during a Journey through Portuguese Nyassaland. 73 



approximates, I should imagine, rather to that of South than 

 to that of North Central Africa. Many purely South African 

 species were observed, and it was naturally to such that I 

 devoted most attention. A mountain barrier of over 4000 feet, 

 rises betwixt British and Portuguese Nyassaland, and at its 

 higher elevations bird life was found to be extremely scarce. 

 In fact during one day's march, at an elevation of 4200 feet, 

 the only representatives of the avifauna noticed were two 

 Pied Crows and a little lower down some Helmet-Shrikes. 



The scarcity of the Accipitres, especially of the Vulturida?, 

 was a marked feature ; I did not, in fact, see one single 

 Vulture of any description before crossing tne Nyassa moun- 

 tains. Very marked, too, was the absence of S. concolor, 

 whose querulous " Go away ! " is so well known in the South 

 African bush, and, indeed, in forest countries to the west on 

 the same parallel of latitude. 



Francolins were but rarely heard or met with ; Sand- 

 Grouse not at all. A single Coturnix was noticed at an 

 elevation of 2500 feet,, but there was no opportunity of 

 determining the species to which it belonged. 



1. CoRVULTUR ALBicoLLis. White-necked Raven. 



Very common throughout the province both in uninhabited 

 forest and near habitations up to a height of 3000 feet. 

 Always extremely tame and fearless. 



2. CoRVUS SCAPULATUS. Pied Crow. 



In great numbers at the coast, and very common all along 

 our route right through to Lake Nyassa, especially near 

 villages and other habitations. A pair were observed on the 

 mountains east of the lake at an elevation of 4200 feet, being 

 the only birds noticed thereabouts. They appeared usually 

 in pairs. 



None of the genus Buphaga were noticed along the route. 



3. Lamprocolius ciiloropterus. Green-winged Glossy 

 Starling. 



A iiood luanv of these l)irds were observed in -mall Mock< 



