60 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ORNITHOLOGY, VOL. i. 



lower parts being comparatively few. On the wing it moved majes- 

 tically and a flock of these birds soaring high in air was a beau- 

 tiful sight. 



FAM. GYPOGERANID^:. 

 102. Serpentarius secretarius. 



Vultur secretarius. Shaw, Cim. Phys. pi. 28 (1796). 



Serpentarius secretarius. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. , Vol. I, p. 

 45 (1874). 



$ Silo Plain. 



One specimen seen and obtained at Silo on the return journey. 

 It was very wary and was killed by Mr. Akeley with a rifle ball at 

 a distance of about five hundred yards. 



FAM. 



103. Lophotis gindiana. 



Eupodotis gindiana. Oust. Bull. Soc. Philom., p. 163 (1881). 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., Vol. XXIII, p. 292 (1894). 



$ $ Laferug. Iris yellow. 

 9 Haili. 



This small bustard was frequently met with, and seemed par- 

 ticularly plentiful in the country south of Toyo Plain. It was 

 generally found in pairs, though often singly, and would flush 

 close to us as we walked or rode. Its flight was very much like 

 that of a duck, and it had a peculiar cry of various syllables, each 

 one uttered in a higher key than the last, ending in a lengthened 

 one that was almost a screech. The flesh of this bird is fairly 

 good, but all feathered creatures in the country save weaver birds, 

 for reasons best known to themselves are tough, and not much 

 of an addition to the larder. 



104. Lissotis hartlaubi. 



Otis hartlaubi. Heugl. Journ. f. Ornit., p. i (1863). Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus., Vol. XXIII, p. 307 (1894). 



$ Silo Plain. Iris brownish yellow, eyelids yellow. Bill and 

 legs, cream color. 



Only two specimens of this fine bustard were seen, and these 

 were met with on Silo Plain on the return journey. They were 

 very shy and skulked about in the grass with the head carried 

 low down in the manner of rails. Mr. Dodson tried several days 

 to get within shooting distance of the birds, but ineffectually, and I 



