64 Mr. A. Roberts on Birds in 



A large flock was found at Villa Pereira wlien we arrived 

 there, but they left a week later and were not seen again. 



Qi]DicxE:\rus vermiculatus, Cab. R. 177. Augnsit. 



A few individuals were seen on the banks of tlio stream 

 at Ngamwe, but tliey were very shy and no specin^ens wore 

 secured. 



Otis melanogaster, Riipp. R. 224. April and July. 



A specimen was shot at Nliamacurra, where numbers 

 were seen scattered singly about the borders of the sugar 

 ]»l:intations, but it was not preserved. A few were also 

 seen in marshy glades at Mpimba. 



AcTOPHiLUS AFRiCAxrs (Gm.). R. 2?)2. (2.) July ? 



(Data lost.) W. 139 ; Tl. 41 ; Ts. 58 ; to top of shield 

 42. 



These two specimens were procured by Kirby on an open 

 sheet of water in which lotus plants were growing, between 

 Mpimba and Villa Pereira. They are much marked with 

 white and seem to be juvenile birds. 



LiMNOCOBAX NIGER (Gm.). R. 240. (2.) July ? 



(Data lost.) W. 98-103 ; Tl. 42-44; Ts. 40 ; C. 22-23. 



These specimens have more or less white on the throat, 

 which is characteristic of young birds. The smaller is the 

 darker of the two specimens. 



Kirby secured these at the same })lacc as the foregoing. 



PoDiCA SENEGALENSis (VieiU.). R. 259. (1 F.) Resi- 

 dent. 



T. dull yellow; B. dark brown a1)0ve, base scarlet; scarlet 

 below, base white ; L. vermilion-pink. Leng. 52G ; W. 19G ; 

 Tl. 145 ; C. 45. 



This specimen was shot at Muandama on Gth September ; 

 its ovaries were much enlarged, and eggs would no doubt 

 have been laid in a few days. These birds were not un- 

 common on quiet pools near rocks on the higher reaches of 

 the rivers, Init very shy. They usually dive at once on 

 alarm, and take shelter under weeds or overhanging banks ; 



