528 Mr. G. H. Gurney on 



some dead pieces of grass. The chicks were exactly like 

 young Quails, aud could not have been hatched more than 

 a couple of days. 



205. LiMNOCORAX NIGER. Black Rail. 

 Limnocorax niger (Gmel.). 



Iris red ; bill yellow-green ; legs coral-red. 



The Black Rail was very common at Naivasha, and was 

 also obtained in a small stream at Bondoni. It is a 

 charming little bird, easily tamed. I kept one, which had 

 been snared by a native, alive for nearly two mouths, but 

 lost it on the voyage home. 



206. Gallinula chloropus. Water-hen. 

 Gallinula chloropus Lath. 



207. PoRPHYRio smaragdonotus. Green-backed Purple 

 Gallinule. 



Porphyria smaragdonotus (Tcmra.). 



Very plentiful at Naivasha. I caught three in tiny rat- 

 traps baited with bits of meat, and brought one alive to 

 England. 



208. Fulica cristata. Crested Coot. 

 Fulica cristata Gmel. 



Iris red ; bill slaty-blue ; top of head bluish, comb red- 

 brown ; legs bluish-black. 



Immense numbers of Crested Coots live in the thick belts 

 of papyrus round Lake Naivasha. 



209. Balearica gibbericeps. Crowned Crane. 

 Balearica gibbericeps Reichen. 



210. Otis CiERULEScENS. Blue-necked Bustard. 

 Otis carulescens Vieill. 



Iris yellow-brown ; upper mandible dark brown, lower 

 mandible yellow ; legs yellowish-white. 



All round Kallima Theki the Blue-necked Bustards were 

 common in parties of four or five. They are difficult birds 

 to flush, as they continually keep running on ahead, carrying 



