Mr. F. V. Kirby on Birds of the Boror District. 57 



V. Field-Notes on Birds Observed and Collected in the Boror 

 District of Port. East Africa. By F. Vaughan Kirby, 

 F.Z.S. 



1. ACTOPHILUS AFRICANUS (Gm.). African Jacaiia. 

 Several of these birds frequented a marshy spot near 



Miirielas Kraals. They move at a great rate over the leaves 

 of the water-plants, and when running, present a curious 

 appearance seen from behind. The neck and head are 

 stretched out below the line of the body, so that only the 

 body and long legs are visible from behind. A wounded 

 bird sank the entire body, neck and head under water, only 

 the bill reniainino- above. 



2. LiMNOCORAX NIGER (Grm.). Black Crake. 

 Numbers of these wary waders frequented the same 



marshy ground, with A. africanvs. I found them extremely 

 difficult to get a shot at, and still harder to gather after 

 shooting. I waded in shoulder-deep after several specimens 

 I had wounded, but never retrieved. 



3. ViNAGO ORIENTALIS, Gg. & Rbts. 



Numbers of these birds arrived at my Povarello camp 

 during the second Aveek in September. They appeared 

 solely to feed on the berries of the lofty " Netshenga " trees, 

 amongst whose dark green foliage they roosted. They 

 remained till the berries were finished — about a fortnight, 

 then vanished as suddenly as they had arrived. 



4. PTERNiSTESHUMBOLDTi(Ptrs.). White-ringed Pheasant. 

 I found them more commoner round the Malava Station 



than elsewhere. They frequented the extensive cultivated 

 lands round the station in coveys of from four to seven in 

 number. I frequently saw them dusting themselves in the 

 sandy foot-paths at an early hour. They are difficult to 

 flush. 



5. MiLVUS .EGYPTius (Gm.). Yellow-billed Kite. 

 Exceedingly common in September. In the Povarella one 



day, when shooting birds in that place with a diminutive 



