— 32 - 



flocks of about 8 or 10 iudividuals, it tried to escape discovery 

 by getting in among the large root-stocks of the reeds projecting 

 above the surface of the water. 



Wing 170 mm; tarsus 35 mm. 



Irides dark brown; bill dark brownish grey with yellow 

 spots, legs dark grey. 



Nyroca capensis [(Cuv.) Less.]. — Rchw. I. p. 108. 

 1 (5 ad. 27. 7. Soy. 



This species was common in the little lake mentioned above. 

 Was often seen in large flocks flying across the water and, in 

 contradistinction to the preceding species, which was an in- 

 habitant of the dense reeds, it soared high. 



Wing 220 m, tarsus 37 mm. 



Irides bright red; bill bluish grey with dark nail; legs dark 

 grey with a faint yellow tint. 



Anas sparsa (A. Sm.) Eyt. — Rchw. I. p. 115. 

 1 e ad. 29. 6. Mount Elgon, 13.800 ft. 



The specimen brought home was shot by the icy-cold 

 crater-lake on the highest point of Mount Elgon, about 13.800 

 feet above sea-level. It is rather remarkable that the ver- 

 tical range of this water bird extends so high up into the 

 higher zones of the alpine regions, and with reference to this 

 species, which is really an inhabitant of the low-lying, stagnant 

 pools, where there is plenty of algae and water-plants etc. 

 (v. S m e r e n has found the bird at Lakes Naiwasha and Na- 

 kuru) it is not known that it occurs and breeds in the snow- 

 regions. 



Both the male and female of this species were seen on the 

 lake, but as soon as I approached the shores they flew away 

 startled. Although they seemed to be very shy they returned, 

 however, in a short while and I then succeed in shooting 9- 



At one end of the lake, where the sedge grew in knolls, 

 I found a nest, which no doubt was or would possibly be the 

 home of the pair. 



It was composed of dry straw and down. Bowker, accor- 

 ding to Reich enow once found a nest of this bird in a hole 

 in a tree 2 meters above the Avater, but as such a site cannot 

 be found up here, the pair was certainly compelled to accomo- 

 date themselves to the facilities of the locality. 



A week before I visited the crater-lake Dr. G. Lindblom, 

 ethnographer in our expedition, who then made an ascent to the 

 summit of Elgon, had seen the two birds on the lake, and it is 

 possible that they had been staying there for some time and had 

 thus even selected and commenced to arrange the site for the 

 future nest. 



