971) East African Bird Ringing Report 1969-1970. JZ E. Afr. nat. Hist. Soo. & Nat. Mus. 123:1-14. Chapin, J.P..(I953) The Birds of the Belgian Congo (Part 3). Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 15 A. Moreau, R.E. (1972, The Palaearotie - Afniccm Bird Migration Systems. Ace de nn i c P re s s , L on d on . Rolfe, J.G, & Pearson, D.J. (1973) Some recent records of Palaearctic Migrants from Eastern Uganda. FANES Bull. 1973:62. Sassi , M. & Zimmer, F. (1941) Be it rage zur Kenntnis d.er Voce I we It des Songea-Di st ri ktes . Annls. naturh. Mus. Wien 5 1:236-346. WHITE - FRONTED BEE - EATER APPARENTLY TAKING BREAD In the early afternoon of 23rd June 1974 at the parking place on the track going up Mt. Longonot I saw White-fronted Bee-eaters Merops bullockoides landing on the ground where they shuffled about. Several of the birds were holding butterflies in their bi I Is whi le- one bird picked up a piece of bread, tossing it up and 'nibbling’' the crumbs as if eating them. In the closely related Red-throated Bee-eater M. hulocki , Fry (1972) has recorded various items (e.g., dead leaves and bits of grit) being treated in the same way as insect food,, possibly accounting for the presence of small- stones, fragments of cow teeth, etc. that , he ' foun d in adult 'and nestling gizzards where they probably function as gastroliths. When disturbed by people returning from the crater the bee-eaters flew off in the direction of a nearby korongo where some thirty pairs were, nesting. ■ J . F. Reyno I ds , Box 40584, Nal rob i . REFERENCE: ^ ■'Fry, C.H. (1972)' The^Biclogy of Af ri can Bee-eat© os . '' ' P ’ Living Bird- I I : 75- 112'^ I 15 BIRDWATCHING AT MTWAPA CREEK I have just returned to Kericho after spending two weeks at 'Brooke', the Brooke Bond house situated on the Mombasa side of Mtwapa Creek, and knowing that a number of people up-country are interested in the birdwatching to bo found in the highlands, I would like to draw their attention to the excellent birdwatching to be found at Mtwapa. I have only stayed at 'Brook*' during Apri I, so can only refer to the birds likely to be found at that tine of year. Perhaps the most spectacular of the birds commonly seen at this time of year are the European Golden Orioles OvioXus oriolus which can be seen at any time of the day, diving from one tree fo another in a small party of four birds. If one is ab Rj to rise before about 8.30 a.m. (1), there is a very good chance of seeing up to a dozen Si Iver Cheeked Hornbi I Is Bycanistes brevis, either flying across the creek, or flapping and squawking ioudly in one of the larger trees at the bottom of the garden. I noted with inierest their mode of flight. A single hornbi I I would flap across from one side of the creek to the other. When he had reached his destination, the main party of hornLills would follow. And when they had completed their flight a final lone bird would complete the operation by jcining the rest of the party. One cannot fai I to see the chattering flocks of starlings in the garden at this time of year. Two species wore in evidence: the shyer, more skulking Black-breasted Glossy Starlings Lamprooolius corruscus , and the brightly coloured Violet-backed Starlings Cinnyricinclus leuaogaster which were in numbers of up to fifty at timo'S as they flew excitedly from one side of the garden to the other. As the heat of the day approached, the si lence would often be broken by a playful clicking sound. This was the friendly Spotted Flycatcher Musoicapa striata, usually in evidence throughout the day, until his departure for E u rope . Lunchtime viewing could always be improved by leaving the tap in the front garden dripping. Hordes of Bronze Mannikins Lonchura cuoullatus augmented by smaller numbers of Red-bi lied Fire Finches Lagonosticta senegata, Rufous- backed Mannikins Lonchura hieotor and Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus Estrilda bengala, could always be depended upon to enjoy the spray. These flocks of tiny seed-eating birds were often joined by a friendly pair of Ye I low- fronted Canaries Serinus mozambious which could otherwise be found in the tree in front of the verandah. If all these relatively new birds prove too much for 'tea people', then they need look no further than the front lawn to see fami liar birds such as the pairs of African Pied Wagtai Is Motacilla alba, whi le a walk around the perimeter of the garden will often end in the sighting of Ye I I ow- yen ted Bul- buls Pycnonotus b orb at us , abundant in the highlands, or the speckled Mouse- birds Colius striatus , despised in Kericho on account of their destruction of vegetable crops. The more enterprising bi rdwatchers may be flummoxed by two particular sounds. One is a continuous *'p i r-oo-wee*' that may be heard throughout the day. If the bird is located, and this is not difficult, as when calling the bi rd usually finds a fairly conspicuous perch, it will be found to be the Zanzibar Sombre Greenbu! Andropadus irnp'Ortunus , as difficult to identify as sorre; of our forest greenbu! s. The second sound may be heard from dusk to dawn. This is described by Leslie Brown, in his bc'ok 'African Birds of, Prey’ as a "short melodius, sorrewhat ven f ri I oqui a I tri II, 'trr' ", and is uttered by the African Scops Owl Otus scops senegalensis. I fai led to see the bird myself, the only time it was seen was by my father, who saw it in flight as 1 rushed to find a torch. A short walk along the beach below thehouse, towards the opening of the creek, always proves to be worthwhi le, I made this enjoyable trek several times during our stay, and encountered some interesting species of birds. Common Sandpipers Trd’go. hypolevcos , Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticy..la, Grey Plovers Vluvial.-is squatco'ola and a noisy Pied Kingfisfier Cevyle rudis ^ are usually the first birds to be seen, while in tfie mangroves one may encounter chattering Golden Palm Weavers Flooeus bojeri. The best birding area is up near the mouth of the creek, where a fiat area of sand and corai is excel lent for waders when the tide is low enough. As well as the pre- mentioned waders, a Greenshank Tringa nebularia or two will usual ly be in evidence, whi le the tri I ling of the Whimbreis Numenius phaeopus wi I I always be heard. I saw one particular Whimbrel, a wounded b i rd with a missing foot, on every visit I made to this area. Curlew Sandpipers Calidris fervuginoa are fairly common in this area, some nearing full summer plumage, and if the tide is low enough to enable one to leave the creek and walk to Shanzu Beach, Sander! in gs Calidris a.lha and Turnstone Arenara intevpres in full summer p I uniage may be seen . In the creek itself, Sooty Gulls Larus hemprichii and Lesser' Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis were usually in evidence, and for sevcirai days I saw Little Terns S', alb if ran s ^ a bird i had only encountered on the South Coast ot England, at Pagharn Harbour previously. The Little Terns were well worth watching as they fed dur'ing the day. They would dive like Gannets Sula basana and enter the water with a tremendous splasii, emerging a second la'fer w i th the i r p ri ZG . The bird that gave me the most trouble during the iwo weeks I spent at titwapa was a small dark he'^on, usually to be encountered either at the end of a line of fishermens stakes, or standing stock still on the edge of coral pocis. I identified the b i rd as a Greenbacked Heron Butovides stviatus , but am still not 100^ certain, so if anyone else has identified the small herons in Mtwapa Creek, I would be interested to hear of their opinions. I made these brief notes on the bird - Small heron - dark top to the head and crest, white mark on shoulder, three ivory horizontal marks c^n side of face, two vertical ivory lines on throat. Dark wings in flight, dark back, yellow legs dangling in flight Bill - upper mancli b le hlack, lower ye I low, Nigel Hartley, Bex 20, Kericho, Kenya. *Peter Britten who lives at Mtwapa Creek writes; "The herons are indeed Green-backed Herons which are always to be seen exploiting the fish traps in the creek," Ed. WHAT IS HAPPENING AT LAKE NAIVASHA ? I spent til ree days in August this year cm Crescent Island, Lake Naivasha (Kenya) with Jean Hay.es, and we were both shocked by the changes which have coire about there in the last few months. Vie spent a great deal of time look- ing for water birds all round the perimeter of the Island and saw one African Jacana Aatophilomis afvioanc , a small number of Red-knobbed Coots Fuli-ca cristata, a few Moorhen GcXlvnula ahlovopus and a few Little Grebes Podioeps ruficollis in three days. WHY ? It would appear tliat the answer lies with Myocastor corpus , the Coypu or Nutria which accidently arrived at Lake Naivasha in 1969 or 1970. It seems that this South American rodent was introduced into Kenya, probably In the ea.rly 1950s, for its fur, known commercially as Nutria. For some reason, this scheme was di scon1’ i n ued and the animal was either released or escaped. Ever since then they have made their way down rivers and in and out of dams and lakes, and seem to cause destruction wherever they spend any amount of t i me . To date, I have only been able to find one short article on the Coypu in Kenya, this by Leslie Brown in Safari Magazine, Vo 1. 3 No. 3 June/July 1 972. The information I have been able to obtain comes from ten papers on the Coypu in America. These were presented to the Society's Library by Dr Alexander Sprunt of the National Audubc-n Society of America, and are aval I able for members to read. Myocastor coypus is a large, semi -aquatic rodent looking not unlike an overgrown guinea pig and weighs an average of 3.2kg. Its body is about 45cm long with a 30cm tai I . The Coypu is most active at night and is a vegetarian, eating between I - L.5kg a night. The species is prolific, being sexually mature at 5 - 6 months old and has a gestation period of 1 00 - 1 30 days. The female can produce two litters a year, each litter' being of 2 - 1 3 young, with an average of five. From the observations I have made at Lake Naivasha, it seems that the favourite food of the Coypu is the Water Li ly Nyrnphaea capensis. Jean Hayes and I found two small patches of the lily remaining round Crescent Island. Now that the Water Lily has gone, ternporari ly we hope, a species of sedge iCyperus rotundis I think) has had a population explosion and is now covering vast areas round the causeway to the island. However, it would not be fair to put all the blame for this on the Coypu without facts, and the prevalence of this sedge may be partly due to the fluctuating lake levels over recent years. Another factor to consider is that the water li ly pads were a help in preventing water evaporation from the lake, and now that the sedge has taken over, these will; I imagine, take far more water from the lake than the water lilies did. I hear that nearly all of the water lilies growing on Lake 0I Bolossat has now been eaten by the Coypu. The fact remains that Lake Naivasha is now almost devoid of its spectac- ular wate r b i rd I i fe . 1 1 w i M be i n teres t i n g to see what will happen when the Palaearctic migrants arrive, as most of the mudbanks, in the island area at any rate, have been covered by the sedge. As the Society is holding a study camp at Lake Naivasha in September, it is hoped that sotne constructive work wi I i be possible on the Coypu, and maybe also a look at the Loui si anna Red Swamp Crayfish which was introduced int(^ the I ake at about the same time as the Coypu. I knC'W i'hat work is being done on the Crayfish in the Lake, but is anyone working on the Coypu problem? One would sincer'ely hope sc, and I am sure that the Society members would be interested to hear about this and the results it is producing. Denn ie Angwin , Box 72833, Nairobi. WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRD WALKS Every Wednesday niorning there is a Nairobi bird walk led by Mrs Fleur Ng’weno. I joined the group in J an ucory . 1 973 and decided that it would be interesting to keep records of the birds we see each week. The venue is chosen at random, and this together with tiie re I ai i ve I y short period of time during which have been kept, means that the results are not of statist- ical significance. However, readers may be interested in some of tiie data col iected. We visit various places in the Nairobi area e.g.. Nairobi Game Park, City Park, the Arboretum, Karura Forest, Rowallen Boy Scouts Camp end various private gardens. Occasionally we have an all day trip to Lake Nai vasha. So far we have recorded 314 different species of which 53 have been recorded only at Nai vasha leaving 259 for the Nairobi area. From tiiese' records I have listed below the twenty b i rds most commonly seen on these walks. I nave excluded records based only on hearing the bird, because whi 1st these are true records they would weight the list in favour c'f birds whose call we can recognise (which is not very many!). The list is in descending order of frequency of observation. Dark-capped Bulbul Pycn.onotus barbatus Fiscal Shrike Lanius oollaris Vari-able Sunbi rd Neatari?iia venusta Reichenow's Weaver Ploceus baglafeoht Black Kite Mil vus mi grans Speckled Mousebird Coitus striatus White-eyed S I atey Flycatcher Mela&nomis chocalatina Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis Streaky See deafer Serinus striolatus B I ack-b reasted Apalis Apalis flavida Collared Sunbi rd Anthrep.tes oollaris Olive TFirush Turdus abyssinicus Chin Spot F I ycatche r j9atcs molitor Bronze Mannikin Lonohura oucullata Bronze Sunbi rd N&ctarinia kilimensis Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Pied Crow Corvus albus Augur Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus White-bellied Tit Parus albiventris Amethyst Sunbi rd ‘ - Neotari-nia amethystina Some birds are only seen at particular times of the year. Some of these are European migrants which are here only during the European winter, G.g. European Rock Thrush Monticola soxatilis , Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleiicos , European Kestrel Falco tirmvncv.hAS etc. Otiiers are East African birds which come to this area only at a particular season e.g. Malachite Sunbi rd Nectarinia farnosa and Golden-winged Sunbi rd N, reiohenowi which come when the Leonotis is in bloom during the long rains. The Violet-backed Starling CinnyricincZiiS Zeucogastev has only been recorded from the end of Apri i to the middle of September. Some birds are only recorded by us at a particular season because they only have their spectacular breeding dress at that season. For the rest of the time-, they are little streaky brown birds which we cannot easily identify e.g. Red-collared Widow Bird Euplectes ardeyis and Pin-tai I Whydah Vidua macvoura . During the last eighteen months a few interesting records have occured which I will list below. Perhaps readers may like to add to them or comment on themi. 1. The Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba detegovguei (both sexes) was recorded in the Arboretum on lOth July 1974. This species is rarely seen in the Nairobi area. 2. Sanderling Callidvis alba were recorded on the pond near the East Entrance of Nai robi Game Park on 12th September 1973. These are normally coastal b i rds . 3. The Green-headed Sunbi rd Nsotarinia vertiealis was recorded in a garden at Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on 26th June 1973. This bird is rarely seen in the N a i rob i a re a . 4. A Pied Wheatear Ocncmthe ple&chanka was recorded in the Arboretum on 20th February 1974. This is an unusual habitit for th i s bird, it is a bird cf the grassy plains. It is interesting to note that tii i s reccrd was during the worst part of the drought. 5. A Thick-bi I led Seedeater Seidnus burtoni was recorded in a garden in the Langata area on I9th June I974. This bird is rarely seen in the Nairobi area, away from forests. 6. Sharpe's Starlings Cinnyricinclus sharpii were recorded at Rowel len Boy Scouts* Camp on 30th May I973, another unusual bi rd for the Nairobi area. 7. Two Spotted Thicknees Buvhinus oapensis were recorded in Nairobi Game Park on 3rd July 1974. Whi 1st these are normal residents of the Game Park, this was a lucky sighting since they are nocturnal birds. 8. Gol den-backed Weavers Plooeus jacksoni were recorded on a pool on Kuwinda Estate, Langata on 15th May 1974 and 22nd May 1974. This is an unusual area for these b i rds . They are common on the shores of Lake Victoria and other lake shores, swamps and large rivers. These birds m,ay have escaped from an aviary and information on this point would be welcomed. They are, in fact, nesting in the rushes of this pool and it will be interesting to see whether they breed sucessfully and establish a permanent colony in the area. 9. A greeshank Tringa nebularia was recorded in Nairobi Game Park on 16th May 1974. This is a European migrant which has normally returned to Europe bef- ore th i s date . 120 !0. Wh i te-s.+ arred Busfv Robins v/er'c recorded feedinr, young cn 26ih Se'p'temt'er and 24th October 1973 in a garden in Karen. This record shows that they breed in this area. If this article has stirred the interest ct anyone inierested in birds, do join us any Wednesday morning at 8.45 a.rn. outside the Museum. Everyone is welcome including absolute beginners. Vere V. Bowles, c/c Box 44486, Mai robi . 0L0RGE5AILIE TRIP On Sunday Nth August 1974, forty bi rdwatchers rr;et at the Magadi Road turn-off to begin an al I day ornithological trip to Olorgesai lie. At 9.30 a.m., the sixteen vehicles took off with Vere Bowles in the lead. Hardly had we started when we stopped to observe a Crc;wned Hawk Eagle Stephanoaetus cormatus sitting majestically at its nest near the Langata Gate of the Nairobi fJat i cn a I Park . We liad agreed to proceed directly to Olorgesai lie, but at one point an infant gi raf fe brought the four rear cars to a brief halt; and several mi les before the turn-off to 0 lorgesai I i e , the same four stopped at a small pool where the avian activity was irrestible; there we watched a mixed flc.ck quenching their tfiirst: Red-bi lied Queiea Quelea quelea, Grey-headed Social Weaver Pseudonigrita ':xm.audi , Cu+-throat Amadina fasoiata, Namaqua Dc-.ve Oeno oapensis , Chestnut Sparrow Passer enrinibey , White-bellied Canary Serinus dorsostrio.tus and Blue-capped Cordon-b leu Estvilda cyanocephaZo.. A k^ne Red and Yel low Barbet Trachyphonuc erythrocephalus perched mctionless in a tree above alb the to-ing ana fro-ing. Only the people in the advance cars witnessed two Augur Buzzards Buteo rufofuseus mobbing a Tawny Eagle AquiLa rapax, but when en rc'ute lists were compared, we learned that there were numercus ’duplicates'. After a quick trip around the pre-history sites, where a pair of African Rock Martins Eirmdo fuligula was discovered at a nest, the hot and thirsty naturalists lunched in the cempa r i t i ve I y cool shade of the Museum Banda. Then a few stalwarts headed for Lake Magadi fby car) and the others walked along the dry and rocky riverbed. By new most sensible birds were resting in the leafy trees that lined the riverbed, but several species, including fhe Grey Wren Warbler Camaroptera simplex, were located by birdsong special- i sts . On the return journey to Nairobi, we made a second cool and welcome pause at the roadside pool where fhe mixed flock was sti II busy. Some other high- spots of the day were Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia xcnthocollis ^ Slate-coloured Boubou Lcm.ia.rius funebris , White-bellied Gc-away-bi rd Coryth- aixoides leuoogaster , Teita Fiscal Laniuc dorsalis and the Brown-throated Barbet Tricholaema melanooephalim. Though the consensus of opinion was that Olorgesai lie at high noon is not a birdwatcher's paradise, we thoroughly enjoyed the c>uting and the' fifty four species we had observed. Vie aisc' agreed that an overnight stay and a dawn start would be the pleasantest and most rewarding arrangement. Next t i me ! J. W-C. REVI EW THE Identification of grasses in east Africa - flora of tropical east Africa Gramineae (Part 2) by W.D. Clayton, S.M. Phillips & S.A. Renvoize pp.273. full page illustrations 63. map I, price in UK £2.75 Published in April 1974 by the Crown Agents, London and available from G^vt. Printer, Box 30128, Nairobi; Govt. Publications Agency, Box 1801 Dar es Salaam; Govt. Printer, Box 33, Entebbe; Govt. Bookshop, Box 569, London SEI 9NH. Of the three works which deal with the grasses of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, by A.W, Bogcen (1958), D.M. Napper (1965) and Harker & Napper (I960) only the last 'An illustrated guide to the grasses of Uganda' is still in print (Govt. Printer, Box 331, Entebbe, E.A. Sh.24/~ including postage). Dr Agnew's 'Upland Kenya Wild Flowers' due to appear next month, which will be invaluable for all other herbaceous groups will not include grasses and sedges . These facts make f'~' appearance of a second part of F.T.E.A. Gramineae, which I i kc a M parts or this flora is based on a thorough revision of the plants concerned and is illustrated by admirable full page line drawings, especially welcoine. F.T.E.A. Gramineae Part I which came cut in 1970 dealt with 144 species in 51 genera arranged in seme twenty tribes. This part was cf little value to workers in most of E. Africa because most of the species concerned belong to temperate groups found only cn high mountains. For instance, of 76 grass species known to occur in Nairobi National Park only 6 are dealt with in Part I, whi le 32 are among the 280 species in Part 2, leaving 38 to be dis- posed of in Part 3. The two largest genera in Part 2 are Eragrostis with 71 species and Sporobolus with 44 species, whi 1st the largest in Part I was Aristida with 24 species. Panicurn, which will appear in Part 3, has 55 species in Tanzania alone anc may well prove to be the largest genus of all when the whole fami ly has been dealt with. Grasses, whether directly as cereals or as the food of I i vestack are the chief providers of food for Man. As the main protection against soil erosion they ward off tne principal threat to Man's environment in Africa. It is well that they should be studied and since they cannot be studied unless they are identified. East Africans owe a debt to Dr Clayton and his colleagues and those who make. his work possible. J .B.G. 122 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, . . Swift attacked by Spc:3rrcws I was interested in Mr MsCartney’s account in the last Bulletin of a grounded swift being attacked by sparrows, as I witnessed a similar incident outside, our Medical Library at Haile Se I lassie 1 University at. Addis Ababa when I was working there. The attackers were Swainson's Sparrows Passer swains onii , the Ethiopian equivalent cf Passer griseus. The victim was a dark brown Swift witii a pale throat that I put down tentatively as a Nyanza Swift Apus niansae , or possibly (as it was October) the Common Swift Apus opus. It was very weak and died before the next morning. P . M. Allen, Box 44486, N a i rob i . Sir, I was interested to read Mr Weed's report on sighting a Bittern Botaurus stellaris at Naivasha. About, twelve years, age I saw what I took to be a Bittern at the edge of the papyrus in one of, the b i g Ambese I i. swamps. I had never seen cne before but my companion had seen them in Europe and was also familiar with the American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus. The bird adopted the characte ri st i c stance while we were watching it. We were able to judge the size by comparison with ether common birds nearby, so confusion with an immature Night Heron Nycticorax nyotioorax was unlikely. R.A. Lowis, Box 49538, N a i rob i . .REQUEST FOR INFORMATION I am cempi ling a report on, the East African Crowned Crane Balearica pavonine for the World Working Group on Cranes. Would memfers who see anything of interest please report it to me. I want breeding data especially; clutch size and times of breeding etc. Any ' in format i on regarding movement, any large numbers seen. When you send in the informaticn, please do be really exact as to,-, loca 1 i ty (a place name, if possible) then 1 can pin point it cn my map Jenn i fe r Horne , Bex 24622, Karen , Nai rob i . FOUND Left in Mrs Bowles' car after the bird walk on August 7th, child's black embroidered pull-over. Can be recovered from the Libray. 123 GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION The Geographical Asscciation has been revived and a full programtre of lectures and field trips is planned. The subscription is Sh.20/- for rrembers living within 32km of Nairobi and Sh. 12/50 for the rest. Student members Sh.5/--. The Secretary is Mr G.S.O. Ongweny, Dept, of Geography, Nairobi University. For furhter information and forms of application for membership can be had from the Librarian, Natir;nal Museum, Box 40658, Nai rob i . . ' LIBRARY NOTES With reference to the present anxiety about forests in Kenya, there is an encouraging article ''’Forests - The Forester's view" in the R.S.P.B. magazine Birds for May - June 1974 (Vo 1.5, p.l8) by the Senior Officer' of the Forestry Commission in Wales, Though written about the British Isles, much of it is nc doubt applicable (or could be) here in Kenya. "People simply do not see", he write, "what a change wi II come in the next decades. In areas that were planted earlier we find objection dies away". The late K.D. Smith in a paper on "the Uti lization of Gum trees by birds" in the last issue of Ibis (Vol.116, p.l55)quotes a correspondent as predict- ing that "the exotic plantations (and all disturbed habitats) contain the Species which will survive the ciiange when men completely remove the original habitat". "If this i true" wrote Smith, "then the exotic plantations will in future deserve more attention". P.M.A. Librarian. In September we return to the normal Library opening hours; Monday - 3.30 - 1.0 & 2.0 - 6.0 Tuesday to Friday - 8.30 - 1.0 & 2.0 - 5.0 Saturday - 9.0 - 12.30 THEFT A number of coloured and black and white plates have been out out of the new edition of Roberts’ Birds of South Africa - a red star book (reference only) from the Society - Naticnal Museum Library. Other books, journals and bound journals have also been stolen. Apart from the fact that stealing is wrong and a criminal offence, stealing books c>r parts thereof from a library is especially wrong since the theft affects so many people. Steps are being taken to increase security arrangeren ts in the Library: inevitably these will sorrotimes cause hardship and annoyance to honest Libr- ary users, but this cannot be helped and no apology is offered since the . ■ welfare of the books is of paramoount importance.. 124 Ed, FUNCT I ONS Monday 9th September 1974: 5.15 [..m. Lecture Hall, Natic-nal Museum, Nairobi. Talk and slide shew by Mr T. Huels on the Superb Starlinc. Mr Huels is a worker from Arizona who is studying Superb Starlings. These are common birds but so far no detai led study seems to have been made of their breeding habits and social structure. Mr Huels has now reachec' a point where he is prepared to tell us about some of his observations and show us some of his slides. Saturday/Sunday 14th/ 15th September 1974: V/eekend Study Camp at Nai vasha ~ led by Miss D. Angwin. Detai Is will be sent to members whe send in the camp- ing slips to the Secretary. Mon day 14th October 1974: 5.15 p-.m. Lecture Hall, National Museum, Nai robi . Talk and Slide Show by Mr John Karmali, Chairman, E.A.N.H.S. Further details will be announced in the October Bulletin. Saturday/Sun day 8th/ IQ November 1974: Weekend at Bari n go Lodge. Sh.lOO/- per person per night. 24 people only (in 12 doubles). NEW MEMBERS - SEPTEMBER 1974 Fu I I members : Mr J. A Maw ay. Box 14893, Nairobi. Mrs A.G. Anderson, Bex 30101, Nairobi. Mr P. Burliegh, 256 rTreasure Ave. , Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A. Mrs I.P Colquhoun, Box 20139, Nairobi. Mrs D.M. Dunbar, Box 30462, Nairobi. Rev. M.S. Edwards, St. Paul’s United Theological College, P.O. Limuru. Dr B.A. Jenny, Bex 30228, Nai robi , Miss M. King, c/o Kenya High School, Nai rcbl . Mr 0. Schungel, Box 30560, Austrian Embassy, Nairobi. Mr Jose P.L. Telio, Caixa Postal 1378, Lourenco Marques. Mr D. Vogt, Box 45502, Nairobi. Mr R. Wingfield, Bex 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. J un i or nnembers : Ca ro I An de rs on , Box 30101, N a i rot i . Jane Andersen, Bex 30101, Nairobi. Joyce A. Carlson, Box 30197, Nairobi. John Yaninek, Box 30197, Nairobi. RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS Enclosed with this issue is a copy of the Society’s publicity folder; please pass this on to a friend whe may be interested in joining, or display it on a notice board. With ever rising costs it is important that we increase our rrembership end anything that you, our members, can do in this direction will be most valual le. Extra erpies of the folder are obtainable from the Secretary or from the Library. 125 SOl^e RECENT PERiODiC LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY fossi I and recent (Review of Baldaccini, N.E. 1973 An ethological study of reprcductive behaviour including the colour patterns of the Ci ch I i d fish Tilapia mariae (Boulanger). Mon. Zool. Ital. 7:247-290. Bertram, G.C.L. & Ricardo Bertram, C.K. 1973 The modern Sirenia: their distribution and status. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 5:247-290. Bolton, M. ' 1973 Notes on the current status and distribution of seme large mammals in Ethiopia (excluding Eritrea). Matmalia 37:562-586. Clay, T. 1974 The Phthiraptera (Insecta) parasitic on flamingoes. J. Zool. 172:483-490. Forey, P.L. 1973 A revision cf the E I op i form fi Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.)Geol. suppl. Heminway, J.H. 1974 "Scaly things that shuffle "Eyelids of morning: the mingled destinies by Alistair Graham and Peter Beard). Nat. International Union for Conservat i C'n of Nature cf national parks and reserves in East Africa. ' 1974 en vi ronmen fa I centre in Nairobi. Ibid.'.\6. 1974 Tanzania to exploit wild I i fe . Ihed. :20. Kerrich, G.J. 1973 A revision of the tropical and suLtrcpica! species the Eulophid gneus Pediobius Walker (Hymenopte ra : Cha I ci doi dea) Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Ent. 29: (3). Longhitano, N. & Bavazzano, F. 1973 Research on the vegetation of the middle valley of the Awash River (Ethiopia). Webbia 28:543-565. Peterson, R. 1974 Variation in the African bat, Todarida lobata, with notes on habitat and habits. R.O.M. Life Sciences Occasional papers No. 24. Stone, B.C. 1973 A synopsis of the African species of Pandanus. Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden. 60:260-272. Taylor, E.H. 1973 A Caeci Man miscellany. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 50:187-231. Van Someren, B.G.L. 1974 Revisional notes on African Charaxes. pt.9. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Ent. 29:8. she; 10. and I urk ..." of crocc'di les and men' Hist. (New lork) 83: (2): 78. 1974 Coordinated systems. Bull. lUCN 5:15. ' - NGOs to create of 126 E A N H S 7 BULLETIN A monthly publicatbn of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN OCTOBER 1974 CONTENTS Migratory Pygmy Kingfisher in Coastal Kenya - -- -- -- -- -- -- 128 Cherengani Hills - Chiffchaff and Black Kite - -- -- -- -- -- - |29 The garsen Heronry on the Tana River ---------------- [29 Egyptian Tonb Bat - a first record from Uganda - -- -- -- -- -- i 30 Egyptian Plovers in the Lake Rudolf area - -- -- -- -- -- -- - 131 Sooty Gu I Is at Lake Rudolf - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 13| Unusual lion behaviour and a white-striped Dik-Dik - -- -- -- -- |32 Marine Li fe Trip - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 133 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 133 Review - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 135 Flora of Upland Kenya - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 136 Library Notes - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - |36 Lady Wi Ison - An Appreciation - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 137 Lecture - 9th September - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 138 Field trip to Lake Hannington 16th ~ 18th August 1974 - -- -- -- - 138 F unctions--------------------- - 141 New Members - October 1974 142 MIGRATORY PIGMY KINGFISHERS IN COASTAL KENYA The standard texts dealing with East African birds record only the nominate form of the Pigmy Kingfisher Ceyx piata from Kenya and Uganda, wh i ie the south- form, C.p. natalensis , is listed as occurring north to central Tanzania, including Zanaibar and Pemba, In adult plumage nata'Lensis has a blue patch on the ear coverts so that it may be readi ly recognised in the hand. Benson (1964) has shown that natalensis is migratory in southern Africa, including Zambia and much of Tanzania, where it is a breeding visitor during the rains, from September to Apri I. He listed four Kenya specimens, from the coast between Malindi and Ki lifi in Apri I , May and June; and five Uganda specimens in Apri I, May, J ume and July, One would expect it in these areas (outside the breeding range) between April and September. Backhurst & Back hurst (1970) list natalensis for Kenya but not for Uganda. At 0700 on 1st August 1974 a Pigmy Kingfisher was stunned as a result of flying into a window of our house at Shi mo la Tewa School, Mombasa. It was an adult with a very distinct blue patch on the mauve ear coverts and was definitely an example of natalensis. 'When released after ringing it flew away strongly. Only six days later an identical bird was found at 0850 in a dazed condition on our verandah. It was eventually released though it flew away reluctantly. Each was in moult with a wing of 54 mm, weight 12.0 and 12.2 g respect i ve I y . Though other species, especially estrildines, fly into houses, this most often happens in strong sunlight in our experience. On migration the Pigmy Kingfisher frequently flies into windows in the early morning as happened to five individuals in a five day period one September at a school where we used to live in western Zambia (Britton 1970). Thus it is possible that the bird at Shi mo la Tewa was on southward passage. Should anybody find an injured Pigmy Kingfisher it would be a good idea to attempt to race it (if adult), or if fatally injured to preserve the skin for racial determination at the National Museum. In this way we might learn to what extent Kenya and Uganda are regular off season quarters for southern b reede rs . Peter & Hazel Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa, Kenya. REFERENGES : Backhurst, G.G. & Backhurst, D.E.G. 1970. A preliminary Checklist of East African birds. Kabete, Nai rob i ; dup I i ceted . Benson, C.W. 1964. Some i nt ra-Af ri can migratory birds. IPuku 2:53-66. Britton, P.L. 1970. Birds of the Balovale District of Zambia. Ostrich A \:\Ab-\90. 128 CHERANGANI HILL. - CHIFFCHAFF AND BLACK KITE We visited the Cherangani Hills, to the east of Kitale in Kenya, over the weekend of 1st to 4th March 1974 and camped at the forest edge at 3000 m, 4 km SSE of Kame I i gon peak with Drs David and Jessica Aid ley. At 0900 h on 3rd March, we all heard a Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collyhita near the camp; two or three times it uttered the very characteristic "chiff- chaff’ song followed by the weaker "hueet” call note: we are all fami liar with the song in the UK and have no doubt that It was this species. As far as we know, this is the first record of the Chiffchaff from the Cherangani Hi Ms although it has been recorded recently 100 km to the west on Mt. Elgon by Rolfe and Pearson (1973). Later that morning, J FH and LMH saw a Black Kite Milvus migrans (race not ascertained) swoop over a stand of Giant Heather near the camp site and rise with a lizard- 1 ike animal with a curled tail In its talons. As the kite flew only as low as the tops of the heather, we suspect that it was a charn- el i on that it had taken which must indicate the acute vision of the kite in perceiving this normally slow-moving animal. John and Lyn Harper, Box 547, Kericho, Kenya. REFERENCE: Rolfe, J.G. & Pearson, D.J. 1973. Some Recent Records of Palaearctic Migrants from Eastern Uganda. BANES Bull. 1973:62, THE GAR5EN HERONRY ON THE TANA RIVER In 1959, Myles North described the species which he encountered in August 1956 nesting in a large heronry near Garsen on the Tana River iJl E. Afr. not. Hist. Soa. 101:159-160). On 30th June 1974 I was able to visit this same site, where 1 found about 2000 pai rs of 13 species in a Henna inermis thicket in receding floodwater. There has evidently been no serious deterioration over this eighteen year period. The species which most interested me were Night Heron Nyoticorax nyctioorax, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, B)\ a ck Heron Egretta ardesiaaa, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcin- ellus , all of which were nesting in comparable or better numbers than in 1956. The two most widespread coastal herons - the Little Egret E. garzetta and Grey Heron A. cinerea - were unaccountably absent this year, though they were present in good numbers in 1956. This site may well have been visited several times between 1956 and 1974. I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has visited this heronry, however scant their notes might be. I hope to revisit this site in future 129 years and will eventually prepare a fuller report on ^my observations. Peter L. Britton, Box 90163, Mombasa. EGYPTIAN TOMB BAT TAPHOZOUS PERFORATUS E. GEOFFROY 1818 FIRST RECORD FROM UGANDA In 1971 I had the opportunity to identify a couple of bats donated to the National Museum, Nairobi. Amongst these were two females of Taphosous perforatus from Sukulu Hill, near Tororo in eastern Uganda col lected by J.D. Hawkins on 13th November 1970, now registered NMN. 544-545. In my paper on Sudanese bats (Kock 1969) I tried to clarify the taxonomic status of several of the Af i rcan forms narred and gave, a' distribution map, for which no Uganda record was avai lable. The species being widely distrib- uted in African savannahs and more arid regions was to be expected to occur in Uganda, but has not yet been reported {vide 'dayman & Hi I I 1971). Both specimens have dark wings like the subspecies haedinus Thomas 1915 ( f rom Chan I e r' s Falls, Tana River) not whitish as in the subspecies Sudani Thomas 1915 (from Mongalla, southern Sudan). The more important measurements (in mm) of both specimens are:, forearm length 62.3, 63.4; con dy I o-ceh i ne length of skull 18.7, 18.3; bizygomatic breadth 11.8, 11.8; breadth across upper canines 3.9, 3.7; breadth across upper 3rd molar 8.4, 8.6; length of upper tocth row 8.3, 8.1; i n te rob i ta I w i dth 6.0,- 6.0; length of mandible 15.3, 16.1; length of lower tocthrow 9.9, 9.9. D. Kock, Forschungs i nsti tut Senckenberg, D-6000 - Frankfurt a.M. Senckenberg- An I age 25, Germany . REFERENCES: Hayman , R.'W. & Hill, J.E, 1971 In Meester, J. & Setzer, H.W. (Eds.). The mammals of Africa^ an identification manual. Part 2: order Chiroptera: 1-72. - Washington. Kock, D. 1969 Die F lede rmaus-Fauna des Sudan (Mammalia, Chiroptera). Abh,senokenb,naturf,Ges, 52 1: 1-238. 130 EGYPTIAN PLOVERS IN THE LAKE RUDOLF AREA During August 197 1, eight Egyptian Plovers Fluvianus aegyptious were observed by Goddar'd (1972), in the extrerre north western corner of Lake Rudolf between Toden/ang and Narnaraputh, the first record of this species for Kenya. Recently, on 25th June 1974, I saw a party of 20 Egyptian Plovers on fhe west bank of the River. Orno at Kalorn in Ethiopia, 10 km north of Namar- aputh. During the next two days parties of up to 4 b i rds wore seen flying up and down i'he river in the neighbourhood of Kaiom. Urban and Brown (197 1) record the Egyptian Plover as frequent tC' common in south-west Ethiopia (including the Omo Valley). It seems likely that the species occurs regularly in the limited area of the Omo Delta which lies within Kenya. A.J. Hepson, Lake Rudolf Fisheries Research Project, Box 30465, Nairobi. REFERENCES: Goddard, M. 1972 Egyptian Plovers in Kenya. EANHS Bull. 1972:14, UrPan, E.K. & Brown , L.H, 1971 A okeoklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Hai le Sel lassie University Press, Adis Ababa. SOOTY GULLS AT LAKE RUDOLF On 25th April 1974, wo were working on beard RV “Halcyon'*, which was anchored in Crater Bay, on the north-west side of CJentra! Island, Lake Rudolf. A flock of gulls consisting of about fifty Grey-headed Gulls Larus cirroaephalus ^ ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fitscus and three immature gulls ( Peter and Hazel Britten who gave us their opinion 131 :ricT thciie quiIs were eimost cerieinly imneture Secty GuMs Lai^s hempT'idh't'L, Recently we visited the Brittons at Mombasa and were shewn Sooty GuMs in various states cf plumage. We now confirm that the Lake Rudo I f birds were of the same species. Tony and Jane Hopson, Lake Rudolf Fisheries Research Project, Box 30T65 , Nai robi . UNUSUAL LION BEHAVIOUR AND A WHITE - STRif^ED DIK - D!K On a recent safari with a group of tcurists, the following interesting ob se r V at i on s we re made; Li..n Ponthe7>a l&o In the Mara Game Reserve, my party went out at dawn and were i ucky enough to find a large pride of lion consisting of three lionesses and ten cubs, eight of which tr.usf have been the same litter as they were all tiie same size. The pride was feeding on a fully-grc.wn meie buffalo carcass which appeared to hove been ki i led the night before. The cubs caused us great amusement as they wr^re swinging from ''Mama’s’' toi !, climbing over lier and biting her ears, and playing a game c;f tag with the buffaio’s tai I. One of the lionesses then pulled the stomach from the carcass and took it about a metre away. Here she proceeded to break the stomach wall, extracted ■^tie contents and ate the stomach. This must have taken iiei' abc>ut twenty min- utes, and for the remainder cf the tiirc' we watched the pride - a further half hour - this female spent all the time covering up the stomacfi contents with grass wti i ch she scraped up from aii round the area. Naturally the cubs then cane along and undid ail her good work, but she chased them off, anc continued to scrape grass over the patch. Occasionally she would break off from this and walk behind the carcass to tiie place where the buffalo had been ki lied. Again she would do the same thing, scrape pi les of grass over the dried blood on the ground. The fol lowing morning we returned to the ki I i for another look at the cubs. The whole pride was under a nearby tree, but tfie san-e female, recognisable by the rips in her ecjrs, was back at the buffalo, sti M scraping grass over the piece where the stomach contents had spi I led. In the end there was a pi le of grass nearly a metre high. Between scraping grass she would smt; M all round the area, and continue to scrape. It would appear that the smell of the stomach and dried blood was distasteful to this particular lioness, and she was attempting to hide it. Is this conimon ly seen?. I have watched many liens on Ki I Is and have never seen the behaviour before. I wonder if any member, maybe Mrs Rudnai , would have any comments ic make on the subject. 132 i\irk*5 Dik~Dik RhynchotTugiiS Wh i ie driving through the Arnbcseli Game Reserve towards Namanga,. two ci iTiy drivers saw Dik-Dik which they described as looking like a Lesser Kudu!’. Unfortunately, I did not see tlie animal, but Julius, a very observant driver, described the an i ma i to me in detai I. Apparently they came across two Dik- Dik, one a normal specimen, but the other had several white vertical stripes down the body. I can find no reference tc Dil%-Dik being marked in this way, and I again wonder if any member of the Society has any si mi iar records. Dt^nnie Angwin, Box 72 833, Nai rob i . MARINE LIFE TRIP The Marine Life; trip on 17th August 1974, explored the tidepoois in the dead reef at the southern end Kenyatia Beach, Ban'buri . The sea slugs or nudibranchs wore particularly wo I I represented; during the trcrning we saw a dozen species, including the Sea Hare Dolabella sp . and the red, orange and yellow Spanish Dancer ilexahranohus sp , Nudibranchs (sheil-less marine snails) are sometimes crypticaily ccHoured, sonetimes dazzling in colour and formi. The loveliest that nricmning, found by the children, was ve I voty-b 1 ack with e iect rl c-b I ue markings. F ieur Ng'weno, Bcx'^4227 I , N a i rob i . LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, I would like fo comment c;n the article by Mr and Mrs Harper {EANES Bull. 1974:113-115), referring to the whereabouts of the House Marin DelichaTn urbica in its winter quarters. i share the same experience as JcTn Smart did at Mok; having lived at 2700 m for the last 27 years. i have found the House Martin to be one of our cc'mmcoest Palaearctic migrants, with very regular arrival and departure dates. Since I started keeping reccrcs in I960 i'he first arrivals are noted between I5th end 30th September, nru.' they have mostly left on their rerurn j’ourney by the end of March. There is no doubt that the feeding habits of those b i rds are closely rel- ated to the swifts. Except when seen on definite migration, nearly ail the large concentrations have been seen when In company with swifts, when both species come down low under heavy storm clouds. As the storm mc'Ves off, so the birds depart in the same directicn. Size of flocks are difficult to evaluate, as the birds wheel about and rise and fall in alfitude, but several times I have counted over 1000. Mostly abcut 50 - 100 birds are seen together. With an evaporating storm cloud, one sees the birds rise higher and higher unti I they disappear, and one can well understand v/hy they are sc se I dcm seen in ordinary weather. As . i n the case of swifts and some falcons such as hobbies, they can probably spy storm clouds from considerable distances, and so are seldom seen long in one locality. However, when the whole country is under dry conditions, the House Martins alter tliei r feeding hiabits and spend all day flying low over the wheat stubbies into the stiff dry winds. This is not just a local habit, as on a visit to West Ki limanjaro, i fc:und large num.bers of House Miartins flying low over the stubbles at I8C0 ir; in March, Watching our local b i rds in partic- ulai'ly dry years, I got the impression ihat I was seeing the same flock each day. The birds were working slowly into a strong east wind as they fed, and I would see the sanB sort of numbers each day for a month or two. If this was the case, it is quite likely +het the birds returned to roost in the forest a mi !e or two to the west. I have only twice seen these b i rds settle; one© about 50 on telephone wires, the other time when seme birds out of a migrating flock settled on sci)'.e dead Cedar trees. The time was nearly sunset, but each b i rd that was perdied was seen chivvied off by another bird. The trees were rather near the edge of the forest, and perhaps the birds were seeking a roosting site further on. On t!;e southerly migration the House Martin is usually seen working down foresied valleys rather than on a broad front across the plains, and this leads me to think that the birds may often roost in the fc rests. Most of tl'ie high country whore they are regularly seen have some suitable dry cedar forest. It seems hard to believe that they could roost on the wing “ anatomical iy they are quite different to the swifts. Incidenfly, when i have seen the martins with sw'fts, the latter would always appear to be of the European species Apus apun. Apart from the reasons discussed regarding scarcity of records for this bird,- a possible cause of m i s i dent i f i cat i on is that the birds are extra- ordinari ly pale when they arrive in September -- in fact some birds remain a light brown unti I the end of the year, and the white runp is inconspicuous except in the best light. As tney are usually seen high overhead, they might easi ly be mristaken for other species of martins. P.H.B. Sessions, P . 0 . Ma u N a rok . AERIAL ROOSTING 1 have had many discussions with people about Swifts Apus opus and House Martins Deliohm urbi-ca r'oosting on the wing. Most I have spoken to seem disinclined to believe that aerial roosting is possible; it seems to. me that, for such aerial birds as Swifts and House Martins, flying must be a rather ■automatic' function - like breathing. Wild animals (including birds)- generally sleep less than, and less deeply than humans - generally they do not relax as wo do. Is it so far-fetched then to postulate that Swifts and i54 i-K-use Martins rocst or, ftie wirvj? Trvay w.jij I iJ only need to nic-’intain altitude (which one can observe them doing during daylight) with the mi n i mun', of wing flapping. Chances c.f collisions with other b i rds wc^uid be very small and collisions with, physical objects (such c.'S rocks) wou I o be minimised since the birds would obvic'usly select the. roosting area or space in daylight to avoid such dangers. I see no reason why House Marins should not r'ocst occasionally in water- side vegetation alongside other swallows, no^r why Swifts should not roost on rock faces or in cracks in rocks, if just seems incredible though that rocjsts of these two flocking birds should have been founr' so seldom. Perhaps Mr Sessi-ens’ observafion suggesting that House Martins roost on bare trees in forest is correct, but, considering the numbei' C'f this species which :must winter in Africa, c.'ne would have expected definite sightings of r'oC'Sting by now unless they do- in fact r'cest on the wing. Gfraeme Backhurst, Box 29Q03, Kabete, Kenya. oi r. With reference tc.‘ Mr Reynolds’ note vo.n Bee-oaters eating bread, will the nember who told me tfrat he had seen a Pigmy Falcon remitorquatus eating bread at Ambc.>seli pleaso cv/n up? P . M . Allen, Box 44486, Mai rol' i . REVIlW EAST AFRICAN VEGETATION by E.M. Lind & M.E.S. Morrisen, with a contribution by A.C. Hamilton. Published by Longman Group Lt.-f,, Longman House, Burnt Mil! House, Harlow, Essex CM20 2E.J Engl-and. pp.XiXi - 257, Plates 43 and Figs I- 8 . 3 . P ri ce £6 . The contents page of this book opens with .a Preface, Acknow ledgetrients , List i.yf Plates, then an I nt reduction and Classification of Vegetation Types. This contains Part i:-ne, Forests, Part two. Vegetation and environment. Part one contains five vegetation types, i Forests, 2 Rangelands fhon bushed and wooded grassland with, predominantly compound lG-=>ved trees, 3 Inland aquatic vegetation, 4 The vegetation of the Sea coast, 5 high micuntain grass- land. Then Part two Vegetation and Envi renment, covering 6 Climate and vegetation, 7 soils. Then an 8th secticn. The history of the vegetation by A I an Harni I ton . The book is profusely il iustrated with I - 8, figures and prcHi les of the vegetation types and nunerous lists of the species found in the different vegetation types. There is a very full bibliography of 24 pages going back 135 as far back as 1906 and finally an Index of plant names of 15 pages and 7 pages of a General Index. To teachers, students and ethers studying vegetation in East Africa, this book is essential and as the publishers say on its dust cover ’Ms intended for the use of college and university sfudents vyith sorre knowkedge of ecology, and as an introduction to the country for all those going to work there in agriculture, forestry, wild life management or plant ecology. It will also prove of interest to the general reader and the increasing number of tourists who want more informal ion on the rich and varied plant life of East Africa”. Figs. 2.17 and 2.18 ere mixed. Terminalia has only one wing surrounding its fruit wh i 1st Corihvetim^ most of which have 4 wings. Milattia, p.245 should be spelt kn-llettia and Corvhratum p.28 should be Comhvetum. There are possi b ly other mi spe I I ings. From the Index of Floras, p.255 Dale, i.R. and Greenway, P.J. (1961), Kenya Trees and Shrubs, pp,653, Nairobi, Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd., in associaticn with Hatchards, London, has been emmitted but it is included in the bibliography p. 214. P.J.G. FLORA OF UPLAND KENYA This important work is about to be putMished at KShs. 170.00, however, members of the Society can purchase it for KShs. 136.00. Please send your cheques, made payable to the Society, to the Hon. Secretary, Box 44486, N a i rob i . Ed. LIBRARY NOTES I feel that the announcement about security in the last Bulletin calls for rather more ccmmient. Once when 1 was on a course for Librarians in London, we were taken to see the extremely beautiful and valuable librat'y of the Royal Institution. We should be astonished, the Librarian told us, at the way the Library was run. There are no rules. The books belong tc the Fellows, and they do as they like with them. If only we could say the same about cur library! ’’The books belong tc the members, and they do as they like with themTM But this assumes of course that members have a high standard both of care of books and of consideration for fellow members. Alas! ’’Science began as a hobby for gentlemen” and has now become a race for cads. Howe'/er, though there does exist the cad who wi 1 1 deliberately deprive other cads of the literature essential to their work, a far commoner enemy in a library like this is the reader who says to himself 'M am the only person here who is interested in this’' and therefore takes it. I have heard someone say "No one ever locked at it there, so I thought I might as well take it*'. I renemher in one institution a member of otherwise blameless character (as far as I know) who considered that she was the only person who appreciated the t^ew Statesman and regularly took it out of the common room as scon as it arrived. The best cure, or at least palliative, for this sort of thing is surely obvious. There is little we can do about deliberate malice or the decay of public morals, but i f we took an interest or more interest in our library i believe most of these depredations would stop. You can tighten up the rules for one thing. If readers knC'W that a library is watciied over and taken care of they are less likely to steal or muti late, just as if they know that they wi M get reminders they are more likely to bring books back off loan in time. But there is one fhing which every library needs, and without whioi'', keen staff and ample funds are of no aval I, and possessing which any library how- ever small and scruffy is well on the way to greatness. Tiiis first essential is - a large number of complaining readers. We may not be able to say '"the books belong to the miembers'', but they are the best guardians. It is they who in the end wi I I obtain mtrney for new books and furniture. Without them a library is dead and open tc. the attacks of tomb robbers. P . M. Allen, Li b rar i an , Be X 44486 , Nai rob i . LADY WILSON - AN APPREGiATlON The Society has suffered a sad less in the death of Elizabeth Wilson, who witn her late husband. Sir Frank Wi Ison, had farmed at U I u fcT many years. She joined the Society In 1936 and never ceased to take the greatest inter- est in all its activities. Despite advancing years and the- handicap of a severe leg injury wh i ch rendered her incapable of walking far, she :took part in many of the camps and expeditions organised by the Sc^ciety and was never happier than when camping or on safari. She had a great love for end intense interest in the wild life around her and both she and her husband were keen conservationists and' pioneers in the matter of water and soi I conservation on their farm at Ulu. With her keen and lively mind and great kindness and hospitality especially to young people, she will be greatly missed. F.M.E. A kind letter has been received from Mrs D.E. Blunt enclosing a donation of Shs.lOO/- and suggesting that we should open a fund for some special project in memory of Lady Wi Ison. The publication of scientific papers is one of the objects for which the 137 Society exists, and there is never enough money avail able to publish as many as we would like. Would friends of Lady Wi I sen care to send donations to finance a publication on some subject of special interest to her - some aspect perhaps of the Conservation of Natural Resources? I always think of the Wilsons in that connection myself. When I first came tc the country in 1931 I remember their farm being pointed out to ire as an object lessen in wise and far-seeing land use. They had not, I was told, destroyed the bal- ance of nature in any way. They had left the trees and had constructed many dams There was no over-grazing and no sci I erosion and they supplied Mombasa with milk. P.M. A. LECTURE - 9th SEPTEMBER 1974 Members heard a most interesting lecture cn 9th September from Mr T. Hue Is on the work he is doing on Superb Starlings Spreo superbus. These are birds which we all know and like, and if is amazing that so little should be known about them, unti I we realise how many hours, days and weeks of careful watching and patient note-taking are requi red to unravel the secrets of their lives. Mr Huels' study has revealed unexpected complications. Not for them the simple plan of pairing and nesting with perhaps flocking in the non- breeding season. We a II know that they are gregarious, but Mr Huels’ flock of about 20 adults and juveni les remains a co-operating unit throughout their cycle. A further difficulty is that there is no sexual dimorphismi. Males and females are exactly alike and there is no telling the one from the other until you see them copulating. Mr Huels has colour ringed his whole flock and has been able to construct tables shewing the contacts and interactions of each with the rest. There seems to be the usual social hierachy, but though a particular male and female will be associated, other males will copulate with the female and it is impossible to say which is the father of the chicks. They may nest in the thatch of the bandas (Mr Huels is based on Bushwhackers Safari Camp near Kibwezi), but they prefer tc take over the nests of the White-headed Buffalo-Weaver DinemetVia dinemetti , even turning out the eggs. Sometimes the Buffalo-Weaver retaliates and throws out the Star I i ng' s eggs . in a lecture sc packed with detai I it is impossible tc review every point. We are glad to learn that Mr Huels is staying for another year, and hope that he will speak to us again. The study when published will make fascinating read i ng . P.M. A. FIELD TRIP TO LAKE HANNINGTON 16th - 18th August 1974 The 30 or more Society members, chi Idren and guests who joined this outing were lucky to find the Hannington area at its greenest, and encountered little dust on its access roads. In fact a small advance party pitching camp on the 138 Friday afternoon found themselves in light rein for the whole evening. At least two hours of driving should he allowed from Nakuru, unless cne cares neither for the suspension of one's vehicle^, ncr for the cccasicnal dikdik dashing across the road. It is now pcssihle to remain C'P tarmac (Nakuru -- Eldama Ravine) to witl'iin a few kilometres cf Mogotio, a centre of Kenya's sisal industry. Eighteen k i I cnet res beyond Mogotio, af'fer bush and tress have replaced the sisal plantations, the Lake depression beccrres cioiiriy visible at a distenco and this helps orientation. Another 24 km to Ma j i ya Mote should be tackled at low speed as bumpy ditches, sandy and rocky river beds, and sometimes rough gravel have to be traversed. Another access route, Solai -- Kisanana ~ MiukuyunI, was found perfectly passable by one member, while Mugurin - Kisanana should not be atternp+ed: I tried when returning and ended up caught in between cattle fences. At Miaj i ya Mote, a vi I I age of a cozen huts, the motorist turns right and is usually followed by a local lad on a bicycle who, at a barrier, charges Shs.5 admission per car and Shs.l per person on tehalf of the South Baringo Area Counci i. There are five more ki lor.'etres and two steep ridges to be covered ti I I one approaches the lakeshcre. We camped at the main campsite a few huncred metres north, near several flagpoles and twc' white-painted cabins in which vandalism lias blasted the intended ad- vance cf civilized human waste disposal. One could motor only a few hundred netres more, to a ravine which allows only 4-whee I -d ri ve vehicles to go beyond. in a southerly direction, an ordinary car can cic 3 km then stopping before an even less negotiable rc^cky ridge. On foot we climbed easily across for the customary Sunday morning bird walk. (There is also a track leading fromi a south-westerly direction to the southernmost tip of the Lake, which is known to campers, but accessible to 4-wheel-drIve on 1 y . ) Lake Hannington is 16 km long and 4 km across at its widest, shal low, and has water slightly less alkaline than Lake Nakuru. its name has been Africanized to 'Barageu' - though J.W. Gnsgery knew it as Lake Lesuguta when expicring the Rift Valiev in i893. Seme of the ravers feeding it must be quite ferrnidabie when in floc'', judging fronr their beds; in spite of the recent rains, we found thoso' all dry. The Lake’s greatest attraction are no doubt the hC't springs and steam jets. A cluster of two dozen of those errerges from the ground between the main campsite and the lakeshcre (the ’’Central Springs*'). There are many more around the souther'n half of the Lake but nowhere more than five or six together. In craters 6-10 n; across, steaming with heat, continuous bubbles well up in the middle'. One geyser spouts water up rhythmically to twice a man’s heiglit. At n i ght-'t i ne , noises frorr’ these unearthly terrestrial activities seemed to get icudei', and more vapour condenses in the cooler ai ro As for practical uses, I managed to prepare stew from its raw compc-inents in less than three hours, soft-boiled egg in 6 minutes - placing the pet in shallow water cf a ’’crater pond”. At a cleaner jet spring beyond the ’’ravine”, I fil led a bottle, put if' in the 'fridge when returned to Nairobi, and found its contents a deliciously -i'esting mi I d rni ne ra I wate r. I3Q Neve rrhe less , I would wish Hannington neither to develop into a Kenya Karlsbad nor an energy base for an East African Ruhrgehiet (as one foreign newsmagazine put It exagge rated I y two years age). The energy people may of course sti I! have their way, there and in Hell’s Gate, but to me, Hannington or Baragoi wirh its backdrop of an escarpment rising to 600 m, ap pe a re d rathe r like a m i n i at u rc re f I e ct i cn of Lake Man y a ra . It could be turned into a game park; extensive re-stocking v/ould have to be undertaken, however. Per in spite of its apparently suitable habitat, members detected no mammalian wildlife ether than baboon, dikdik, a lonely impala buck, and a hare. Is it because the local herdbeys tending their cattle and goats are all armed with bows and arrows? Yet human habitation is so thinly scattered, with no more than four huts discernible along the entire eastern (steeper) lakeshcre, and cenudaricn of plant growth plus erosion through the existing ca+tie and goat herds not by any means as severe as around Lake Baringo. A few Tugen tribesmen gathered around cur camp cn Sunday, staring curiously but friendly; 1 found it useful to have brought extra drinking water, bread and sweets for them. Blrdiife is more abundant, and nembers compiled a list totalling 78 species seen. As one might expect, Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor are by far the most numerous, though my guess was mc^re in terms of thousands than tens of thousands for* the whole Lake, a rather large number seemed to have perished recently whi le some sick and weakened individuals could be approached very closely. Observed In small flocks were Egyptian Geese Alopoahon oogvpt-iaoa end Sacred Ibis Throskiomis cethiopica^ frequent but less gregarious Spur'winc Plover VonsZlus spinosus. Rare In one or two specimens each. Greater Flamingo P, ruber_^ Crowned Crane BalearPea pavonina^, Fish Eagle Raliaeetus vocifer and Tawny Eagle AquPla rapax presented the ”shov;p i acres” of birdlite. Of smaller kinds, serme campers had Golden-backed end Ye I I c:W“backed Weavers Ploceus jacksoni and melanooephalus nesting directly above their tents, in one instance nest-bui I ding could be observed at 4 m disi'ance. The complete Lirc'iist of this excursion is available at the Museum Library, As a complement to the Lake Hannington trip I would recommend to members a visit to '''Hannington View” should the-/ find themselves near Nakuru on a clear day with good long distance visihi I i ty , and with two or three hours to spare; mornings are preferable for photography. Three ki Icmetres from Nakuru Post 0f-*'ice towards Nairobi, turn left near the Caltex Station/ Hyrax Hi I! (start), continue cn tarmac past Bahati Police Station (15 km, 9,5 mi les -■ all distances in parentheses are speedometer reecMngs from the service station), on grave i then i'urn iefi' (24.6 km, 15.4 mi les), right near Mi Iton’s Farm (26.7 kfn, 16.7 mi ics) , a Tter Reeder’s Estate left (31.2 km, 19.5 miles), right again (31,7 km, 19.8 mf les) leaving Milton’s Siding to ycur left; cross railway line (32.8 km, 20,5 miles), go down a steep hi I I (32.6 km, 2 1 mi les) and turn right at the feet of a long hi i I (35.7 km, 22,3 miles). What is striking on this drive is the transition to ever drier types of habitat and vegetation. Continue through Kisanana vi Mage (39,2 km, 24,5 mii les) straight, pass Mgendall (45,1 km, 28.2 mi les) andNgendalel (52.8 km, 33 mi les) villages. In freni' of a small rocky hill take the turn to the left (59.5 km, 37.2 mi les) and 100-200 m further enter a large circular clearing to your left, from whose outer rim you 140 look down « Siucp 1 piliuM • up' .fl i ..lI'O I lol U ! ! I 1 J K4 I .‘jilt,;! below, with the Karriasia - Tugen Hills behinc, and the U. in the distance. it is one of the great scenic sights one’s unforgettable memories of its natural granduer. FUNCTIONS CHANGE OF DATE Mend ay 7 1 h Cctobe r 1 974: 5.15 p . m . Museum, MaircDi. Talk and slide sho'w by Mi' John Karma 1 to tiie Galapogo'S Islands. 1 9/20/2 1st October 1974: Weekend camp led by Prof. N. Kiowezi Forest area. Detai is will re sent tf' members 1 8/9/ I Qth Novembe r 1974 : Baringo Weekend;- Accomadaf i on 12' doub les at sh.lCO/- per person, per night, including Be?! |- in go Lodge. !7tti November 1974: Day Walk - to be led by Miss p. Ai N eve inbe r Bu 1 le tin . ^..hod ou I 6 - 700 m I gey a Escarpment f r of Kenya, adding to Franz Rader, Box 30560, Nai rebi . Le c t u re Hall M a t i on a i on his recent visit Skinner - in the ate r , to r 24 poop I e . beet trip at the i en ~ detai Is in New Members October overleaf. NEW MEMBERS - OCTOBER 1974 Full membe rs : Miss S. Brown, Kenton College, Box 30017, Nairobi, Mrs N, Chance, Box 24846, Karen, Nairobi. Mr J, Gaudet, Kenyatta University College, Box 43844, Nairobi. Miss L. Gaffikin, c/o Prof. London, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mrs M. Gray, Box 18042, Nairobi. Dr Manfred Kaib, Box 30772, Nairobi. Mr A. Logan, Box 47209, Nairobi. Mr N. Munyori , Wild Life Glubs of Kenya, Box 40658, Nairobi. Miss L.M. Perez, Box 40658, Nairobi. Mrs R.B. Sawdon, Box 30521, Nairobi. Mr R.J. Sharpies, Box 24817, Karen, Nairobi. Mr R. Tarble, Box 30259, Nairobi, Dr W. Tiokell, Box 30197, (Dept, of Zoology) Nairobi. Mr R.G. Tirnmis, Box 115, Kiambu, Kenya. J un i or members : Miss 0. Hunter, Box 15041, Nairobi. Philip Johnson, Box 49163, Nairobi. 142 E A N H S e?> W 7 t 135 Si BULLETI N A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN NOVEMBER 1974 CONTENTS Co-cperative breeding in Rod-end Yel low Barbets - -- -- -- -- -- 144 A short account of Ticks - [4r, Lions, Civets and Serve. Is - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 143 Klipsp ringer in association with Recl-wing Starling - -- -- -- -- 149 Ihe Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in East Africa - -- -- -- -- -- -- 150 Review - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I5j Back Numbers of the Journal for Sale ---------------- 151 New Members - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 152 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - I53 Observations on a Barred Owlet fami ly - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - |54 Functions ------------------------------ (55 New Members - November 1974-------------------- - 155 Some recent periodic Literature available in the Library CO - OPERATIVE BREEDING IN RED - AND - YELLOW BARBETS Co-operative broeding (i.e., a mated pai r being helped in the chores of nesting by other full grown, though net necessarily sexually mature, birds, often 'their offspring from a previous brood) is becoming recognised as a not Lin common phenomenon in tropical bircs. During late Apri ! and early May 1974 I found four nests of the Red-and- Yellow Barbet Tvachypha^us erythvooephalus and was able to make fairly lengthy observations from a hide at two of them. The first nest was in the side of a karongo running into the west side of Lake Magadi , Kenya about 1.5 km from the hot springs at the south end of the lake. During the course of observations between 29th Apri I and 2nd May I found tha’f the nestlings were being fed by at least three aduir birds - a female cind two males. At no time did I see more than three barbets at or near the nest. The second r.est was in a kar-ongo off the Nairobi - Magadi road approxim- ately 50 kiTi from Nairobi. iniida! observations soon revealed that two separate males were taking food to the nestlings, but it was not unti 1 1 saw four birds entering the nest to roost that 1 realised the breeding unit consisted of four' birds. Subsequently 1 saw two -feniales at the nest with food at the same time, FeG<1ing visits at both nests are summarised in Tab le I . Apar+ fr'om one orange berry a I I the food i saw being taken to the nest- lings.at ti'iese two nests consisted of arthropods. Fairly large, green moth caterpi Mars were the most frequent items, but grasshoppe rs , harvestmen and cenfi pedes, including a probable Goolopendi^a about 7.5 cm long, were also being brought as well as various smaller items that I was unable to identify but which were probably ants or termiites. SI'iortly after^ dawn, as described by Sir Frederick Jackson, Red- an d- Ye I I ow Barbets gather together in a bush or tree to work themselves up into a grea'f state of excitement and perform many curious antics." Since these displays are accompanied by repeated calling that can be rendered as ' tock- tock-tock-tcheee rrr' 1 refer to them as’tocking parties'. My observations at f he above nests indicate ihat these consist of the breeding unit centred on a particuiar nest but it is possible that units from adjacent nests (which may be only 70 - 80 m apart) may join to form a larger tocking party - a point i hope to investigate in the future. Co-operative breeding has also been recorded in the following species of African barbets: B i ack~co I i ared Lybius terquatus (Skead, 1950); White- headed L. lenaocephatus (van Som.eren, 1939. 1956, and persona! observati ons) ; White-eared Bucaonodem. leuootds (Oat ley, 1968). REFERENCES : Oat ley, T.A. 1968 Observations by W.M. Austen on the breeding biology of the White-eared Barbet Bucocnodon leucotis (Sanderval I). Lamnergeyer 8 : 7-14. 44 Skead, C.J. 1950 A study of ttie Biack-ool larod Barbed Lyhius tovquo.tus with notes on the parasitism by the Lesser Honey-gui de Indiccrtor minoi\ Ostrich 21:64-96. van Sorfieren, V.G.L, 1939 Birds of the Chyulu Hills (Part 2) Jl EhAfidoo. Uganda nat. Hist-. Boa. 14: 15-129 1956 Days widh Birds. Mus. Press: Chicago. TABLE I: Sumrriary of Feeding Visits at two nests of Traahijphonus erythrocephalus 1 NEST DATE PERIOD OF OBSERVATION NUMBER OF VISITS AVERAGE ! { [ 1 1 START DURAL 1 ON MINUTES BY MALE (S) BY FEMALE TOTAL INTERVAL BETWEEN FEEDS Ml NOTES I 30/4/74 0810 h 230 12 10 22 10 2M, IF 1/5/74 0815 h 285 7 8 15 19 \ 2/5/74 0845 h 165 i 1 4 15 1 1 II bIbllA 0722 h 250 33 0 33 8 2M, 2F 'trUlA 1425 h 120 5 0 5 24 6/5I1A 0705 h 300 25 5 30 10 1 1/5/74 0715 h 290 25 10 35 8 1 12/5/74 0655 h 397 36 .41 77 5 TOTALS ' { - 2037 i - 154 78 — 232 — 9 J . P. Reynolds, Box 40584, Nai rob i . 145 A SHORT ACCOUNT OF TICKS Ticks will be familiar creatures to most people living in East Africa, although a few words m.ay be helpful in understanding their place in nature, however I am not advocating a Tick Conservation Society; you may continue to ki II them (if you can) and you dont need a Game Departrnent licence to do so. The great phylum Arthropoda is divided into a number of classes of animals all of which have the "skeleton" on the outside of the body. The class Insecta coni'ains by far the largest number of species - most people know an Insect when they see one although they may think sore creatures are insects when in fact they are not. The arthropod class Arachnida contains far fewer members than does the Insecta; the class is divided into about ten orders, one of which, the Acarina, contains tha mites and ticks. (Other orders in the Arachnida comprise scorpions and spiders, amongst others.) Two families of ticks are found in East Africa: the first, the Argasidae or soft ticks, are not so fami liar as the Ixodidae oi' hard ticks. All ticks are blood-sucking parasites of vertebrates although in a few species some stages do not feed at all. Argasids usually secrete themselves in crevices in the resting places or nests of their hosts; they come out periodically to feed. 1 will not discuss them further here. The Ixodid ticks are those most often encountered in East Africa; a typical life history is as follows, starting from the egg which is laid in a single batch, often containing several thousands, on the ground. A small six- legged larva hatches from the egg; after a short period during which the cuticle hardens, the larva climbs vegetation to await the passing of a suitable host. Because the number of eggs laid by one female is very large, larvae are found in great numbers together, thus, while in the bush, one person can become covered with larvae (= "pepper ticks"), a companion a short distance away may remain tick-free. Once on a suitable host, the larva will usually seek a particular part of the animal on which to feed. The larva feeds on blood by piercing the host's skin with its mouth parts, until it is engorged i.e. several times bigger than it was when unfed. On engorgement the replete larva falls to the ground where it moults into an eight- legged nymph which behaves in a similar way to the larva. When the engorged nymph falls to the ground it wi II moult into either a male or a female adult tick. The adults also climb vegetation and attach to a suitable host; mating takes place on the host (in most species) and both sexes feed to become rully engorged, however it is only the female that increases many times in size; this is possible because part of the body (the alloscutum) is able to stretch; the male's scutum is fixed in size and only a limited amount of extension is possible on the ventral (under) side. The female falls to the ground on engorgement whereas the male may stay on the host for some weeks before falling off and dying. Once on the ground the female lays her eggs and dies. The life cycle described is that of a typical three-host tick; the three hosts may be of the sane or different species, usually the two immature stages feed on different host species from the adult, indeed the hosts of imimature ticks are often sti II unknown. Some ticks have a two-host life cycle where the larva and nymph feed on the same individual host. 146 then the adult will have to seek a second host. Ticks of the genus Boophilus have a one-host life cycle where al I stages feed and moult on the same indiv- idual, only dropping off as engorged adults. Many ticks are very host specific whi le others are more catholic in their choice of host. In some genera the immatures feed on birds and the adults on reptiles or mammals; in others the immatures occur on small mammals while the adults feed on large mammals. Some hosts can support a number of differ- ent tick species while other c^nimais frequently only carry one species. There are only 13 genera of i xodi d ticks in the world, ten of which occur in East Africa, I wi 11 mention the ones most often noticed. The genus Amblyomna comprises large ticks, often brightly (and beautifully) coloured; the adults are found on large mammals and reptiles, the immatures soimetimes on the same hosts as the adults but also on birds, tlyalorrw.a ticks are usually dar'k, unpatterned but with banded legs; the immatures occur on birds and small mammials, the adults on large mammals. Many species of Rhip'icephalus are found in East Africa: most are small sombre ticks although some are ornamented, notably the well known R. pulohellus the "Zebra tick", Rhipicephalus species are found almost entirely on mammals, some being very host specific others less so. Ixodes contains the m.ost species of any tick genus and many new species undoubtedly await discovery. The ticks are small and often males are not found on the hosts; they parasitise birds and mammals, many species are known from only one or two specimens. Ilaemaphysalis species are found on birds and aiammais, some being very liost specific; the common dog tick over much of East Africa is H. leachi but it also occurs on wi id carniv- ores and occasionally on other mammals. Two species of Boophilus are found in the area, most commonly on domestic cattle - they are unaccountably rare on wild he rb i vores . Ticks are of tremendous economic importance since many carry disease organisms, some of which are fata! to man and domestic animals. Vast sums of money are spent trying to eradicate ticks from domestic stock and the process is hampered by the fact that ticks can become resistant to the chem- icals employed fot' their control. As i s so often the case with "pests", ticks are almost only "pests" to man and his domestic animals; wild animals strike a balance with their' tick faunas and although disease organisms may circulate in the ticks and their wild hosts these are rarely pathogenic to the wild animals (or to the ticks). 1 should be liappy to identify ticks collected in Kenya; (members living outside Kenya who want ticks identified should write to me for further infor- ination). Ticks found on mian , large animals and vegetation are best preserved in 10% ethyl alcohol (gin will do!) or formalin or tftey can be kept alive in, for example, a 35 mm fi !m can. Members who can collect from birds and small mammals (including bats) are referred to the third paragraph in "Ringing News" {EMUS Bull, 1974:38. I thank the. Director of Veterinary Services (Kenya) for permission to publish th , ..3 noie. Graeme Backhurst, Veterinary Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture, P.O. Kabete, Kenya, 147 LIONS, CIVETS AND SERVALS In response to a recent request for more material on mammals in the Bulletin, readers may be interested in the following short items concerning observations made on recent safaris. In a previous edition, {.EAUES Bull. 1974:132-133) Angwin recorded unusual behaviour in a lioness Pan-thera leo at a buffalo carcase. We observed simil- ar behavioui' in a lioness in Tsavo Vv'cst (Rhino Valley) on 16th September 1974. A male buffalo had been killed by a small pride (Moness and four large cubs) and when we located the ki 11 (10.00 hrs.) the buffalo's stomach had been torn away and the contents spil led on the ground nearby. At this time the i i oness was guarding the carcase and the cuds were under a tree soitb 30 m away. After about ten minutes the lioness started to pick at the carcase and was joined by one of the cubs. She then lost interest in eating and started scraping a small pit for a latrine, in typical f e I i d manner, amongst the stomach contents. This was used for its roqui red purpose and then covered over - again in t/pical fashion. This covering-up continued, however, well beyond its functional time, and when we left the lioness was sti II raking up stomach contents half an hour later. In ethological terms it seemed that a releaser medianism for this particular behaviour pattern had been triggered, L'Ut that consumimat i on of the motor' action was not achieved due to the contin- ual presence of the triggering stimulus. In both our case and Angwin' s case it seems as if the stimulus was provided by the smell of the buffalo stomach contents . The n i givf before this event we stayed at the Ngulia Bandas. Wo were fortuna'fe enough to be given Band.a No. I , the one nearest the waterhole, and at 20.30 hrs. we located a civet Civettiotis cioevta by means of torchlight. We watched the animal for nearly half an hour as it nosed among the rocks Just below. At one stage it came on to a large rock abouf 3 m away from the parapet of our banda. Although wary, the animal showed no particular alarm at our presence, and from its rather resigned behaviour seerred fairly used fo the procedure of scavenging and hunting by torchlight, Ofher visitors to Banda No. I have undoubtedly seen this animal (we could just make out a second an i mia I , probably a civet, at the edge of torchlight range), and we would urge future visitors to lock cut for it. Its black face markings give it rather a mournful look, but it should make an excellent flashlight subject. On 24th March, 1973 we were camping in the Aberdares with some friends. Our camp was at a well-used site in a clearing in a small forested area on •fhe moorland, approximately 6 km along the East Gate road beyond the main junction of tlie Kiandongoro Gate road and the East Gate road. Four of us were sitting round our camp fire at about 21.00 hrs. when an animal was seen on the edge of the clearing some 30 m away; this was quickly identified Dy torchlight as a serval Felis serval. The an i mo I was up-wind from our camp and fire, bui the camp was well Mr by three lamps and we were talking. Despite this the animal came unhesitatingly towards us, finally stepping three paces (subsequently measured) from us. Vte continued to talk in low voices and shone our torch. After a brief moment the serval moved on up the !48 +rack past our tents and disappeared. At no stage did it show any sign of fear or apprehension of the lights, our voices or our scent as it moved down wind. The impression gained was of an animal totally used to, and unafraid of, the presence of humans. We wonder if it could, at an eardier stage in its life, have been cared fot' or reared by somebody, and had subsequently escaped or been released. Its return to our site during the night was evid- enced by the presence of fresh droppings noted next morning about 3 m from the -fi re. I Next morning whi le driving over tho mooriand, about 3 km north of our camp site, we had a brief sighting of a me I an i Stic serval. The animal, which was a pure glossy black, was trotting along fhe edge of the road (approxim- arely 08.00 hrs.). As soon as our vehicle appeared it dived into the thick grass and scrub at the edge of the road and was not seen again. The Aberdares seem to be a good place to see serval s, since we have seen them now on three occasions in four visits. A.D. and R.M. Irvin, E.A.V.R.O. P.O. Kabete, Kenya. KLIPSPRINGER IN ASSOCIATION WITH RED - WING STARL.1NG On 15th September 1974, I was in charge of a scifati party doing a game drive at Lobe Springs, nortiiern Tafizania, Tho i' i me was abou1 17.30 hrs. and the locai'ion near a long rock to be found on the left hand side cf the track a mi Ic cr so after passing the water pump installation. Alongside a practic- ally bare section of this rock and about 40 m from the vehicle a Klipsp.’i-'j>-' Oreotragus oreotragus observed, standing stationary. it ♦I'-ii'-od that, perched on its tlvroat, a Rod-wing Starling ccn+inuously for several irinutes moved around its iiead, neck and throat and on its should- ers, apparently searching fer insed's or' possibly ticKs. AM fnis was clear- ly visible through binoculars. The klipsp ringer stood perfeerfiy still while under observation, possibly thiirking it was unde'fecded. i ne starling lemained on the animal’s head and shoulders and showed no indication of wanting to leave the animal, either to pick up insects from the ground, perch on a nearby bush or small shoulder of rock, about a mcjtre away. Never having seen behav- iour of this kind before, although ! per'sonaily have seen Red-wing Starlings at Lebo on numci uu‘^ occasions, I ir;ade a careful record. We were ai \ very surpr'ised when, about 2 km on, towards llic I cMge we saw this incident precisely duplicated, almobi c'-Mlainly by anulhcr k I i p=;p i i ngc?r and aneilter Red“wing Star ling. H, ,M. Gordon, Box 44701 , N a i rob i . 149 THE OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE IN EAST AFRICA 'n the course of a survey of marine turtles in East Africa I have found that the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Le-pidoehelys olivacea not only occurs but also breeds; this species may be much more common than \ms previously expected. I know of only one documented record of the Ridley in East Africa, and up unti 1 a few years ago it was not even known in the western Indian Ocean, George Hughes, worlsing out of the Oceanographic Research Foundation in Durban, found good evidence for a large breeding population in Mocambique. 1 have spoken to Bajun fishermen in Kizingitini, (Lamu) and understand thc^t hey have a small rurTie called 'Kigange’. Their description of this animal sounds convincingly like that of a Ridley, and they claim that it is common. Pem.ba fishermen I was able to talk to wh i le in Malindi spoke of a turtle, 'Kibora’, which also seetned to be the Ridley. Fishermen from farther south in Tanzania do not seem to know of this animal and this is worrying in terms- of distributional evidence. I have seen specimens of Ridleys in: Zanzibar (2 adults and a hatchling in the E.A.M.F.R.O. Museum brought in by fishermen); Kunduchi (2 adults washed up dead on beaches, evidently killed by dynamite blasts); Sadani (an adult carapace with a fisherman, taken in a fish net); Maziwi island off Pangani (a nesting female was tagged); Malindi (in the Marine National Parks’ store, taken from a f i she rman/poacher) ; and fragments of a shell on the beech at Mambrui. Surely there must be more specimens of this species lying about in need of recognition? However, judging from the massive non-response to the turtle questional re circulated with the EAl)iES Bulletin in Apri 1, perhaps I am too opt i mi st i c. As there are only four other species of sea tun-|e in the western Indian Ocean, it is not difficult to differentiate the Ridiey. The Leathery Turtie Dermoahelys aori^acia is unique in having a leathery skin in place of horny epidermal scales; it is iiuge, and living in deep water is rarely seen. Green and Hawksbi 1! Turtles are common in East Africa. The Hawks- bi II Eretrnoahelys imbricata has a narrow head and a hawk- 1 ike beak, with th‘ck overlapping scales on the carapace. The scales on the limns are black w i tii yellow margins. The Green Turtle Chelonia rnydas is the only turtle that has only one pair of scales immediately above the nostri Is. The scales on its soft parts are chestnut brown. Tiie Loggerhead Caretta aaretta^ itself poorly known in East Africa, has often been confused with the Ridley - by would-be experts up unti 1 recently. True to narro, it has a massive head, is red-brov;n in colour, and the adult carapace can be over a metre long. There are usually -fwo dozen small scales running round the edge of the carapace with three rows of five large scales (i.e. a total of 15 large scales) covering the greater part of the carapace. There are no conspicuous pores in the edge of the plastron (bottom shell), and there are usually several small scales covering the bottom of the mandible. The Olive Ridiey is distinctive in having pores in the edge of the plastron and one major scale covering the bottom of the mandible. The 150 carapace is flat and usually wider than long, with thin olive-coloured scales. These scales are often arranged symmetrically and there ere more than 15 major scales. Like the Loggerhead, the Ridley has a massive head, but the carapace is rarely more than 80 cm long. ANY information about this animal (or the Loggerhead) would be very useful. Breeding times and places are sti II only poorly known for the common Green and Hawksbi II Turtles and even the tiniest shred of evidence could be valuable. Jack Frazier, East African Wildlife Society, Marine Turtle Survey, Box 201 10, Nai robi . REVIEW Owen, D.F. & Owen, Jennifer (1974). Species diversity in temperate and tropical I chneumon i dae . Nature 249; 583-584. Although the reasons are not understood, in fnost groups of organisms, more species are found the nearer one moves to the equator. In this Letter to Nature the Owens give data from four localities which strongly suggest that the I chneumon i dae (parasitic Flymencptera, mostly small) do not follow this general rule. They looked at samples from three gardens (in Kampala, Freetown, Sierra Leone and Leicester, England) and from a piece of '’disturbed land along a small stream" in southern Sweden. The Kamipala garden produced 293 species, the Freetown 319, the Leicester 326 and the Swedish plot 758 species. Apart from the Importance of the paper showing as it dees this reversal of normal species diversity theory, an interesting sentence occurs: "There are, however, more species of I chneumon i dae than of vertebrates, and in few groups of animals can there remain so m.any un described species." GCB. BACK NUMBERS OF THE JOURNAL FOR SALE A little while ago tlie old gun-room at the Museum was cleared for other purposes and a large number of Journals which had been stored there were moved into the Library. Most of them belong to what one can think of as the first series, up to No. 80 of I944. An Index was issued then and the format of the Journai changed. No complete set of these early numbers is aval lable now, though of course there are two sets in the Library for reference and borrowing by members. The bundles cleared out of the gun-room consist of redundent copies of certain numbers. Hitherto these have been on sale to nembers at Shs.l5/- each, but as so many have been found, our Committee feels that members might like to buy them for half price, if they knew what was in them, anc thus produce funds for the publication of new Journals. A I is! uf iho main nilici^'S is enclosed wiih the Bulletin this month, and i i' wi M be seen that they contain much, of great interest. in those days the modern proliferation of societies and journals had not yet taken place and our Society worked in a wider field than it does today. The p re i i ferat i on of professicnai research workers had not yet taken place either. The Socie+y was served by a band of able and distinguished men, most of them amateurs, earning their living as Administrators, fanrers, dentists and so forth. The supporters for whom thoy wrote were mostly amat- eurs too, and the Journal was in many ways more like our present BuMstin than the Journal of modern times. in addition to tlie main articles listed, each number contains short notes and reviews that would nowadays go into the Bulistin. .Annual reports and accounts are also printed in the Journal and cast light on the early history of our Society. The Museum belonged to the Socief-y In those days and was run by it. it was not uriti 1 the end of this period that the Miuseum became obviously too big for a small society to run and was handed over to a Soar'd of Trustees of which our present Chairman is a rrember. The production of the Journal has always been one of the chief functions of the Society and always a great str'uggle. What we may think of as the 3rd series, which started in 1971 with No. 120, was very successful for three years. This year we have had set-backs, not ail financial, as more than one Journal-part was budgetteo for. An appeal for fteip in a recent Bulletin produced volunteers, but we lack the organisation to use their help. Soon you will be considering the choice of next year''s Cofr;mittee. If any of you know fellow mwmbers who have had experience of the publication of scientific papers, do please urge them to allow you to put them forward. P . M . Allen, Box 44486 , N a i rob i . NEW .^€MlBERS At the October rreeting of your Executive Committee it was decided, after lengthy discussion, not Ao raise the annual subscription, it may be recalled that at the March A.G.M. members gave tha Chairman and Committee a mandate to raise subscriptions if and when it became necessary. Everybody knows that prices are soaring in practically every field - this 's a worldwide malady. At the October Committee meeting it was felt that an increase in subscription, although no doubt un dors fart dab I e to members, would neverftie less result in a reduction of renewals for 1975 and would scare off quite a few new membeis. The Committee for Its part inlonds to make some economies; the first, you wi II noiice quite soon, will be 1ho <~hRtige over to wrappers in place of envelc)pes for Itie Bulleti-n - this alone wi I! liavo 1 ho Society about £150 a year. 152 What can you, the Members, do to help? First, we would ask you to try to enrol new members, now is a good t i rre to think about this because nexr year is not far awav and any member joining the Society in Novenber and December can neve ireritbershi p for these months in addition to the whole of 1975. Schools and departmen+s can join as institutional Members - sti II am the same price of KShs 50/-. Please try to interest new people 1o join, every little helps. AnoTher idea is to give friends a year’s menbersr, ip f- the Society as a Christmas present, just -send the Secretary your friend's names and addresses and Sh.50/- for each one. Your CorrmitteG is planning various publicity cafTipaigns which will be put into effect in the near future but p lease remember', this costs money, and- mayoe the return in new subscriptions wi M not cover the cost of commercial advertising. Free publicity is what we need, and +hat is why wo are appeal- ing to you especially, p’ lease do ail you can to enrol new members so that we can continue to provide the services we do. Thank you. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir, With reference to Dr Radar's account of ine recent field trip to Lake Hannington, I feel I imust point out that fho new African name for Lake Henningtcn is Lake Bogcria and ?WT Baragoi as stated. Baragoi is, in fact, a settlement lying 30 km north of Maralal and north of the El Bot fa Plains. Shei la Tay !or, Box 30253. Nai rot i . INLAND OBSERVATIONS OF THE TEREK SANDPIPER Whi le fair!)' common at the Kenya coast, the Terek Sandpiper Tringa tere1<. appears to occur inland only rarely. The foi lowing two records may, there- fore, be of interest. On 5th November 1972 , ! saw two Tereks at Aruba Dam. in Tsavo East National Park. They had been noticed a few days earlier a iso by Mr C. Smeenk (pers. comim . ) . Whi ie the above i oca I ! t/ is relatively near to the coast, my wife and i were rather surprised to see a Terek Sandpiper at Buffalo Springs in the Isiolo Game Reserve on i2th September 1974. The bird was among quite a varied assemibly of waders in the swamp below the actual spring. Walter Leuthold, Box 14, Voi , Kenya. A few Terek Sandpipers have been ringed (and othersi seen) from time to time in the Kenya Rift Valley lakes; details have not been published but can be abstracted from the fi les of ringing schedules in the future, Ed. OBSERVATIONS ON A BARRED OWLET FAMILY A family group of five Barred Owlets Glaucidium aapense was observed over a three-day period near our house at the Miombo Research Centre in the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania. On 12th January 1974, a fledgling owlet and one adult were seen at dusk. The young owlet could not fly, but hopped from limb to limb. The adult fed the young owlet with a large insect and a nestling bird. The next day twc more young owlets appeared as well as a second adult. Tne adults remai ned absent during the day, but returned to their young at dusk with insects and two lizards - both skinks, Beth paren+s were seen feeding the three young. On 14th January 1974, the young were making short flights to nearby trees, but were still fed by the adults. The standard references do not mention birds and lizards as part of the Barred Owlet’s diet. Also, since breeding records for the Barred Owlet are somewhat scarce- this note may be of interest to someone studying the species Mary Ann Matzke & G. Matzke, Mi omibo Research Centre, Box 231 13, Oyster Bay, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. FUNCTIONS 8th/9th/IOth November' 1974: Lake Baringo Lodge. There is sti I 1 some accom- odation available for this weekend. Cost of accomodation, full board, is Shs.iOO/- per person per' night. Please send in your booking requirements together with cheques to the Secretary as soon as possible, clearly stating which nights you wish to stay. Cheques should be made payable to Lake Baringo Lodge. Monday I Ith November 19 74: 5.15. p.rn. Lecture Hall, National Museum, Nairobi. DrC.R. Field, Wildlife Science Dept, of Texas A.M, University will talk on nutriiional studies on wild animals in East Africa, Sunday 17th November 1974: Walk in Katamayu Forest (weather permitting) led by Miss P.M. Al Ion and Mrs F. Mg'weng, Meet at the National Museum at 9 a.m. when further directions will be given. Distance about 27 km beyond Kiambu. Bring p i cn i c I unch . 154 Monday 9th December 1974: Talk and slide show on Macki-ndev and Mt. Kemja by Mr John Temple, Vice-Chairman of the Mountain Club, This year is the 75th Anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Kenya, and Mr Temple has kindly consented to give this talk in connection with the Mountain Club's ceiebrat- i on of this event. 12th - 15th Decemb c*r 1974: Camp at 01 Lolokwe led by Mr F. Hartmann. Further details will be given in the uexX Bulletin. i3th January 1974: Talk and slide show given by Dr G. Irvine, Chogori a Hcsp i ta I . NEW MEMBERS - NOVEMBER 1974 Life Member: Mr I.W. Hardy, Bex 449, Nyeri , Kenya. Full Members: Mr M.J. Brookes, c/o British High Commission, Box 30645, Nairobi. Mr J.H. Burrell, Box 22, Homa Bay Secondary School , South Nyanza. Dr C.R. Field, Kenya Wildlife Management Project, Box 30559, Nairobi. Mr Jon Knutzen, Konnerud, Norway. Dr Jasper Parsons, Medical Research Counci I Project, Box 1971, Kisumu. Dr' M.D. Purton, Dept, of Vet. Anatomy, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mr P.W. Ray, British High Commission, Box 48543, Nairobi. Mr P. de Rham, UNESCO, Box 30592, Nairobi. J un i or Members : Guy Johnson, Box 49163, Nairobi. LierstI Allen, Box 30197, Nairobi. Institutional Member: University of Queensiana, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia. SOME RECENT PERIODIC LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY Bebbington, A. 1974 Aplysiid species from East Africa with notes on the the Indian Ocean Ap 1 ys i omorpha (Gastropoda: Op i sthobranchi a) . Zool. J. Linn. Boo. 54: 63-99. Boneili, P. 1971-73 Osservazioni eto-eco I og I che sugli Imenotterl ao'iieati de I i ' Et i op i a . Boll. Inst. Ent. Bologna 30: 2 19-24. 155 Brown, L. t‘974 Saving Lake Nakuru. Birds 5; 18-25. Fain, A, & Zumpt, F. i974^ Notes cn three species of Anoetidae, two of which are new, living as comnensals or parasites in the ear of an African Buffalo. Aata. Zcot. . Path. Antwerp No.. 58: 97-102. Frarre., G.W, & Herbisc'n,. L. ... 197-4- ■ The . pri vate world of Enpakaai . Wildlife 16: 2 10-17. Gold, Susan 1974 Do-it-yourself safari. Birds 5: 26-27. Hobbs, H.H. • 1973- - Syncps i S' of the families and generacf Crayfishes (Crustacea: Becapcaa). ■ Srrrithsonicn Contrib. 7jOoI. No. 164. Mc-rrison, M.L.- & .Hamilton , A.C. 1974 Vegetation and climate in the upland of S.W. Uganda during the later Pleistocene period. ... Forest clearance and- other vegetationa! chances in the Rukiga Hi-ghlands dur ing the .past 80 000 years. J. Eaol. -62: 1-32... Reynolds, J.F.' 1974 Nursen/ helps f or 3ee~etr era. - Wildlife 16: 256-59. Schai.ler, G.B., 1973.. A kingdom of predators (Review) Loins 13; 12.! . • " Seba!d,--0-. 1973. , Di e -Ga'ftung' (/tcs-fegrea- Benthera . ( Lab i atae) 1 n Atrika und auf arab ischen Halbinsel. Sthttgarter Beitr. z. Eat’urktm.de ■ Sen A... No. 263. . Smith, K.D. 1 974 The utilizafiorr of gum trees by b i rds i n Africa. Ibis 1 46: I 55-64.. 156 N H S 7 E \53 ' 3 ) E A BULLETI N A monthly publication of the East Africa Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 2 shillings NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Members of the Society (and non-members) are asked to follow these simple instructions when writing articles or letters for submission to the Bulletin. The Bulletin is presented each month 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 and should be sent to: G. C. Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Receipt of contributions will be acknowledged. EANHS BULLETIN DECEMBER 1974 CONTENTS Down on the Tan a - - 158 Additions to the Avifauna of Budongo Forest - -- -- -- -- -- - 150 Book Revi ew - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - |61 Acci dental death of ah at - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 152 White-eyed Pochard at Marsabit ------------------- 163 Bittern in Nairobi National Park - - 163 Saiwa Swamp and Mt. Elgon - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 154 Letters to the Editor - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 155 Nutritional studies on wi id animals in East Africa - -- -- -- -- |66 A congretation of butterflies - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 157 Hannington to Baringo the hard way ----------------- |68 Record Review --------------------------- 169 Requests for information - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - |70 Hon. Treasurer - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |7| Functions - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- |7| New members - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 172 DOWN ON THE TANA The first fortnight of May is an excellent time in this fascinating valley, and, ecologically, the 1000 m level is most interesting. The rains have fallen and the country is a glorious compound of pale blue skies, dark blue Ukamba hills in the distance, light green on the land nearer by, and the '"ed soil, with the even redder Tana flowing rapidly through its rocky bed. Temperatures are seldom over 85 in the shade, and bird life is very vigorous. Flowers abound. The Sparrow Weaver Ftaoepasser mdhali- are certainly the most continuously noisy - their breeding and roosting sites are everywhere, parti cua I ary near human habitation. They appear to build far more nests than they require, but the Superb Starling Spreo superhi^s occupy the vacant, places at night. Parrats, Psittacidae, are of special interest, and the Orange-bellied Foioephatus rufiventris give us much pleasure. One pair regularly roosts in a hole in a Baobab tree not far away. This same hole was a source of interest during the day to a pair of Grey-headed Sparrows Passer griseus , Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling Lamprotomis aaudatus , Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias oaudata and Wood Hoopoe Pkoenioulus purpureus. Our Parrot pair mated in a nearby thorn tree, in which our main interest was a nest being built by a pair of White-headed Buffalo Weavers Dinemellia dinemell'i. The approach of the cock parrot to his waiting hen was most gracious and gentle, and, during the act, which was very prolonged, the hen repeatedly turned her head to look up a+ the cock, and immediately received what appeared to be a regurgitated seed on every occasion. One is always impressed by the size and thorniness of the Buffalo Weaver's Bubalomic alhi-rostri-s nesting materials. Twigs of up to 450 mm in length, armied with ferocious thorns, are vibrated into position. It would not be easy to rob such a nest - yet, one morning sitting at breakfast, we witnessed the most determined and systematic destruction of one such nest by an immat- ure Harrier Hawk Polyboroides radiatus. Testing place by place, until he found a weakness, this young bird, ignoring the mob of distressed smaller birds, tore the huge nest to pieces, mainly using claws. The nest is now deserted . A call that has long mystified us has been identified - 'wee-oo wee-oo wee-oo’ , rising to a climax, and then falling off again, and heard as much by day as by night. At midday recently a mob of small birds was seen in the bush to which this call had been traced. Here, in the centre, was a rather bew i Idered looking Pearl Spotted Owlet Gtauo'td'tum perZo.tum. Simi larty, a most explosive kind of *cow’ - a mixture of bark and cough, was traced to a magnificent Bateleur Eagle Terathopius ecaud,atus down in the valley. He slowly lowered his head, hunched his shoulders, and, with a sudden thrust, gave vent to this most unexpected call. The nest cleaning methods of parent birds are interesting. Bulbuls Pyanonotus barbatus , for instance, seem to swallow the faecal sac right there. 158 WhHo-cyo'^ i , Olid Ci-oij-ay Stai linn^ Lanprotomis ohaly- haeus carry the sac away and drop it at a distance. That fascinating Barbet - d’Arnaud’s Trachyphonus darnaudsH living 45 ~ 60 cm down a vertical shaft in the ground^ does a regular mucking out about once an hour. Normal feeding visits - squashy bugs and berries, lizards etc. take no longer than 7 seconds in al I. Anythirig longer - and it may be 30 - 45 seconds - means a clean-up is in progress. Parent eventually emerges with a huge beak-*^ul of dark brown debris,, with which, after a careful look round, he or she flies off and drops at a distance. Casualties amongst breeding birds always appear very high. Checking nests regularly for the Society's Nest Record Scheme emphasises this. Of M nests this fortnight, 30^- are certainly unsucessfut. Amongst non- breeding birds I am impressed how frequently one sees Pied Wagtails Motaoilla V'idua with an absent or deformed foot, but imagine our surprise recently when a Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nuhica dropped from a tree and hopped frantic- ally into cover with a broken wing. Equally distressing was the sight of a Ye 1 !ow-bi I led Stork Ibis ibis vainly trying to pluck off the foot of his lef+ leg, fractured near the joini' and held on only by the tendon. One wonders whetr.cr those birds which appear to enter into a relation- ship with hornets do so from a basic sense of need for protection. Our resident Striped SwaMow Eirnmdo ahyssinica and Little Swift Apus affirms do this - as do Cordon~bleu Estrilda bengata nesting on a cliff edge nearby. Talking about mutuaiiy beneficial re I at i onsh i ps - two are very clear down here. In dry weather the Ground Squirrel Xerns erythvopus spends a consider- able amount of time digging in The stony ground for edible material. The moment such a dig begins, a Red-billed l-lornbil! Tookus erythrovkynahus floats down to attend, and eagerly snaps up insects exposed, which would normally be beyond his powers of digging. Stich a dig might be attended by two horn- bills s i mu 1 teneous ly , Of sinister significance is the recent- appearance of much larger numbers of Red-bi I led Oxpeckers Buphogus erythrorhynahus accompanying the huge herds of be-ticked, hump-backed cattle mox'ing into and degrading this area. During non-breeding seasons bird photography is not so simple as at the nest, since there is no certain spot to meet the bird. But observation suggests that some birds utilise, fairly regular circuits and can reasonably bo expected to appear at certain points in the course of this circuit. This is certainly so in the case of d'Arnaud'S Barbet, the Blue-naped Mousebird Colius macro ur us , as well as the Crakes and Rai is, Ra! lidae. To end w i Th - the big excitement of the visit - in the fading light on a bare branch overlying sti I I water - a long pointed, orange-red bill, red feet, set far back; a longish tai I; spotted white on dark back and a whitish streak from the eye down to the neck. As we drew near the bird slipped awkwardly from the branch and hurried rapidly away over the water to the safety of a nearby reed bed, where it swum like a low-lying grebe - thus proclaiming itself to be the rarely seen Peter's Finfoot Podicd. senega- lensisc G. & D. I rvi ne , Chogori a Hospital, P.O. Chogori a, via Meru, Kenya. 159 ADDITIONS TO THE AVIFAUNA OF BUDONGO FOREST, UGANDA Unfortunately in their comprehensive and informative paper on '*The Birds of Budongo Forest, Bunyoro Province, Uganda" H. Friedmann and J.G. Williams (1973) overlooked the report by J.L. Peters and A. Loveridge (1942) entitled ''Scientific results of a fourth expedition to forested areas in East and Central Africa. II Birds" in which 27 of the 246 species dealt with were collected in the Budongo Forest between 22. xi - 7.xii.l938 by the junior author. Consequently, to the 226 forms listed by Friedmann and Williams as occur- ing in the forest, may be added: Tockiis fasciatus (as Lcphooevos fasoiatus in Peters & Loveridge, 239). Prinia svbflava melanovhyncha (as P. m. irrmutdbil'is in P. & L., 255). Motaoilla fZava tkunberg-i (as Budytes f. thmbergi in P. & L. , 260). while comments on the following are incorrect, viz. Tui'aco sohuetti emini p.4 F & W., not "known only . . . as I shot one male and two females. Ceuthmo chares aeveus aeveus p.5, not "first reported by . . . " as I shot a ma I e . Byeanistes siibaylindrious subquadratus p.6, for I collected a skull of a female tiiough the subspecific name was omitted. Neocossyphus rufus gabunensis p.ll, not "first reported by ..." as a female under the name of N. i>. arrhenii is recorded by P. & L. on p25 1 . If Ploceus cucullatus femina of P. & L. , p.269 is identical with P.o. bohndorffi p. 15 F. & W., then it is not "Known only on the basis of van SonBren’s record" as I collected two miales and one female. In conclusion, 1 wish to thank Dr R.A. Paynter, Jr., Curator of Birds at the Museum of Comparitive Zoology, Harvard, for his kindness in carefully checking the numerous nomenci atori a I changes that have inevitably occurred during the 30 years that elapsed between publication of the two papers. REFERENCES : Friedmann, H. & Williams, 141:1-18. Petors, J.L. & Loveridge, 89; 217 - 275, pis. i Arthur Love ri dge , St. Helene Island, South Atlantic. J.G. 1973. JI E. Africa nat. Hist Soa. Nat. Mus. A. 1942. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 160 REVIEW A GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF UGANDA, Revised Edition, by Capt. Charles R.S. Pitman Cedi cote : Whe I don & Wesley Ltd. 1974. Pp . xxi i + 290, copiously illustrated in colour and black and white; 19 x 25.5 cm. Price £12.00 post free from the publishers, Lytton Lodge, Cod i cote. Hitch in, Herts, SG4 8TE, England. The revised edition of *'A Guide to the Snakes of Uganda" by Capt. Pitman is a most welcome contribution to a fascinating and sometimes controversial subject. Mythology has forrred m.uch of the knowledge of snakes. Fear is still the first reaction by man and beast alike. However, this book has most successfully consolidated all the scientific practical information and knowledge of the snakes of East Africa with particular reference tr those of Ugan da . The contents have been exceedingly well outlined which enables the reader to identify his or her interests immediately. In addition to the genera and species found in the area involved, useful information on the physiology, habits, diets, diseases and predators is included as well as precautions that should be taken in the event of an unexpected meeting with a snake’. The coloured illustrations are magnificent which, coupled with the excellent line drawings should enable any species defined to be identified very readi ly. The pliotographs are also of a very high standard. The text is extremely comprehensive, the bibliography is extensive and the indexes are grouped into technical, popular, vernacular and general classifications. This faci I i tafes considerably the searching that may be requi red by both the scientist and the layman. The "staccato" style of English has been used throughout and initially may be difficult to accept. However, once the reader has become accustomed to the style then the format is readi iy acceptable. In general, the book is a very valuable addition to the knowledge of tiie fauna of East Africa by a longstanding and eminent member of the East Africa Natural History Society. The volume is clearly printed and well bound for which the publ- ishers deserve full credit. Although it is not a handbook, it is a refer- ence publication that every naturalist should have in his library. JGT. 161 ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A GREATER LONG - FINGERED BAT MINIOPTERUS IN FLATUS THOMAS 1901 We received a male Minlopterus inflatus (SMF 43660) from Baharini Farm, Lake Nakuru, which was found on 22. v. 1972 impaled on a barbed wire fence near the margin of Acacia forest. As long-fingered bats of the genus Miniop- terus are strong fliers, this kind of accident may be explained either by delayed reaction in avoiding an obstacle whi le hunting or by a sudden wind b I ow . From other areas where Miniopterus occurs, the same events are reported. Spate (1972) found several Af. sohreihevsi in barbed wire fences after a prolonged windy spell, and Dwyer & Hami I ton-Smi th (1965) found bats of the same species impaled on thorns of a bush very close to a cave entrance, which the bats had to pass. Other bat species face similar deaths as summarized mainly for New World species by Manvi I le (1963) and Gilette & Kimbrough (1970). Apparently, this kind of accident has not yet been observed in Africa before. Dieter Kock, Forschungsl nsti tut Senckenberg, D 6000 - Frankfurt a.M. Sen ckenberg-An I age 25, Germany. REFERENCES: Dwyer, l'\ & Hami iton-Smiith, E. (1965) Other accidental deaths, Austr. Bat Res. News 3:4, Gillette, D.D. & Kimbrough, J. (1970) Chiropteran mortality. In: Slaughter, B, & Walton, D.W.: About hats^ a ohiroptevan symposium. Southern Methodist Univ. Press, Dallas. Manvi Me, R.H. (1963) Accidental mortality in bats. Mammalia 27:361-366. Spate, A. (1972) Accidental deaths in Miniopterus. Austr, Bat Res. News. I i :2. ME LAN 1ST 1C SERVAL CATS A.D. and R.M. Irvin’s notes in November's Bulletin prompts me to write the fol lowing: Between the 18th and 2 1st October, 1974 1 observed five servals Felis serval in the Aberdare National Park in five different localities, separated by several ki lometres but a I I above 2800 m. Four of these five were of the all black melanistic form. Williams states: "All b lack me I an isti c examp les are not infrequent, especially in high country in Kenya" and of the Aberdares "melanistic examples are sometimes seen". 162 1 wonder, is the me I an: Stic form more common in the Aberdares than the spotted version? On 14th August, 1974 I saw another melanistic serval at the foot of 01 Lolokwe near the isiolo - Marsabit road. I tried to approach this cat on foot, hoping for photographs, and got to within 30 m before it made off, a i as too quickly for me. One of those observed in the Aberdares was seen to pounce on a small an i ma i near a burrow, probably a Kenya Mole Rat, before disappearing into the montane grasses. D.K. Jones, Box 30253, Nai rob i . WHITE - EYED POCHARD AT MARSABIT The White-eyed Pochard or Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroea is a rare bird in Kenya to the extent that Backhurst et at. (1973) could list only six records, mostly from the Rift Valley lakes. We visited the Marsabit lakes in Kenya on 22nd Apri 1, 1974 and, together witli par'ents Mr and Mrs W.G. Harper, observed a drake White-eyed Pochard on Lake Paradise together with several African Pochard Ivetta erythvopthalma , Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota and one White-backed Duck Thalassomis leuaon- Qtus. The following diagnostic features of the White-eyed Pochard were noted rather like the European Pochard Aythya ferina in size and shape and with the chestnut heoo and neck, bui‘ nentle and wings medium, brown; white under tail coverts; white bar on wings, more obvious when they wore opened; white eye quite striking in the good light at the time of the observation. John and Lyn Harper, Box 547, Kericho, Kenya. REFERENCE: Backhurst, G.C., Britton, P. L. & Mann, C.F. ( I973) The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. J1 E. Africa nat. Hist. Soo. & Nat. Mus. 1 40: I -38. A BITTERN IN NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK A Bittern Botaurus stellaris was seen by my wife and myself on 3lst Oct- ober I974 at approximately I600 h in the Nairobi National Park. The individual bird was seen whilst it was stalking through open, shallow I63 water on- the edge -of the Omanayi dam. It presented a perfect showing of itself, allowing its identification to be established by being on view for nearly ten minutes. I was viewing it through 10 X 40 binoculars at a range of some 50 m. C.E. Norris, Box 42406, Nai rob i . A VISIT TO SAIWA SWAMP AND MT. ELGON NATIONAL PARK My wife and I decided to pay a camping visit to Saiwa Swamp and then on to the Mt. Elgon National Park over the weekend of 20th - 22nd September, 1974. We had never visited either of these areas before and decided to see them so as to be able to plan a more prolonged visit lator on. We had the description in the May 1972 number of the EMHS Bulletin to guide us with regard to Saiwa Swamp. We had no difficulty in finding it and set up camp in good tirre on arrival. We were surprised to see the small- holder development all round the swamp and wondered if this would have any effect on the Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekei or on the bird life. However, we were soon reassured for as we climbed onto one of the observation platforms on the edge of the swamp, several Sitatunga were to be seen. We were surpr- ised at the colouration, having expected the males to be dark chocolate brown in line with the illustration in John Williams' second field guide. Instead they were a shaggy light brown or fawn colour and this was borne out by the description in the bock 'Larger Mammals of Africa'. We had a very good view of the Sitatunga, both in the evening and the following morning, and in particular observed the foot formation which is peculiar to these animals. We also found Saiwa Swamp an excellent place for bird watching, and while we saw quite a number of the larger spectacular birds, perhaps the most int- eresting were the Little Rush Warblers Bradypterus bahoeoola which were seen from the observation platforms. These little birds were making their charact- eristic twittering calls alternated with loud wing flapping as they moved from rush to rush. In the evening and the following morning we identified over 40 species of birds and 1 have no doubt that a more prolonged visit would produce a b i rd list of over a hundred species. We left Saiwa Swamp and drove over to the Mt. Elgon Rark through Kitale and arri ved at the Park Gates at noon. The entrance gate is a most elaborate building, with beautifully produced signboards which augured well for the Park, but I am afraid that the roads did not live up to this expectation. In frequent places there were deep water-filled holes in the road which necessitated the use of four-wheel drive and would have definitely precluded two-wheel drive vehicles. The Park gates are at 2300 m and in over 26 km we climbed to over 3500 m before coming to grief in a particularly bad morass which was caused by a 164 running stream crossing the road. Digging ourselves out wt th the help of a hi-iift jack took three hours and we had to settle for camping at the right side of the road. It was extremely cold in the night with ice on our washing water and frost on the ground. However, the peaks and rim of the crater were seen in bri II- i ant sunshine the next morning, and we also enjoyed examining the flora. There were signs of many elephant and buffalo on the way up and down the mountain, although none was actually seen. We did see Colobus and Blue Monkeys, Colohus polykomos and Cevoopithecus mitis as wel I as a dark Bush Pig Potamochoerus porous. In the night some small creature ate our two tablets of soap which was a re I ief, as from the noise it made we thought that our bread had probably disappeared. Both spots are very well worth visiting and need longer than a one night stop to fully enjoy their amenities. We would recommend at least two nights at Saiwa Swamp if bird watching is intended, and two to three nights on Mt. Elgon to include a walk up to the top and time to examine the caves and other points of interest. The installation of a number of culverts in the tracks on Mt. Elgon would do a lot of good and it is to be hoped that the Warden will be doing something about this in order to open up the Park to more vehicles. L.A.S. Grumbley, Box 4201 I , N a i rob i . LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Si r. Referring to the article. by John and Lyn Harper in the October Issue of the Bulletiyi, in which they describe hearing the Chiffchaff Fhyllosoopus oollybita singing in the Cherangani Hills, I would like to add another record, so far unpub I i shed. This record was supplied to me by Dr W.R. Burkitt, who I hope will not mind my quoting from his letter of 2nd October 1967, as foi lows: ’M was recently looking through your article in the J.E.A.N.H.S, of June 1966 (on the birds of Mau Marok) and was most interested to see your note on the Chiffchaff. I used to be pretty au fait with the songs and calls of most British birds; Imagine my surprise in November 1965 when walking at about 8000 ft. In Cherangani Hills, I heard a Chiffchaff in full song high up in the trees above me'*. I subsequently had the privi lege of meeting Dr Burkitt, and had no doubt this was a positive and reliable record; especially interesting is that the bird was singing in November, Mr C.W. Etenson also referred to the same paper in the Journal of July 1968 describing how he heard the Chi'<'fchaff singing on Mount Elgon at 4000 m, and 165 Backhurst et at. correctly state that it is probably a regular winter visitor to this country. Mr A.J, Deane told ir,e he saw and heard it at Tree Tops, Nyeri , two years ago and I have found it a regular visitor to Mau Narok. P.H.B. Sessions, P.O. Mau Narok. Kenya. REFERENCE: Backhurst, G.C. , Britton, P. L. & Mann, C.F. (1973) The less comrron Palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Jl E, Africa not. Hist. Soo. Nat, Mas, 140: 1-33. Si r. Reference Vera Bowles article in the September Bulletin. I have no doubt that Starred Robins breed in the forest adjoining our property here, on the Ngong Road. They come daily to our bird baths and last year, I think it was June or July but did not record it, they were accompanied several times by a young b i rd. If anyone is interested in seeing Lemon Doves in comfort and at reasonably close quarters, they are welcotrie to come and see them on our bird bath any evening from 5 p.m. ti M dark. VJe have had as many as six at a time and they are very beautiful when the light catches their pink napes. But they only come in the dry weather. D.M. Sheppard, Box 24630, Ka ren . NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON WILD ANIMALS IN EAST AFRICA Members who attended Dr C.R. Field’s lecture on Nth November were given an insight into the difficulties of this particular kind of research, illustrated by a most interesting film. Dr Field was investigating the hypothesis, guess, ” I aw’’ , call it what you will, that no two species can occupy the same ecological niche at the same time. Most of the work he described was done in the Queen Elizabeth (Ruwenzori) National Park in Uganda, and the film was made there. In this park many species of animals appear to be grazing or browsing together. The worker’s task is to find out if they are actually eating the same plants. Dr Field told us of several methods. You can observe animals in the wild and actually see what they are eating. The film showed Topi grazing and lifting their heads with the flowering ends of grasses sticking out of their mouths. The animals in Q.E. Park are very ' f ri end I y and permit a near approach. Even so the worker’s life cannot have been withouf thri Ms. One part of the film showed him apparently only a few yards from a cow elephant and her small calf, and his position seemed all the more hazardous as his. eyes were often 166 on his notebook instead of being concentrated on the flapping ears and waving trunk of his subject, who it must be admitted showed little sign of di st urban ce . Tarre animals can also bo used. Part of the fi Im showed two young buffalo that Dr Field had brought up and which followed him everywhere, even running after his Landrover. In turn he followed them and noted wiiat food plants they selected. When animals were being thinned cut, as the Hippo were, it was of course possible to take samples of the actual stomach contents. It is a special privilege for members to hear this kind of lecture - an account by a fellow member of original work in which he is himself engaged. We hope that Dr Field wi i I speak to us again before long and tell us of the work at Akira Ranch and other places and what conclusions are being reached. The work of course bears on the important practical question of whether some other species of herbivore may not be more suitable for ranching in certain habitats than cattle. P.M.A. A CONGREGATION OF BUTTERFLIES Towards the end of October, 1974 a short visit was made to the Witu Forest to collect butterflies for the Museum. This forest is almost continuous from Garsen to beyond Witu. A large number of specimens of the Novice Butterfly Amauris ochlea were seen. The butterflies cf this genus are usually solitary, only congregating at damp patches. It was a great surprise, therefore, to see large groups of from twenty to fifty individuals in a sinall area. They were congregated on small plants and creepers above them. These groups were about 3 - 4 m across and 20 - 30 m apart in several groups together, then none for half a ki lometre or so. Whi le collecting, i passed from one patch to another and the butterflies from the near one would all fly up and flap around slowly, displaying their black and white "distasteful" colouration. They settled as soon as the dis- turbance had passed. One or two flew along to the next group and disturbed them well before I could get near them. I have only one other record for Africa of Danaids congregating like this, and that was from the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa. In this record. Van Son has this to say, referring to the African Monarch Danaus chrysippus : "On very warm days, with temperatures well over 100. F, this species was observed to congregate in large numbers in the shade of the camel thorn trees, where the butterflies sat motionless on dry branches and grass stems, apparently stunned by the heat and most unwi Ming to fly". Mir J. Kiel land, who has collected extensively in Tanzania, has seen this 167 butterfly fn the forests around Dar es Salaam and has noticed the same congregating phenomenon. M. C I i fton / Entomologi st, Nat. Mus., Box 40658, N a i rob i . REFERENCE : Van Son, G. (1959) Koedoe 2:59. HANNINGTON TO BARINGO THE HARD WAY Inspired by the recent EANHS trip to Lake Hannington, a friend and I decided to try the direct route from this lake to Lake Baringo. Armed with the 50,000 series maps of the area we set out to follow the C.7I3, as the road was confidently designated. For transport we were using motorcycles, which turned out to be exactly tne right vehicles for the trip. For those who would like to try the run, I append a few extracts from my notebook, but would stress at the outset that only four wheel drive vehicles with a fairly experienced driver would be able to get through. The track is found as a left turn only a few metres before the barrier at which one pays to enter the Lake Hannington area. It appears to be a small riverbed, but on closer investigation some signs of old grading appear, if still in doubt the keeper of the gate will point it out. Once going in the right direction the road is fairly easy to follow, the double line of worn earth being reasonably conspicuous. The first 4 km is along smooth ground at the base of the Rogeti range of hills. The going is deceptive, as suddenly the track vanishes into a gorge, the sides of which fall steeply some 7 m to the Loboi river below. Wh i le we were on the track, it was succ- essfully negotiated by a Unimog, including this crossing of the Loboi river, which is certainly the most difficult obstacle on the journey. Once on the far bank of the river, the track turns sharp left and then right, gradually becoming easier to follow, and fairly smooth as far as the Maji Ndege area, some 5 km further on. Here there is a steep and very rocky escarpment, its only consolation being the magnificent view down along the rift with Baringo a brown streak on the horizon. Having descended the scarp, a right turn Is made at the ’T’ junction, to head into Loboi, taking the lett turn instead puts one onto the road to Marigat, Shortly after the turn the road goes through two fords, both quite shal low with firm sand under the water, and'the road Is clearly marked into Loboi. This vi I I age has some shops and a Government office. The road passes on the left of the office and continues we I I marked along the base of the Chebinyiny range of hi Ms Once past the hills the road vanishes as the ground rises towards Sandai . This is fairly open country, lightly treed, with a number of huts dotted 168 over a wide area. Nowhere is the road visible, but on the right a long range of hills straggles northward towards the Ng'arua swamp. The track resumes at the point where swamp and hi 1 Is meet, and from there goes through a belt of wait-a-bit thorn to Logamukum. Here there is a shop which sells, among other goodies, Coca-Cola. Never was a Coke better timed! This is the point to take stock, as it is here that one must decide which bank of Lake Baringo one wishes to visit. Turning left out of Logumukum! loads to Mari gat and thence the west bank, turning right to Loirninange and the east bank. Between the two lies the Oloimatashu swamp through which there are no tracks, VJe decided to head east, and took the well marked road to Loirninange. From there we followed a cattle track across the 01 Arabel river and up to a headland overlooking Lake Baringo. We skirted several boulders and rode across tussocky grass to the lake’s edge, stopping suddenly as we ran into swampy ground. Six hippo were cavorting at the water’s edge, and we watched them as we ate our lunch. Gran vi I le Davi es , Box 498 13, Nai rob i . RECORD REVIEW BIRDS OF THE AFRICAN RAIN FORESTS 1971. Recorded by Stuart Keith. Produced by Stuart Keith & William W.H. Gunn. Published by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists and the American Museum of Natural History. Two long-playing (33.3 r.p.m.) records. Nairobi price Shs. 135/- Thanks to the Society’s Chairriian, Stuart Keith's long-awaited records are now available in this country. Members of the E.A, Natural History Society who produce valid membership cards at ’Quintessence’, Box 42343, Nairobi, (at the Thorn Tree, New Stanley Hotel) will get a 10/ discount. Stuart Keith spent three years accumulating these recordings of 92 African forest birds; only 9 are duplicated in Myles North’s two records. The repro- duction is meticulously done and nobody who has any interest in African birds should be without those records. Many ’mystery voices’ of our forests here lose their mystery. From the scientific viewpoint, too, the serious worker will find extremely valuable comparisons, as, for example, the three long- tailed cuckoos Cevoocoooyx spp. which are virtually impossible to distinguish in the field - but listen to their voices’. Stuart Keith wrote to me in 1971: ''I believe that cut 1 (song) of Muscicapa gviBeigularis is in fact one of the songs or calls of M. eaerules- cens (the Ashy Flycatcher), 1 also now think that the song and call given as that of the Brown II iadopsis are In fact made by the Pale-breasted I 1 iadopsis Triahastoma (= Mataoocincla) Tufipennis . The two birds are 169 extremely hard to tel 1 in the field, but I core to this conclusion after extensive field experience v/Ith both species in Liberia this year. The Brown I I ladopsis has a song simi lar in general form to that of the Pale-breasted but with some distinct differences." The last band comprises an evening chorus of birds in the Sokoke Forest and various nocturnal mammals including chimpanzees. The jacket is very attractive and has cop i us notes on each species with exact locality and date of recording. The ideal Christmas present/ ADFW . REQUE STS FOR I N FORMAT I ON Between Apri I 1973 and October 1974 I have been working on the wading birds of Aldabra, British Indian Ocean Territory, and as part of this work I have colour ringed 97 turnstone Arenaria interpres and 74 Crab RIovers Dromas ardeola. I feel it is likely that the b i rds I have marked may turn up on the East African coast and it is possible that they may be seen by ornithologists there . ' The colours may fade on the rings, making the combinations difficult or impossible to read even at close range, but if the combination can be read the following is important; which leg is the metal B.T.O. ring on, what colours are on each leg and if two rings are on the same leg which ring is uppermost. Even if the rings cannot be seen well it would be extremely I mip- ortant to know where and when the bird was seen, without knowing the combin- at i on . In the case of the Crab Plover, the rings can be removed by the bird, so no attempt need be made to read the combination as it will be unreliable. Any sightings of these colour-ri nged b i rds would be extremely useful, and information should be sent to the address below. J . R. Wi Ison , 23, South End, Beda le , Yorkshi re, Eng 1 and. MARINE SCIENCE SURVEY The coral reefs along Kenya's coast have received very little scientific attention despite the wealth of life they support. Knowledge of the reefs is important for the development of commercial fisheries and for monitoring the effects of water pollution. Areas that have been designated or proposed as Marine National Parks require study to provide information for effective 170 managerrent and education programs. There is a definite need for coordination of marine research efforts in Kenya;, where so few scientists are available to work on the many problems. Towards this end, I am attempting to comp i le a di rectory of marine scientists and their research projects in Kenya, to be published in this Bulletin. It is hoped to include visiting as well as resident investigators, and proj- ects in physical as well as biological sciences. I should greatly appreciate receiving the following information about persons engaged in or planning such research: name, address, professional affiliation, title of project and dates of project. Richard L. Jachowski, Department of Zoology, Un i ve rs i ty of N a i rob i , Box 30197, Mai robi . NON. TREASURER Owing to staff changes at the Museum, it is only too likely that our Hon. Treasurer will be leaving after the A.G.M. , and we shall have to find someone else from amongst us to do this important work for the Society. It should not be a herd task for anyone fami liar with keeping accounts. Perhaps once a week he (or she) must contact the Secretary and collect bills for payment and cheques to be paid in (postage of course is paid by the Society). Once a month he must attend the meeting of the Committee, give an account of the financial position and contribute his share of ideas to the running of the Society. Once a year he must prepare the financial statement and balance sheet for the A.G.M. Our Committee cannot know all the members personally. Necessarily they are obliged to mill round in the perhaps narrow circle of their own friends and acquaintances. If wo are to see new faces in Committee the Society itself must help. I know people often do not like to volunteer; but members know each other, their capabilities and opportunities, and it is for them to persuade a suitable person to allow himself (or herself) to be put forward. Hon. Sec. FUNCTIONS Monday 9th December 1974: Talk and Slide show on Mackinder and Mt. Kenya by Mr John Temple, Vice-Chairman of the Mountain Club. This year is the 75th Anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Kenya, and Mr Temple has kindly consented tc give us this talk in connection with the Mountain Club’s celebrations of this event. 12th - 15th December 1974: Camp at 01 Lolokwe - details on application. Saturday !4th December 1974: Marine i fe field T ip led by Mrs Fleur Ng'weno. Meet at the Cora I dene Eteach Hotel, Bamburi , at 9 a.m. Please wear tennis shoes or boots and be prepared to v^ade. The purpose of the trip.wi 11 be to explore the rich plant and animal life in the ti depools in the old reef near the shore. Identification will be basic and no previous study is requi red, but pencil and paper will be useful. (For those wishing to stay on for the afternoon, Cora I dene offers reasonable a la carte meals). Sunday 15th December 1974: For non-campers - A "Dudu Crawl” led by Mike Clifton, a day walk on Mr Jack Hopcreft’s farm at Ath i River. Meet at the National Museum at 9 a.m. and bring picnic lunch, Monday 15th January 1975: Talk and slide show by Dr G. Irvine. Nth/ 1 2th January 1975: Weekend visit to Ngobit Estate, Naro Moru. Detai Is t ate r , Wednesday morning birdwalks continue to meet at the National Museum, Nairobi each Wednesday at 8.45 a.m.. Please note that there will be no birdwalk on !8th and 25th December. There will be a birdwalk on 1st January - a good way to start the new year! These walks are primarily for beginners, and all new members are welcome. Chi Idren are welcome as long as small children are supervi sed. NEW MEMBERS - DECEMBER 1974 Li fe Member; Mr J.S, Kermali, Box 42202, Nairobi. (Change of membership status). Full Members ; Dr E.W. Arnold, Biolocy Dent., Wanatchee Valley College, Washington State 98801 , U.S.A. Miss P. Ashcroft, Thika High School, Private Bag, Thika, Kenya. Mr C. Belfrage, Box 42970, Nairobi. Miss J. Chapman, Box 14601, Nairobi. Miss C.J. Elkins, Box 43436, Nairobi. Mr L.J. False, S.R, I. P.O. Seronera, via Arusha, Tanzania. Mrs L. Greenham, c/6 Provincial Hospital, Box 29, Garissa, Kenya. Miss C. Hesketh, Kenya Polytechnic, Box 30214, Nairobi. Mr R.J, Hire, Kenya Polytechnic, Bex 30214, Nairobi. Mr E.S.R. Humphries, Kenya Polytechnic, Bex 30214, Nairobi. Mr P, Lack, Tsavo Research Project, Box 14, Voi . Kenya. Mrs A. Morton, Box 42011, Nairobi. Mr and Mrs J.G. Powys, Box 38, Rumuruti, Kenya Dr Glenn D. Prestwich, I.C.I.P.E., Box 30772, Nairobi. Mrs R. Sanderud, c/o Faculty of Education, Box 30197, Nairobi. Mrs T.M. Smith, Box 40751, Nairobi. Mrs J. Storehouse, c/o Kenya Shell, Box 4356 1, Nairobi. Dr R.J. Tatchell, UNDP, Bex 9 182, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 172 THE EAST AFRICAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Chairman: J. S. Karmali Vice Chairman: Mrs J. Hayes Editor, Jl E. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. Nat. Mus.: Dr P. J. Greenway O.B.E. Secretary: Mrs D. Collins Librarian: Miss P. M. Allen Treasurer: M. P. Clifton Executive Committee (in addition to the above): Miss D. Angwin; G. C. Backhurst (Ringing Organizer and Editor EANHS Bulletin); Mrs A. L. Campbell: A. D. Forbes-Watson; R. E. F, Leakey; E. T. Monks: N. Myers. Co-opted Members: Mrs H. A. Britton (Nest Record Scheme Organizer); N. Chumo; A. Duff-MacKay; D. Mbuvi: T. D. Morris: Mrs L. Ndegwa: Mrs F. Ng'weno: Mrs I. Preston. The Journal Editorial Sub Committee consists of Dr Greenway, Miss Angwin, G. C. Backhurst, M. P. Clifton, A. D. Forbes-Watson and Mrs Hayes. 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 month; 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; the Society 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 a leading and highly respected scientific journal — The Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists usually of one paper, however, some- times 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 monthly magazine 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), P.O. Box 29003, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya. Line drawings will be con- sidered if they add to the value of the article, photographs cannot be published. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES Life ..... Institutional (schools, libraries) Full One payment: K shs. 500/- . annual payment: K shs. 50/- . annual payment: K shs. 50/- Junior (full-time student, no Journo/ supplied) . . . annual payment: K shs. 10/- Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1st July you may join at half the yearly rate and receive publi- cations from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486. Nairobi. j 'ii ^ ^ ^;„M i * “^A ii ' '■ ■; ' ^ ^f’i •■' -iW I f- m ,Q; ■:!;.. lieyS. .1 .‘t ’iQ' vff|f'.'. ,?o’/. ,■)■■.•"'. .*f.vH .ir>a ,\ • ^ ^v -.. -ii ;:>inci'i 7 .:.! : .T :‘-.e; ;f|,, ■, fi'/N-- , 'i!!!|la-if ■ ■■;^ ( :\*5 ■iSlv ■,tioJ;;.'7 .'-I .M . -■ :v.<;-j'l4 T ■• V vf '-.v.'VnA ■: zrti.iioJ .u ?'^M ■. :(,u Y "-?. 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X-,'';; * •-' A.r c 30U,. .v -c.-iidL-q. 5q;.- > <:ur- 'jq Vlabo."- !C:I,: -O O'A/J I q;'jr inoioD .W'*>=4'^’ >a'»<3d. -(»;n. t-‘*-q£q sr/ . '7.. ..>., ,svv 3’fiff8 ill (:v; ?o Atbiz wuo • ;;.0 -'Sftfcjc .J2 ::U u oh r, V ■■■ J •■.1:.o:r; ; .sv-'ra^l .isio-ia!/'' .ciA?7A ,qTl .bsf.-i, -Vj'i 'O'.Cf orb-sd'l: v.b jf feijb'io ;«ia ' J i./ ;■.: .2S.H7'.AA,3 J 'cdi. 'O / ,bsqv> Trv; ■; VAbrui^-i- .x'lj^'bbViV ■.■<.'u.v'A.,i^A x'd-:i':OfA fc a jb ;■ iisi'T :i%m i'!:i ' /iv>;x:“^f.b'rit.-!c7 .,•• V‘>;- aj', i7'' ;'vA^,\X..’^:.,,7AV,i.AuS 'lOJiijb a .:- iC '.'j.Xtq qtil.'Cij ;.£.£; !: ;r!': (Cb A:-- ,,,. .. ' .,-A - ■ AH:0._ EANHS BULLETIN INDEX 1974 XSX Editorial, Secretarial, & miscellaneous notes & announcements: Advertisements 61 A.G.M. 26 Correcti ons 33, 75 For Sale. II, NO Forest destruction 102 Geographical Association 124 I mportant Not i ce II Library: Notices 26, 61, 86, 109, 124, 136, 151 Recent Periodic Literature available in 12, 27, 45, 126, 155 Flembership: Recruiting new Members 125, 152 Nest Record Scheme 20, 2 I , 37 New Members 28, 46, 64, 76, 88, 100, 125, 142, 155, 171 Notices 28, 62, I'd, 76, 95, 171 Photograph i c Exh i b i t i on 28 Requests for 1 n f o rmat i on & Wanted 10, 61 , 62, 84, 86, 170 Society Funct ions 10, 26 1, 44, 61 . 76, 88, 100, 1 10, 125, 141 , Theft 124 AUTHORS A.D. F-W. Birds of the African Rain Forests (Record Review) 169 Allen, J.A. Request for information (Snails) 84 Allen, P.M. Expedition to Chemoni Estate, Nandi Hills, Kenya 39 Swifts attacked by Sparrows (Letter) 123 Allen, Priscilla A visit to Texel 97 Angwin, Dennie What is happening at Lake Nai vasha? 118 Unusual Lion behaviour and a White-striped Dik-Dik 132. Archbold, Mary E. (Letter) 60 Backhurst, Graeme Ariel roosting 134 A short account of ticks 146 Ri ngi ng News II, 38, 57 Ringing Note 92 Ri ngi ng Noti ce 84 Britton, Hazel Nest Record Scheme 20, 37 Britton, P.L. A new Gull for Kenya Larus ichthyaetus ? (Letter) 59 Further Frigate Bird on the Kenya coast 93 Broad-billed Sandpiper and Herring Gull wintering on the north Kenya coast 93 SEP 08 19/ 5 The Garsen Heronry on the Tana River 129 Britton, Peter & Hazel Pomarine Skua on the Kenya coast 4 White-faced Tree Ducks nesting on islets off the Kenya coast 5 Migratory Pygmy Kingfishers in coastal Kenya 128 Britton, Peter L. & Duffus, Phillip Great Black-headed Gulls at Malindi 51 & Sugg, M. St J. Birds recorded on the Kimi li li Track - a postscript 34 1 Borruso, S. Bowles Vere, B rown , D . S . Brown, L.H. (Letter) 25 V. Wednesday morning bird walks 119 Request for information (Freshwater molluscs & Maps) 10 East Af ri can Nest Record Scheme 2 I Probable Wedge-tai led Shearwater Puffinus pad ficus at Watamu 23 Clifton, M.A. A congregation of butterflies 167 Cunningham van Someren, G.R. A note on the Pintai I Whydah Vidua macvoura 15 At sea off Watamu 19 Exploitation of a food source in a feeding association of Whydahs 35 Army Ants; The Insect Societies; A catologue and reclassification of the Ethiopian I chneumon t dae . (Revi ew) 40 Frehwater snails, Schi stomi asis or Bilharzia 93 Eaptochitiehthys antinorii (Letter) 99 Sisal flowers, nectar and birds 104 D. A. Dr Kamau on the geology of the Rift Valley 108 Davies, Granville Hannington to Baringo the hard way 168 Dowsett, R.J. (Letter) 60 Dyer, A. (Letter) 59 E. M.E. Lady Wilson - An Appreciation 137 Frazier, Jack The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in East Africa 150 G.C.B. Species diversity in temperate and tropical I chneumon i dae 151 Gordon, H.M. Grumbley, L. Kl i pspri nge r i n A.S. Flora of Up association with Redwing Starling 149 an d Ken y a 25 National Park 164 A visit to Saiwa Swamp and Mt. Elgon Grumbley, Tom Easter at Lake Baringo 82 Harper, John (Letter) 41 Kisumu Heronry 79 Harper, John & Lyn Where do al I the House Martins go? Cherengani Hills, Chiffchaff and Black Kite White-eyed Pochard at Marsabit 163 W.G. The occurrence of waders in the Dar es Sa 13 Harvey 29 a am Hopson , Hopson , Hopson , Hopson , Howe I I , Howe 1 I , I rvi n area of Tanzan i a : Part I. 48 2. 66 3. 80 3(2)90 Further records of Madagascar Pratincoles Glaveola ocularis near Dar es Sa 1 aam 7 1 White- cheeked Terns Sterna repressa near Dar es Salaam Tanzania 85 Unusual behaviour of Rufous Chatterers 96 A.J. & J. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis at Kerio Bay, Lake Rudolf 18 A.J. A further record of the Kentish Plover at Lake Rudolf 18 Egyptian Plovers in the Lake Rudolf Area 131 Jane & Tony Further records of the Broad-bi I led Sandpiper LimCcola faldnellus from Lake Rudolf 33 Sooty Gulls at Lake Rudolf 131 Jane & Tony with Patricia Robertson Skuas at Lake Rudolf 31 , K.M. Bats collected at Lake Rudolf 14 , K.M. & Wrangham, Richard First record of the Dwarf Slit-faced Bat Nycteris nana in Tanzania 36 A.D. & R.M. Lions, Civets and Servals 148 Irvine, 6. & D. Down on the Tana 159 Jachowski , Richard L. Marine Science Survey 170 J.B.G. The identification of grasses in East Africa (Review) 122 J.G.K. The social life of the Lion (Review) 57 J.G.T. A Guide to the snakes of Uganda (Review) 161 J.W-C. Olorgasailie trip 121 Jones, D.Ko Me I an i Stic Serva! Cats 162 Kigaye, M.K, & Purton, M,D. Parasites collected from a fledgling Doub I e~ toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus 74 Kock, Deiter Hildegarde's Tomb Bat Taphozous hitdegardeae Thomas, 1909 first record for Tanzania 70 Egyptian Tomb Bat Tcphozous perforatus E. Geoffrey 1818 first record from Uganda 130 Accidental death of a Greater Long-fingered Bat Miniopterus in flatus Thomas 1901 162 Lee, Henry J. Miscellaneous notes on the behaviour of Kenya birds 54 Leuthold, Waiter & Barbara Recent observations of migrating shore and water birds in Tsavo East National Park 72 Leuthold, Walter Inland observations of the Terek Sandpiper 153 Loveridge, Arthur Additions to the avifauna of Budongo Forest, Uganda 160 Madge, Graham A probable Sandwich Tern on the Kenya coast 30 Mann, Clive F. A second Pomarine Skua on the Kenya coast 31 A record of a Collared Flycatcher Ficedulla albicollis semitorquata in Western Kenya 78 Sone bird notes from the Mara 78 Martin, Valerie Mi. Jamturi camp at Ng’oina Estate 24 Miatzke, Miary Ann & G. Observations on a Barred Owlet family 154 McCartney, F.J. Ostracised Little Swift and loyalty of a White-winged Widowbird 107 Meadows, B.S. & Weston, J.K. Icterine Warbler and Chiffehaff on Mit. Kenya 95 Meadows, B.S. and Weston, John & Dianne Spotted Redshank in Kenya during March 1974 103 Meadows B.S. A June record of the Madagascar Pratincole on the Kenya coast 102 Mungure, Sifaeli A. A brief interesting observation on Sandorouse at Seronera River Pool 52 Ng'Weno Fleur Mlarine life trip 133 Norris, C.E. A Bittern in Nairobi National Park 163 Osborne, J.F. Hildegarde's Tomb Bat - Tanzania (Letter) 99 Pitman, C.R.S. Fossorial snake gives live bii'th (Letter) 9 Hornbills and Bats 56 P.J.G. Leslie Desmond Edward Foster Vesey FitzGerald (Obituary) 87 East African vegetation (Review) 135 Plumtree, Patricia Black and White Cuckoos (Letter) 76 P.M.A. Exhibition of bird photographs by John Karmali 41 Camp in the grounds of Falloden Cottage, 01 Kalou 109 Lecture ~ 9th September 1974 (On Superb Starlings) 138 Nutritional studies on wi Id animals in East Africa 166 Reynolds, J.F. Wh i te- fronted Bee-eaters apparently taking bread 115 Co-operative breeding in Red and Yellow Barbets 144 Sessions, P.H.E. House Martins (Letter) 133 Spindlow, D.D. Two exciting Kenya binding spots 9 S Turner, D.A, & Forbes-Watson , A.D. The Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus in East Africa 2 Wi I I i ams-Chand ley , Jane Rearing a nestling Pigeon 8 Williams M.C.B. Frigate Birds (Letter) 42 Wilson, J.R. Colour ringing on Aldabra Islands (Request for information) 170 Wood, Derek A. A Bittern at Lake Naivasha 104 SUBJECTS Aberdares 39, 148 Acacia 14, 52 Acarina 38, 74, 146 Aohatina futica 84 Aocrpiter hadius 2 I Ao melanoleucos 22 A, minullus 2 I A. Tufiventris 2 1 A, taohiro 22 Aatophilornis africana 118 Aden, Gulf of 4 Adeniurrt obesum 83 Aenietus sp . 40 Aesehynomene elaphroxylon- 83 Agave sisalina I 04 Agrost'is trachyphyllo 25 Alauda arvensis 97 A Icippe ahyssinicus 39 Aloe spp. 106 Alopochen aegyptiaaa 140 Amadina fas data 121 Amandava spp . 36 Amauris oahlea 167 Ambatch 83 Amblyomia spp. 147 Anas acuta 72 A. clypeata 72 A. orecca 72 A, hottenta 163 A, penelope 73 A. querquedula 73 A. strepera 73 A, spars a 109 Anastomus lamelligerus 79 Andropadus curvirostris 39 A, importunis I 16 Angola 36 Anteater Chat 37 Ants, Army 40 Anthreptes collarts 55, 119 Anthus pratensis 97 Apalis, Black-breasted 119 Apalis flavida I I 9 Apus af finis 107, 159 A. apus 123, 134 A. niansae 123 Aparallactus jacksoni 9 Apodi dae 37 Aquila rapax 22, 54, 60, 121, 140 A. wdhlbergi 2, 22, 96 Arachnida 38, 146 Arboretum 119, 120 Ardea melanocephala 79 A. purpurea 129 Ardeola ibis 19 A. ralloides 129 Arenaria interpres 82 , 117, 170 Argasidae 146 Aristida sp . 122 Arthropoda 146 Aruba Dam 72, 73, 153 Arusha Ch i n i 6 Ath i Ri ver I I At I anti c Ocean 4 Avocet 97, 98 Aythya farina, & A. nyroca 163 Babbler, Abyssinian Hill 39 Arrow-marked 96 Northern Pied 106 Baboon 94 Badgers, Honey 20 Ba I I y , Dr 44 Balearica pavonina 123, 140 Bamburi Beach 93, 133 Baobab tree 158 Barbet, Black-collared 144 B rown -t h roate d 12 1 d’Arnaud's 159 4 'Barbet, Double-toothed 74 Red and Ye I I ow 12 1, 144 White-headed 144 Barro Colorado Island, Panama 40 Bat, Dog- faced Fruit 56 Dwarf Slit-faced 36 Egyptian Tomb 130 Greater Long-fingered 162 Lesser Fruit 56 Bateleur 22 Batis molitor I 19 Bee-eater, Carmine 19 Red- throated 115 Wh i te- fronted 115 Bilentiginosus sp. 123 Bi 1 harz i a 10, 93 BiomphalaTia spp. 94 Bittern 104, 123, 163 American 123 Blackcap 39, 95 Bladderwort 94 Booph'ilus spp. 147 Bon i to 19 Botaurus stellaris 104, 123, 163 B. lentigenosus 123 Brachytarsina attaudi- 70 Bradypterus baboecota 164 cinnamomeus 1 09 Biibalomis albivostris 158 Bubo laoteus 37, 83 Bueoanodon teuootis 1 44 Bug, C i mi ci d 70 Bulbul, Ye I I ow-vented or Dark- capped 37,^ 106,- 1 .16, I 19, 158 Bulinus spp. 94 Buphagus spp. 37 Buphagus afrioanus 55 B. erythrorhynohus 159 Burhin i dae 48 Burhinus capensis 120 B. vermiaulatus 66 Bush Pig 165 Busi a I I Buteo oreophilus 2 I B. rufinus 2 Bo rufofuscus 22, 119, 12 i Bo vulpinus 3 But i aba I I Butovides striatus 117 Butterfly, African Monarch 167 (Blue) Lycaemi d 20 Butterfly, Novice 167 Caeselpina spin os a 24 Catidris alba 91,1 17,120 C. alpina 50 C. oanutus 90 Co ferrugineo. 17, 90 , 117 Camaroptera simplex 12 1 Canary, White-bellied 12 1 Ye 1 1 ow-f ronted I 1 6 Cape Hen 23 Came roun 36 Cairpethera nubioa 159 Capri mu I gi dae 37 Cardiodevma cor 1 4 Carallumia gracilipes 83 C. retrospioiens 83 Co soootrana 83 Caretta caretta 1 50 CerooQOcoyx spp. 169 Ceroopithecus mi tic 165 Ceryle vudis 55, 117 Ceuthmochares aereus aereus 160 Ceylon 24, 51 Ceyx piota 55, 128 C. p. natalensis 128 Charadri i dae 48 Charadrius dlexandrinus 18, 51 c. asiatious 17, 69 c. dubius 67 c. hiaticula 18, 67, 97 Co ho tundrae 67 Co leschenaultii 18, 69 Co marginatus 18, 68 Co mongolus 69 Co peauarius 17, 18, 67 Co tricollaris 67 Chan 1 er’ s Falls 70 Charles II 24 Chat, Robin 39 Chelictinia iElanus) viocovrii Chelonia my das Cherengani Hills 129 Chiffchaff 95, 129, 165 Chi neon. Countess of 24 Chi neon a 24 Ch i nomi ds 114 Chlidonias hybrida 85 C. leuoopterus 85 ChloTopeta sivrd-lis 39 Chy u I u H i I I s 95 Cichladusa guttada 9 Ciccfnia dbdirrri 1 8 C. eiconia I I C» espiscopus 78 Cinnyrioinclus teuoogaster 116, C. sharp'd 120 Circaetus cine reus 22 C. gallicus 2 1 Circus spp. 104 C, aeruginosus aeruginosus 73 C. a. ranivorus 2 1 Cisticola, Red-faced 78 Tabora 78 Trilling 79 Winding 37 Cistioola ohubhi 34 C, erythrops 78 Co fulvicapilla 78 C. galactotes 37 C. hunteri 34 , 109 Co woosnami 79 Ci ty Park 119 Ci vet I 48 Civettictus civetta 148 Ciamator yaoohinus 76 Cocune I i d Ladybirds 87 Colius macrourus 55, 159 Co striatus 106, 116, 119 Co lob us 39 CoIoTdus polykomos 165 C dumb a del agorgue i 120 Contracaecum spiculigerum 99 Con go 114 Coot, Red-knobbed 59, 118 Coraoias caudata 158 Cordon-bleu 36, 159 Blue-capped 121 Red- cheeked 1 16 Cormorant, Long-tai led 79 Corvus albus 25, 119 C. mcnedula 98 Corythaixoides leucogaster 121 Cossypha cyanocampter 39 C. polioptera 39 Coypu (or Nutri a) 118 Crakes 159 Crake, African 54 Crane, East African Crowned 123, Crater Bay, Central I’d, L. Rudol Craterostigma 1 09 Crayfish, Louisianna Red Swamp I Creatophora cinerea 106 Crescent I s I an d 118 Crex egregia 54 Crow, Pied 9, 80 120 Cuckoos 77 B I ack and Wh i te 76 Curlew 9, 80 Cut-throat 12 1 Cynodum plectostachyum 35 Cyperus 35 Cyperus rotundis I 1 8 Dan a ids 167 Danaus chrysippus 167 Dar es Salaam 48, 66, 85, 90, 91 I 12 Dawlish Warren, Devon 30 Delichon urbiaa 113, 133 Dendrocygna bicolor 5 d. viduata 5 Dendropicos fusaescens 109 Dermochelys ooriacia 150 Dik-Dik, Ki rk's 133 Dinemellia dinemelli Dolabella sp. 133 Dolphins 20 Dorylus (annoma) nigricans 40 Dove, Lemon 166 Namaqua 12 1 Red-eyed 1 19 Ring-necked 109 Dramas ardeola 55, 66, 112, 170 Duck, Black 109 Ferruginous 163 Fulvous tree 5 White-backed 163 White- faced tree 5 Dun I i n 50 Durban 150 Dutch East Indies 24 Eagle, African Hawk 22 Ay re’s Hawk 22 Bateleur 60, 158 Brown Harrier 22 Crowned Hawk 22, 12 1 Fish 22, 58, 104, 140 Long- crested 22 Martial 22 140 Tawny 22, 54, 60, 12 1, 140 f 131 Verreaux’s 22 Wahlberg’s 22, 96 1 9 Eciton 40 Editkcolea grandis 83 96, 168 6 Egret^ Caitle 79 Great V>/hite 79 Li;-tle 79, 129 Ye I I ow-b ! Med 79 Egretta alba 79 £'o ardesiaca 129 E. garzetta 79, 129 E\ intermedia 79 Etanns {CheZictinia) rioQonrii 2\ E, caex'uZeus 22 E I Barta Plains 153 F 1 deTia Fxovine 6, 139 Elephant Camp 9 Elephant Shrew, Ye I low-rumpsd 70 E I geyo Escarpment 14 i Eigeyu 6 Elgon, Mt. 34, 108, 114, 129 Entebbe 23, 56 E oaten 3 8 ny cteridis 36 Eporncraphorus anurus 56 E, lahiat-'iG 56 Eragrcstio spo, 122 Erstmoakelys iirbi^icata 150 6 ; : t r i Ida. s op, 36 2' bcngala 1 ! 6 , 159 E. ciyii'ioa&pkicla 12 i Euple.. teo aVacnctatuo 107 5. ardrr.s 120 r.: 56 Ecdl-ac hiammicus 2 i F, cker-.’vg 3 J, ckicTiAi^ra 2 I F, peU'cai.-iGi>di.:^ 3 F, veregrinuG 3, 22 F- rupiaol-oides 22 F, tinnvnmiliis 2 1, 120 Falcon, Ped-'oecked 21 Pygmy M5 Fasciola gigantea 94 FoUb ^e-'rval 148, 162 Fe-cuso!:'S Gulf i 4, 1 8, 3 1 , 32 , 33 Fiaeduia a'lhicol Lis 73 7o c;. serrdtorcvjata 78 Fo hypoleuca 78 Fi nches , Fi re 116 F i n foot , Pete r s 159 Flamingo, Lesser 140 Greater 140 Flora of Upland Konya 25, 136 Flycatcher, chin“Spot 119 Co I I ared 78 Flycatcher, Paradise 119 Pied 78 Spotted I 16 V.'h i te-eyed S I atey 119 White-tailed Crested 39 Forest, Budongo 160 Fossori a 1 Snake 9 Fregata spp. 42 , 93 F. ariel 93 F. minor 43, 93 Fr i es i an 1 s 1 ands 97 Fri gate Bi rd 42 Great 43 Frog, Red -banded 60 Fulica aristata 59, 118 Gadwa I I 73 Gatlin ago media 82 Gattinuta oktoropus 118 Gannets I 1 7 Carganey 73 Garissa 9 Garsen 129, 167 Gedi 20 Geese, Egyptian 140 Germo athaoora 1 9 Ghana 36 Gi bra Iter Island, L. Bar in go 82 Glai’eola oooularis 71, 102 Glavaidiim cojpense I 54 G, pc'rta.twn 158 Go“cway bird. White-bellied 121 Godwits 82 Godwit, Bar-tailed 50, 80 B I ack-tai led 80 Goshawk, African 22 Dark Chanti ng 21 Gaber 2 1 Pale Chanting 22 Granatina sp . 36 Grebe, Little 118 Greenbul, Cane^roun Sombre 39 Zanzibar Somb re 116 Greenshank 55, 80, 81, 117, 120 Grenadier 36 Grevi Ilia tree 24 Guaso N j i ro 70 Gulls 37 Gull, Black-headed 52, 98 Great black-headed 51, 59 Grey-headed 31, 131 Lesser black-backed 31, 51, 113, 131 Gul i , Herring 51 , 59, 98, I 12 Sooty (Hemprich's) 4, 22, 31, 1 17, 131 Gu I u 2 Gypeatus barbatus 21, 54 , 60 Gyps africanus 22 Go Tueppelii 2 1 Haemaphy satis sp. 147 H, teachi 147 Haematopus ostralegus 9, 66, 97 Halcyon teucooephala 37 Haliaeetus vocifer 22, 58, 104, 140 Harnmerkop 54 Haptoohilichthys antinorii 99 Harrier, African Marsh 2 1 European Marsh 73 Hawk, Great Sparrow 22 Harrier 22, 158 Little Sparrow 21 Rufous Sparrow 2i Helichrysum, perhaps newii 25 Hell's Gate 108, 140 Hemiptera polyctenidae 36 Henna 129 Heronry, Kisumu 79 Heron, Black 129 Black-necked 79 Greenbacked 117 Grey 129 Night 123, 129 Purple 129 Squacco 129 Hexabranahus sp. 133 Hieraaetus dubius 22 H. fasciatus spilogaster 22 Himantopus himantopus 9 1 Hippo 167 Hippolais icterina 95 FL potygtotta 95 HiTimdo abyssinicus 107, 159 He futiguta 120 He rustioa II, 113 He semirufa 78 Hoopoe, Wood 158 Hornbill, Black and White 56 Hemp rich's 83 Red-b i I I ed 159 S i I very- cheeked 56, 116 Hunter's Lodge 56 Hyalorma 147 Hydrobates leucorhoa 1 9 Hylia, green 39 Hypericum 95 Hyonyssus eurythrix 74 Hypochera spp. 36 Hypoxis 1 09 Ibis, Glossy 129 Sacred 37, 54, 79, 140 rois ibis 54, 79, 159 I chneumon i dae 151 Ikanga Sisal Estate, Tanga 70 I I I adops i s , Brown 1 69 Mountain 39 Pale-breasted 169 Scaly-breasted 39 India 51 Indian Oce an 4 I re I an d 5 Isiophorus gladius 19 Ixodes 1 47 Ixodidae 38, 146 Jacana, Af ri can I I 8 Jacaranda trees 24 Jackdaw 98 J ad i n i 22 Kadam, Mt. 2 Kakamega Forest 37 Kalakol 14 Ka I om 131 Kamakia 39 Kamasia (Tugen Hills) I4l Kandetcha Dam 72, 73 Range Sisal Estate 99 Karamoja 2 Karatina 103 Karen 15 Karura Forest 55, 56, 119 Kaupifalco monogrammicus 2 I Kazakhstan I I Kenya, Mt. 25, 39, 59, 95, 108 Kerega/Rasua le 49, 92 Kericho 24 Ke r i o Bay 1 8 Keri o Ri ver 17 Keri tor Hill 24 Kestrel, Common 2 1 European 120 White -eyed 22 Ki boko Ri ver 56 "Kibora" (Sea Turtle) 150 "Kigange*' (Sea Turtle) 150 Ki kamba I a 112 8 Ki le leshwa 1 20 Ki ! i f i 19, 20 Ki I i man jaro Mt . 108 Kinangop 2 South 34 Kingfisher, Grey-headed 37 Pied 55 Pygmy 55, 128 Kisima Farm 59 Ki surnu 6 , 114 Kite, Black 2 1 ,22, 1 19, 129 Black-shouldered 22 Red 3 Swa I I ow-tai led 21 Kitengala 58 Ki unga 93 Ki unga Island 5,6 Kiwiyu Islands 5 Ki zingi t i n i ( Lamu) 150 Klipspringer 149 Kolodini (Kilindini?) 70 Konza 54 Kudu, Lesser 133 Kinduchi 49, 67, 96, 150 Kuvi/inda Estate (Langata) 120 Labidus 40 Lagancsticta spp . 36 Lc Senegala 1 16 Lake Baragoi (Hannington) 139 Baringo 82, !40, 168 Boqori a (Hanninoton correction) 138, J i pe 2 Maoadi 6, M , i2 1 Malawi 102 Manyara 140 Naivasha 55, 94, 99, o o 118, 119 Nakuru 54, 1 13, 114 01 Bolossat 1 18 Paradise 58 Rudolf, 16, 17, 18, 31 , 33, 131 Victoria 23, 52, 120 Lammergeyer 21, 54, 60 Larrprotomis caudatus 158 Lr. chalyhaeus 1 06, 159 L. aorrusous I 16 Lamu 6 Archipelago 9 Langata 120 Laniarius fimebTis 1 2 I Lanius collaris 1 19 L. dorsalis 121 Lanner 2 1 Lapwing 97 Lari dae 37 Lotus argentatus 51, 59, 98, I L. a, heuglini I 1 3 3. cirrooeghalus 31, 131 L. fusous 31, 32, 51, 113, 131 L, hemprichii 4, 22, 30, 117, L. ichthyaetus 51, 59 L. ridihundus 52 , 98 Lavia frons 14 Lawsonia inunris 129 Leondtis 86, 120 Lepidoahelys olivacea 150 Lepus aapensis 60 Li 1 i aceae 104 Lindcola falcinellus 33, 91, II LimicoloTia martensiana 84 Limosa lappcnioa 80 L . limosa 80 L i on 132 Lion Hi I I 113 Lobo Springs 149 Loboi River 168 Lxusts , Red 87 Logumukum 169 Loiengalani 2 Lolgorien 78 Lonohura spp 36 168 L. bioolor I 16 L-. ououllata 15, 116, 119 Lon gel aw, Sharpe's 34 Longonot mt. 108, 115 Lophaetus occipitalis 22 Loicaspis miranda 70 Luscinia megarhynchos 98 Lybiiis bidentatus 74 L. leucocephalus 144 L, torquatus 144 Lymnaea sp . 94 Macronyx sharpei 34 Madagascar 102 Magadi Road 35, 121 Main Island, Baringo 82, 83 Ma j i ya Moto 139 Ma I i n d i 51, 103, 112, 150 Mamb rui 150 Man da Island 9 Mando Mtoto Island 9 Mannikins 15 Bronze 116, 119 Rufous-backed 1 16 Mara River & Bridge 78 Miaralal 153 Mari gat 168 Marlin 19 Marsabit 59 Martin, African Rock 121 Af ri can Sand 1 1 4 European Sand 114 House 113, 133 Hasabuku, (Masabubu) 70 Mata-Mata (S.W. Africa) 2 Mau Narok 1 I Mawen i 94 Maziwi Island 150 Mbegan i 48, 82 Mboamaj i 48 Megadermati dae 14, 75 Melaenori'iis choaolatina I 19 Mel awe River 109 M^l%erax canorus (Poliopterus) 22 gaber 2 I jn&tabatss 2 1 UeHivova capencis 20 Meropc> hullo ckoides I 15 I'L n. bulocki I 1 5 riyhious 19 Mesopiciis goertae 109 Mi da Creek 23, 112 Milvus migrans 22, 119, 129 Ai. mi Ivus 3 Miniopterus in flatus 162 M. scbiTeihevsi 162 Mi ombo 154 Mj i mwema 49 Mkulumuzi River 99 Mi an go wa Hindi 6 Mogctio 133 Molo 133 Mombasa 4, 70, 132 Monkey, Blue 164 Colobus 164 Montioolo. saxatilis 120 Moorhen I 18 Mosh i 6 Motacilla alba 1 16 M. a. vidua 1 59 kb flava thunbergi 160 Mousebird, Blue-naped 55, 159 Speckled 106, 116, 119 Mozambique 150 Msasami 49, 68, 71, 80, 85, 91 Mtwapa Creek 1 16 Musciaapa oaerulesoens 169 M. griseigularis 169 M. striata I 16 Mu soma 22 "Mweli" (Grain) 15 My ocas tor ooypus 1 18 Myrmeoociohla aethiops 37 Myrsidae sp. 74 Mzimbazi Creek 42, 49 Nai rob i 34, 56 Naivasha 2 Naku ru 139 Namanga 133 Namaraputh 131 Naro Moru Track 95 National Park, Tsavo (East) 72, 153 Tsavo (West) 95, 148 ' Gombe- 36 Nai robi 119, 12 1 Nakuru 51 Serengeti 52 Nairobi 54, 55, 57, 120, 163 Lake Manyara 58 Aberdare 148 Mt. Elgon 164 Queen Elizabeth (Ruwenzori ) 160 Marine 170 Kidepo 2 Ambose 1 i - Garre Reserve 133 : Buffalo Springs Game Reserve 153 Masai Mara Game Reserve 132 Selous Game Reserve 154 Ndara Borehole 73 Necrosyrtes monaohus 22 Neatarinia amethystina 106, 119 N. fccmosa 106, 120 AC kilimensis 106, 119 II. medioaris 39 A/, preussi 39 N. reichenoDi 34, 106, 120 A/, smegalensis 106 A/, venusta 1 19 N. verticalis 120 Neivamcyrmex 40 10 Ne I i on 25 Neoaossyphus rufus gabimensis 1 60 Neophron peranopterus 2 I Netherlands 97 Ng’ama Swamp 169 Ngoina Estate 24 Ngombeni 70 Ngong Hills 54 , 108 Ngu I I a 95 , 148 Nightingale 98 Nightjars 37 Noddie 19 North Island, Baringo 82, 83 Nudibranchs 133 Numenius arquata 9, 80 /i/, phaeopus 9, 80, 117 Nutri a 118 Nyal i Beach 4, 93, I 12 Nyando Eascarpment 24 Nyanza 24, 79 Nycteridae 14 Nycteris hispida 14 nana 36 Nyoticeius (Saoteinus) sdhViefferi 14 Nycticorax nycticorax 123, 129 Nyeri 166 Nymphaea aopens-is Obituary: L.D.E . F. Vesey Fitzgerald 87 Oena occpensis 1 2 I Oenan the pies chan ka 120 0 1 Arabe I Ri ver 169 Oloimetasha Swamp 169 0! Lolokwe 163 Olorgesai lie 12 1 Omo Delta 131 Omo Ri ver 1 3 1 Onyoognathus morio 106, 149 0, salvadorii 83 Orangi River 52 Orchids 97 Orchis macululata 97 (9« morio 91 Oreotragus oreotragus 1 49 Oriole, Black-headed 109 European Golden 116 Oriolus larvatus 109 (9. oriolus I 1 6 Osprey 9 Ostri ch 54 Otus scops senegalensis I 17 Owl, African Scops 117 Verreaux’s Eagle 37, 83 Owlet, Barred 154 Pearl-spotted 158 Oxpeckers 37 Red-billed 159 Ye I low-bi I led 55 Oyster Bay 42 Oystercatcher 9, 48, 66, 97 Oyugis 79 Pandion haliaetus 9 Panicum 122 Panthera leo 57, 132, 148 Parrot, Orange-bellied 158 Red-headed 37, 109 Parus alhiventris 55, 119 Passer enrinibey 121 P. iagoensis 1 06 P. griseus 106, 107, 123, 158 P. swainsonii 123 Pectoralis exustus 52 P. gutteralis 52 Pelican, Great White 98 Pelicanus onocrotalus 98 Penenirnrus sp . 74 Pennesetum typhoides 1 5 P. mezianum 35 Pentaschistis minor 25 Peregrine 22 Peru 24 Petten 98 Pet re I , Leach ' s 19 Petronia, Yellow-spotted 121 Petrania xanthocollis Phaloropus spp. 19 P. lohatus 1 9 Phalacrocorax africanus 79 Philomachus pugnax II, 17, 91 Phoenicopterus minor 140 P. ruber 1 40 Phoeni cuius purpureus I 58 Phrynomerus bifasciatus 60 Phylloscopus collybita 95, 129, P. trochilus 98 Pigeon, Bronze-naped 120 nest ling 7 Pintail 72 Pipistrellus nanus 14 Platalea alha 79 P. leuooTodia 98 ’Platysteiva peltata 39 Plegadis falcinellus 129 Plooepasser mahali 158 Ploceus baglafecht 16, 106, 119 Pc cucultatus femina 160 Pc jacksoni 120, 140 Pc melanocephalus 140 P. suhaur-eus 56 P. xmthops 106 Plover, B I ack-v^ i nged 67 Caspi an 1 7, 69 Crab 55, 66, 112, 170 Egypt! an 131 Greater Sand 18, 50, 69 Grey 67, 80, 117 Kentish 18, 51 Kittlitz's 17, 18, 67 Lesser Golden 67 Little Ringed 50, 67 Mongolian Sand 69 Ringed 18, 67, 82, 97, I 17 Senega! 66 Three-banded 68, 81 White-fronted Sand 18, 51, 68, 91 Pluvianus aegyptius 1 3 1 Pluvidlis dominioa 67 Pc squatorola 67, 117 Pochard, African 163 European 163 White-eyed 163 Podioa senegalensis 1 59 Podieeps vufiooll'is 118 Pogoniulus Zeuoomystax 109 Poicephalus guZielmi 37, 109 Pc rufiventrds 158 PoZemaetus beZZicosus 22 PoZihierax senritorquatus I 35 PoZyb oroides radiatus 158 Pc typus 22 Potamochoerus porous 1 65 Pratincole, Madagascar 71, 102 Prianops pZumata 83 Prinia subfZava meZanorhyncha 160 ProoeZZaria assimiZis 19 Pseudcnigrata amaudi 12 1 Pteronyssi dae 74 Pteronyssus oonurus lA Puffinus pacificus 22 Pulmonata:Achatin i dae 84 Pycnonotus barbatus 37, 106, 116, 119 QueZea queZea 120 158 Quelea, Red-billed 121 Qusei r (= Kosseir?) 18 Rabai 70 Rogati 39 Rails 159 Rail! dae 1 59 RaiZZietina 75 Rapogi 79 Ras Kiomboni 49 Ras Kitau 9 Rate I 20 Reourvirostra avosetta 97 Red Sea 4, 51 Red Shank 50, 81 , 97 Spotted 73, 103 Review ; Army Ants 40 The Insect Societies 40 A catalogue & reclassification of the Ethiopian I chneumon i dae 40 The Social life of the Lion 57 The identification of grasses in East Africa, Flora of Trop. E.A. 122 East African vegetation 135 Species diversity in temperate and tropical I chneumon i dae 151 Guide to the Snakes of Uganda 161 Record Review - Birds of the African Rain Forests 169 RhipicephaZus spp. 147 R. puZoheZZus 147 Rhizooerpum geographioum 25 Rhynohooyon orysopygus 70 Rynohotragas kirki 133 Ri ft Valley 55, 108 Ringing News II, 38, 57 Riparia paZudiooZa I 14 R. ripario. I 14 Robin, White-starred Bush 120, 166 Rogati Hills 168 Roller, Lilac-breasted 158 Rostratu I i dae 48 RostratuZa benghaZensis 92 Rowallen Boy Scouts Camp 119, 120 Ruff II, 17,91 Rufous Chatterers 96 12 ‘ Russi a I i 3 Sabaki Ri ver 51, 102 , 112 Sadan i 150 Sagittarius serpentarius 22 , 59 Sal 1 f i sh 19 Saiwa Swamp 164 Saker 3 Salvadora \A Sandal 168 Sanderl ing 49, 82, 91 , 117, 120 SandgroLise, 52 Chestnut-bellied 52 Ye ! low-th roated 52 Sandpiper, Broad-billed 33, 91, 112 Buff-breasted 17, 33 Comrron 81 , 117, 120 Curlew 17, 50, 90, 91 , 117 Green 81 Ma rs h 80 Terek 82, 83, 90, 153 oar da spp. 18 Saudi Arabia II Scale Insects 87 Sch i s-|-oiT.i as i s 93 Schistosoma bovis 94 5. haematobium 94 5. rncotsoni 94 Scolopendra sp. 144 Scopolacidae 48 Scopus uivbretta 54 Sea Hare 133 Sea T u rt I e , G reen i 50 HawksbiM 150 Leathery 150 Loggerliead 150 0 1 i ve Ridley 1 50 Secretary Bird 22, 59 Seed-eater, Streakey 16, I 19 Th i ck-b i 1 ted 120 Se ! an der Bri dge 49 "jsnecio lieuyophytian 25 SeriniLS hicetori 120 So dorsostriatus 121 Sn mosambicus 116 S, striolatus 16, 119 Seronera River 52 Serval 148 Servai Cat, melanistic 162 Seychel les 23 Shanzu 117 Shearv^ater 19 Wedge~tai led 22 Shel 1 duck 98 Sh i kra 2 I Sh i mon i 70 Shovel ler 72 Shrike, Cur ly-crested Helmet 83 Fiscal 8, 119 Slate-coloured Boubou 121 Teita Fiscal 121 Sierra Leone 5 Simambaya Island 6 Siria Escarpment 78 Sisal F ! owe rs 1 04 Sitatunga 164 Skua, Arcti c 4, 31 , 32 Great 4, 31 Long-tal led 4 , 31 , 32 Pomarine 4 Smart’s Swamp, Limuru 103 Snail, East African Giant 84 Freshwater 93 Land 84 Snipe, Great 82 Painted 92 Soga 49 Soma I i a 112 Soroti 6 Sotik 24 Spanish Dancer 133 Sparrow, Chestnut 121 Grey-headed 106, 107, 158 Kenya F^ufous 106 Swain son’s 123 Spirabilis spiata 17 Spoonb i II 79 , 98 Sporobo lus spp. 122 Spreo superbus 106, 138, 158 Squirrel, Ground 159 Sri Lanka 4 Ste ganeura spp. 36 StephonoaetUG coronatus 12 I Starling, Black-breasted Glossy 116 Blue-eared Glossy 106 Bristle Crowned 83 Glossy 159 Red-winged 106, 149 Ruppell’s Long-tailed 158 Sharpe's 120 Superb 106, 138, 158 13 starling, Violet-backed 116, 120 Wattled 106 Stereorarius longicaudis 4. 31 , 32 (S', parasitiaus 4, 31 S, pomarinus 4 , 30 S. skua 4 Sterna spp . 19 (S’, albifrons 9 , 19, 102, 117 (S', bengateyisis 19, 30, 85, 117 S. bergii 19, 85 S, easpia 9, 19, 32 S. dougattii 19, 85 S, hirundo 97 S. n-ilotica 30 S', paradisea 85 S. repressa 19, 85 S. sandvioensis 22 Sti It, Bl ack-wi i nged 9 1 Stint, Little II, 17, 50, 90, 9 Stork, Abdim’s 78 Open-bi 1 1 79 Wooly-necked 78 Ye 1 1 ow-b i 1 led 54 , 79, 159 Streptopelia capioola 109 S. semitorquata I 19 Struthi-o aamelus massai-cus 54 Sunb I rd 86 Amethyst 106, 119 Bronze 106, I 19 Col lared 55, I 19 Eastern Double-collared 39 Golden-winged 34, 106, 120 Green-headed 120 Malachite 106, 120 Northern Double-collared 39 Vari able 119 Succulents, East African 44 Sukul LI Hill 130 Siila bassqna I 17 Suswa 108 Swallow, European II, 113 Rufous-chested 78 Striped 106, 159 Swifts 37 Common 123, 134 Little 159 Nyanza 159 Sylvia atricopilla 39, 95 S. nisoria I 1 Tadoma tadoma 98 Tana River 9, 70, 129, 158 Tanga 70 Tanzania 23 Taphozous headinus 70 T. hildegardeae 70 T. perforatus 70, 130 Taveta 2 Teal 72 Hottentot 167 Teddy Bear Terns 37 1 s 1 an d , Baringo Arctic 85 Casp i an 9, 19, 32 Common 97 Gul l-bi 1 led 30 Lesser- crested 19, 30, Li tt le 9, 19, 1 102, 117 Roseate 19, 85 Sandwich 30 Swi ft 19, 85 Whiskered 85 White-cheeked 19, 85 White-winged Black 85 Teratkopius eaaudatus 158 Terpisphone viridis I 1 9 Texel 97 Thalassomis leuconotus 163 Thicknee Spotted 120 Threskiomis aethiopiaa 37, 54, 140 Thrush, European Rock 120 Olive 119 Song 96 Ticks 146 T i I ap i a 82 Tinkerbird, Moustashed Green 109 Tit, White-bellied 55, 119 T i w i 70 Toakus erythrohyncus 1 59 T. fasaiatus 160 T, hempriohii 83 Todenyang 131 Topi 166 Torgos (Aegypius) trochetiotus 22 Trachyphonus damaudi 1 59 T. erythroaephalus 121, 144 Tragelaphus spekei 164 Tribulus terrestris 83 Trichastoma rufipennis 1 69 Tricholaema rm^anooephalwn 121 Triganooeps occipitalis 22 14 ■Tvinga erythropus 73, 103 To gla^jpeola 81 T. hypoleuca 81, 117, 120 T. nehulopia 55, 80, 117, 120 T, oohropus 8 1 To stagnatilis 81 1\ terek 90, 153 To tot anus 81, 97 Trocheoceraus albonotatus 37 Tryngites subruficollis 17, 33 Tunny Ye I 1 owf i n 19 Turaco sohuetti 160 Turdoides hypoleucus 106 To jardinei 96 To rubiginosus 96 Turdus abyssinious I 19 To phitomelos 96 Turnstone 49, 82, 90, 91, 117, 170 Ugenda 2 Ukunda 70 Uraeginthus spp. 36 JJvtid cu tojri a 87, 94 Vco'ienMS lugubris 66 Vo melanopterus 67 Vo spinosus 1 40 Vo van el bus 97 Verspei't ; 1 i on i dae 14 Viauines 35 Vidua, fischeri 35 V, hypockevina. 35 Vo macvcuro. 15, 35 , 120 Vulture, Egyptian 2 1 Hooded 22 ■ Lappet" faced 22 White-backed 22 White-headed 22 Ruppe M'S Gri f fon 22 Waders 48 Wagtail, African Pied 116, 159 Warbler, Barred II Cinnamon Bracken 109 Grey Wren 12 1 Icterine 95 Little Rush 164 Mountai n Ye I I ow 39 Spotted Morning 9 Wi I low 98 Watamu 19, 22, 93 Water Dikkop 66 Water Lily 118 Wattle-eye, B1 ack- throated 39 Weaver Buffalo 158 Go I den 56 Golden-backed 120 Grey-headed Social 121 Ho tub’s Golden 106 Reichenow’s 106, 119 Sparrow 158 White-headed Buffalo 136 Wemberi Ri ver 6 Wheatear, Pied 120 Wh i mbre I 9 , 67 , 80, 117 White-eyes 158 White Stork II Whydah Paradise 36 Pi ntai I I 5 , 35 , 120 Steel-blue 35 Straw-tai led 35 Widow Bird, Jackson's 56 Red-col I a red 120 White-winged 107 Wigeon 73 Witu Forest 167 Woodpecker Cardinal 109 Grey 109 Nubian 159 Xevus erythropus 1 59 Yala Swamp I 14 Za i re II, 36 Zambezi River 102 Zamb i a 2 Zambian Om.Soc. 37 Zanzibar 150 Zosterops senegalensis 159 Compiled by Daphne Backhurst, Box 29003, Kabete. 15 ;.u! 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