— 42 — 



Porzana pusilla ohscura (Neum.). — Rchw. I. p. 284. 

 1 (5 27. 7. Eldoret. 



About 30 miles north of Eldoret about 6.500 feet above sea- 

 level there is in the acacia-plains a shallow, rush covered little lake, 

 surrounded for the most part by high banks. Only at one spot 

 does the shore slope downwards and here the lake passes into a 

 little swamp, where among other swamp and water-birds, this bird 

 was shot. 



The bird is shy and cautious and mostly keeps to the ground, 

 where it darts in and out among the rushes. When one gets 

 too near it, it rises and flies, about ten or twenty yards, only to 

 drop to the ground as if hit by a shot. 



Wing 85 mm. 



Irides blood-red; bill greyish green with a somewhat darker 

 tip; legs greyish green. 



Fulica cristata Gm. — Rchw. I. p. 296. 



Nguku-yansi . . . ki-kamba. 

 1 (5 ad. 20. 4. Lake Naiwasha. - 1 (5 ad. 27. 7. Eldoret. 



This was the most common bird in Lake Naiwasha and was 

 observed, now in pairs, now in large flocks, swimming about in 

 the acquatic vegetation. R e i c h e n o w states (after Andersson) 

 that the species in question lies concealed during the day-time, 

 only coming out in the mornings in search of food. This was 

 not' the case here, but one could see them everywhere in the 

 lake at any time of the day. If a shot was fired at them hundreds 

 and sometimes many hundreds of them would rise with a scream 

 at the same time to seek protection in the papyrus groves. 



Also in the lake just mentioned where Forz. pus. obsc. was 

 shot, this Crested Coot was the commonest of the birds. 



Wing 213, 216 mm, tarsus 62, 67 mm. 



Irides brownish red; bill yellowish with a grey tint; legs 

 dark lead-coloured (just above the tarsus the tibia is yellowish 

 green). 



Pteroclidae. 



Fterocles guUuralis saluratior Hart. — Rchw. I. p. 306. 

 1 Q ad. 15. 9. Kenia. 



Was shot in the neighbourhood of Mount Kenia in its 

 southern environs. Occurred in the acacia- country, where it was 

 not rare. 



Wing 215 mm; culmen 15 mm; tarsus 29 mm; tail 85 mm. 



In this specimen the shafts of all the primaries are lighter, 

 almost dirty white, towards the base, while all the primaries, 



