94 Mr. B. Alexander — An, Oniilholof/ical 



grew dark the Nijrlitjars cliiincd in with their grinding notes 

 that sounded very loud in the still air and were at times in. 

 perfect unison. This hird lacks the eall-notc of our Night- 

 jar (C europaus). Breeding takes place to.vards the end of 

 September. 



Our specimens vary in measurements^ while the plumage of 

 one is very pale in colour, being a light sandy-rufous all over. 



Adult c? (Chicowa). Total length (measured in flesh) 975 

 inches, wing 6 7, tail 5*1. 



Adult S (Chicowa), Total length (measured in flesh) 965 

 inches^ wing 6*5, tail 5"6. 



Adult ? (Chicowa). Wing 6'1 inches, tail 5. 



Adult ? (Chicowa). Total length (measured in flesh) 87 

 inches, wing 5"8j tail 4'4. 



Adult ? (Senna). Wing 5"7 inches, tail 4-3. 



126. COSMETORNIS VEXILLARIUS (Gould). 



This species is locally distributed along the river, frequent- 

 ing in pairs more or less open spots in the woods where the 

 sun can penetrate, or the reed-girt islands in the river itself. 

 Just after dusk had fallen, we used to see this weird and 

 decorative-looking bird suddenly appear as if from nowhere, 

 floating through the air with a dancing buoyant flight 

 towards the water^s edge, to return a short time after and 

 commence hawking after moths. We noticed that this species 

 invariably went first of all to the water before embarking upon 

 the serious work of catching its prey. 



The breeding-season is in November, when the elongated 

 primaries of the males become miich worn. 



127. EuRYSTOMUs AFER (Lath.). 



Plentiful and observed in small parties, in which the male 

 sex predominated to a large extent. Breeds towards the 

 middle of November, in holes in the baobab-trees, the males 

 appearing not to share in the task of incubation. 



On several occasions, when it became almost dark, we saw 

 this bird still on the wing. 



Adult. Bill yellow; iris hazel; legs and feet greenish 

 brown. 



