620 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
decrease of rain in this country the last few years has had anything 
to do with this, I cannot say; but it is very possible, for the swamps 
have had less water in them, and have become more overgrown with 
weeds. Ducks, too, are getting scarcer year by year.” 
Mr. Andersson’s notes on the species in South-Western Africa 
are as follows :—‘‘ This splendid bird is rather scarce in Damara and 
Great Namaqua Land, but is pretty abundant in the lake regions 
and on the rivers Teoughe and Okayango ; it is also not uncommon, 
during the rainy season, in Ondonga, where the inhabitants call it 
‘King of the Waterhens,’ and declare that the moment it utters its 
deep guttural notes every Water-hen within hearing immediately 
responds by its own peculiar cry. The only spot in Damara Land 
proper where I found this species at all common was the great reedy 
marsh of Omanbondé ; but there it was very timid, and consequently 
most difficult to approach. It seldom ventured into the open, but 
would warily skirt the dense reedy recesses which formed its favourite 
haunts, and into which it would precipitately retreat on the slightest 
sign of danger. At Lake N’gami and on the River Botletlé I found 
it less difficult to obtain, probably on account of its greater abund- 
ance. It lies close during the day, and is usually only to be seen in 
the early morning and in the cool of the afternoon. Its food is very 
various, and consists of aquatic plants, mollusks, fish, eggs, and, I 
have no doubt, even young birds. In a domesticated state it will 
eat meat readily. If captured young it becomes very tame, and may 
be trusted at large, when it will freely associate with common 
poultry. This species has a heavy unwieldy flight, and has recourse 
to its wings only as a last chance of making its escape. It dives 
when in water deep enough to allow of its doing so, and it runs with 
great rapidity amongst the tangled reedy brakes of its native 
haunts.” According to Professor Barboza du Bocage it regularly 
frequents the coast of Mossamedes, and he has received from Senor 
Anchieta a number of specimens from this district and from the Rio 
Coroca, where it is called by the natives ‘ Kukulwivi.” 
Head, hind part of neck, and wing-feathers, glossy-violet ; back and 
rump, dull glossy-green ; cheeks, throat, fore-part of neck, and under 
part of body, violet-blue ; tail, dull green ; vent-feathers pure white. 
“Tris red; bill and frontal shield blood-red; thighs, tarsi, and 
feet dark pink” (Ayres). Length, 17”; wing, 9"; tail, 3". 
Fig. Daubent. Pl. Enl. 810. 
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