224 Messrs. R. B. & J. D. S. Woodward on 



On the banks of this river we shot a specimen of the 

 African Buzzard-Eagle [Asturinula monogrammica). We 

 also got specimens of the Wattled Starling [Dilophus 

 carunculatus) , which we had not previously met with. 

 Among the other birds observed along this river should be 

 mentioned the three Sun-birds Cinnyris verreauxi, C. gut- 

 turalis, and C. talatala ; the Kingfishers Ceryle maxima, 

 Ha/ci/on albiventris, und H. orientalis ; the Hornbills Bucorax 

 cafer, Buceros buccinator, and l^occus melanoleucus ; the 

 Shrikes Laniarius quadricolor, L.poliocephalus,L. rubiginosus , 

 L. sulphur eip e ctus , L. gularis, Prionops talacoma ; tlie Bee- 

 eaters Merops bullockoides and M. pusillus ; as well as the 

 Koller Coracias caudata. We also noticed some Vultures 

 {Gyps kolbii) nesting in the large fig-trees. They must lay 

 early^ as they appeared to be sitting in July. There were 

 some large Bats here; one which we caught measured 

 6 inches, with a stretch of wing of 22 inches. 



Wading the now shallow stream, we pitched tent in the 

 newly-annexed territory of Sambana^ a Tonga chief. On 

 the 22nd July, after a very hot walk of fifteen miles over 

 level country thinly sprinkled with thorns and other small 

 trees, we arrived at the large river Pongola, which we 

 crossed, and encamped on the far side under some huge 

 fig-trees which grow all along the left bank of the river. 

 Here we remained over a month, and. although it was 

 still winter some of the trees were coming into fiower. Of 

 birds we found the Blue Lourie, the Zambesi and Natal 

 Bush-Shrikes, Green Pigeons, Large Pied Hornbills, Rollers, 

 Bee-eaters, and a large flock of Wattled Starlings, called 

 Locust-birds {Dilophus carunculatus) , feeding on their 

 favourite food. A mile down the river we came across 

 quite a colony of Gyps kolbii. We could see them sitting 

 in their large stick-nests high up in the branches of the 

 fig-trees, but could not reach them, the trunks being des- 

 titute of low branches. One of the handsome White-headed 

 Eagles (Haliaetus vocifer) had built its nest in a high tree on 

 the other side of the river near our tent ; as the female 

 w^as sitting close, we suppose she had eggs. Three kinds 



