44-1 Mr. B. Alexauder — An Omitholugical 



the scarcity of Ducks and Geese seemed to us remarkable. 

 We saw none of those " countless hundreds " that liunters 

 and explorers are so fond of telling us about in order to hide 

 their ignorance in ornithology. 



238. Ckex pratensis Bechst. 



An adult male (Matacania)^ Jan. 19. Among reeds near 

 the river. 



234. LiMNOCORAX NIGER (Gm.). 



The beds of dried-up watercourses, where there are pools 

 made secluded by tall reeds, are favourite resorts, each locality 

 liaving its pair of these Rails. But the bird is shy and 

 only to be observed in the early morning and evening, when 

 it ventures out from the tangled depths of its thick retreat. 

 When the breeding-season approaches (end of Nov.), this 

 Rail becomes very noisy, constantly uttering its " cluck, 

 cluck ■" notes ; all the while beating time with the tail as 

 it wends its way with dapper gait through the slender 

 columns of the fish-cane, near the pool's edge. 



Adult S (Sept. 13, 1898). Total length (measured in the 

 flesh) 8"4 inches, wing 4"2. Iris red ; bill dark green ; legs 

 and feet brownish red, coral above knee. 



Our three adult specimens are very much shaded with 

 grey, while in two the legs and feet are light coral-red. We 

 never observed this species on the river itself; it is essentially 

 a pool-haunting bird. In the wet season, when the smaller 

 watercourses are no longer dry, a migration, probably south- 

 ward, takes place. 



235. TuRNix LEPURANA (Smith). 



Of local distribution, frequenting patches of thick, tall 

 grass on low ground near the river. We obtained a fine 

 series of this Quail — the first specimen at Senna, and the 

 majority at Chicowa, where on Sept. 13 we procured a 

 female with one nestling. 



Adult. Iris straw-colour; bill lead-colour; legs and feet 

 flesh-colour. 



