. Bonner zoologische Beiträge : Herausgeber: Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Biology; Zoology. 62 Sverre Klemp: Patterns of geographic variation of Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphwata sharply separated from each other in the traits considered. Due to larger body size and stronger beaks South African nominate sulphwata can be distinguished from all other forms with relative ease. Therefore, Rand accepted only two subspecies: sulphiirata and sharpei (all populations except South Africa). In an alternative view he divided sharpei on the basis of subtle differen
. Bonner zoologische Beiträge : Herausgeber: Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Biology; Zoology. 62 Sverre Klemp: Patterns of geographic variation of Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphwata sharply separated from each other in the traits considered. Due to larger body size and stronger beaks South African nominate sulphwata can be distinguished from all other forms with relative ease. Therefore, Rand accepted only two subspecies: sulphiirata and sharpei (all populations except South Africa). In an alternative view he divided sharpei on the basis of subtle differences in plumage colour and size into four subspecies: wilsoni (Natal, south- ern Mocambique), sharpei (Kenya), fromini (Tanzania, Zambia and Angola) and shelleyi (all other populations). In contrast, Clancey (1972) separated four subspecies in South Africa alone (sulplitiirita, wilsoni. languens and shelleyi). Both studies are, however, based on only a few traits and from some regions only a small number of in- dividuals have been included. In this study I present data on a larger variety of meas- ures and plumage characteristics of C. sulphwata skins from all parts of the species' range. The aim of this study is to describe the extent and pattern of geographic varia- tion in this species. Which of the subspecies described ear- lier represent real taxonomic units and which are intenne- diate stages arbitrarily picked out of a continuous cline of variation? In a second step I want to relate moiphologi- cal variation to possible causal factors such as ecological conditions (climate, vegetation, topography) and palaeo- graphic events. 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS I measured a total of 485 museum skins of Crithagra sul- phurata. of which all 476 adults (253 males, 171 females and 52 unsexed) were considered in the following analy- ses. Additionally, 1 studied 24 skins of the sister species (van den Elzen 2000), Crithagra flaviveutris, for compar- ison (15 males, 9 females). The skins ar
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