338 Dr. J. Kirk on the Birds of the Zambesi Region, 



Fam. PELECANIDiE. 



147. Plotus levaillantii. 



In all waters, from the coast to the interior, to be seen 

 sunning its wings on rocks or ti'ees ; on the least danger be- 

 taking to the water. The plumage varies very much ; some- 

 times it is of a rich glossy black, at other times of a rich brown. 

 Its food consists entirely of fish, which it catches under water, 

 coming to the surface before swallowing it. 



148. Phalacrocorax africanus. Native name, "Chid- 

 ankwe." 



Common in all rivers, lakes, and lagoons. Its breeding- 

 places are the retired islets among the rapids, commonly un- 

 approachable. 



A second species, much larger and with white neck, occurs 

 rarely on the Lower Zambesi, but is common among the rapids 

 of the Shire, where it breeds, and on Lake Nyassa. In the 

 shallow lake through which the Shire flows after leaving the 

 Nyassa, the natives drive piles in the bottom, at a distance from 

 shore, and rising a foot above the surface. An elastic piece of 

 wood, with a noose attached, is placed on the main pile, and serves 

 to trap the Cormorants and Darters, which come to rest on them. 



149. Pelecanus, sp. ? 



The Pelican of the Zambesi comes in numbers before the 

 rains, or with the first heavy showers ; but individuals are to be 

 found at all seasons. 



On one occasion a large flock was found breeding on the low 

 sand-island at the Kingane mouth. The nests consisted of a 

 slight hollow in the sand, with a few sticks placed as a platform, 

 to keep the eggs slightly raised ; each contained from two to 

 four eggs, and the nests were placed side by side. From one 

 colony several bucketsful of eggs were obtained. In the pouch 

 were several species of parasitic worms, which we did not notice 

 in other birds. 



150. Prion banksii. Smith. Pachyptila banksii, Smith, 

 S. Afr. Zool. pi. 55. 



After storms these birds come ashore in a fatigued and help- 



