CT> IT) "L I E> RARY OF THE U N IVLRSITY OF ILLINOIS S90-S FI BIOLOGY ' - Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. University of Illinois Library / D£C 4 •ttwr BE DEC 0 7 |< 1968 867 r* 1990 92 L161 — O-1096 FIELDIANA • ZOOLOGY Published by CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Volume 34 OCTOBER 9, 1952 No. 5 A COLLECTION OF BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON RUDYERD BOULTON RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, DIVISION OF BIRDS i AND A. L. RAND CURATOR, DIVISION OF BIRDS INTRODUCTION The Straus West African Expedition of Chicago Natural History Museum (Boulton, 1934) spent the period from June 15 to July 20, 1934, on Mount Cameroon. The Expedition made a col- lection of 274 bird specimens, representing 57 forms. This included three presented by Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Goddard of Buea, British Cameroons Mandate. Of the 274 specimens, 189 were preserved as study skins, 69 as skeletons, and 16 as alcoholic specimens. The specimens were collected by the senior author, assisted by the other two members of the Expedition, Mrs. Laura Boulton and Mr. John F. Jennings. A native hunter set the snares and traps by which the four specimens of Francolinus camerunensis were obtained. A base was established in a vacant house in Buea, placed at the disposal of the Expedition by the District Resident. From the eighteenth to the twenty-first of June, collecting was carried on from this base in the vicinity of Buea at 3,000 feet, in the forest up to about 5,500 feet, and in the clearings and second growth at the lower margin of the forest at about 3,500 feet. One brief collect- ing trip was made down to 1,000 feet on the road to Victoria. On the twenty-second of June, base was moved up to the first rest house above Buea (5,300 feet). This is believed to be identical with Boyd Alexander's collecting station "Mussarka." (Bannerman, 1915a, pp. 477-478.) The period from June 23 to July 2 was spent collecting in the 3,000-6,500 foot belt; July 3 and 4 in the 9,000- No. 697 35 IHr LIBRARY Of 1KL JAN26K53 36 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 13,300 foot belt; July 5 in the 5,000-9,500 foot belt; and July 6 to 16 in the 3,000-6,500 foot belt. The collection is an extremely valuable addition to the Museum's material, for it contains many West African and Mount Cameroon endemics hitherto unrepresented in our collections. A few lowland birds were recorded for the first time on Mount Cameroon; no new forms were discovered, nor were any additional mountain birds found. Many of the specimens are topotypes or near topotypes, some of them collected previously on very few occasions and poorly represented in any museum. The precise altitude records, the condition of the gonads for each specimen, and the habitat notes made by the Expedition add to the known factual data of this kind for Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon stands in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, slightly more than 4° north of the equator. It is an isolated moun- tain, rising from the sea to a peak of 13,353 feet within about eight miles of the coast. The base of the mountain is about twenty miles across, and its connection with the highlands of Cameroon, the first of which lie about forty miles away, is through lowlands less than 2,000 feet above sea level for at least half the distance. Mount Cameroon and the neighboring highlands (the island of Fernando Po and the Cameroon Highlands, including such mountains as the Banso and the Manenguba ranges and other minor masses) are separated from the mountains of East Africa by about 1,500 miles of lowlands. The main features of the vegetation of Mount Cameroon are as follows: The lowland forests that surround it occupy the lower third of the mountain and stretch almost unbroken except by man- made clearings for 1,500 miles through the low country of the Cameroons, the Gabon, and the Congo. The mountain rain forest occupies the middle third of the massive pile of cliffs, ridges, and peaks that comprise Mount Cameroon. The upper edge of this forest is abrupt, but its precise level varies with local conditions; when the exposed ridges are desiccated by winds, the grasslands descend as low as 5,800 feet; in many places the forest goes as high as 7,000 feet. Bannerman (1930, pp. i-xlii) speaks of a belt of tree ferns just above the forest. The Expedition found, on the south slope of Mount Cameroon between Buea and the peak, no such belt of tree ferns, although tree ferns did occur in damp, shaded places in the forest. Above the abrupt line of demarcation of forest and grass there are small patches of forest in the moisture- BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 37 conserving ravines. These patches decrease in size and the com- ponent trees decrease in stature with increased altitude until near 10,500 feet the last thicket of gnarled desiccated forest trees is seen. The alpine grasslands occupy the upper third of the mountain, but the peak itself is almost devoid of vegetation; only a little moss, nurtured by constant mist, finds a precarious living in the cracks in the lava and among the volcanic ash that spills down in long, desolate tongues into the alpine grassland. (See Bannerman, 1915a, pp. 473-481, for a general description of the mountain; includes also Boyd Alexander's account of his work on the mountain.) The birds of Mount Cameroon have received considerable atten- tion. Our knowledge of them is based on the explorations of such men as Burton, Crossley, Johnston, Knudsen and Valdan (whose material was reported on by Sjostedt in 1896), Preuss and Alexander, and the writings of such authors as Shelley, Gray, Sharpe, Sjostedt, Reichenow and Bannerman (see Bannerman, 1915a, pp. 476-477, and 1930, pp. lii-lv, for a summary of this). More recently Bouet (1940, pp. 104-107) has reported on a small Mount Cameroon collection; in December, 1943, Young (1946, pp. 348-382) spent four days on Mount Cameroon observing birds; Serle (1950) has published a very important paper on Cameroon mountain birds; and the Straus West African Expedition made the collection reported on in this paper. MOUNTAIN FOREST BIRDS Forty-two species occurring in the mountains but apparently absent, as a species or as a subspecies, from the neighboring lowlands, though elsewhere they may inhabit lowland forest. Francolinus camerunensis Columba arquatrix sjostedti Aplopelia simplex inornata • Heterotrogon vittatum camerunense Viridibucco c. coryphaea Campethera t. tullbergi Mesopicos j. johnstoni Alcippe abyssinica monacha Pycnonotus montanus Pycnonotus t. tephrolaemus Phyllastrephus poensis Phyllastrephus poliocephalus Alseonax minimus obscurus Trochocercus a. albiventris T urdus n. nigrilorum Geocichla crossleyi Cossypha i. isabellae Alethe poliothorax Seicercus herberti camerunensis Bradypterus camerunensis Apalis c. cinerea Urolais e. epichlora Poliolais lopesi alexanderi Psalidpprocne fuliginosa Coracina caesia preussi Laniarius a. atroflavus Laniarius p. poensis Dryoscopus angolensis cameroonensis Malaconotus poliocephalus gladiator Onychognathus walleri preussi Zosterops virens stenocricotus Speirops lugubris melanocephalus Nectarinia p. preussi Nectarinia o. oritis Nectarinia ursulae Ploceus bicolor tephronotus Ploceus insignis insignis Ploceus m. melanogaster Cryptospiza r. reichenoun Nesocharis s. shelleyi Poliospiza b. burtoni Linurgus o. olivaceus 38 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 MOUNTAIN GRASSLAND BIRDS These four forms are absent from the neighboring lowlands. Anthus richardi cameroonensis Cisticola d. discolor Saxicola torquata pallidigula Euplectes capensis phoenicomera ANNOTATED LIST In the following list are given all the species collected by the Straus West African Expedition and also the mountain birds pre- viously recorded for Mount Cameroon. The altitudinal ranges of the mountain species are given, as known for Mount Cameroon itself, even though it is realized that further work will probably modify these. In the older literature (Bannerman, 1915a, pp. 519- 526) some of the mountain species were recorded from Bibundi, on the coast west of Mount Cameroon. As otherwise these species have been recorded only as mountain birds, these Bibundi records are ignored in considering altitudinal ranges. Wing measurements are those of the flattened wing. All measure- ments are given in millimeters. Family FALCONIDAE Lophaetus occipitalis Daudin Falco occipitalis Daudin, 1800, Traite, 2: 40 — Cape Province. Mount Cameroon, 4,000 feet: 2 males; July 16. Wing 359, 369. A lowland species. Neither specimen had enlarged gonads. Gypohierax angolensis Gmelin Falco angolensis Gmelin, 1788, Syst. Nat., 1, pt. 1: 252 — Angola. Mount Cameroon, Buea, 3,000 feet: 1 male immature; June 30. Wing 416. A lowland species. Serle (1950, p. 351) found it up to 7,000 feet on near-by Mount Manenguba. Family PHASIANIDAE Francolinus squamatus squamatus Cassin Francolinus squamatus Cassin, 1857, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 8: 321 — Cape Lopez, French Congo. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 39 Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet, 6,500 feet: 1 male (fragmentary), 1 skeleton; July 1, 15. Wing 178. A wide-ranging species in the lowlands. The present specimen extends the known species range upward to 6,500 feet. This exten- sion has a bearing on the mention of francolin calls heard at 6,000 feet on Mount Cameroon by Young (1946, p. 357) and at Bamenda by Bates (1924, p. 11) which they thought, because of the altitude, might have been made by Francolinus camerunensis. The specimen from 6,500 feet was taken in a native-built trap, in which, several days before, a specimen of F. camerunensis had been taken; here at least both species frequented the same part of the mountain forest. Francolinus camerunensis Alexander Francolinus camerunensis Alexander, 1909, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 25: 12 — Mount Cameroon, 7,000 feet. Mount Cameroon, 5,000-6,500 feet: 1 male adult, 1 male sub- adult, 2 females; June 26- July 11. This mountain species is restricted to the forest on Mount Cameroon, where it has been taken from 5,000 feet (C.N.H.M. specimen) to 7,000 feet (type locality). Wing: male 189, female 177 (alt. 5,000 feet); subadult male 176, female 171 (alt. 6,500 feet). This appears to be the third time this species has been collected, and we have knowledge of only five other specimens. Bannerman (1930, p. 332) has called attention to the great dif- ference between the male and the female, and has suggested that the known females were possibly immatures. However, the present two females (at least one adult, from the condition of the gonads) are strikingly different from the male and compare well with the original description except for the posterior part of the under parts. The upper breast is black, each feather "generally with two concen- tric bands of soiled white or buff, the outer one being submarginal," as described, but on the lower breast the inner band changes to a conspicuous central gray shaft streak, giving a gray-streaked appearance to the lower breast. The flanks are irregularly mottled with brown, black, gray-brown and buff; the abdomen is fuscous, the feathers are tipped with buffy; the under tail coverts are mottled rich brown, black, and tawny; and the thighs are grayish brown, mottled and tipped with buffy. 40 FIELDI ANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 The adult male compares well with Bannerman's plate (1930, pi. 8) ; the immature male is, in general, similar to the figured imma- ture, but the scattered barring on the under parts is less pronounced ; the plumage of the upper parts, while in general of the female type, presents some differences, the back and rump being mixed with unbarred feathers of the adult male type, but with obscure freckling. The immature male has no indication of spurs, again agreeing with the plate. One female had a slightly enlarged ovary; in the other specimens the gonads were not enlarged. Family RALLIDAE Sarothrura elegans reichenowi Sharpe Corethrura reichenowi Sharpe, 1894, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., 23: 121 — Cameroon = Buea, Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet: 1 skeleton; July 13. A lowland bird. The only specimen obtained by the Expedition was caught by a native in grass at the lower edge of the forest. Family LARIDAE Sterna fuscata fuscata Linnaeus Sterna fuscata Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 1 : 228 — Santo Domingo. Mount Cameroon, 3,500 feet: 1 male; August 2, 1933 (gift of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Goddard). A sea bird. The Goddards found this bird exhausted, at the lower edge of the forest above Buea, following severe wind storms and climatic abnormalities over the Gulf of Guinea. As might be expected, it has not previously been recorded from the Mount Cameroon region. Family COLUMBIDAE Columba arquatrix sjostedti Reichenow Columba sjostedti Reichenow, 1898, Jour. Orn., 1898: 138 — Cameroon Moun- tain. Mount Cameroon, 6,000 feet: 1 male; June 27. Wing 217. A mountain forest bird ; on Mount Cameroon it ranges from 6,000 to 7,000 feet (Mann's Spring; Bannerman, 1915a, p. 520), apparently BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 41 in a very narrow forest belt. It is a rare bird on the mountain. The specimen collected was the only one seen, and this was secured by sending a hunter to Mann's Spring, from which locality it had been reported earlier. The specimen had somewhat enlarged testes. Aplopelia simplex inornata Reichenow Haplopelia inornata Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 221 — Buea, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 5,000 feet: 1 male; July 8. Wing 152. A mountain forest bird. It appears to be represented in the low- lands by plumbescens, a subspecies with a very restricted range in the Lower Guinea forest. On Mount Cameroon inornata ranges from 5,000 feet (C.N.H.M. specimen) to above 6,000 feet (Banner- man, 1915a, p. 483). The specimen matches the description of the male as given by Bannerman (1931, p. 373) except that the forehead is gray rather than white. The taxonomy of the pigeons of this group needs attention based on adequate material. Only one other bird of this species was seen; both were perched on low branches. However, it is a shy secretive bird of the lower levels in the dark, dense forest, and may be more common than this small number indicates, judging by the number of unidentifiable pigeon calls heard that were probably given by this species. The gonads of the specimen were not enlarged. Vinago calva calva Temminck Columba calva Temminck, 1808, in Knip, Les Pigeons, les columbars, p. 35, pi. 7 — Loango. Mount Cameroon, 5,000 feet: 4 skeletons; July 13. A lowland bird, recorded up to 6,200 feet. The species was not uncommon. It was observed on a number of occasions at the upper edge of the forest above Buea at 6,200 feet, and it showed no apparent altitudinal preferences. Tympanistria tympanistria fraseri Bonaparte Tympanistria fraseri Bonaparte, 1855, Consp. Gen. Avium, 2: 67 — Fernando Po. Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet: 1 skeleton; July 13. A lowland bird. 42 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 Family MUSOPHAGIDAE Tauraco macrorhynchus verreauxi Schlegel Musophaga verreauxii Schlegel, 1854, Jour. Orn., 1854: 462 — Gabon. Mount Cameroon, 4,500-6,000 feet: 6 males, 6 females, 4 skeletons; June 19-July 13. Wing: males 161, 171 (alt. 4,500 feet); females 156, 170, 173 (alt. 5,000 feet), 164 (alt. 6,000 feet). A lowland species. On the basis of field observation this plantain eater is as common at the upper edge of the forest as at lower altitudes and the fre- quency of its occurrence seems to be correlated with the fruiting of wild trees, the fruits of which were found in the crops of specimens. Three of the females were in breeding condition. Corythaeola cristata Vieillot Musophaga cristata Vieillot, 1816, 'Analyse,' p. 68 — Africa. Mount Cameroon, 5,000 feet: 1 female; July 14. Wing 320. A lowland species. (For comments on geographical variation in this species see Rand, 1951, p. 587.) The specimen collected had the ovary slightly enlarged. No other specimens were seen or heard. Serle (1950, p. 357) has recorded this species up to 7,000 feet at Oku, on the near-by Cameroon High- lands. Family ALCEDINIDAE Halcyon senegalensis fuscopileus Reichenow Halcyon senegalensis fuscopileus Reichenow, 1906, Orn. Monatsb., 1906: 171 — Jaunde, Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, Buea, 3,000-3,500 feet: 1 male, 1 female; June 20, 21. Wing: male 93 (alt. 3,500 feet); female 103 (alt. 3,000 feet). A lowland species. Both these birds have dark crowns. The male had its gonads not enlarged; the female, slightly enlarged. Family BUCEROTIDAE Bycanistes albotibialis Cabanis and Reichenow Buceros albotibialis Cabanis and Reichenow, 1877, Jour. Orn., 1877: 103 — Tschintschoscho, Loango Coast. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 43 Mount Cameroon, 13,300 feet: 1 skull; July 4. A lowland bird, accidental on the summit of Mount Cameroon. On the only trip that was made to the summit of the mountain, a skeleton of this species was found in a small, sheltered depression in the moss-encrusted volcanic ash. It was lying in a natural and undisturbed posture, apparently as the bird had died. This species has not previously been recorded even from the elevation of Buea. Family TROGONIDAE [Heterotrogon vittatum canierunense Reichenow Heterotrogon vittatum camerunense Reichenow, 1902, Vog. Afr., 2: 215 — Cameroon. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird, apparently in the 3,000-5,000 foot belt (Reichenow, 1892, p. 181). Bannerman (1933, p. 360) says that it occurs on Fernando Po and Mount Cameroon and possibly west- ward through the Equatorial Forest to Uganda. Chapin (1932, p. 292) considers it a distinctly mountain bird with an interrupted range, camerunense occurring in Fernando Po, Mount Cameroon, and various parts of the Cameroon Highlands (Serle, 1950, p. 363), and again in the mountains of the eastern Belgian Congo, while the other, larger race has an interrupted distribution on the moun- tains of East Africa and in Angola. Serle (loc. cit.) calls it a moun- tain bird of the primary forest, from 4,000 to 7,000 feet, but he omits it from his list of mountain birds (op. cit., p. 346).] Family CAPITONIDAE Gymnobucco calvus major Neumann Gymnobucco calvus major Neumann, 1920, Jour. Orn., 1920: 80 — Buea, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 3,500-5,000 feet: 3 males, 3 females, 3 skele- tons, 1 alcoholic; June 30- July 15. Wing: males 91 (alt. 4,000 feet), 93 (alt. 4,500 feet); female 99 (alt. 5,000 feet). A lowland species, although G. calvus vernayi is restricted to mountain forest in Angola (see also the next species). 44 FIELDI ANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 These specimens are topotypes of G. c. major Neumann. Though we use the name major, the race may not be recognizable. For addi- tional measurements see Serle (1950, p. 364) and Boulton (1931, p. 45). Gymnobucco peli Hartlaub Gymnobucco peli Hartlaub, 1857, Orn. Westafr., p. 175 — Dabocrom, Gold Coast. Mount Cameroon, 1,000 feet: 1 male, 1 female; June 20. A lowland species. These two specimens were secured on the road between Victoria and Buea. In contrast to G. calvus major, this species has never been observed in the higher altitude forest. [Viridibucco coryphaea coryphaea Reichenow Barbatula coryphaea Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 181 — Buea, Cameroon Mountain. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird recorded from Buea (about 3,000 feet). Serle found it usually above 6,000 feet in the near-by Bamenda District. The race V. c. angolensis is found in Angola only above 6,000 feet (Boulton, 1931, p. 46). Ripley (1945, p. 556) includes the genus Viridibucco in Pogoniulus.] Pogoniulus leucolaima leucolaima Verreaux Barbatula leucolaima Verreaux, 1851, Rev. Mag. Zool., 1851: 263 — Gabon. Mount Cameroon, Buea, 3,000 feet: 1 male; July 15. Wing 51; the Bannerman specimen from the same place had a wing measurement of 53 (1915a, p. 488). A lowland bird. The specimen had somewhat enlarged testes. Serle (1950, p. 365) found this species in the forests up to 5,000 feet on Mount Cameroon, and up to 6,500 feet on other parts of the Cameroon Highlands. Ripley (1945, p. 559) includes leucolaima in P. bilineatits. Family PICIDAE Campethera tullbergi tullbergi Sjostedt Campethera tullbergi Sjostedt, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 313— Itoki, Na N'golo, Cameroon Mountains. Mount Cameroon, 6,000 feet: 1 male; June 28. Wing 104. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS PROM MOUNT CAMEROON 45 A mountain forest bird recorded from "above Buea" (about 3,000 feet; Bannerman, 1915a, p. 491) to 6,000 feet. The specimen had testes not enlarged. The bird collected was the only one seen. It was taken in dense forest near the upper edge of timber. Mesopicos johnstoni johnstoni Shelley Poliopicus johnstoni Shelley, 1887, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1887: 122 — Mount Cameroon (alt. 6,000 feet). Mount Cameroon, 4,500-6,500 feet: 3 males, 3 females, 1 skeleton; June 24-July 13. Wing: males 93 (alt. 4,500 feet), 93 (alt. 6,500 feet); females 86, 90 (alt. 5,000 feet). A mountain forest species, ranging from 4,500 to 6,500 feet. Serle (1950, p. 368) shows sordidalus is a synonym and gives the range as 5,000-7,500 feet. The species was not uncommon, ranging up to the edge of the grasslands. It was usually seen clinging wood- pecker fashion to lianas and the smaller trunks of the understory trees. One male had slightly enlarged testes; in the other specimens the gonads were not enlarged. Family MOTACILLIDAE Anthus richardi carneroonensis Shelley Anthiis rufulus carneroonensis Shelley, 1900, Bds. Afr., 2: 320 — Mount Cameroon (alt. 10,000 feet). Mount Cameroon, 12,500 feet: 1 female; June 30, 1933 (gift of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Goddard). Wing 95. A mountain grassland bird ranging from 7,000 feet (Bates, 1930, p. 307) to 12,500 feet. Young (1946, p. 370) recorded it above the 9,000-foot ridge, and "about 5,000 feet below, at the top of the steep grass slopes of the mountain." In the two days spent above 10,000 feet in 1934 only two or three individuals were seen, on the edge of the mossy volcanic rock. The species appeared to be restricted to these high altitudes, as none were seen below 10,000 feet. UBMKY 46 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 Family TIMALIIDAE Alcippe1 abyssinica monacha Reichenow Turdinus monachus Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 193 — Buea, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,000-6,500 feet: 8 males, 6 females, 10 skeletons; June 18-July 15. Wing: males 63, 64 (alt. 5,000 feet), 63 (alt. 5,500 feet), 66, 66 (alt. 5,800 feet), 66 (alt. 6,000 feet), 67 (alt. 6,500 feet); females 64, 65, 65, 67 (alt. 6,000 feet), 64 (alt. 6,200 feet). A mountain forest bird recorded from Buea (about 3,000 feet) to 8,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 496). One female (no. 95,751) has the browns in the plumage much paler and more olive, and the grays much paler — evidently an extreme variant. Since in every part of its plumage it is pale, it suggests a dilute mutant. One of the commonest birds, living in the shrubbery in the forest glades and the more open parts of the forest, where it was usually within five feet of the ground, presumably gleaning its food from the ground, leaves, and twigs. Two males had somewhat enlarged testes; one female had a slightly enlarged ovary; in the others the gonads were not enlarged. Family PYCNONOTIDAE2 Pycnonotus barbatus gabonensis Sharpe Pycnonotus gabonensis Sharpe, 1871, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1871: 132 — Gabon. Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet: 1 male, 2 skeletons; June 18, July 15. Wing 99. A lowland bird. The Mount Cameroon specimen has the yellow in the under tail coverts very faintly indicated, much less so than Bitye specimens, which also are smaller (wing 92, 93). Pycnonotus virens virens Cassin Andropadus virens Cassin, 1857, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 8: 34 — Cape Lopez, Gabon. 1 For including Pseudoalcippe in Alcippe see Delacour (1946, p. 21). Moreau (1951, p. 138) regards A. atriceps, stierlingi and abyssinica as conspecific. 2 We are following Delacour (1943b, pp. 17-28) in the arrangement and no- menclature in this family. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 47 Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet: 1 skeleton; July 13. A lowland bird. [Pycnonotus montanus Reichenow Andropadus montanus Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 188 — Buea, Cameroon Mountain. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird; recorded from Buea (alt. about 3,000 feet). This little green bulbul was known from but two specimens, the type and one other (the type of concolor) from Lake Bambulue near Bamenda, Cameroon (alt. 6,000 feet; Bannerman, 1936, p. 184). Serle (1950, p. 375) has since collected a small series and described the female.] Pycnonotus tephrolaemus tephrolaemus Gray Trichophorus tephrolaemus Gray, 1862, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), 10: 444 — Mount Cameroon (7,000 feet). Mount Cameroon, 4,000-6,500 feet: 5 males, 5 females, 10 skele- tons; June 18-July 15. Wing: males 90 (alt. 4,000 feet), 87, 88 (alt. 5,800 feet), 91 (alt. 6,000 feet), 88 (alt. 6,500 feet); females 84 (alt. 4,500 feet), 83, 84 (alt. 5,800 feet), 83 (alt. 6,000 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from Buea (about 3,000 feet; Bannerman, 1915a, p. 523) to 7,000 feet (Bannerman, 1933, p. 182). Three of the five males had slightly enlarged testes; one female had a somewhat enlarged ovary and in the others the ovary was slightly enlarged. There appears to be no altitudinal variation in size or color. This species and Alcippe were the two commonest birds in the mountain forests. This species lived in the less dense parts of the forest, among branches of the middle and upper parts of the trees. Phyllastrephus poensis Alexander Phyllostrophus poensis Alexander, 1903, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 13: p. 35 — Bakaki, Fernando Po. Mount Cameroon, 4,000 feet: 1 female; July 14. Wing 78. A mountain forest bird, recorded from Buea (about 3,000 feet; Bannerman, 1915a, p. 495) to 4,000 feet. The specimen collected 48 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 was the only one seen. Its ovary was not enlarged. At the time it was collected, this specimen appeared to be the fourth found on the African mainland (Bates, 1930, p. 415), but Serle (1950, p. 373) has since collected the species at Kupe Mountain, Manenguba, and Bamenda. [Phyllastrephus poliocephalus Reichenow Xenodchla poliocephala Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 189, 220 — Buea, Mount Cameroon, 1,200 meters. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird, recorded from above Buea (3,000-4,000 feet) and at Mann's Spring (about 7,000 feet) (Bannerman, 1936, p. 178). Serle (1950, p. 373) has also taken it on Mount Cameroon and on Mount Kupe (4,000-6,000 feet).] Family MUSCICAPIDAE Alseonax adustus obscurus Sjostedt Alseonax obscura Sjostedt, 1893, Orn. Monatsber., 1 : 43 — Mann's Spring, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,000-6,200 feet: 3 males, 1 female, 1 skeleton; June 28-July 15. Wing (alt. 5,800 feet): males 62, 63; female 61. A mountain forest bird, recorded from 4,000 to 8,000 feet (Banner- man, 1915a, p. 491). None of the specimens collected had enlarged gonads. Platysteira cyanea cyanea Mliller Muscicapa cyanea Mtiller, 1776, Syst. Nat., Suppl., p. 170 — Senegal. Mount Cameroon, 3,500-6,500 feet: 2 males, 3 females, 2 skele- tons, 2 alcoholics; June 23- July 15. Wing: male 65 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 63 (alt. 5,800 feet), 65 (alt. 6,500 feet). Culmen: male 16.5 (alt. 6,000 feet); female 18 (alt. 6,500 feet). A lowland bird. Four adult males from Bitye (alt. 2,000 feet), Cameroon, measure: wing 64, 64, 65, 67; culmen 17, 17.5, 18, 18. The Mount Cameroon male has a more greenish rather than bluish black gloss, compared with the Bitye birds, and has a small bill and a grayish area on the top of the head. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 49 None of the Mount Cameroon specimens had enlarged gonads. This wattle-eye was found to be not uncommon, frequenting the less dense portions of the forest. Trochocercus albiventris albiventris Sjb'stedt Trochocercus albiventris Sjostedt, 1893, Orn. Monatsber., 1 : 43 — Mann's Spring (ca. 7,000 feet), Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,500-6,500 feet: 1 male, 3 females; June 23-30. Wing: male 64 (alt. 4,500 feet); females 60, 61 (alt. 6,000 feet), 59 (alt. 6,500 feet). A mountain forest species, recorded from about 3,000 feet (Buea; Bannerman, 1915a, p. 492) to 7,000 feet (type locality). Serle (1950, p. 606) recorded this species as common in the mountain forests, but he does not list it as a mountain species (op. cit., p. 346). The male had slightly enlarged testes; the females were marked "ovary not enlarged." Family TURDIDAE Turdus nigrilorum nigrilorum Reichenow Turdus nigrilorum Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 194 — Buea, Mount Cameroon, 950 meters. Mount Cameroon, 3,000-6,000 feet: 5 males, 3 females, 2 skele- tons; June 18-July 15. Wing: males 113, 116, 118 (alt. 6,000 feet), females 108, 108, 111 (alt. 3,000 feet). Culmen: males 24, 24, 25 (alt. 6,000 feet), females 25, 25, 25.5 (alt. 3,000 feet). A mountain bird, recorded from 2,700 feet (Bannerman, 1936, p. 319) up to 6,000 feet. Bannerman considers this a race of the widespread African species, libonyanus, with nigrilorum restricted to Mount Cameroon, where it seems to be an altitudinal representative of saturatus. However, we are following Sclater (1930, p. 442) and Serle (1950, p. 607) in considering nigrilorum a species, with one race on Mount Cameroon and another on Fernando Po. Though the female is described as being similar to the male in color and in size (Bannerman, loc. cit.), in the present material the females are distinctly paler and duller, both above and below, less distinctly marked on the throat, and noticeably smaller in wing length but not in bill size. There seems little doubt that both series belong to the same species. The females are from Buea and 50 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 hence topotypical, the males all from a higher altitude. Possibly the difference is correlated with altitude, but series of the same sex must be examined to determine this. This thrush was found not restricted to the forest. It occurred in the gardens of Buea and the less dense part of the mountain forest. [Geokichla crossleyi Sharpe Turdus crossleyi Sharpe, 1871, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1871: 607 — Mount Cameroon. No specimens collected. Apparently a mountain forest bird (Serle, 1950, p. 607) of Mount Cameroon and Mount Kupe, where it was recorded from 4,500 to 6,000 feet. Bannerman (1936, p. 324) considers this bird a race of gurneyi, but Chapin, in a recent letter calling our attention to the close similarity between crossleyi and piaggiae, does not consider either of them races of gurneyi.] Saxicola torquata pallidigula Reichenow Pratincola pallidigula Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 194 — Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 5,800-10,400 feet: 3 adult males, 1 immature male, 3 adult females; June 28- July 5. Wing: males 78 (alt. 9,000 feet), 75, 78 (alt. 9,500 feet); females 74 (alt. 5,800 feet), 77 (alt. 9,500 feet). A mountain grassland bird, recorded from 3,000 and 5,800 to 11,400 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 607). None of the specimens had enlarged gonads. Three female specimens in the Chicago Natural History Museum series of adamauae from Bamenda collected by Bates have wings of 69, 69, and 71, which measurements confirm the size difference on which adamauae is founded. It is well to note that, as in the case of Cisticola discolor, this endemic grassland bird is found both above and below the main mountain forest. Cossypha isabellae isabellae Gray Cossypha isabellae Gray, 1862, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), 10: 443 — Mount Cameroon, 7,000 feet. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 51 Mount Cameroon, 5,500-6,000 feet: 2 males, 2 females, 1?, 5 skeletons; June 18- July 2. Wing: males 78, 80 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 72 (alt. 5,500 feet), 73 (alt. 5,800 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from about 3,000 feet above Buea (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 498, and Young, 1946, p. 375), up to 7,000 feet (type locality), and 7,500 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 608). The females are slightly paler olive brown on the back than the males, but the heads are not grayer. Bannerman (1936, p. 391) has described a plumage as having the head grayer and the upper parts paler, perhaps individual variants. While not a shy bird, the robin chat lives in such dense and dark undergrowth that it gives the impression of being less common than it actually is. Musical, Cossypha-like songs attributed to this bird indicated that it probably was not uncommon. One male (June 26) had somewhat enlarged gonads; in the females the gonads were not enlarged. Alethe poliothorax Reichenow Alethe poliothorax Reichenow, 1900, Orn. Monatsber., 8: 6 — Bangwa,1 north- west Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 5,000 feet: 1 female; July 2. Wing 76. A mountain forest bird, recorded from about 3,000 feet (Banner- man, 1915a, p. 498) to 5,000 feet. Serle (1950, p. 609) gives 5,000 to 6,500 feet as the range. The treatment of the position of this species has been various. Described as a thrush, and so considered by Sclater, it was placed in the Timaliidae by Bannerman (1936, p. 117) and others, while Delacour (1946, p. 13) replaced it in the thrushes, doubtfully in the genus Cossypha. Until its position is definitely established, and this depends in part on a study of its biology, we are following Sclater's treatment (1930, p. 479). This specimen was found in dense, dark undergrowth in the deep forest. It was located by following up a loud, typical Alethe song. 1 Reichenow (1902, Map A) shows Bangwa as a river about 175 km. north of Mount Cameroon. Presumably an upper tributary of the Cross River near the town of Mamfe. Bannerman (1915a, p. 498) thinks the type may have come from Mount Cameroon. Serle (1950, p. 609) locates it as near Mount Kupe, whence he had a specimen. 52 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 Since this song was heard a number of times, the species may be more common than its rare occurrence in collections would indicate. The single specimen had its ovary somewhat enlarged. Family SYLVIIDAE [Seicercus herberti camerunensis Grant Cryptolopha camerunensis Grant, 1909, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 25: 13 — Cameroon Mountain. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird, reported from about 3,000 feet (the forest just above Buea; Bannermann, 1915a, p. 493). This subspecies appears to have been collected only once until Serle (1950, p. 610) secured it again in the Cameroon Highlands from 3,000 to 6,000 feet.] [Bradypterus camerunensis Alexander Bradypterus camerunensis Alexander, 1909, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 25: 19 — Cameroon Mountain, above 7,000 feet. No specimens collected. A mountain bird, found from 3,000 to 8,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 501). Though still considered a separate species by Bannerman (1939, p. 70), Delacour (1943a, p. 39) considers this a race of B. mariae, of which Serle (1950, p. 610) lists a recently discovered race, B. m. youngi, from Mount Cameroon. Thus, it can not be a race of B. mariae.] Apalis cinerea cinerea Sharpe Euprinoides cinereus Sharpe, 1891, Ibis, 1891: 120 — Mount Elgon, Kenya Colony. Mount Cameroon, 5,800-5,900 feet: 1 male, 2 females; June 25- 29. Wing: male 53; females 51, 53. A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 503) to 5,900 feet (Serle gives 5,000-7,000 feet). The species was found on Mount Cameroon in the upper story of the forest, amongst the leaves at the ends of the branches. Most of the specimens were located by seeing a flash of white in the tail. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 53 Urolais epichlora epichlora Reichenow Burnesia epichlora Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: p. 193 — Buea, Mount Cameroon, 950 meters. Mount Cameroon, 4,000-6,000 feet: 3 males, 3 females, 1 skeleton; June 23-July 15. Wing: male 54 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 53 (alt. 5,000 feet), 50 (alt. 6,000 feet). Tail: male 78 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 61 (alt. 5,000 feet), 57 (alt. 6,000 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 506) to 6,000 feet. It was found to be a bird of the upper story of the forests, frequenting the twigs and leaves; not uncommon but difficult to collect. None had enlarged gonads. Poliolais lopesi alexanderi Bannerman Poliolais alexanderi Bannerman, 1915, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 35: 53 — Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,000 feet: 1 female; July 12. Wing 50; tail 28; tarsus 22. A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet, above Buea (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 504), 4,000 feet, and 4,500 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 613). The specimen compares well with Banner-man's (op. cit., p. 505) description of the female. Apparently this race had been collected only once before. Since then, Serle (loc. cit.) has collected one of a pair. The specimen, the only one seen, was found about five feet up in tangled second growth of a clearing. It was not at all shy and responded to squeaking, uttering small chirps of alarm. Its ovary was slightly enlarged. Cisticola discolor discolor Sjostedt Cisticola discolor Sjostedt, 1893, Orn. Monatsber., 1: 84 — Mann's Spring, Cameroon Mountain (7,000 feet). Mount Cameroon, 3,000-9,500 feet: 1 male, 2 females, 3 skeletons; June 24, July 15. Wing: male 55 (alt. 5,800 feet); female 56 (alt. 9,500 feet). A mountain bird of grassland and shrubbery, recorded from 3,000 to 9,500 feet. Lynes (1930, p. 329) points out that this species is a geographical representative of the East African C. nigriloris. 54 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 On Mount Cameroon this bird has as wide an altitudinal range as the stone chat, having been found below the forest at Buea (3,000 feet; C.N.H.M. specimen); in the clearings at Musake (5,500 feet; Bouet, 1940, p. 105; Young, 1946, p. 377); and in the grasslands (5,800-9,500 feet). None of our specimens had enlarged gonads. Prinia bairdii bairdii Cassin Drymoica bairdii Cassin, 1855, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 7: 327 — Moonda River, Gabon. Mount Cameroon, 4,000 feet: 1 female; July 14. A lowland bird. Our specimen, a female, has a wing measurement of 52. Five females from Bitye, Cameroon (alt. 2,000 feet), have wing measure- ments of 52, 53, 53, 54, and 54. The specimen was found in a clearing grown up to bushes, vines, and small, second growth trees. Family HIRUNDINIDAE Psalidoprocne fuliginosa Shelley Psalidoprocne fuliginosa Shelley, 1887, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1887: 123 — Cameroon Mountain. Mount Cameroon, 4,000 feet: 1 male, 1 alcoholic; July 14, 15. Wing 106. A mountain bird. On Mount Cameroon it ranges from 2,500 feet upward to 9,000 feet at least (Bannerman, 1939, p. 290, and Young, 1946, p. 381). It is a bird of the forest edge and clearings. The two specimens were collected on the forest edge; their gonads were not enlarged. Family CAMPEPHAGIDAE [Coracina caesia preussi Reichenow Graucalus preussi Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 183 — Buea. No specimens collected. A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (Buea; Banner- man, 1915a, p. 495) to 6,000 feet (Young, 1946, p. 381).] Family LANIIDAE Laniarius atroflavus atroflavus Shelley Laniarius atroflavus Shelley, 1887, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1887: 124 — Cameroon Mountain, 7,300 feet. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 55 Mount Cameroon, 3,500-6,500 feet: 4 males, 3 females, 2 skele- tons, 1 alcoholic; June 23- July 15. Wing: males 83 (alt. 5,800 feet), 85, 86 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 85 (alt. 5,000 feet), 80 (6,500 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from Buea (about 3,000 feet) to 7,300 feet (type locality). The specimens were taken in the understory in the less dense parts of the forest, not more than twenty feet from the ground. The birds generally occurred in pairs and were fairly common. One male (June 24) had slightly enlarged testes; the others showed no enlargement of gonads. Laniarius poensis poensis Alexander Dryoscopus poensis Alexander, 1902, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 13: 37 — Mount St. Ysabel, Fernando Po. Mount Cameroon, 4,000-6,000 feet: 1 male, 1 female, 1 skeleton; June 25, July 15. Wing: male 83 (alt. 5,000 feet); female 77 (alt. 6,000 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. The specimens collected were the only ones seen. Neither had enlarged gonads. [Dryoscopus angolensis cameroonensis Bannerman Dryoscopus angolensis cameroonensis Bannerman, 1915, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 35: 105 — Cameroon Mountain above Buea. No specimens collected. Apparently a mountain forest race of a species that is lowland in part of its range. This race had been known only from the type, until Serle (1950, p. 620) collected additional specimens on Mount Kupe. Serle (op. cit., p. 346) lists it as a mountain forest species, and says that on Mount Kupe it ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 feet. In 1938 Bannerman renamed this race boydi, considering D. a. cameroonensis Bannerman 1915 preoccupied by D. camerunensis Reichenow 1903 (=D. senegalensis) (Bannerman, 1939, p. 407). However, the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature, Article 36, in a recommendation, state: "If from the radical of a geographic name two or more adjectives are derived, it is not ad- visable to use more than one of them as specific name in the same 56 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 genus, but if once introduced they are not to be rejected on this account." This seems to apply to the present case, and cameroonensis can be used for the present race, with boydi as a synonym.] [Malaconotus poliocephalus gladiator Reichenow Laniarius gladiator Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 441 — Buea, Cameroon Mountain. No specimens collected. A mountain forest race (Mount Cameroon and Bamenda) of a widespread lowland species.] Family STURNIDAE Onychognathus walleri preussi Reichenow Onychognathus preussi Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 184 — Buea, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,500, 5,800 feet: 2 adult males; June 25, 30. Wing: 112 (alt. 4,500 feet), 115 (alt. 5,800 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (type locality) to 5,800 feet. Both specimens were collected in forest clearings. They were the only ones seen. One had slightly enlarged testes, the other somewhat enlarged. Family ZOSTEROPIDAE Zosterops virens stenocricotus Reichenow Zosterops stenocricota Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 191 — Buea, Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 3,000-5,000 feet: 1 female, 2 alcoholics; June 20-July 15. Wing: 53 (alt. 5,000 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. This white eye lived amongst the foliage of the forest trees. It was not common. The single specimen did not have enlarged gonads. Speirops lugubris melanocephalus Gray Zosterops (Speirops) melanocephalus Gray, 1862, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), 10: 444 — Cameroon Mountain. Mount Cameroon, 6,000 feet: 1 male; June 25. A female speci- men (alt. 9,500 feet), collected July 3, 1933, was presented to the Expedition by Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Goddard. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 57 Wing: male 65 (alt. 6,000 feet); female 61 (alt. 9,500 feet). A mountain bird, recorded from 6,000 to 9,500 feet. The only one seen was on the upper edge of the forest, in small timber, moving about in typical Zosterops fashion. Its testes were slightly enlarged. Family NECTARINIIDAE Nectarinia preussi preussi1 Reichenow Cinnyris preussi Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 190— Buea, 950-2,100 meters, Cameroon Mountain. Mount Cameroon, 3,000-9,500 feet: 2 adult males, 1 subadult male, 1 female, 10 skeletons, 4 alcoholics; June 23-July 15. Wing: males 59 (alt. 5,800 feet), 62 (alt. 9,500 feet); female 55 (alt. 5,800 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet to about 10,500 feet (3,200 meters; Bouet, 1940, p. 106). This sunbird was much more common at 3,000 feet than it was at higher altitudes. It appeared to be a bird of the forest edge, and the specimen taken at 9,500 feet was found in a wooded ravine. None of the specimens had enlarged gonads. Nectarinia chloropygia insularis Reichenow Cinnyris chloropygius insularis Reichenow, 1920, Jour. Orn., 1920: 399 — Fernando Po. Mount Cameroon, 3,000-4,000 feet: 1 adult male, 1 female, 3 alcoholics; July 14, 15. Wing: male 50; female 45. A lowland bird. For comparison we have two male luhderi from Bitye, Cameroon (wing 51, 51), and one male chloropygia (type locality Niger River) from If on, Ondo Province, Nigeria (wing 48). The specimen of chloropygia differs from those of luhderi in its smaller size, its much paler and more olive (not slaty brown) abdomen, and its considerably greener, less bluish gloss. The Mount Cameroon male in size is closer to luhderi but in gloss and color of belly is closer to the speci- men of chloropygia, but with a distinct darkening of the abdomen. Thus, it seems to represent a population intermediate between 1 Delacour has shown that, with the larger concept of the genus Nectarinia, Cinnyris reichenowi Sharpe 1891 becomes antedated by Drepanorhynchus reiche- nowi Fischer 1884. Consequently, the name for this species must be preussi (Delacour, 1944, p. 30). 58 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 luhderi and chloropygia to which the name N. c. insularis has been extended. Neither specimen was in breeding condition though the male had somewhat enlarged testes. Nectarinia oritis oritis Reichenow Cinnyris oritis Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 190 — Buea, Mount Cameroon, 950 meters. Mount Cameroon, 3,000-6,000 feet: 1 adult male, 2 adult females; June 30- July 11. Wing: male 65 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 55 (alt. 3,000 feet), 58 (alt. 5,000 feet). Culmen: male 31 (alt. 6,000 feet); females 29 (alt. 3,000 feet), 28 (alt. 5,000 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 to 6,000 feet. The females are very similar to the male but differ in the smaller size; the somewhat lesser backward extent of the iridescence of the crown; the gloss of the crown, which is more green, less blue; and the iridescence of the throat, which is more blue, less purple. The July 6 female was laying; in the other female the ovary was not enlarged. The male had somewhat enlarged gonads. This species was found to be much more a forest bird than preussi. [Nectarinia ursulae Alexander Cyanomitra ursulae Alexander, 1903, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 13: 38 — Mount St. Isabel, Fernando Po. No specimens collected. A mountain bird of the forest, recorded but twice, without altitude, from Mount Cameroon (Bannerman, 1948, p. 210, and Grote, 1948, p. 339). Serle has since taken it on Mount Kupe (1950, p. 627).] Nectarinia hypodilus Jardine, 1851, Contr. Orn., 1851: 153 — Clarence, Fer- nando Po. Anthreptes collaris hypodilus Jardine Nectarinia hypodilus Jardine, 1851, Contr. ( nando Po. Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet; 1 adult male, 1 alcoholic; July 14, 15. Wing 54; culmen 17. A lowland bird. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 59 Family PLOCEIDAE Passer griseus ugandae Reichenow Passer diffusus ugandae Reichenow, 1904, Vog. Afr., 3: 231 — Uganda. Mount Cameroon, 3,000 feet: 1 alcoholic; July 15. A lowland species. [Ploceus bicolor tephronotus Reichenow Symplectes tephronotus Reichenow, 1892, Jour. Orn., 1892: 184 — Buea, Cameroon. No specimens collected. Though a mountain bird, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 feet in the Mount Cameroon area (Serle, 1950, p. 630), elsewhere in the Cameroons it occurs as a lowland forest bird. Bannerman (1949, p. 35) uses the specific name amaurocephalus for this and one other race, considering them not conspecific with bicolor.] Ploceus insignis insignis Sharpe Sycobrotus insignis Sharpe, 1891, Ibis, 1891 : 117 — Mount Elgon. Mount Cameroon, 5,000-6,500 feet: 2 males, 5 females; June 23- July 2. Wing: males 84 (alt. 5,800 feet), 84 (alt. 6,500 feet); females 80 (alt. 5,000 feet), 82, 83 (alt. 6,200 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 5,000 to "above 7,000 feet" (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 517) and "between 3,000 and 7,500 feet." (Serle, 1950, p. 620.) Ploceus melanogaster melanogaster Shelley Ploceus melanogaster Shelley, 1887, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1887: 126 — Cameroon Mountain, 8,000 feet. Mount Cameroon, 4,500-6,200 feet: 3 males, 1 female; June 25, July 2. Wing: males 73 (alt. 4,500 feet), 70 (alt. 6,200 feet); female 67 (alt. 4,500 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 631) to 8,000 feet (type locality). This is a bird of the deep forest at higher altitudes, where it climbs about the large branches of the tall trees, much like a titmouse or nuthatch. Apparently it finds its food on the bark or the epiphytes that cover the large branches. None of the present specimens had enlarged gonads. 60 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus Miiller Oriolus cucullatus Miiller, 1776, Syst. Nat., Suppl., p. 87 — Senegal. Mount Cameroon and Buea, 3,000-3,500 feet: 5 males, 2 females; June 18-21. Wing: males 85, 85, 85, 86, 87 (alt. 3,500 feet); females 79 (alt. 3,000 feet), 78 (alt. 3,500 feet). A lowland species. The males are all in typical adult breeding plumage. Compared with three specimens from Senegal (wing 91, 91, 94) the Mount Cameroon birds are slightly smaller; the breast is slightly yellower; the yellow of the upper parts lacks a gold tinge; the black areas in the back are more conspicuous, being larger and more clearly defined ; and the chestnut of the hind neck is slightly more restricted in extent. Euplectes capensis phoenicomera Gray Euplectes phoenicomerus Gray, 1862, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), 10: 444— Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 6,500 to 11,000 feet: 5 adult males, 1 sub- adult male, 3 females; July 3-6. Wing: males 73, 74, 75, 76 (alt. 9,500 feet), 76 (alt. 10,400 feet); females 68 (alt. 6,500 feet), 69 (alt. 9,500 feet), 69 (alt. 11,000 feet). A mountain grassland species, recorded from 6,500 to 11,000 feet. In the Bamenda area, Serle (1950, p. 634) recorded this species down to 4,000 feet. The five adult males are all in dry season plumage, but each of them shows indications of impending moult into the black and yellow breeding plumage by the occurrence of scattered black feathers on the chin. Two of the males and one of the females had slightly enlarged gonads, indicating also the approach of the breeding season. This species was restricted to the open grassland above the forest. Cryptospiza reichenowi reichenowi Hartlaub Pytelia reichenovii Hartlaub, 1874, Ibis, 1874: 166 — Bondongo, Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 5,000 feet: 1 female; July 7. Wing 53. A mountain forest bird, recorded from 3,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915b, p. 657) to 5,000 feet. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 61 The female differs from Reichenow's plate of the female from Cameroon in having the fulvous of the loral area extending around the eye. The specimen collected was the only one seen. It was found in the undergrowth in the dense forest. Its ovary was not enlarged. Estrilda nonnula nonnula Hartlaub Astrilda nonnula Hartlaub, 1883, Jour. Orn., 1883: 425 — Kudurina, Bahr el Ghazal. Mount Cameroon, 5,700 feet: 1 female; June 29. Wing 48. A lowland bird, recorded as high as 6,000 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 636). The ovary of the specimen was not enlarged. Nesocharis shelleyi shelleyi Alexander Nesocharis shelleyi Alexander, 1903, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 13: 48 — Moka, Fernando Po. Mount Cameroon, 6,000-6,500 feet: 2 males, 1 female, 1 skeleton; June 23-July 13. Wing: males 44 (alt. 6,000 feet), 43 (alt. 6,500 feet); female 45 (alt. 6,200 feet). A mountain forest bird, recorded from 5,000 feet (Serle, 1950, p. 637) to over 7,000 feet (Bannerman, 1915a, p. 516). The specimens were found on the upper edge of the forest, or in patches of forest in the grassland. None had enlarged gonads. Family FRINGILLIDAE Poliospiza burtoni burtoni Gray Strobilophaga burtoni Gray, 1862, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), 10: 445 — Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon, 4,500, 5,000 feet: 1 male, 1 female; June 30, July 8. Wing: male 89 (alt. 4,500 feet); female 89 (alt. 5,000 feet). A mountain bird, recorded from 4,500 feet to 9,000 feet (Banner- man, 1915a, p. 512). Linurgus olivaceus olivaceus Fraser Coccothraustes olivaceus Fraser, 1842, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1842: 414 — Clarence, Fernando Po. 62 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 Buea and Mount Cameroon, 3,000-6,500 feet: 9 adult males, 3 immature males, 2 females, 3 skeletons; June 18-July 15. Wing: males 74 (adult), 74 (immature) (alt. 3,500 feet), 76 (adult), 74 (immature) (alt. 4,000 feet), 76, 77 (adults) (alt. 5,800 feet), 75, 76 (alt. 6,000 feet), 75 (alt. 6,500 feet); females 71 (alt. 3,500 feet), 72 (alt. 6,000 feet). A mountain forest species recorded from 3,000 to 8,700 feet (Bouet, 1940, p. 106). In the seven adult males there is some variation in the amount of orange-brown on the chest and the distinctness of the yellow collar. One of the two females is more uniformly olive gray on the head and chest than the other. The three immature males, though full-grown, represent three stages of plumage. The youngest has loose buffy feathers on the flanks and buffy tips to the feathers of the lower back; the rump feathers have subterminal dark bands. Another has lost these juvenile indicators and resembles the adult female except for having dark centers to the feathers of the crown and a few dark feathers on the throat. The third is subadult, with mottled black and yellow throat and a suggestion of burnt orange on the upper breast. The under side approaches that of the adult male in brilliance, but the upper parts are slightly less yellow than those of the adult and the head is mottled black and green, though there is an indication of the yellow collar. The species was found in flocks in the more open parts of the forest. None of the specimens had enlarged gonads. REFERENCES BANNERMAN, DAVID A. 1915a. A report on the birds collected by the late Mr. Boyd Alexander (Rifle Brigade) during his last expedition to Africa. Part IV: The birds of Cameroon Mountain. Ibis, (10), 3: 473-526. 1915b. A report on the birds collected by the late Mr. Boyd Alexander (Rifle Brigade) during his last expedition to Africa. Part V: List of the birds obtained in the Manenguba Mountains (Cameroon). Ibis, (10), 3: 643-662. 1930. The birds of tropical West Africa, with special reference to those of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast and Nigeria. The Crown Agent for the Colonies. London. 1, lxxxv+376 pp. 1931. The birds of tropical West Africa 2, xxix+428 pp. 1933. The birds of tropical West Africa 3, xxxv+478 pp. 1936. The birds of tropical West Africa 4, xl+459 pp. 1939. The birds of tropical West Africa 5, xliii+485 pp. 1948. The birds of tropical West Africa. ... 6, xxxix+364 pp. 1949. The birds of tropical West Africa 7, xxxv+413 pp. 1951. The birds of tropical West Africa. ... 8, xx+552 pp. BOULTON AND RAND: BIRDS FROM MOUNT CAMEROON 63 BATES, GEORGE L. 1924. On the birds collected in north-western and northern Cameroon and parts of northern Nigeria. Ibis, (11), 6: 1-45. 1930. Handbook of the birds of West Africa. John Bale Sons, and Danielsson, London, 572 pp. BOUET, G. 1940. Liste des Oiseaux recoltes au Mont Cameroun (Juin, 1939) par Mm. P. Lepesme, R. Paulian et A. Villiers. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., (2), 12: 104-107. BOULTON, RUDYERD 1931. New species and subspecies of African birds. Ann. Carnegie Mus., 21, (l):iii, 43-56. 1934. Straus Expedition returns from West Africa. Field Mus. News, 5, no. 11: p. 2. CHAPIN, JAMES P. 1932. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part I. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 65, x+756 pp. DELACOUR, JEAN 1943a. The bush-warblers of the Genera Cettia and Bradypterus, with notes on allied genera and species. Ibis, 85: 27-40. 1943b. A revision of the genera and species of the Family Pycnonotidae (bulbuls). Zoologica, 28: 17-28. 1944. A revision of the Family Nectariniidae (sunbirds). Zoologica, 29: 17-38. 1946. Les Timaliines. L'Oiseau, (n.s.), 16: 7-36. FRIEDMANN, HERBERT 1937. Birds collected by the Childs Frick Expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. Part 2: Passeres. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 153, pp. xii+506. GROTE, H. 1948. Chalcomitra ursulae (Alex.) in Cameroon. Ibis, 90: 339. LYNES, HUBERT 1930. Review of the Genus Cristicola. Ibis, (12), 6: Suppl., ii+673 pp., xx pis. MOREAU, R. E. 1951. Relationships in Pseudoalcippe. Ibis, 93: 139. OGILVIE-GRANT, W. R. 1908. On a collection of birds made by Mr. Douglas Carruthers during his journey from Uganda to the mouth of the Congo. Ibis, (9), 2: 264-317. RAND, A. L. 1951. Birds from Liberia. Fieldiana: Zoology, 32, 561-653. REICHENOW, ANTON 1892. Zur Vogelfauna von Kamerun, erster Nachtrag. Jour. Orn., 40: 177-195. 1902. Die Vogel Afrikas. Atlas. J. Neumann, Neudamm, 46 pp., 3 maps, 29 pis. RIPLEY, DILLON 1945. The barbets. Auk, 62: 542-563. 64 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 34 SCLATER, WILLIAM LUTLEY 1924. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum A systematic list of the birds of the Ethiopian region. Part I: 1-204. Taylor and Francis, London. 1930. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum. . . . Preface, pp. 1-xi; Part 2: 305-922. SERLE, W. 1950. A contribution to the ornithology of the British Cameroons. Ibis, 92: 343-376, 602-638. YOUNG, CHARLES G. 1946. Notes on some birds of the Cameroon Mountain District. Ibis, 88: 348-382. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA