30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAX, MUSEUM vol.73 



ANAS ERYTHRORHYNCHA Gmelin 



REDBILL OR AFRICAN PINTAIL 



Three young birds, just able to fly, I think, have just been brought 

 in from Malenga. One met death at the beak of a sacred ibis, the 

 others fed well on chopped meat and rice submerged in water in a 

 soup plate. (Dodoma, 1. vii. 26.) 



THALASSORNIS LEUCONOTUS LEUCONOTUS Eyton 



WHITE-BACKED DIVING DUCK 



Twenty-three young birds were brought in from Nzingi during 

 the middle of August; the diet of minced meat and boiled rice in 

 water did not suit them. 



DENDROCYGNA FULVA (Gmelin) 



FULVOUS TREE DUCK 



Common on the swamps at Nzingi and Bahi in May, black duck 

 {fAnas sparsa Eyton) and many other species were also seen, almost 

 invariably in pairs. (20-26. v. 26.) As they were unaccompanied by 

 young, I concluded that they were not nesting as yet, certainly not 

 sitting, for the females accompanied the drakes. Two nests which I 

 found looked like old duck nests, however. 



ALOPOCHEN AEGYPTIACUS (Linnaeus) 

 EGYPTIAN GOOSE 



Seen at Bahi in May. 



During the last days of June an adult and two young birds were 

 brought in, the woolly necks of the latter looking very scraggy. Both 

 the young birds died, presumably through competition of the older 

 birds in the run. (Dodoma, vi. 26.) 



SARKIDIORNIS MELANOTUS ^Pennant) 

 KNOB-BILLED GOOSE 



Very abundant and extraordinarily tame at Nzingi in May (24-26) 

 where a flock of 20 permitted one to approach within 30 to 50 feet. 



A single bird in an exhausted condition on being brought in was 

 put in an inclosure to see if it would recover, which it did, flying 

 away between dusk and dawn. (Dodoma, vii. 26.) 



PLECTROPTERUS GAMBENSI9 GAMBENSIS Linnaeus 



SPUR-WINGED GOOSE 



Six birds were obtained from the missions at Bahi and Kilamatinde, 

 whither they had been taken by natives. The big birds have rav- 

 enous appetites, consuming large quantities of meat and rice, which are 



