The last Journal of W. A. Forbes. 503 



lows, with white on tail {? Atticora fasciata) , and a small 

 MotaciUa, very white. In afternoon a small Buceros or two, 

 solitary, black, with white belly, high black beak, and casque 

 with large white mark {? Buceros fistulator). The flight is 

 an alternation of heavy flapping with smooth gliding. Lots 

 of Pratincola flying like Swallows just over surface of river 

 below Emblama — white tail and below, with large square white 

 patch on primaries. Saw a flock of three of a green Treron 

 fly over river, and got a shot at a crocodile lying on a bank. 

 Macintosh had previously killed one about 8 feet long. 



Aug. 16th. Fine morning. Started at 6, and at 7 were 

 near to Wari creek, the head of the delta leading to Benin, 

 and about 200 miles from sea (in ship's course). Saw a 

 Buceros and a couple of Cuculine birds, chestnut with black 

 cap and white throat (probably Centropus). On a bank just 

 at Wari creek saw a great number of Gypohierax (both in 

 young and adult plumage) and a solitary Ardea goliath. A 

 little above saw two Hippopotami ; but Macintosh failed to 

 hit them. Ardea fiavirostr is, and another smaller grey species, 

 on sand-banks above. The coco and palm-nut trees near the 

 villages are crowded with compact circular pensile nests of a 

 Weaver-bird, first seen yesterday'. The banks are about 18 

 feet high where exposed by river-section, of a reddish-grey 

 or yellowish loam, obviously stratified, but not always hori- 

 zontally. About 12 got to Aboh, where there is a factory 

 and the hulk ^ Arran Isle.' The native town is inland about 

 an hour's walk. Got about twenty butterflies near bank, 

 chiefly Acraa of two or three species. Shot a male Hyphant- 

 ornis, and a female Estrelda — eyes pale brown-olive, beak 

 rosy red marked with black, feet dirty flesh. On shore 

 about three quarters of an hour. After lunch landed on a 

 large sandy bank to stalk two crocodiles, and got within 

 about 150 yards, but missed mine as it was going into the 

 water. Greenshields did not get his shot. Walked about 

 on bank and shot a male Vidua principalis, also saw several 

 of the Glareola walking about on bank. In morning shot a 

 crocodile from steamer at about 800 yards with the captain's 

 Martini, and made fine practice at a bottle, a cartridge, or 

 two inches of pipe put upon fore davits. 



