Expedition to the Zambesi River. 107 



157. Centkopus suPEKciLiosus (Hempr. & Elir.). 



Common where there are tracts o£ tall grass and reed- 

 beds, but less plentiful on the higher reaches of the river. 

 It appears to be a greedy bird; the stomachs of several 

 obtained were much distended with food, which consisted 

 chiefly of locusts. 



This bird puzzled us considerably at first. Its rich bubbling 

 notes, ventriloquial and capable of being heard at a great 

 distance, kept mocking us on many occasions, and it was not 

 till we had made an ambush in a recd-bed one evening 

 that we discovered the utterer of these remarkable sounds. 

 The bird seldom makes use of flight except to wing its way 

 from one thick retreat to another. Then it flies in a clumsy 

 manner, flopping above the tall reed-heads, the next minute 

 to drop in an ungainly way into the bottom-growth, conveying 

 to the observer the idea of much eff'ort, as if to overto^D the 

 reeds was all that the bird could manage. 



It is seldom seen throughout the day, closeting itself in a 

 thick portion of reed-growth, generally in the vicinity of 

 water, whence it gives out at times its chord of bubbling 

 notes. The best time to observe this Lark-heeled Cuckoo 

 is when sunset is just closing in, and from an ambush near 

 to water you will be able to watch it almost as closely as 

 you like. Troops of Doves come down to the pool aud take 

 their last drink, and batches of Weavers pitch into the 

 reeds with rustling flight for the night. Then comes a brief 

 stillness, to be broken shortly by some creepy noise in mid- 

 reed-bed, a tussling noise as of roots and thick growth being 

 pulled aside. It is the Lark-heeled Cuckoo, which has begun 

 its evening forage and is gradually approaching the open 

 spot, wending its way in rodent fashion and witii great 

 agility through the columns of the reeds. On emerging 

 into the open it does not neglect to reconnoitre, and accord- 

 ingly creeps cautiously up one of the stoutest fish-canes 

 overhanging the pool, till it bends under its weight; but 

 there is nothing to cause it alarm, merely a lonely Sand- 

 piper running along the pooPs edge and a nimble Black 

 Waterhen {Limnocorax niger) treading the soft carpet of 



