390 Capt. (t. E. Sliollcy on a 



ant-hills, wliicli often rise to a height of 30 feet or more ; 

 and these during their return journey, in the latter end of 

 March and heginniug of April, afforded building-resorts for 

 many species of birds, especially Little Owls and Parrots. 



When the rains set in, the country soon presents a very 

 different aspect, the plateau becomes quickly covered with 

 fine grass, and the mimosas, which during the dry season 

 resemble gooseberry-bushes in winter, become a mass of 

 tender green leaves and yellow blossoms, which prove very 

 attractive to the gaily coloured Sun-birds. 



Wherever rock appears upon the surface the rain-water 

 collects and forms shallow lakes, commonly called pans, 

 which are soon tenanted by water-fowl. At Harradegit, 

 one of these pans, there were some hundreds of Egyptian 

 Geese, evidently mated, as they were grazing in pairs; at 

 first they were very easy to approach, but soon became shy 

 and watched the country from the tops of the ant-hills or 

 the boughs of the higher trees. The highest trees always 

 grow near these pans, and are selected by Textor dmemelli 

 for their nests. 



To the south of the plateau runs the Webbe Shebeyli, or 

 Haynes river, through a fertile plain on which the natives 

 grow an abundance of corn ; and here, amongst the numerous 

 water-birds, the Sacred Ibis was remarked as being extremely 

 abundant. 



An excellent account of this journey was read by Mr. 

 F. L. James before the Royal Geographical Society on the 

 29th of June of the present year. 



The collection of birds contains specimens of sixty-two 

 species, of which I consider to be new to science six species 

 and one subspecies ; these are : — Coracias lorti, Dryoscopus 

 ruficeps, Telephonus jamesi, Argya aylmeri, Saxicola phillipsi, 

 Parus thruppi, and the subspecies Cursorius gallicus soma- 

 lensis. Of the remainder over forty are new to Somali-land. 

 As the specimens are mostly in good condition, I have con- 

 sidered it advisable to give full descriptions of some of the 

 most interesting. Mr. Lort Phillips has kindly furnished 

 me with some field-notes. 



