On Birds from the Euo and Shire Rivers. 581 



70. Hekodias gakzetta (op. cit. p. 716). 

 Somewhat scarce. 



71. Nycticorax griseus (op. cit. p. 724). 

 Scarce. Only one shot. 



72. Scopus umbretta (op. cit. p. 725). 

 Common. 



73. Thalassornis leuconota (op. cit. p. 761). 

 Common at times. 



Ou April 21st^ 1900, I took a nest of this Duck in a dam 

 near here. It was placed on some weeds in about three feet 

 of water, twenty yards from the shore. The eggs were six 

 in number and of a greenish creamy-brown colour. 



74. PoDicEPs CRisTATus (op. cit. p. 785). 

 Fairly common. 



75. PoDicEPs MINOR (op. cit. p. 787). 

 Fairly common. 



XXXVI.' — Field-notes on Birds seen and collected durivig 

 Eight Months' Stay on the Buo and Shire Rivers, B.C. A., 

 1898-99. By A. Blayney Percival, F.Z.S. With Cor- 

 rections and Additions by B. T. Reid. 



[Although we have published in ' The Ibis ' a long series 

 of papers on birds transmitted to us from Nyasaland by 

 Sir Harry Johnston, Col. Manning, Mr. §harpe, and other 

 kind friends, so little has been, recorded of the mode of life 

 of the feathered tribes of that country that we have thought 

 it worth while to put together the field-notes made by 

 Mr. A. Blayney Percival during his recent sojourn in the 

 southern districts of British Central Africa. 



Mr. Percival writes as follows : — 



'' During my stay of between seven and eight months in 

 British Central Africa in 1898-99, I camped chiefly on 

 the banks of the Shire and Buo Rivers, as being best suited 

 to my requirements, and made Chiromo my headquarters 

 and the general base for all my operations. Looking through 



