528 The lust Journul of W. A. Forbes. 



rounded by king's house, mosque (destroyed), &c. In garden 

 of former are some fine date-palms (introduced), and in one of 

 the yards I saw a Cactoid [Euphorbia), which is rare in this 

 part, so far as I have seen. 



Nov. 27th. Did not go out in morning. Got a Polypterus 

 (the ninth) and another fish from people, and in evening one 

 of the large Siluroids and a basinful (about 20) of an 

 eight-barbed species of small size. Went down creek in 

 evening, but got nothing. Saw Ceryle gigantea, a pair of 

 Schizorhis, and a single Podica, which got away wounded ; 

 it climbed up bank out of water, and rather nimbly up 

 a small tree to ten or twelve feet from ground ; very Duck- 

 like altogether in habit. 



Nov. 28th. Went down creek again in morning to look 

 after Podica, but in vain. Only shot a Platystira with 

 scarlet eye-wattles and a Totanus of same species as one 

 skinned at Egga (iris brown ; beak greyish ; legs pale dead- 

 flesh colour). A small scarlet Homopteron is common on 

 reeds in reed-beds, and a brilliant object when flying in 

 the sun. Refilled cartridges, labelled birds, &c. rest of 

 day. 



Nov. 29th. Down to palm-groves in morning. Did well, 

 getting three specimens of Woodpeckers (all new to me), 

 Hirundo senegalensis, one of the obscure Ploceus in good 

 'out of colour) plumage, and an jEgialitis, apparently 

 hiaticula (eyelids narrowly yellow ; iris olive-brown ; beak 

 black ; legs pale orange), on beach, and a matui-e moulting 

 specimen of the black-and-white Toccus. Saw three or four 

 Crithagra, the fine Nectarinia, &c. Saw a family of a fine 

 large Cynocephalus, apparently C. anubis, on border of bush 

 and in banana-clearing — large, with long tail, mane rather 

 deep colour, and large callosities; face blackish. Got a 

 small harmless snake in afternoon from a native ; and in 

 afternoon went down creek, getting five birds — a Turdus, 

 Dicrurus, Butorides, CEdicnemus, and a Caprimulgus, the first 

 two in bush, the last in reed-marsh. Got two shots at the 

 big Kingfisher, and of course missed ; also saw, but did not 

 get, a Cossypha in bush. Dicrurus was in a swarm of ten to 



