22 Hon. N. C. RotLscliild and ^[i-. A. F. K. Wollaston 



lying mauve spots. They measure 28*7 by 21*5, 29'3 by 

 21-1, and 295 by 20-/ mm. 



The natives call this bird '' Abu Tabag " (Father of bowls), 

 presumably on account of the bowl-like appearance of the 

 open mouth. 



57. Caprimulgus iEOYPxrus Licht. 

 293 ?, 411 6 . 



We obtained only two specimens of the Egyptian Nightjar ; 

 the first was found in long grass among trees during the day- 

 time, the second was flying in the evening in company with 

 C. eximius. 



58. ScoTouNis CLiMAcuRUs (Vieill.). 

 199 S , 410 J. 421 c?, 200 ? , 375 ? . 



There is much variation in the general colour of these 

 birds, No. 421 being much more rufous, and Nos. 375 and 

 410 very much blacker than the others. 



This beautiful long-tailed Goatsucker was fairly common at 

 Shcndi. Unlike Caprimulgus euiniius it is essentially a bird 

 of the scrub and thick trees, hiding ])y day in the most shady 

 and impenetrable thickets. At night it seems to spend 

 almcstas much time in sitting "churring^^ at the top of some 

 tree as in flying ; it was often seen Hitting about the river in 

 company with C. (\rimius. The two long ccDtral tail-feathers 

 of the male are held apart in flight at an angle of about 

 twenty-five or thirty degrees. Though pairs were often seen, 

 they did not seem to be breeding ; neither the testes nor the 

 ovaries of any of our specimens being enlarged. 



59. CouACiAS ABYssiNKus Bodd. 

 376 c?, 357 ? , 51 2. 



The Abyssinian Holler was occasionally seen, but it 

 was usually very wary and difficult to approach. The native 

 name, which means '^ Child of the clouds,'^ is well chosen; 

 you hear one of these birds high up above your head almost 

 out of sight, and then down it suddenly comes in a flutter- 

 ing corkscrew flight, with wings and tail spread out, to 

 perch and chatter at you fiom the top of a tree, just out 

 of gunshot. A i)aii' weic twice seen to go into a hole in the 



