76 Major J. S. Hamilton on Birds observed 



Turdus. — T twice saw a specimen of a rufous- or orange- 

 breasted Thrush, hopping about on the ground in the bush 

 country, but on neither occasion had the means of collect- 

 ing it. 



18. DiCRURUS AFER. Fork-tailed Drongo. 



An extremely common bird all along the route, up to an 

 elevation of about 2500 feet. Wherever seen it was always 

 very tame and fearless. 



19. HiRUNDO SMITHI. Wire-tailed Swallow. 



Probably by far the most numerous species of Hirundo m 

 the province, and met with all along the route excepting the 

 high altitudes. Usually met with in pairs, and near habita- 

 tions and water. In the evenings large numbers might be 

 noticed hawking insects over the surface of the larger rivers 

 and near the shores of Lake Nyassa. A pair were building 

 a nest (August) under the eaves of the Portuguese Com- 

 mandant's house at Mluluka, and another pair had begun to 

 do the same thing under the iron deck-screen of one of the 

 Nyassa steamers while lying near Fort Johnston. During 

 her subsequent voyage up the lake to Mtengula (a distance 

 of about 150 miles) and back again, these two Swallows 

 remained constant attendants upon the steamer, continually 

 fluttering backwards and forwards underneath the deck- 

 covers. The nest appeared to be about half completed. 



20. Hirundo puella. Lesser Stripe-breasted Swallow, 

 Met with from Kissanga on the coast as far as the Lugenda, 



becoming less common as we travelled west. Near the 

 Mntepuesi River and tributaries these Swallows were con- 

 stantly seen in considerable flocks hawking flies over the 

 watercourses. 



{Hirundo cvcullata was not observed, although I was 

 constantly on the look-out for this South African migrant.) 



21. Hirundo monteiri. Mouteiro's Swallow. 



This Swallow was met with on two occasions near the 

 coast ; on each the birds were flying high in parlies of six or 



