On Birds observed in Portuguese East Africa. 51 



the Groot Riet pan ; but as this pan has been dry for over 

 three years, they have been absent. I have noticed them at 

 nearly all seasons of the year, so long as the pans or dams 

 have plenty of water, but have never heard of any breeding 

 here. The largest number I have seen in one flock is thirty. 

 They are very v\^ary, and can only bo shot, as a rule, with a 

 rifle. As far as I know, I have not seen P. minor. 



608. Platalea alba. (Spoonbill.) 



This bird is fairly common in rainy seasons, when dams 

 and vleis are full, but very sly and difficult to approach. 

 The description of them as being " white '^ is very com- 

 plimentary, fis the few I have seen should have the adjective 

 "dirty " applied to them. I have never known them breed 

 in this district. 



736. NuMENius akquatus(?). (Curlew.) 



I saw one specimen shot on the dam at the Lace Diamond 

 Mine, but was unable to identify it with certainty. It is 

 very sly. There were ten or twelve of them on the dam, and 

 their cry reminded me of those at home. I tried to get a 

 fresh specimen, but was unsuccessful. This is the onl}^ time 

 I have noticed these birds about here; and after thirty years' 

 shooting in the district, it is the only occasion on which I ever 

 saw them (i.e., 11.10.1898), and have not seen them since. 



VI. — Notes on some Birds observed during a Shooting -trijj 

 in Portuguese East Africa. By Dr. (jEORGE Turner, 

 Medical Officer of Health, Transvaal. 



The course taken was down the Inkomati River. An account 

 of the expedition will be found in the " Occasional Notes " of 

 this number (p. 119). 



1. Lamprotornis mevesi. (Meves's Glossy Starling.) 



I shot a specimen at M'Karu on July 17th, 1906. The 



feathers of the tail and also the primaries and secondaries, 



especially the latter on the inner web, have much curious 



reflected colour. 



4* 



