ZOOLOGY.
I will precede the enumeration of my zoological collections by a short
sketch of the main features of the Kilima-njaro _fauna_.
To begin with our near kinsfolk, the monkeys. I found these creatures
much more abundantly present in East Central Africa than during my
journeys on the West Coast. Although Western Africa is probably better
provided with species of quadrumana than any other division of the
continent, the monkeys are much scarcer in numbers and harder to see,
possibly owing to the greater density of the forests.
During eight months on the Congo I only saw monkeys twice in a wild
state, and that in one place only; and throughout my entire stay of
sixteen months in West Africa I can only remember six occasions on which
I actually beheld these animals in a state of nature. On the other hand,
I had scarcely left the East Coast, to journey towards Kilima-njaro,
when monkeys showed themselves abundantly in the wilds.
The first to attract my attention were the baboons, probably the species
known as _Cynocephalus hamadryas_, _C. Sphinx_, and _C. babouin_. They
were generally found on the outskirts of native plantations, where they
almost subsisted on the maize and other food-stuffs stolen from the
gardens of their more highly-developed fellow-primates. In the inhabited
region of Kilima-njaro, generally known as the country of Čaga, baboons
were strangely abundant. They were generally in flocks of fourteen to
twenty, of all ages, and both sexes. They were so little molested by the
natives that they showed small fear of man, and, instead of running
away, would often stop to look at me about twenty yards off, and the old
males would show their teeth and grunt. I have frequently seen the
natives driving them from the plantations, as they might a troop of
naughty boys, and the baboons retreating with swollen cheek-pouches,
often dragging after them a portion of the spoil. On one occasion, in a
river-bed at the foot of Kilima-njaro, my Indian servant, ordinarily a
very plucky boy, met a troop of baboons, who, instead of fleeing up into
the trees, came running towards him in a very menacing manner, and he
was so frightened at their aspect that he took to his heels. The baboons
followed, and, but that the boy forded the shallow stream, and put the
water between him and his pursuers, he might have had an awkward
contest. I killed a baboon once in Čaga, one of a troop who were rifling
a maize plantation, and its companions, instead of running away,
surrounded the corpse and snarled at me. As I had fired off both barrels
of my gun, and had no more ammunition, I went back to my settlement to
fetch some of my followers, and upon the approach of several men the
baboons ran off. We picked up the dead one and carried it back. It was a
female, and apparently young and tender. Out of curiosity I had its
flesh cooked the next day and ate it,[36] hoping in this lawful way to
form some idea of the practice of cannibalism; I can only say that the
succulence and quality of this creature’s flesh were quite
unexceptionable. I have noticed this with most of the species of
Old-World monkey I have as yet tasted. During my four months’ stay in
Mandara’s country I ate the common _Cercopithēcus pygerythrus_
constantly, and found it made a very toothsome stew. The most remarkable
monkey in all this region is probably the Colobus, which apparently
offers a new variety or sub-species in the country round Kilima-njaro,
remarkable for having an entirely white heavily-plumed tail. The common
species, with a black tail tipped with white, I have shot in the
forested plains near the coast. The Colobus monkey is almost the only
one that quite avoids the neighbourhood of man; the other genera
frequent the vicinity of native plantations, and doubtless profit by the
abundance of cultivated food. I never observed any Galago (a lemuroid
animal) in this district, nor do the natives speak of one, although it
is a genus well represented in other parts of Africa.
Bats are by no means common or often seen. I saw some fruit-bats once in
the forest hanging to a sycamore fig-tree. No member of the group of
Insectivora came under my notice. The Carnivora in this country of big
game are, of course, well represented. The lion is very abundant and
very bold; but the leopard is more feared by the natives than his larger
ally. While stopping in Mandara’s country, two of that chief’s subjects
were killed by leopards, one of them close to the frequented
village-green. The leopard ascends the mountain up to about 8000 feet,
scarcely higher. I shot one of these creatures in the valley of a stream
in broad daylight. I think it had been sleeping by the water, and was
suddenly awakened by my near approach, and too dazed to fly immediately.
The most common dog is the side-striped jackal. There is a wild dog
found on Kilima-njaro which barks loudly. It is quite nocturnal, and I
have never been able to shoot it; but from its appearance in bright
moonlight it looks somewhat like the Abyssinian dog (_Canis Simensis_).
The natives know it by a different name from that applied to the
jackal—viz. _Nzudu_.
Hyenas are very common, and both species, striped and spotted, are
present; but the striped hyena more affects the hills, while the spotted
kind inhabits the plains. The spotted hyena is a much more predatory
animal here than one generally imagines. Not only does it steal sheep
and calves from the herds, but it even carries off children, and will
often attack wounded or weakly men. I once sent a sick man back to the
coast a short distance by himself, and he was severely bitten at night
by the hyenas. He succeeded, however, in beating them off, and recovered
from his wounds.
Civets and genets are very abundant; so also are one or two specimens of
ichneumon. I noticed no kind of weasel, ratel, or badger.
The _Orycteropus Æthiopicus_, or Ant-bear, is common on the plains, to
judge by his many huge burrows; but I have never seen him, and only
identify him from natives’ descriptions.
Among the _Rodentia_ there were few that came under my notice. A species
of _Graphiurus_[37] (probably _G. capensis_) is found in the forests of
Kilima-njaro. The porcupine is fairly common, and a small black rat
infests the natives’ houses.
A hyrax is found on Kilima-njaro (_H. Brucei_) between 7000 and 11,000
feet. It lives entirely in the trees, which it climbs with the facility
of a squirrel. It is much sought after by the Wa-čaga for its warm,
furry skin, which is made into cloaks.
The elephant inhabits Kilima-njaro up to a great height. I have seen two
females and a young one at an altitude of 13,000 feet, crossing a
stream-valley, and mounting the opposite bank with the agility of goats.
As I have also met with this creature in the Chella Mountains of Angola,
where he climbs to 8000 feet, in fact, as high as he can go, I am
convinced he can easily adapt himself to a mountain life.
Round the base of Kilima-njaro the rhinoceros is very abundant; and in
Lake ǰipé hippopotami are found. The zebra (_Equus Chapmani_) is present
in incredible quantities in the plains round Kilima-njaro. In fact, the
vast herds of varied game which pasture on the level country between the
snow mountains and the coast remind one of the tales of Gordon Cumming.
Among the more noticeable _Ruminantia_ are the buffalo (_Bubalus
Caffer_), the giraffe (very abundant), the eland, the kudu, the
bush-buck (_Tragelaphus sylvaticus_), the sable antelope (_Hippotragus
niger_), the pallah, one or two gazelles, gnus, hartebeests, bless-boks,
and many small species of _Neotragus_ and _Cephalophus_. The kudu
penetrates up the mountain to a height of 14,000 feet, in company with
the buffalo, attracted possibly by the sweet perennial pasture. A
_Neotragus_ and a _Cephalophus_ are also found at high altitudes. I give
here a drawing of a head of the little Neotragus antelope (possibly _N.
Kirki_) found on Kilima-njaro. As you may see, it has the nose nearly
developed into a trunk, a tendency which is very common, after all,
among mammals, and which reaches its utmost development with the
elephant.
[Illustration:
Fig. 66.—_Neotragus Kirki._
]
In the plains round Kilima-njaro the red hartebeest (_Alcephalus Cokei_)
is found in myriads. This creature by the colour of its coat and its
strange shape assimilates marvellously with the huge red ant-hills
(habitations of the white termites) which abound in the districts
favoured by the hartebeests. When you are out stalking it is really most
difficult and puzzling sometimes to know which is hartebeest and
ant-hill; for the long grass hiding the antelope’s legs leaves merely a
red humped mass which, until it moves, may well be a mound of red earth.
The unconscious mimicry is rendered the more ludicrously exact sometimes
by the sharply-pointed flag-like leaves of a kind of lily which
frequently crown the summit of the ant-hill or grow at its base, thus
suggesting the horns of an antelope, either with the head erect, or
browsing low down. _Vide_ Chapter IV.
Among the passerine birds of Kilima-njaro I have brought back six that
are new to science. Three of these are sun-birds, one is a flycatcher,
and the remaining two are chats. The sun-birds are found very high up
the mountain, in that resembling the hummingbirds which frequent the
Andes near to the snow-line. They hover round the long tubular flowers
of certain labiate plants, and on being captured it will be noticed that
the feathers of the brow are thickly covered with pollen, so that in
these regions sun-birds share with insects the means of fertilizing
flowers.
[Illustration:
Fig. 67.—Head of Great-billed Raven (_Corvultur albicollis_).
]
The bird mentioned in Chapter XIII. as being found at a height of 14,000
feet, the highest dweller, except the occasional passing ravens or
kites, is _Pinarochroa hypospodia_, a kind of stonechat.
Other passerine birds of a note are a lovely oriole (_Oriolus notatus_),
which frequents the forests of the lower slopes, and the great
white-necked raven, alluded to and illustrated in Chapter XIII.
[Illustration:
Fig. 68.—The dying Hornbill.
]
The great crested hornbill (_Buceros cristatus_) is generally
distributed over the mountain up to 6000 feet, especially near
habitations. They show no fear of man, being generally protected by the
natives, who look upon them with superstitious awe, arising possibly
from their being useful scavengers, as well as from their peculiar loud
cry, which resembles at times that of the wailing of a woman in
distress, at others that of the braying of an ass. In August and
September they are generally breeding, and occasionally the head of the
female may be seen peering out from a hole in a tree, some thirty or
forty feet high, where she has been plastered in by her affectionate
husband. By the chips lying about it would appear that these holes are
excavated by the birds to the required size. They are monogamous, and
show great affection for each other, which is fortunate, as the female
during incubation has entirely to rely on her mate for daily sustenance.
I shot a fine male hornbill once, at Taveita, and he fell to the ground
mortally wounded. His dying struggles were quite touching to behold, and
I felt almost criminal in having caused his death. His breath came and
went in great gasps, and his snowy stomach was streaked with red blood.
His large eye with long lashes gazed at me with calm wonder and vague
reproach, as if to say, “What ill have I done that you should kill me?”
He disdained to snap at the stick with which I gently poked his opened
beak, and still kept his eye fixed on me, regarding my impertinent
investigations of his person as unnecessary insults. So he lay during
some minutes, with long shuddering breathings raising and lowering the
feathers of his breast and back. Then another hornbill, evidently his
mate, came and perched on the bough of a neighbouring tree and uttered a
low cry. The dying bird started up to life again, raised his head high,
flapped his widespread, glossy wings, dragged himself painfully along
the ground, and gave vent to one sonorous bellow; then his great head
dropped on one side, and his wide-open eye glazed with an expression of
eager hope hardened in it even in death.
A beautiful turaco inhabits the forests in Kilima-njaro. It is
bluish-green-purple, with a white-lined crest and scarlet skin round the
eyes. Its wings, like most other turacos, have intense crimson pinions,
and therefore it is a gorgeous object as it flaps its loose flight
through the forest aisles.
Several species of pigeon are found on the mountain, notably one very
fine bird, _Palumbus arquatrix_, which inhabits the upper regions.
Francolin and guinea-fowl are most abundant, but the latter bird I have
never met with at any great altitude above the plains.
Numbers of water-birds frequent the shallow lakes and swamps in the
vicinity of Kilima-njaro. Lake J̌ipé is a great resort of pelicans,
geese, egrets, and saddle-billed storks. I have only noticed one
water-bird on the mountain at any altitude, and this was a species of
duck, I think _Anas xanthorhyncus_, which was found inhabiting ice-cold
streams at an elevation of 11,000 feet.
The abundance of vultures has already been remarked, and is in marked
contrast to what may be observed in West Africa, where these vultures
are absent, and their place is filled by another Accipitrine scavenger
(_Gypohierax_), who apparently finds so little offal to sustain him,
that he has in many places to turn his attention to fishing.[38]
[Illustration:
Fig. 69.—(_a_) The right _Manus_ or Wing of young Ostrich. (_b_) Scale
Feathers of young Ostrich.
]
The ostrich which is so numerous in the vicinity of Kilima-njaro, is a
recently determined species—_Struthius Danaoides_, Shelley—apparently
differing from _S. camelus_ in the colour of the soft parts and naked
skin, and the size and markings of the egg. I kept many of the young
ostriches alive during my residence at Taveita. As most of my readers
know, young ostriches for the first few months of their life are covered
with curious scale-like plumes, but, unless they are scientific
ornithologists, they may not be also aware that the hand (wing) of the
ostrich exhibits _three_ fingers, instead of the _two_ that most other
birds possess. The third finger is without a claw. This is but one of
the many details which make the ostrich more reptilian than other living
birds. The ostriches breed during the months of June, July, and August
in the vicinity of Kilima-njaro. The hatched young appear about the
month of October, or a little earlier. I am told by the Wa-taveita that
for the first few days after emerging from the egg they remain under the
guardianship of the mother, but I must own that whenever I have myself
seen them, they were, no matter if young enough to be run down and
easily captured, unaccompanied by any parent. Nevertheless the natives
persist in their statement, and they further averred, without any
questioning from me, that the male ostrich simulates lameness (like the
peewit and the wild duck), in order to distract the pursuit of his
children by would-be captors.
Among reptiles, crocodiles are found in Lake ǰipé and in the River Ruvu.
Large varanus lizards (_Monitor niloticus_) are frequently found in the
forests of Taveita. They share the water and the trees as their habitat,
generally plunging into the stream when frightened or disturbed. They
seem to me to feed largely on fish, and no doubt often capture and eat
small squirrels and birds. When extended full length along a tree-trunk,
immobile, and exactly matching the colour of the bark with their
grey-green mottled skin, these creatures are very hard to distinguish
from their surroundings, and doubtless often in consequence deceive the
sharp eyes even of a squirrel. From what I know of these creatures, and
from what the natives tell me, they use their long, heavy, whip-like
tail as a powerful weapon. When driven into a corner they will slash
right and left, and if the tail strikes your shins they will certainly
be barked. A blow with the tail will kill a dog, and I believe many an
unwary bird, squirrel, and possibly small monkey, is flicked from a tree
overhanging the stream into the water, and plunged after by the agile
lizard. The teeth of this creature are weak and blunt, and only
sufficient for mastication.
There are some five species of snakes, mostly non-venomous. The common
python is present.
Chameleons are not only very common on Kilima-njaro, but are found up to
an altitude of 13,000 feet. The natives consider them venomous and
hurtful, and scream with fear if one is pushed near them. They regarded
me as a sorcerer when I handled these creatures with impunity. Of course
the poor little chameleons, like the “effets” that our nurses always
warned us against, are entirely innocuous, and make, moreover,
interesting pets, being a source of amusement with their goblinish ways
and strange appearance. Frogs are found in the ice-cold streams as high
up as 13,000 feet. Tree-frogs of many kinds haunt the forest, and chirp
perseveringly.
[Illustration:
Fig. 70.—Varanus Lizards.
]
Fish are nowhere found in the rivers of Kilima-njaro, save in the River
Lumi, which flows into Lake ǰipé. I give a drawing of the only kind
caught in the Lumi, which is the river of Taveita. It is probably a
species of Barbel or _Labio_, of the family _Cyprinidæ_. In Lake ǰipé a
silurus is very common, and there are many other kinds of fish also
present, but the shores of the lake are deserted, nobody fishes there,
and the fish would not rise to ordinary bait; and therefore as my time
at ǰipé was short, and my health bad, I had no opportunity of
investigating its piscine forms. Freshwater crabs of the genus
_Thelphusa_ (_T. depressa, var. Johnstoni_) are present in most of the
mountain streams. They appear to be most closely related to the
river-crabs of Natal and South Africa.
[Illustration:
Fig. 71.—A Fish from the River Lumi.
]
Throughout this region butterflies are few and scarce. They do not
penetrate much higher than 8000 or 9000 feet. The common clouded yellow
is often seen on Kilima-njaro.
Bees and wasps penetrate to a height of 14,000 feet. They belong
principally to the genus _Xyloropus_. Most of the beetles are allied to,
or identical with, South-east African forms. One new species has no
allies nearer than India. Others are related to Abyssinian species, and
some to the beetles of Somali-land.
APPENDICES.[39]
1. NOTE ON A NEMATOID WORM (_Gordius verrucosus_) OBTAINED BY MR. H. H.
JOHNSTON ON KILIMA-NJARO. BY F. JEFFREY BELL, M.A., F.Z.S.
The single specimen of _Gordius_ which was obtained by Mr. Johnston
belongs to a well-known and widely-distributed species, but yet presents
points of interest such as are almost always absent from so-called new
species.
So far as my knowledge extends (and on this particular point it is in
advance of that of Dr. Linstow, who, in his valuable “Compendium der
Helminthologie,” does not mention the parasite now under consideration),
_Gordius verrucosus_ is in earlier life parasitic on a species of the
genus _Mantis_; and there is in the British Museum a specimen of
“_Mantis_, sp.,” which, as Mr. Waterhouse has been good enough to point
out to me, is really _M. membranacea_, accompanying a _Gordius_. The
whole of the abdomen of this Orthopteron is completely emptied of its
contents. A similarly excavated Mantis, the appearance of which had
excited Mr. Waterhouse’s wonder, is to be found among the insects
collected by Mr. Johnston between 3000 and 5000 feet.
A specimen, belonging apparently to the same species, is to be found
half-in and half-out of the abdomen of _Hierodula bioculata_, a Mantid
collected on the west coast of Africa, and lately presented to the
trustees by Dr. Günther, F.R.S.
With regard to the geographical distribution of the species, it is to be
noted that it is sufficiently wide to include South Africa and Ceylon;
while there are in the British Museum specimens named respectively by
Dr. Baird, the author of the species, and by Dr. Örley, who in 1881 went
carefully through the collection in the Museum; these specimens are
reported as coming from Vera Paz, Guatemala (presented by O. Salvin,
Esq.), and the “neighbourhood of Irazu, Costa Rica” (presented by
Messrs. Godman and Salvin). The fact that the same parasite is to be
found in hosts of different species is well known. The present case, in
which _Mantis membranacea_ from Ceylon, _Idoleum diabolicum_ from
Kilima-njaro, and _Hierodula bioculata_ from West Africa, are infested
by a common form, is almost exactly paralleled by the case of the
_Tænia_ described by Peters from a rhinoceros from the Mozambique, and
by Murie and Garrod in rhinoceri from India.
As to the second point which has arisen, the presence of _G. verrucosus_
in Central America, I note differences in the form of the integumentary
papillæ, which are sufficient to induce me to suggest that no stress
should be at present laid on this point, though they are not enough,
when taken in conjunction with my own want of experience in the degrees
of possible variations, to lead me to put myself into more decided
opposition to the views or determinations of such workers as Dr. Baird
or Dr. Örley.
2. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW VARIETY OF RIVER-CRAB OF THE GENUS _Thelphusa_,
FROM KILIMA-NJARO. BY E. J. MIERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
The species of _Thelphusa_, or River-Crabs, are extremely numerous, and
their discrimination is often very difficult, on account of the changes
which the species undergo as they increase in age and size.
In the collection brought by Mr. H. H. Johnston from Kilima-njaro are
two specimens of this genus, which I assign, though not without some
hesitation, to the _Thelphusa depressa_, Krauss, described from types
taken near Pietermaritzburg, Natal. They agree with the description and
figure in their depressed carapace, which is considerably dilated at the
branchial regions, in the non-development of the lateral epibranchial
tooth, and in other essential characters; but differ in the more
strongly defined cervical suture of the carapace, and the more strongly
denticulated merus, and much less strongly arcuated dactylus of the
chelipedes. As regards this latter character, I may observe that in a
series of _Thelphusæ_ (perhaps _T. difformis_) in the Museum collection,
the dactyli of the chelipes are in some males arcuated, and in others
nearly straight.
I append a detailed description of the specimens from Kilima-njaro,
which I propose to designate _T. depressa_, Krauss, var. _Johnstoni_,
but which may prove to belong to a distinct species.
THELPHUSA DEPRESSA, Krauss, var. JOHNSTONI.
Cf. _Thelphusa depressa_, Krauss, Sudafrik. Crustaceen, p. 38, pl. 11.
fig. 4 (1843).
Carapace transverse, widest in its postfrontal region, depressed, with
the dorsal surface nearly smooth, and divided into two nearly equal
portions by the zigzag cervical suture, which extends transversely
across the carapace to the postero-lateral margins; behind this a second
transverse depression (not a suture) crosses the carapace behind the
cardiac region. The postfrontal crest extends to the antero-lateral
margins of the carapace, and is interrupted only by the meso-gastric
suture, which bifurcates posteriorly (as usual in the genus); this crest
is granulated near to the antero-lateral margins, which are defined by a
distinctly granulated line; the lateral epibranchial teeth are not
developed. On the hepatic and branchial regions are several faintly
indicated lines, which extend inward for a short distance over the
dorsal surface of the carapace from the lateral margins. The front is
about one-third the width of the carapace, punctulated above, with its
anterior margin sinuated, its antero-lateral angles obtuse and not
prominent. The orbital margins are entire, and defined by a raised line,
which is granulated except near to the front; the inferior orbital
margin is regularly arcuate, not (as in _T. perlata_) angulated near to
the interior subocular lobe, which is not at all prominent; the tooth,
also, at the exterior orbital angle is very little developed; the parts
of the carapace adjoining the antero-lateral angles of the buccal cavity
are very distinctly granulated. The eye-peduncles are slender (for a
species of this genus), and the eyes do not attain the exterior angle of
the orbit. The exterior maxillipedes are formed as in _T. perlata_,
having the ischium and merus of the endognath distally truncated, the
merus rounded at its antero-external angle, and scarcely emarginate at
its antero-internal angle. The chelipedes in the adult male are unequal,
the right the larger; in both the merus is armed with a series of
spinules on the anterior margin, and with a somewhat longer spine near
the distal extremity; the carpus with a spine followed by a smaller
spinule on the inner margin; the palm is somewhat compressed and nearly
smooth, rounded above; the dactyl and pollex are denticulated on the
inner margins, and have between them, when closed, a rather narrow
interspace; the dactyl is slightly arcuated and as long as, or rather
shorter than, the palm. The ambulatory legs are of moderate length, with
the fourth to sixth joints compressed, and with the superior margins
acute; the margins of the penultimate joints near to the distal
extremity and the dactyli are armed with small spinuliform teeth, which
on the dactyli are disposed in four longitudinal series.
_Adult male._
Lines. Millims.
Length of carapace 17¼ 37
Breadth of carapace about 25½ 54·5
Length of a chelipede. 44 93·5
This form may be distinguished from other African species in which the
postfrontal crest is distinctly developed, by the following
characters:—From _T. perlata_, M. Edw., which is found at the Cape and
Port Natal, by the wider transverse carapace, which is more dilated at
the branchial regions, and not dorsally granulated near the
antero-lateral margins, and by the form of the orbit, whose inferior
margin is regularly concave (not as in specimens referred to _T.
perlata_ in the Museum collection), abruptly angulated near the interior
subocular lobe. From _T. inflata_, M. Edw., by the less convex carapace,
straight postfrontal crest, and the granulated line which borders the
antero-lateral margins of the carapace. _T. aubryi_, M. E., _T.
africana_, A. M. E., and _T. emarginata_, Kingsley, from the Gaboon,
West Africa, and Port Natal, have an additional tooth between the
exterior angle of the orbit and the postfrontal crest. In _T. goudoti_,
M. E., from Madagascar, the postfrontal crest is less developed, and the
immobile finger of the chelipedes forms more or less of an angle with
the inferior margin of the palm. Another species from Madagascar, _T.
madagascariensis_, A. M. E., which has not, I believe, been figured, is
distinguished by the lesser development of the postfrontal crest and the
straighter fingers of the chelipedes, which meet along their inner
margins. In the West African _T. bayoniana_, _T. anchietæ_, and _T.
dubia_, Brito Capello, the lateral epibranchial tooth is more developed.
In _T. limula_ Hilgendorf, from Senegambia, the postfrontal crest is
less distinctly developed near the lateral epibranchial teeth, behind
which, in the males, are indications of two other teeth.
3. A LIST OF THE LEPIDOPTERA COLLECTED BY MR. H. H. JOHNSTON DURING HIS
RECENT EXPEDITION TO KILIMA-NJARO. By F. D. GODMAN, F.R.S., &c.
Mr. Johnston’s collection of Lepidoptera contains 61 specimens,
including 27 species; of the latter there are 21 species of Rhopalocera
and 6 of Heterocera. Of the Rhopalocera I have described three species
as new, and a fourth, a _Chrysophanus_, of which only one specimen of a
female is in the collection, remains unnamed, though it too is probably
new. This small collection therefore contains nearly twenty per cent. of
novelties, which must be considered a high proportion.
But so small is the series that I do not think any comparison of the
Lepidopterous fauna of this region with that of the rest of Africa can
be entered upon with advantage. Suffice it to say that by far the
majority of the species are widely distributed African ones; that there
is a northern element, as shown in _Colias edusa_, and perhaps the
_Chrysophanus_; and that there is barely a trace of the Abyssinian fauna
in the materials before me. But these suggestions may all be set aside
whenever a representative collection is made. Of the 27 species no less
than 19 are represented by single specimens.
RHOPALOCERA.
1. DANAIS DORIPPUS.
_Euplœa dorippus_, Klug, Symb. Phys., Insecta, t. 48. f. 1–5.
Kilima-njaro, rocky, wooded, and cultivated country and grassy downs, at
4000–5000 feet, July.
Four examples (2 ♂︎, 2 ♀︎).
None of these specimens have any white on the secondaries, and agree
best with Fig. 5 of Klug’s plate. _D. dorippus_ is a common East African
species.
2. ACRÆA JOHNSTONI, sp. nov.
_Alis anticis rufis, apicibus et marginibus externis (introrsum valde
sinuatis; nigro-fuscis) posticis ad basin et marginibus externis
late nigrescentibus, area discali albida venis fuscis divisa; subtus
anticis fere omnino rufis ad marginem externum canescentibus, venis
nigris et inter eas striolis fuscescentibus; posticis ut supra limbo
externo canescente venis et striolis inter eas diviso; maculis
quibusdam ad basin nigris; palpis, femoribus iuterne, abdomine
infra, et maculis costalibus, rufis; capite et thorace maculis albis
notatis._
Kilima-njaro, clearing in forest at 5500 feet, September.
A single male specimen of this apparently very distinct species.
3. ACRÆA INSIGNIS.
_Acræa insignis_, Distant, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 184, t. xix. f. 6.
_Acræa Buxtoni_, Hew. Ent. Month. Mag. xiv. p. 154.
Kilima-njaro, wooded hills at 5000 feet, August.
This insect was first described by Hewitson from examples procured by
Buxton in the neighbourhood of Zanzibar, and was named by him after its
discoverer. Mr. Distant pointed out that the name _A. Buxtoni_ had been
already applied to another species by Mr. Butler, and hence renamed it
as above. Our collection contains a good series of this insect, chiefly
taken by Mr. Last at Mamboia in Eastern Central Africa. These exhibit
considerable variation in the amount of black at the base of the
secondaries, for while some specimens have only four or five isolated
spots, others have a large confluent patch occupying the basal third of
these wings, and between these two extremes we have every intermediate,
all captured in the same locality and at the same time.
Mr. Johnston procured but a single example, which has the confluent
black patch, and agrees in this respect with some of our own specimens
from Mamboia.
4. ACRÆA BRÆSIA, sp. nov.
_Alis anticis semihyalinis ad basin rosaceo suffusis macula in cellula
altera ad finem ejus quinque in serie fere recta ultra eam, una
inter ramos medianos, duabus inter ramum medianum primum et venam
submedianano nigris, margine externo fusco nigro maculis lunulatis
submarginalibus rufis, posticis rosaceis ad basin obscurioribus
margine externo nigro area discali plus minusve maculata; subtus
anticis fere ut supra posticis flavidis nigro distincte maculatis,
ad basin et marginem internum rosaceo notatis, margine externo nigro
lunulis septem flavidis includente; fronte, palpis et pedibus
fulvis; abdomine subtus flavido, lateribus albo maculatis; capite,
prothorace et thorace albido distincte maculatis._
Kilima-njaro, in wooded country at 5000 feet, August.
A single male specimen allied to _A. oncæa_, differing in its diaphanous
primaries and its more rosy secondaries.
5. ACRÆA NATALICA.
_Acræa natalica_, Boisd. Voy. Deleg. ii. p. 590; Hopff. Pet. Reise,
Zool. v. p. 371, t. 23. f. 12, 13.
Kilima-njaro, grassy downs at 6000 feet, June.
One example (♀︎).
Agrees best with specimens of this species, but the disk of the
secondaries is whiter and the spots in general are larger.
6. PYRAMEIS CARDUI.
_Papilio cardui_, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 276.
Kilima-njaro, in thin forest country at 7000 feet, July.
One much worn male.
7. JUNONIA CLELIA.
_Papilio cletia_, Cram. Pap. Exot. t. 21. f. E, F.
Kilima-njaro, rocky country at 4000 and 5000 feet, wooded country and
grassy downs at 5000 feet, June and July.
8. JUNONIA ÆNONE.
_Papilio ænone_, Linn. Mus. Ulr. pp. 274, 275.
Kilima-njaro, in rocky, grassy, and wooded country at 5000 feet, wooded
country at 6000 feet, June and July.
Six specimens, all males, of this widely ranging species.
9. PRECIS SESAMUS.
_Precis sesamus_, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1883, p. 347.
Kilima-njaro, forest country at 7000 feet, July.
One example (♂︎).
10. LYCÆNA GAIKA.
_Lycæna gaika_, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 3rd ser. i. p. 403.
Kilima-njaro, grassy downs at 5000 feet, June.
One male.
The single specimen agrees with Trimen’s description and with our series
of this species. It appears to us to be distinct from _L. lysamon_, with
which Mr. Trimen united his _L. gaika_ in the “Rhopalocera Africæ
Australis.” Both species occur in South Africa, but _L. lysamon_ may
always be distinguished by the presence of a black spot within the cell
of the primaries.
11. CHRYSOPHANUS, sp.?
Kilima-njaro, grassy downs at 5000 feet, June.
A single female example of a true _Chrysophanus_, which we are unable to
recognize and which we hesitate to describe without specimens of the
other sex.
12. TERIAS RAHEL?
_Papilio rahel_, Fabr. Ent. Syst. iii. p. 204 (apud Trimen).
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5000 feet, August.
A single female specimen, which we cannot undertake to determine with
certainty without examples of the other sex. It may possibly be a female
of _T. candace_, Feld., from Abyssinia.
13. PIERIS SEVERINA.
_Papilio severina_, Cram. Pap. Exot. t. 338, f. G, H.
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5000 to 6000 feet, July and August.
Taveita, dense forest at 2300 feet, September.
One male and three females.
14. PIERIS HELLICA.
_Papilio hellica_, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 760.
Kilima-njaro, wooded, rocky, and cultivated ground, grassy downs, at
4000 to 5500 feet, July and August.
Thirteen males and one female.
All the specimens have the primaries rather more pointed, with a
slightly blacker apex, and the colouring of the underside is brighter
than in the examples in our collection.
15. ERONIA CLEODORA.
_Eronia cleodora_, Hübn. Samml. exot. Schmett. ii. t. 130.
Tavieta, in dense forest at 2300 feet.
16. CALLIDRYAS PYRENE.
_Colias pyrene_, Swains. Zool. Ill. i. t. 51.
Kilima-njaro, in wooded country at 5000 feet.
Two females only.
17. CALLIDRYAS FLORELLA.
_Papilio florella_, Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 479.
Kilima-njaro, in wooded country at 6000 feet.
A single female specimen.
18. COLIAS EDUSA.
_Papilio edusa_, Fabr. Mant. Ins. ii. p. 23.
Kiliman-njaro, wooded and grassy country at 4000 and 5000 feet, July.
Four males and one female.
19. TERACOLUS AURIGINIUS.
_Teracolus auriginius_, Butl. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vol. xii. p.
103.
Kilima-njaro, in wooded and grassy country, 5000 and 6000 feet.
Two examples agreeing with specimens in the British Museum thus named by
Mr. Butler.
20. PAPILIO DEMOLEUS.
_Papilio demoleus_, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 753.
Kilima-njaro, in wooded country at 5000 feet, August.
A single specimen of this common African species.
21. PAPILIO BRONTES, sp. nov.
_Alis nigris fascia lata communi, ad costam anticarum disjuncta,
metallico-cæruleo, macula parva ad anticarum apicem et posticis
serie submarginali ejusdem coloris; subtus fusco-nigris anticis ad
apicem et posticis omnino, brunnescentioribus, his venis et striis
tribus in cellula longitudinalibus nigris, fascia communi
submarginali a vena mediana anticarum ad angulum posticarum analem
transeunte, venis nigris divisa, in anticis quoque inter venas
bisecta lactescente-alba, margine posticarum interno maculis parvis
duabus ejusdem coloris, posticis subcaudatis, vena mediana
producta._
Kilima-njaro, in forest country at 5000 feet, August.
Allied to _Papilio bromius_, but the transverse band is of a deeper
blue, both wings are less elongated, the secondaries are more acutely
produced at the anal angle. Beneath, the light coloured submarginal band
is straighter on the secondaries and less broken up, moreover it is
extended on the primaries as far as the median nervure beyond the cell,
the apex of primaries and the secondaries are browner and though the
latter have three radiating streaks in the cell as in _P. bromius_,
there are no intervenal streaks beyond it.
A single male specimen is the only one Mr. Johnston obtained.
HETEROCERA.
Mr. Johnston’s collection contains six specimens of as many species of
Heterocera, and for these Mr. Butler has kindly given us the following
names.
22. ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.
Kilima-njaro, forest at 3000 feet, September.
23. MECYNA POLYGONALIS.
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5000 feet, August.
24. HYPINA, sp.?
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5000 feet, July.
25. STERRHA OACRARIA.
Kilima-njaro, scrubby heath at 8000 feet, July.
26. PRODENIA?
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5000 feet, September.
27. AMYNA, sp.?
Kilima-njaro, wooded country at 5500 feet, August.
4. ON THE INSECTS COLLECTED ON KILIMA-NJARO BY MR. H. H. JOHNSTON. By
CHAS. O. WATERHOUSE.
COLEOPTERA.[40]
The series of Coleoptera collected by Mr. Johnston comprises examples of
fifty-six species. Many of them belong to widely distributed genera and
are not of special interest.
Of the nine species taken at an elevation of 10,000 to 14,000 feet, the
following are worthy of note:—Two male examples of _Carabus Deckeni_,
Gerstaecker, which was described from a single female example found in
this mountain. The species, however, proves to be a _Calosoma_, and not
a _Carabus_, and is nearly allied to a species found in Abyssinia.
There is a single specimen of one of the Trichiidæ, which I have
provisionally placed in the genus _Calometopus_, although the clypeus
not being emarginate it is possible that a new genus may have to be made
for its reception. I have named the species _Calometopus planatus_.
There are only two species of this genus known, _C. senegalensis_ and
_C. nyassæ_.
The third species which I would mention is one of the Heteromera of the
family Moluridæ. I have named it _Melanolophus ater_; it appears to be
most nearly allied to _M. septemcostatus_, described by Fairmaire in
Revoil’s “Faune et Flore des Pays Çomalis,” but which, if I have
correctly determined it, occurs also in Abyssinia.
Of the species found at lower elevations the majority, so far as I have
identified them, are only known from South-east Africa (e.g. _Melyris
parvula_, Gerst., _Himatismus buprestoides_, Gerst., _Amiantus
castanopterus_, Haag, _Sepidium muscorum_, Gerst., _Anomalipus
heraldicus_, Gerst., _Mylabris kersteni_, Gerst., _Epicauta dichrocera_,
Gerst., _Rhopalizus sansibaricus_, Gerst., _Phrissoma giganteum_,
Guérin); others are found in most parts of Africa (e.g. _Calosoma
senegalensis_, Dej., _Oryctes boas_, Fabr.).
Of the new species which I describe, _Scarabæus cribricollis_ has its
nearest ally, so far as I know, in an Indian species _S. sanctus_,
Fabr.; _Amblysterna Johnstoni_ is nearest to _A. natalensis_, Fabr.
CARABIDÆ.
CARABUS DECKENI, Gerst.
This interesting species was described by Dr. Gerstaecker (Wiegm. Arch.
f. Naturg., 1867, p. 10; Von der Decken’s Reise in Ost-Africa, iii. p.
56, pl. iv. f. 2) from a single female example found by Dr. Kersten on
Kilima-njaro at an elevation of 8000 feet.
The two examples male and female found by Mr. Johnston differ from the
female described by Dr. Gerstaecker in being rather smaller (only 13
millim. long), and, so far as one can judge from description, in having
the elytra smoother with less impressed striæ.
Dr. Gerstaecker remarks on the fact of a species of _Carabus_ being
found in this locality, none ever having been found before in South
Africa. The species, however, is not a _Carabus_, but a _Calosoma_, as
is indicated by the compressed third joint of the antennæ; a character
which Dr. Gerstaecker overlooked when he stated that the separate joints
of the antennæ are formed as in _Carabus pumilio_.
SCARABÆIDÆ.
SCARABÆUS CRIBRICOLLIS, n. sp.
Black, somewhat dull. Head closely and very strongly punctured, the
punctures longitudinally confluent on the front of the clypeus, the
anterior teeth of which are rather acute and moderately reflexed. Thorax
nearly twice as broad as long, moderately convex, with a transverse
impression in the middle of the base. In the middle of the disk is a
shining (but finely punctured) line, which does not extend much beyond
the middle; all the rest of the surface is strongly punctured; the
punctures near the shining line are a little separated from each other,
but at the sides and on the fore part they are crowded together and
asperate; the sides are strongly rounded, finely serrate, and fringed
with black hair. The elytra are a little narrower than the thorax, very
slightly narrowed posteriorly, dull, but with the suture shining; the
striæ are fine, the interstices flat and finely coriaceous (except the
sutural interstices and the scutellar region), with numerous dull
shallow punctiform impressions placed very irregularly. Femora and tibiæ
fringed with black hair. Sternum smooth and shining, with a well-marked
broad impression between the intermediate legs.
Length 22 millim.
This species most nearly resembles the Indian _Scarabæus sanctus_, Fabr.
The sides of the thorax are, however, more regularly rounded, much less
sinuate before the posterior angles; the shining discoidal line is
broader, and there are no smooth spots on each side of this line. The
elytra have the striæ finer and neater, the interstices are flatter,
coriaceous, with the punctiform impressions smaller and more separated
from each other.
ONTHOPHAGUS JOHNSTONI, n. sp.
Entirely black, except the apex of the antennæ, which is rusty-yellow.
Head as long as broad, obliquely narrowed in front of the middle,
rounded at the apex, closely and coarsely rugose, except near the eyes.
There is a slightly raised straight ridge between the eyes, and a
second, longer one halfway between this and the front of the clypeus.
The thorax is smooth, shining at the sides and in front, slightly dull
above; the fore part is perpendicularly truncate; the truncature bounded
above by a slightly prominent ridge; viewed from the front there are
three shallow impressions: on each side there is a line of small
tubercles bounding the discoidal area; the surface of the disk is
moderately closely but extremely delicately punctured, and appears
impunctate to the naked eye; the sides are more distinctly punctured:
the base is oblique on each side, and is angularly produced in the
middle. The elytra are convex, shining, not quite twice as wide as the
length at the suture, rounded at the sides and apex, very delicately
striated, the striæ delicately punctured; the interstices flat,
sparingly punctured; near the suture the punctures are extremely
delicate but become more distinct towards the sides. The pygidium is
rather sparingly but distinctly punctured. The sides of the sterna, the
margins of the femora, and the posterior tibiæ are fringed with long
black hair.
Length 21–25 millim.
I know of no species which much resembles this. Its most near ally is a
species which I have seen named _O. noctis_, Th., in Mr. Bates’s
collection. The species has somewhat the general build of _O. marsyas_,
Ol.; the head is longer, the clypeus not sinuous at the sides; the
thorax rather flatter above, with a prominent, nearly straight ridge in
front above the anterior perpendicular truncature; the anterior angles
are as if truncated; the base is more angularly produced in the middle
of the base; the elytra are scarcely narrowed at the base, &c.
TRICHIIDÆ.
CALOMETOPUS? PLANATUS, n. sp.
Nearly black; the elytra dark testaceous, with the suture, margins, and
a lunate spot near the scutellum smoky black. Antennæ and tibiæ reddish
yellow, the margins of the abdominal segments pale yellow. Head very
closely and rather strongly punctured; the clypeus more finely
punctured, a little broader than long, _not_ emarginate at the apex, but
slightly arcuate, the angles obtuse; all the margins reflexed. Thorax a
very little broader than long, moderately convex, very strongly and
rather closely punctured, parallel at the sides to considerably in front
of the middle, where it is obliquely narrowed; the anterior angles
nearly right-angles, very slightly prominent; the posterior angles
obtusely rounded; the base gently arcuate and margined: on the disk
there is a slight impression a little in front of the middle: the sides
have the lateral ridge only behind the middle and at the anterior angle;
the slightly swollen under flank is thus not separated from the upper
surface of the thorax in front of the middle. Scutellum elongate,
triangular, strongly punctured. Elytra twice as broad as the thorax, a
little longer than broad; flat, with the sides nearly perpendicularly
deflexed; dull, the suture and sublateral ridge shining: each elytron
with six somewhat irregular dorsal lines of dark punctures; the apex
closely rugulose. Pygidium closely vermiculate-strigose. Club of the
antennæ a little longer than all the previous joints taken together.
Body beneath and the legs sparingly clothed with yellow hair. Anterior
tibiæ obtusely tridentate. The posterior tibiæ with a triangular tooth a
little below the middle; the edge above this tooth with four or five
small teeth. Tarsi long and slender; claws red. Abdomen shining, not
very closely but strongly punctured; the basal segment yellow in the
middle, margined with yellow at the sides.
Length 12 millim.
A single example was met with. It is probable that this species may have
to be separated from _Calometopus_ on account of the form of the
clypeus, which is not emarginate. Never having seen the type of the
genus (_C. senegalensis_), I am unable at present to say in what other
way it differs.
BUPRESTIDÆ.
AMBLYSTERNA JOHNSTONI, n. sp.
Size and general form of _A. natalensis_, Fabr. Golden green, shining,
the underside and legs coppery, the sides of the abdomen violet. Thorax
more convex than in _A. natalensis_, more closely and much more strongly
punctured; the sides more regularly arcuate, with only a very small
lateral impression; the dorsal median channel well-marked. Elytra very
strongly and irregularly punctured, with small punctures interspersed;
the punctures near the shoulders are somewhat transverse, and the
interspaces being very narrow become transverse rugæ. All the large
punctures are finely punctured and filled with pale pubescence, which
gives the elytra a speckled appearance. The lateral and apical costæ are
as in _A. natalensis_, but not so strongly marked, and there is no
lateral stripe above the lateral costa. Antennæ black, with the opaque
portions smoky. Underside of the body somewhat violet, the abdominal
segments margined with green. Legs coppery.
Length 25 millim.
PSILOPTERA LÆTA, n. sp. (Illustrated P. Z. S. 1885, p. 235.)
Rather parallel, depressed, bluish green above, brassy green below. Head
very rugose. Thorax nearly one-third broader than long, a little broader
across the middle than at the base, and then obliquely narrowed in
front, with a shallow median impression and one on each side; the
surface rather strongly but very irregularly punctured, coarsely
rugulose-punctate at the sides; the irregular space on each side of the
median impression sparingly punctured, shining coppery; and a little
more removed from the middle there is an irregular-shaped coppery spot a
little in front of the middle. Scutellum black. Elytra nearly parallel
for two-thirds their length, then narrowed to the apex, not very convex,
with lines of somewhat strong punctures; the alternate interstices flat,
the others in parts very slightly convex; the flat interstices are
strongly and not very closely punctured; the others have each about
eight ovate finely punctured impressions; the raised parts smooth and
slightly brassy. At the sides there is a submarginal, closely, and
finely punctured impressed line, extending from under the shoulder to
near the apex; in this stripe there is some very fine whitish
pubescence, which is only visible in certain lights. Prosternum with a
triangular projection on each side of the front margin. Abdomen
irregularly and strongly punctured, and finely pubescent.
Length 30 millim.
MOLURIDÆ.
MELANOLOPHUS ATER, n. sp. (Illustrated P. Z. S. 1885, p. 235.)
Dull black. Head closely and strongly punctured, with a slight
impression on the forehead. Antennæ with the third joint nearly as long
as the fourth and fifth taken together; the fourth joint a little longer
than broad, the following joints very similar; the tenth joint the same
length as the ninth, but broader than long; the eleventh as broad as the
tenth, but short, truncate at the apex. Thorax as long as broad, or even
a trifle longer, very convex (densely and strongly punctured, the
intervals irregular, shining, rugæ or granules), moderately narrowed at
the base and apex; arcuate at the sides, with no lateral ridge; the
front margin nearly straight, the anterior angles not prominent, the
base slightly bowed. Elytra not quite twice as broad as the thorax,
oblong-ovate, moderately convex; each elytron with three zigzag shining
costæ (two dorsal, one lateral), the interstices plicate and rugulose;
the suture not costiform. The sides of the elytra shining, the surface
uneven and sparingly punctured. Prosternal process closely and rather
strongly punctured; the meso- and metasterna less so. Abdomen dull, very
finely punctured, the punctuation of the apical segment rather stronger.
Legs rugose, _not_ clothed with paler tomentum.
Length 14–15 millim.
The females are rather broader than the males, especially in the elytra,
which are more oblong and somewhat flattened dorsally. The males have
two very small shining spots on the disk of the thorax in front of the
middle, and there is an indication of a fine median line.
I have been in doubt whether to place this species in the genus
_Amiantus_ or the more recent genus _Melanolophus_, Fairm. (Faun, et Fl.
des Pays Çomalis, 1882, p. 69). The general form is, however, more that
of _Melanolophus_, but the suture of the elytra is not costiform. The
anterior angles of the thorax are not produced forward as in _Amiantus_.
The antennæ are rather shorter than in either of these genera.
HYMENOPTERA, ORTHOPTERA, &c.
The other Insects collected by Mr. Johnston do not present anything
remarkable. There is, however, a very fine specimen of Mantis (_Idolum
diabolicum_, Saussure), of which a male example in the British Museum is
from the White Nile.
LIST OF BIRDS COLLECTED OR OBSERVED ON KILIMA-NJARO AND ITS
VICINITY.[41]
BY CAPTAIN G. E. SHELLEY, F.Z.S., AND MR. H. H. JOHNSTON, F.Z.S.
⁂ Those birds which were only observed by the author, and the skins of
which were not obtained, have their numbers inserted in brackets.
1. ALSEONAX MINIMA (Heugl.).
_Muscicapa minima_, Heugl. Orn. N. O.-Afr. p. 435, pl. 18. f. 1. ♂︎, 4000
feet; ♂︎, 6000 feet; ♂︎, 7000 feet.
2. MUSCICAPA JOHNSTONI.
_Muscicapa Johnstoni_, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 558.
♀︎, 6000 feet.
Found on the southern slope of the mountain just above Moši, on the
borders of the cultivated district.
3. LANIUS CAUDATUS, Cab.
_Lanius caudatus_, Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 254; Fischer,
Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 344.
♂︎, 3000 feet. In immature plumage.
This species affects the desert and waterless districts at the foot of
the mountain, where it perches upon the low shrubs, and pounces upon the
grasshoppers, which are very abundant in these districts, and form its
principal food.
4. LANIUS COLLARIS, Linn.
_Lanius collaris_, Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. 1883, p. 255.
_Lanius humeralis_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
344.
♂︎, 4000 feet; ♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, 6000 feet; 2 ♀︎, 7000 feet.
One of the commonest birds on the mountain, and very bold.
5. DRYOSCOPUS SUBLACTEUS, Cass.
_Dryoscopus sublacteus_, Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. 1883, p. 140;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 348.
♂︎, 3000 feet; ♂︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, 8000 feet.
6. DRYOSCOPUS CUBLA (Shaw).
_Dryoscopus cubla_, Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 148; Fischer,
Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 345.
♂︎ ♀︎, 3000 feet; ♂︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, not labelled. The female had the irides
scarlet.
7. CRATEROPUS KIRKI, Sharpe.
_Crateropus Kirki_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
316.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
Very common and bold.
8. PYCNONOTUS LAYARDI, Gurney.
_Pycnonotus Layardi_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vi. 1881, p. 132;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 341.
♀︎, 3000 feet; 2 ♀︎, 5000 feet.
9. TURDUS CABANISI, Bp.
_Turdus cabanisi_, Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. 1881, p. 229.
♂︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, 6000 feet.
The most northern locality of this species, whence it ranges southward
on the east coast to the Transvaal.
Almost confined to inhabited districts.
10. PINAROCHROA HYPOSPODIA, sp. n.[42]
Kilima-njaro, ♀︎, 14,000 feet.
Close to _P. sordida_ (Rüpp.), which is the type of the genus
_Pinarochroa_; but the present bird is slightly larger, paler and less
isabelline beneath, and has the white on the tail more limited, each
feather having broad blackish-brown ends.
Upper parts brown, slightly darker on the crown and quills; tail—the
four outer pairs of feathers white with broad blackish-brown ends; this
colour extends somewhat down their shafts, and covers about one-third of
the end-portion of the outer web of the exterior feather, and nearly the
entire inner web of the third feather from the centre; the centre two
pairs entirely black. The wing-coverts and inner secondaries are broadly
edged with sandy brown, and the remainder of the quills have almost
obsolete similarly coloured edges. Sides of the head in front of the eye
and the cheeks slightly washed with ashy brown. Underparts ashy buff,
slightly darker on the lower throat and front and sides of the chest,
and passing into rufous-shaded brown on the flanks, thighs, and under
tail-coverts; under surface of the wings dark brown with the coverts
rufous-brown; the axillaries and inner margins of the quills ashy buff.
Total length 5–7 inches, culmen 0·55, wing 3, tail 2·2, tarsus 1·25.
Found only at great altitudes, affecting the grassy and boulder regions,
where they are to be seen in family parties of from three to five. Here
they enliven the desert scenery by flitting before the traveller with a
constantly repeated pleasing chirp, and perched upon the boulders flit
their tails up and down after the manner of Chats.
11. PRATINCOLA AXILLARIS.
_Pratincola axillaris_, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 556.
♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet; 3 ♂︎, 6000 feet; ♀︎, 7000 feet; ♂︎, 8000 feet; ♂︎, 10,000
feet. Breeds in September.
Very abundant but not met with below 5000 feet. They are bold, and
frequent the native villages in their lower range.
12. PRINIA MYSTACEA, Rüpp.
_Prinia mystacea_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vii. p. 191.
_Drymæca tenella_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 312.
♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet.
13. CISTICOLA SUBRUFICAPILLA (Smith).
_Cisticola subruficapilla_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vii. p. 283.
♂︎, 5500 feet; ♀︎, 8000 feet.
14. NECTARINIA FAMOSA (Linn.).
_Nectarinia famosa_, Shelley, Monogr. Nect. p. 13, pl. 5.
♂︎ in partial moult, 2 ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 6000 feet; ♂︎ in moult, 7000 feet.
Very abundant.
15. NECTARINIA JOHNSTONI, sp. n.[43]
♂︎, Kilima-njaro, 11,000 feet.
Very similar in size, form, and colour to _N. famosa_, but readily
distinguished by the pectoral tufts being bright scarlet.
Entire head, neck, back, least and median wing-coverts, and chest
metallic green, with the base of the feathers black; a small black patch
from the gape to the eye. The head, neck, and back have a slight golden
shade, not so strong as is generally the case in _N. famosa_, while the
rump and upper tail-coverts have a bluish lustre; remainder of the wings
brownish black with a slight purple gloss; the greater wing-coverts are
partially edged with metallic green, shaded with bronzy violet on a few
of the outer feathers; the primary-coverts and the greater secondaries
show, in certain lights, faint indications of similar metallic edges.
Tail purplish black, the feathers towards the centre being narrowly and
partially edged with bluish green. Axillary tufts bright scarlet;
abdomen, thighs, and under surface of the wings blackish brown; under
tail-coverts purplish black, with slight traces of metallic bluish-green
margins to a few of the feathers. The under wing-coverts towards the
bend of the wing are tipped with metallic green. Bill and legs black.
Total length 10·6 inches, culmen 1·25, wing 3·3, tail 6·6, tarsus 0·7.
Very abundant. Not seen lower than 5000 or 6000 feet, but reaches higher
up the mountain than any other bird with the exception of _Corvultur
albicollis_ and _Pinarochroa hypospodia_. Found very much round a
curious teazle-like lobelia (_L. Deckeni_). Also at lower levels it
affects the tall aloe flower-shoots.
16. NECTARINIA KILIMENSIS, Shelley.
_Nectarinia kilimensis_, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 555.
Two ♂︎, 3000 feet; ♂︎ ♀︎, 4000 feet; 4 ♂︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 5600 feet; ♂︎, not
labelled.
Found mostly near base of mountain, very common. Rarely if ever seen
above 5600 feet.
17. NECTARINIA REICHENOWI (Fischer).[44]
_Nectarinia Reichenowi_, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 556, pl. 51.
_Drepanorhynchus Reichenowi_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz),
1884, p. 338.
♂︎, 4000 feet; 2 ♀︎, 5000 feet. Never seen above 5000 feet.
They abound in the native plantations, being, in common with most of the
other Sun-birds, attracted there by the flowers of the sweet potato and
of various beans and peas.
18. CINNYRIS AFFINIS, Rüpp.
_Cinnyris affinis_, Shelley, Monogr. Nect. p. 239, pl. 74. fig. 2.
♂︎, 4000 feet; ♂︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, not labelled.
Very abundant at low levels.
19. CINNYRIS MEDIOCRIS, sp. n.
♂︎, Kilima-njaro, 12,000 feet.
Intermediate between _C. chalybeus_ and _C. chloropygius_, but with the
bills lightly more curved than in either. It resembles _C. chalybeus_ in
the colouring of the metallic parts, having the blue terminal collar to
the throat and blue upper tail-coverts; but differs from that species
and resembles _C. chloropygius_ in the colouring of the abdomen, thighs,
under tail-coverts, and wings, which are darker and more olive than in
_C. chalybeus_.
Entire head, neck, back, least and median wing-coverts uniform metallic
golden green; upper tail-coverts steel-blue; remainder of the wings dark
brown, with the margins of the feathers shaded with olive; the green of
the throat terminates in a narrow steel-blue collar, followed by a broad
scarlet collar; pectoral tufts yellow; remainder of the underparts
brownish olive, slightly washed with olive-yellow; thighs dark-brown;
bill and legs black. Total length 4·6 inches, culmen 0.7, wing 2·1, tail
2, tarsus 0·7.
Fairly abundant. Only remarked in upper regions.
20. CINNYRIS KIRKI, Shelley.
_Cinnyris Kirki_, Shelley, Monogr. Nect. p. 273, pl. 85; Fischer,
Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1885, p. 339.
♂︎ in moult, 3000 feet; ♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 7000 feet.
21. MOTACILLA LONGICAUDA, Rüpp.
_Motacilla longicauda_, Rüpp, Neue Wirb. pl. 29. fig. 2.
Two ♂︎, 6000 feet.
22. POLIOSPIZA TRISTRIATA, Rüpp.
_Poliospiza tristriata_, Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 642.
♀︎, 8000 feet. Found in small flocks.
23. CITRINELLA CITRINELLOIDES, Rüpp.
_Citrinella citrinelloides_, Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 644.
♀︎, 6000 feet; ♂︎, 7000 feet.
24. VIDUA PRINCIPALIS (Linn.).
_Vidua principalis_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
325.
Two ♂︎, 5000 feet.
25. ?PENTHETRIA EQUES, Hartl.
_Penthetria eques_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
326.
♂︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 7000 feet.
These are immature specimens or in the brown winter plumage, and can
therefore only be doubtfully referred to this species.
26. HYPHANTORNIS OCULARIUS (Smith).
_Hyphantornis ocularius_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884,
p. 331.
♂︎, 2300 feet; ♂︎, 6000 feet.
27. SYCOBROTUS REICHENOWI, Fischer.
_Sycobrotus Reichenowi_, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 557.
_Hyphanturgus Reichenowi_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884,
p. 331.
2 ♂︎, 3 ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, 6000 feet.
Breeds in colonies, especially affecting palm-trees.
28. ORIOLUS NOTATUS, Peters.
_Oriolus notatus_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 196; Fischer,
Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 334.
♂︎, 2500 feet. Irides carmine.
29. AMYDRUS MORIO (Linn.).
♂︎, 7000 feet.
This is a full adult male, agreeing perfectly in its measurements with
Natal specimens.
Met with in small flocks of five or six. They utter a low pleasing cry
or soft whistle and frequent small thickets.
30. CORVULTUR ALBICOLLIS (Lath.).
_Corvultur albicollis_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 24.
_Archicorax albicollis_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884,
p. 336.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
Inhabits the whole mountain up to the snow, and breeds in August in
crevices in the most inaccessible rocks.
31. CORVUS SCAPULATUS, Daud.
_Corvus scapulatus_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. 1877, p. 22;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 337.
♀︎, 5000 feet.
More a bird of the plains than the mountainous region, where its place
is taken by _Corvultur_.
32. BARBATULA LEUCOTIS, Sundev.
_Barbatula leucotis_, Marshalls, Monogr. Capitonidæ, p. 131, pl. 52.
_Megalæma leucotis_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
371.
♂︎, 3000 feet; ♀︎, 6000 feet.
It inhabits the dense forest, where its presence is often proclaimed by
its harsh strident note, which it repeats at intervals, and being a bold
bird is easily killed. The first pair were met with at Taveita, perched
on the bough of a mimosa, and others were seen on the southern flank of
the mountain up to 6000 feet.
[33.] DENDROPICUS sp.
Shot in country of Taita, alt. 3000 feet. Skin lost.
34. HAPALODERMA NARINA (Vieill.).
_Hapaloderma narina_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
368.
♂︎, 3000 feet.
This specimen agrees better with the Natal birds, with which we have
compared it, than with the equatorial race, _H. constantia_, Sharpe.
Only one specimen seen at Taveita, in the forest, and must be scarce, as
the natives appear to have no name for it.
35. EURYSTOMUS AFER (Lath.).
_Eurystomus afer_, Sharpe, Ibis, 1871, p. 274.
Two ♂︎, 4000 feet.
Often mob birds of prey.
36. HALCYON ORIENTALIS, Peters.
_Halcyon orientalis_, Sharpe, Monogr. Alcedinidæ, p. 181, pl. 66;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 361.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
Feeds principally upon the small crabs which inhabit the
mountain-streams.
37. BUCEROS CRISTATUS, Rüpp.
_Bycanistes cristatus_; Elliot, Monogr. Bucerotidæ, pl. 26.
_Buceros cristatus_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
361.
♂︎, 4000 feet; ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 6000 feet.
Generally distributed over the mountain up to 6000 feet, especially near
habitations. They show no fear of man, being generally protected by the
natives, who look upon them with superstitious awe, arising possibly
from their being useful scavengers, as well as from their peculiar loud
cry, which resembles at times that of the wailing of a woman in
distress, at others that of the braying of an ass. In August and
September they were breeding, and occasionally the head of the female
might be seen peering out from a hole in a tree some thirty or forty
feet high, where she had been plastered in by her affectionate husband.
By the chips lying about, it would appear that these holes are excavated
by the birds to the required size. They are monogamous, and show great
affection for each other, which is fortunate, as the female during
incubation has entirely to rely on her mate for daily subsistence.
38. BUCEROS MELANOLEUCUS, Licht.
_Tockus melanoleucus_, Elliot, Monogr. Bucerotidæ, pl. 49.
♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet.
[39.] BUCORVUS ABYSSINICUS.
The ground hornbill, very frequently seen on Kilima-njaro and elsewhere
in vicinity of native villages, not higher than 5000 feet. Never noticed
in open country away from human habitations. Rigorously protected by
natives, on account of its scavenging habits.
40. TURACUS HARTLAUBI (Fischer and Reichenow).
_Corythaix Hartlaubi_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn.(Madaraz), 1884, p.
363.
♂︎ ♀︎, 10,000 feet. Bill red and green. Skin round the eyes scarlet. Sexes
similar.
It frequents the forest, and is most abundant at about 9000 feet. Its
loud cry may be frequently heard, but it is difficult to see amongst the
thick foliage, and still more difficult to approach, being very shy.
41. COLIUS LEUCOTIS, Rüpp.
_Colius leucotis_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 363.
♂︎, 5000 feet; 2 ♂︎, 6000 feet.
[42.] PŒOCEPHALUS RÜPPELLII.
Observed in the country of Taita.
Not met with on Kilima-njaro.
43. FRANCOLINUS SCHUETTI, Cab.
_Francolinus (Scleroptera) Schuetti_, Cab. J. f. O. 1880, p. 351; 1881,
pl. 2.
_Francolinus Schuetti_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
382.
♂︎, 6000 feet.
Frequents the rocks and was very abundant at 5000 feet. It was not met
with in the plains.
44. FRANCOLINUS ALTUMI, Fischer and Reichen.
_Francolinus Altumi_, Fischer and Reichen. J. f. O. 1884, p. 179, pl. 2;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 383.
♂︎, 6000 feet.
This species frequents the plains more than the mountains.
[45.] NUMIDA CRISTATA.
The crested guinea-fowl. Often killed in plains and ravines at the base
of the mountain.
[46.] NUMIDA CORNUTA.
Very common in low country.
[47.] COTURNIX HISTRIONICA.
Common in plains.
[48.] OTIS sp.
Frequently met with in plains at base of the mountain.
[49.] LOBIVANELLUS ALBICEPS.
On Lake ǰipé.
[50.] STERNA CASPIA.
On Lake ǰipé,
[51.] TRERON WAKEFIELDI, Sharpe.
_Treron Wakefieldi_, Shelley, Ibis, 1883, p. 269.
Two ♂︎ ♀︎, 5000 feet; ♀︎, 6000 feet.
Seen generally in pairs, eats the sycamore-figs.
PROC. ZOOL. SOC.—1885, No. XVI.
[52.] PALUMBUS ARQUATRIX (Temm.).
_Palumbus arquatrix_, Shelley, Ibis, 1883, p. 283.
♂︎, 10,000 feet.
Bare skin round eyes, bill, and feet saffron-yellow. This specimen
agrees perfectly with others from Natal. Only noticed at great altitudes
from 8500 feet to 10,300 feet. Seen in pairs in the dense forests,
sometimes in company with _Turacus Hartlaubi_.
[53.] TYMPANISTRIA TYMPANISTRIA (Temm.).
_Tympanistria tympanistria_, Shelley, Ibis, 1883, p. 326.
_Peristera tympanistria_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884,
p. 278.
♀︎, 5000 ft.
[54.] TURTUR VINACEUS.
Everywhere at base of mountain.
[55.] TURTUR SEMITORQUATUS.
Common in plains, near water.
[56.] CHALCOPELIA AFRA.
In low country.
[57.] BALEARICA PAVONINA.
In numbers near Lake ǰipé.
[58.] PORPHYRIO, sp.
In the vicinity of Lake ǰipé and the River Ruvu.
[59.] CHENALOPEX ÆYGYPTIACA.
Lake ǰipé.
[60.] ANAS XANTHORHYNCUS?
Streams at high altitudes, 8000 feet to 11,000 feet.
[61.] PELICANUS ONOCROTALUS.
Lake ǰipé.
[62.] NYCTICORAX, sp.?
Lake ǰipé and R. Lumi.
[63.] ARDEA PURPUREA.
Lake ǰipé and R. Lumi.
[64.] ARDEA GOLIATH.
Lake ǰipé.
[65.] ARDEA ALBA.
Lake ǰipé.
[66.] ARDEA BUBULCUS.
Lake ǰipé and most rivers. This bird often follows the cattle of natives
to pick off the ticks that infest them.
[67.] SCOPUS UMBRETTA.
Lake ǰipé and R. Lumi. _Very_ common.
[68.] XENORHYNCUS SENEGALENSIS.
Lake ǰipé.
[69.] LEPTOPTILUS CRUMENIFERUS.
Very common in plains. Follows the Masai armies in their raids, and
frequents Masai settlements. Rarely seen away from the society of man.
70. IBIS HAGEDASH (Lath.).
_Ibis hagedash_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 386.
♀︎, 3000 feet. Irides scarlet.
Shot in a marsh near Taveita out of a small flock of ten or twelve.
[71.] SERPENTARIUS SECRETARIUS.
The “Secretary Bird.” Very common in the plains.
72. POLYBOROIDES TYPICUS, Smith.
_Polyboroides typicus_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 48.
♀︎, 5000 feet.
Only met with in the neighbourhood of villages. Their feathers and those
of the kite are much prized by the natives for the ornamentation of
their capes.
[73.] NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS.
The Egyptian vulture. Common up to an alt. of 5000 feet.
74. NEOPHRON MONACHUS (Temm.).
_Neophron monachus_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 19.
_Neophron pileatus_, Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p.
376.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
Not observed higher up the mountain, as it frequents the more thickly
inhabited parts; often in flocks associated with the ground hornbills
and the white-necked ravens.
[75.] VULTUR CINEREUS?
Plains round Kilima-njaro.
[76.] GYPS RÜPPELLII.
[77.] OTOGYPS?
Plains round Kilima-njaro.
[78.] SPIZAETUS, sp.
Found on Kilima-njaro up to 8000 feet alt.
[79.] HALIÆTUS VOCIFER.
Lake ǰipé and Ruvu R.
[80.] HELIOTARSUS ECAUDATUS.
Plains round Kilima-njaro.
81. BUTEO AUGUR, Rüpp.
_Buteo augur_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 175; Fischer, Zeitschr.
ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 374.
♂︎, 4000 feet; ♂︎, 5000 feet; ♂︎, 8000 feet.
82. BUTEO DESERTORUM (Daud).
_Buteo desertorum_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 179; Fischer,
Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 374.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
83. ASTURINULA MONOGRAMMICA (Temm.).
_Asturinula monogrammica_, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 275;
Fischer, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. (Madaraz), 1884, p. 374.
♂︎, 5000 feet.
84. STRUTHIO DANAOIDES, Shelley.
The ostrich of E. Equatorial Africa. Eggs brought back; collected in
vicinity of Taveita. Young ostriches kept in captivity by me in that
place.
This ostrich, I am informed by the natives, lives a good deal on insects
and small reptiles, as well as on leaves and herbage. The young
ostriches I kept at Taveita ate raw meat in preference to anything else,
though they would also swallow leaves and chopped grass.
* * * * *
LIST OF MAMMALS OBTAINED AND OBSERVED ON MOUNT KILIMA-NJARO AND ITS
VICINITY.
By OLDFIELD THOMAS, F.Z.S. With a few additional notes by the Author.
⁂ The species which have their numbers bracketed were those of which
skins or horns were not brought home, and which were either identified
by the Author in their particular habitat, or approximately named by Mr.
Oldfield Thomas from the Author’s drawings. It is needless to say these
drawings, wherever made, were carefully executed from specimens living
or dead, and their fidelity may be relied on.
[1.] CYNOCEPHALUS HAMADRYAS.
Country of Taita and vicinity of River Lumi.
[2.] CYNOCEPHALUS SPHINX.
Kilima-njaro up to 6000 feet, especially in vicinity of native villages.
Also in adjacent plains and along the River Lumi. Especially abundant
near Taveita.
[3.] CYNOCEPHALUS BABOUIN.
On Kilima-njaro up to 5000 feet, and in and near Taveita.
[4.] CERCOPITHĒCUS ALBICULARIS.
In and near Taveita.
[5.] CERCOPITHĒCUS LALANDII.
In and near Taveita and along River Lumi.
[6.] CERCOPITHĒCUS GRISEO-VIRIDIS.
On Kilima-njaro up to 7000 or 8000 feet, and everywhere near water in
the plains below. Naturally the commonest monkey to be seen.
7. CERCOPITHĒCUS PYGERYTHRUS, Geoffr.
_a_, _b_. Moši, on the south side of the mountain, 5000 feet, June to
August.
Very common in the cultivated gardens round the village, and in the
forests lower down at Taveita. These monkeys are exceedingly familiar
and mischievous, coming into the gardens to steal fruit, &c., and are
entirely without any fear of man.
8. COLOBUS GUEREZA, Rüpp., var. _caudatus_, var. nov.
_a._ Useri, N.E. flank of mountain, 3000 feet, end of October.
Very common all round the base of Kilima-njaro.
The specimen brought, like two or three beautiful skins obtained by Mr.
Thomson in the same neighbourhood, belongs to a peculiar race or variety
apparently restricted to this region, and characterized by having the
white brush of the tail very much larger and finer than is the case in
the true Abyssinian _C. guereza_. In the latter animal the proximal 12
to 16 inches of the tail is short-haired and quite black, only the
terminal 8 to 12 inches being white and tufted, and the white mantle
hanging down from the body hides only about one-third of the black part
of the tail. In the Kilima-njaro race, however, only some 3 or 4 inches
of the base of the tail are black, and the remainder (with the hairs
about 20 or 21 inches) is developed into a magnificent white brush, of
which individual hairs are from 7 to 9 inches in length. The hairs of
the white body-mantle, moreover, entirely cover the black at the base of
the tail, the white of the latter and of the mantle being quite
continuous.
In addition to this race, however, the true Guereza is also found in the
neighbourhood of Kilima-njaro, as the mantle of the lowland Masai
warrior, of whom a drawing is given in Chapter XIX., is made of the skin
of this animal, but this is, of course, a rather vague indication of the
original locality of the specimen. Mr. Johnston tells me that the
natives clearly distinguish the two races, and that the white-tailed
form is, at least in the Kilima-njaro district, a more strictly mountain
animal than the other.
Taking now into consideration the extreme constancy of the markings of
the _Colobi_, the very different appearance that the present animal has
from the usual type, its restriction to a small district round
Kilima-njaro, and the distinction by the natives of the two forms, I
think it will be necessary to distinguish Mr. Johnston’s animal as a
separate variety or sub-species, to which the name of _C. guereza
caudatus_ might be applied.
[Illustration:
Fig. 72.—_Colobus Guereza, var. Caudatus._
]
[9.] GALAGO CRASSICAUDATA?
Found in Taita and near the coast, but not on the mountain.
[10.] CYNONYCTERIS COLLARIS.
Taveita forests.
11. VESPERUGO NANUS, Peters.
Moši, 5000 feet, September 12. Found hanging to a tree in daytime.
[12.] FELIS LEO, L.
The lion is abundant in the neighbourhood, but never ascends higher than
about 3000 feet.
13. FELIS PARDUS, L.
_a._ Near foot of mountain, 3000 feet.
The leopard is very common up to about 7500 feet.
[14.] FELIS SERVAL.
Skin obtained in Taita. Common in country at base of Kilima-njaro.
[15.] FELIS CAFFRA.
Kilima-njaro up to 5000 or 6000 feet, and forest of Taveita.
[16.] FELIS CARACAL.
A skin seen near Useri, in possession of natives. According to their
report common in the plains.
[17.] CYNÆLURUS VENATOR.
The cheetah appears to be very frequently met with to the north and
north-east of Kilima-njaro. The Masai and Endurobo often bring skins for
sale. One was purchased at Useri, but subsequently lost.
[18.] VIVERRA CIVETTA.
Very common near base of mountain.
19. GENETTA TIGRINA, Schr.
_a._ Moši, 5000 feet, October.
_b._ Taveita, 2300 feet, August.
Very common; occurs up to 7000 feet. A female specimen, caught by Mr.
Johnston, gave birth to three young at about the end of October.
20. HERPESTES CAFFER, Gm. (?).
_a._ Moši, 5000 feet, August.
Is not properly a mountain animal, but occurs round the village for the
sake of the fowls and other prey which it can manage to steal there.
Without the skull it is impossible to determine with certainty whether
this is _H. ichneumon_, L., or _H. caffer_, Gm.; but the skin has, on
the whole, rather more the appearance of _H. caffer_, and it is,
therefore, provisionally referred to the southern form.
[21.] HYÆNA CROCUTA.
Very abundant in vicinity of Kilima-njaro, but scarcely ascends higher
than 3000 feet.
[22.] HYÆNA STRIATA.
Found on the mountain from 3000 to 6000 feet. Prowls round native
villages. Also met with in Taveita and Taita.
23. CANIS LATERALIS, Scl.
_a._ Moši, 5000 feet, August.
Very common round the village, to which it is attracted by the chance of
stealing refuse, &c.; not otherwise found much above 3000 feet.
[24.] CANIS, sp.
Mr. Johnston several times saw and heard a species of dog or fox, which
he was not able to obtain, but which looked rather like a large fox, and
emitted a distinct bark, similar to that of a domestic dog. It is just
possible that this was the rare Abyssinian _Canis simensis_, Rüpp., no
other animal appearing at all to agree with Mr. Johnston’s description.
Native name, _Nzudu_.
[25.] SCIURUS ERYTHROPUS?
On Kilima-njaro, between 3000 and 7000 feet.
[26.] XERUS, sp.
Taveita forest.
[27.] GRAPHIURUS CAPENSIS.
Kilima-njaro, 6000 feet. Nocturnal habits. _Vide_ illustration, p. 392.
[28.] MUS, sp.?
A small black rat infesting native houses.
[29.] AULACODUS SWINDERNIANUS?
Reported by natives near Taveita. Native name, _Mbuku_.
[30.] HYSTRIX CRISTATA.
Very common in plains.
[31.] LEPUS CAPENSIS.
Killed near Taveita in plains.
32. HYRAX BRUCEI, Gray (?).
_a_, _b_. ♂︎ and ♀︎, 10,000 feet, on the south side of the mountain, 26th
October.
Native name in Ki-čaga, _Kimburu_.
Fairly common in the mountain-forests, where they live entirely in the
trees, and not among the rocks. They do not descend below about 7000
feet and range up to 11,000 feet. These two specimens were brought alive
to Mr. Johnston; but the female, after giving birth to three young, died
almost at once, and the male, refusing to eat, also died in three or
four days.
The specimens agree exactly, so far as can be made out from skins only,
with the type of Gray’s _H. irrorata_ (Ann. Mag. N. H. 1869, p. 242), a
species, however, which Mr. Blanford (Geol. Zool. Abyss. p. 252, 1870)
has shown to be probably not specifically separable from the same
author’s _H. Brucei_. Mr. Blanford obtained his Abyssinian conies at
elevations varying from 2000 to 8000 feet, and it was only to be
expected that specimens inhabiting a locality so much further south as
Kilima-njaro should have been found ranging as high as 11,000 feet above
the sea.
[Illustration:
Fig. 73.—_Graphiurus Capensis._ (_a_) foot. (_b_) hand.
]
[33.] ELEPHAS AFRICANUS, L.
Mr. Johnston states that he himself saw and shot at elephants at an
altitude of no less than 13,000 feet.
34. RHINOCEROS BICORNIS, L.
_a_, _b_, _c_. Horns; Taveita, 2300 feet, end of October.
Very common on the elevated plains at the base of Kilima-njaro, but not
ascending the mountain itself. Is not found in the true forest, but only
in the bush.
These horns were brought in to Mr. Johnston by the A-kamba people, who
obtain them by killing the animals with poisoned arrows.
35. EQUUS BURCHELLI, _var_. CHAPMANI. Thomas.
_a._ Taveita, 2300 feet, 25th August.
Very common, in herds of about twenty, on the open plains round the
mountain, never ascending above about 2400 feet.
This specimen, like all those I have seen or heard of from localities on
or north of the Zambezi, belongs to the so-called _Equus Chapmani_,
Layard,[45] in which the dark stripes extend on the limbs right down to
the hoof.
That this form, however, cannot be distinguished specifically from the
true _E. Burchelli_ is sufficiently proved by the following sentence,
extracted from Mr. T. E. Buckley’s useful paper on the distribution of
South African mammals:[46]—“Out of five of these animals shot in one
herd, there were individuals showing every variation of colour and
marking, from the yellow and chocolate stripes to the pure black and
white, the stripes in some ceasing above the hock, and in others being
continued distinctly down to the hoof.” On the whole, the somewhat ugly
trinomial “_Equus Burchelli Chapmani_” seems to express fairly correctly
the degree of distinctness to which this northern race has attained.
I am told by Mr. Thomson also that throughout his travels in Eastern
Equatorial Africa he has never seen any but this leg-striped race of
Burchell’s zebra.
[36.] HIPPOPOTAMUS AMPHIBIUS.
Common in Lake ǰipé.
[37.] PHACOCHŒRUS, sp.
Wart-hogs are found on Kilima-njaro up to an elevation of 8000 feet.
[38.] BUBALUS CAFFER, Sparrm. (?).
According to Mr. Johnston, buffaloes occur commonly in the forests up to
14,000 feet. Whether these are _B. caffer_ or _B. æquinoctialis_, Blyth
(_B. centralis_, Gray), is doubtful, but a magnificent pair of horns
brought by Mr. Thomson from the same region belong undoubtedly to _B.
caffer_; and I therefore provisionally refer those seen by Mr. Johnston
to the same species.
[39.] GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS.
Very abundant near Taveita, and along Ruvu valley. For native name, see
Vocabulary of Ki-čaga, &c.
[40.] OREAS CANNA.
The eland is everywhere most abundant in the plains.
[41.] STREPSICEROS KUDU, Gray.
Mr. Johnston states that the kudu ranges up to no less than 14,000 feet,
at which height it is by no means rare.[47]
[42.] TRAGELAPHUS SYLVATICUS.
Common in plains, especially near Taveita.
[43.] ORYX BEISA?
A species of _Oryx_, apparently _O. beisa_ seen at Nguruṅgani.
[44.] HIPPOTRAGUS NIGER.
Frequently seen in vicinity of Taveita.
[45.] HIPPOTRAGUS EQUINUS.
♀︎ shot near Taveita. _Vide_ illustration, Chapter X.
[46.] ALCELAPHUS COKEI.
Most parts of the plains. _Vide_ Chapter IV.
[47.] CONNOCHŒTES GNU.
Common in plains.
[48.] ÆPYCEROS MELAMPUS.
The beautiful pallah is everywhere common in the plains. Shot near
Taveita. _Vide_ illustration, Chapter X.
[49.] GAZELLA GRANTI?
A Taita hunter showed the author a pair of horns which he had procured
from the scene of a lion’s repast near Taveita, which seemed to belong
to this graceful antelope.
[50.] CERVICAPRA BOHOR.
Common in plains, and apparently inhabiting mountains up to 10,000 feet.
[51.] NEOTRAGUS KIRKI?
_Vide_ illustration, _ante_.
This _Neotragus_ here illustrated was killed in Kilima-njaro at an
altitude of over 11,000 feet. It apparently ranges up to 14,000 feet
altitude in the dry season.
[52.] CEPHALOPUS MERGENS.
Met with in the grassy plains and near rivers.
[53.] ORYCTEROPUS ÆTHIOPICUS.
Common in the plains.