BALENICEPS REX. 727 
birds, when flying, utter, every now and then, a short, weak, 
metallic note, which one would not expect from a bird of that size.” 
Mr. Frank Oates procured a specimen on the Makalapsi River in 
August. It was seen in Mashoona Land during Mr. Jameson’s 
excursion, and on the Zambesi Sir John Kirk says it is called 
** Nyamehenquwe.” 
He writes : ‘“‘ Although seemingly a clean feeder, 
eating small fish, the Africans look on this bird as unfit for 
food, and also as sacred, or as possessing the power of witchcraft ; 
and to injure it is everywhere regarded as unlucky. It haunts 
water, both running and stagnant. In its nest it is the most 
remarkable of all birds in Tropical Africa. This is built either 
on a ledge of rock or more frequently in some large tree. It is the 
work of a single pair, and yet is colossal, sometimes measuring six 
feet in diameter, in the form of a flattened dome: The entrance is 
at one side, and small. The greater part of the mass is solid, and 
composed of sticks and branches of trees intimately woven together. 
This serves for many years. ‘The birds remain throughout the 
year.”” According to Mr. Andersson, “this queer and sombre- 
looking bird is pretty generally diffused throughout Damara Land 
and Great Namaqua Land during the rainy season, but is nowhere 
numerous, and moves to permanent waters as the rainpools dry up. 
It feeds much on frogs and also upon fish. It is generally observed 
singly or in pairs, and is of a fearless disposition, allowing a person 
to approach within range without difficulty.” It has been procured 
by Senor Anchieta on the coast of Mossamedes, and also at 
Capangombe and Caconda in Benguela, as well as at Humbe on 
the Cunene River: it is called “Kahumba” at Capangombe and 
«“Nagine-ankine” at Humbe. 
General colour, a warm brown, glossed with purple; tail with a 
bar at the tip, and numerous narrow ones; head much crested ; bill 
black. Length, 20"; wing, 134’; tail, 6”. 
Fig. Shaw, Gen. Zool. xi, pl. 50. 
Fam. BALANICIPITIDA. 
704. Batmnicers rex, Gould. Whale-headed Stork. 
Mr. H. H. Johnston (Ibis, 1883, p. 578) states that he saw this 
species near Humbe on the Cunene River, on the 16th of August, 
1882, and gives an extract from his journal. ‘There are here many 
