Mushonaland Birds. 263 



195. TuHNix LEPURANA. (Kuri'ichaine Hemipode.) 

 Only a few solitary examples of this pretty little bird have 



been met Avith in open swampy ground. 



196. Crecopsis EGREriiA. (Greater African Crake.) 

 This species was first brought to my notice by Mr. Swyn- 



nerton, who shot one on the Makabusi river^ quite close to 

 Salisbury. Since then I have seen two more examples, and 

 they are probably not uncommon, as on one wet day I heard 

 them calling in some numbers in a dense and impenetrable 

 reed-bed lower down the Makabusi. The stomach of 

 Mr. Swynnerton's specimen contained ants and some vege- 

 table matter. 



197. LiMNOcoRAX NIGER. (Black Crake.) 



Not uncommon along reedy pools &c., but diflScult to 

 procure, owing to their lurking habits, though their presence 

 may often be detected by their sharp call of ''check, check/^ 

 repeated at short intervals. Their green bills and bright red 

 legs form a pleasing contrast to their black plumage, and 

 they look very pretty running about with ease on the water- 

 lilies in search of their food. 



198. BuGERANUs CARUNcuLATUs. (Wattled Crane.) 



199. Tetrapteryx paradisea. (Stanley Crane.) 



200. Balearica regulorum. (Southern Crowned Crane.) 

 All the three South-African Cranes occur in Mashonaland, 



the Wattled Crane being the least common, and I have only 

 occasionally seen it singly or in pairs. The other two 

 species are sometimes to be seen in flocks of 20 or 30 

 individuals. 



201. LoPHOTis RuncRisTA. (Red-crested Bustard.) 



I have never seen this handsome Bustard, though Mr. Ayres 

 appears to have met with it in several parts of the country. 



202. LissoTis MELANOGASTER. (Black-belHcd Bustard.) 

 This is the ordinary " Koorhaan " of this country, though 



it is nowhere common, being generally a solitary bird and 

 frequenting open grassy vlcis. 



