270 Mr. R. B. Sharjx; on the 



of these spots is on the Movi river, about ten miles above its 

 junction -with the Vaal river, and another is on the banks of the 

 Vaal river, about twenty miles below BloemhoflP. These birds 

 feed on seeds and roots as well as on insects ; and their flesh is 

 not at all bad eating; slices from the breast fried with butter 

 are scarcely to be distinguished in taste from excellent beef. 

 Blue Cranes (as this species is locally called) sometimes 

 rise to an immense height in the air, uttering their peculiar 

 loud guttural note. When on the ground they frequently 

 amuse themselves by dancing round each other with wings 

 extended, bowing and scraping to each other in a most absurd 

 manner, not a little curious to see. 



61. (L. 601.) Anastomus lamelligerus, Temm. African 

 Anastomus. 



Female : — Total length 30| inches, bill 6, wing 15^, tarsus 

 6, tail 8f ; iris double, the inner ring pale yellow, the outer 

 dusky, bill dusky, basal half whitish, and conspicuous when 

 the bird is freshly killed. 



This curious bird was shot by my brother on the 6th Febru- 

 ar}^, 1869, in a swamp within a mile of Potchefstroora. It was a 

 solitary bird, and before it was shot had been observed several 

 days feeding in the swamp and alighting on the neighbouring 

 trees; its stomach contained all the soft parts of Crabs well 

 broken up. A few days after it was shot, five others were seen 

 to fly over the town at a great height. 



This species only occurs as a visitor in this part of the 

 country. 



XXII. — On the Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region, By R. 

 B. Sharpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S., &c. 



[Coucluded from page 203.] 



Genus 2. Eurystomus. 



Type. 

 Eurystomus, Vieill. Analyse, p. 37 (1816) . . E. orientalis. 

 Colaris, Cuv. Regne Anim. i. p. 401 (1817) . . E. orientalis. 

 Cornopio, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 119 



(1860) E. afer. 



