594 Mr. A. B. Pcrcival on Birds 



The name vocifer is very appi'opriate, for during the 

 wet season the loud call of this Eagle may constautly be 

 heard. 



70. LoPHOAJiiTrs OCCIPITALIS (Daud.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1897, 

 p. 550. 



a. Ad. Ruo River. 



This is the commonest Eagle in the district. It is a 

 sulky sort of bird, and will sit for hours on a dead branch 

 with its feathers puffed out and eyes half-closed^ looking 

 more like a big Owl than anything else. It feeds chiefly on 

 snakes and reptiles. Now and then it wakes up and soars 

 to a tremendous height, where it sails round and round in 

 circles, making a most peculiar noise, more like the drum- 

 ming of a Snipe than anything else ; and, as with the Snipe, 

 the sound is only made during a downward sweep. 



71. Erythropus dickinsoni (Scl.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1897, 

 p. 547. 



a, b. Ad. Shire River, August 1898, and February 9, 

 1899. 



I obtained a female of this Falcon in August 1898, and a 

 male on February 9, 1899, at almost the same spot, or one 

 not more than two hundred yards distant, while on several 

 other occasions I saw an individual about there. The birds 

 are not wild, but scarce. They are usually seen amongst the 

 borassus palms near the river. 



72. Dendrocycna viduata (Linn.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 189G, 

 p. 240. 



Verj^ numerous. 



73. Sarcidiornis melanonota (Temm.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 

 1896, p. 240. 



Only one specimen obtained. 



74. Plectropterus gambensis (Linn.); Shelley, Ibis, 

 1894, p. 477. 



Numerous in the early part of the year, but difficult to 

 shoot. 



