108 Mr. W. L. Sclater — Ornithological 



epirhinus) flew from tree to tree with their characteristic 

 undulating flight, the long tail waving behind. One of the 

 commonest of the birds in this district is the " Go-away -bird " 

 [Schizorhis concolor), with its plain grey dress and fine crest, 

 which it keeps elevating and depressing as it rests on a 

 branch. Its loud cry, always exactly resembling its name, 

 is uttered in a most curious querulous touc. We did 

 not, of course, hear it on this occasion, but we had ample 

 opportunity of making its acquaintance later. Other birds 

 easily recognised were the Long-tailed Shrike (Urolestes 

 melanoleucus) , the White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus 

 anguitimens), and the large Drougo (Dicrurus ater), easily 

 distinguished by its forked tail. At Mahalapye, in the 

 Protectorate, I was fortunate enough to light upon a fine 

 example of a l( Gom Paauw " (Otis kori), just brought into 

 the station by a native, and to secure its skin for the Museum. 

 Although by no means a rare bird in some parts of the 

 country, it is never easy to obtain specimens, as it is excel- 

 lent eating and is always destined for the cooking-pot. 



At Bulawayo, where we spent the day, the only birds 

 about the town were a number of Pied Crows (Corvus scapu- 

 latus), which probably act as scavengers. I have never seen 

 Crows about any other South-African town, nor anywhere 

 in such numbers. 



Between Bulawayo and the Falls the country is decidedly 

 hilly, and the work on the line here was very heavy, the 

 whole district being covered with a thin forest, chiefly of 

 Mopami and Teak ; it is also excessively dry and waterless. 

 In addition to the birds already observed, I recognised here 

 only a small Dove, with its wings rich rufous underneath 

 (Haplopelia larvata) and a Bateleur Eagle (Helotarsus 

 ecaudatus) soaring high up in the sky, with its excessively 

 short tail and its head bent down towards the ground, 

 searching for a meal. 



On arriving at the Falls we stayed for three days at the 

 temporary hotel at the present terminus of the railway, 

 about half a mile from the Falls themselves, spending our 

 time chiefly in viewing them from different points and in 

 taking photographs. 



