532 The last Journal of W. A. Forbes. 



Dec. 9th. Got three Polypteri and two other fishes^ the 

 silvery Clupeoid and the Scaroid, which superficially exactly 

 resemble one another, differing in teeth, form of head, anal 

 fin, and coloration of ventrals. In evening went down creek, 

 but got little, only an Epomophorus and an Estrelda rubro- 

 picta, both damaged. 



Dec. 10th. Down to palm-groves &c. and got five birds, 

 two being new, a small Barbatula (iris brown, with bright 

 orange-yellow frontal spot, light yellow-sulphury uropygium, 

 and citron-yellow edgings to lesser wing-coverts ; greater 

 coverts and most proximal remiges bordered with white ; 

 crown, nape, and neck flammulated with white) and a small 

 Drymceca. All flocks of Euplectes and of Ploceus, sp. inc., are 

 now in full winter plumage. Lots of Pratincola about. In 

 evening went down creek ; got a female Ploceus brachypterus 

 and male Macrodipteryx. Saw also the male of the Tchitrea 

 I had previously got female of; it is white, with glossy crested 

 head and two long rectrices. Saw also some females of it, 

 Laniarius, &c. 



Dec. 11th, Down to usual shooting-grounds in morning. 

 Got two females and one male of Ploceus brachypterus and a 

 small Drymceca. Saw a single Scopus (flight light, easy 

 sailing, with no heavy flapping as in Herons), and wounded , 

 or killed, but could not find, what was apparently an Indi- 

 cator. In evening, down creek, got the male Tchitrea ; also 

 a Scotornis climacurus on way back. Rather feverish again. 



Dec. 12th. Did not go out in morning, but took a " thoke.'^ 

 Filled a tin full of specimens. In evening down creek. Saw 

 a Scopus, and shot one of the large species of Centropus. 

 Stores from Egga arrived. Got a few fishes, including two 

 specimens of a new barbel-like fish with a red spot on tips of 

 scales. 



Dec. 13th. Got about eighteen fishes in morning, of six 

 or seven species, including one new one, a barbel-like form with 

 very large scales. Did not shoot in morning. Got a young 

 Ibis athiopicus in evening in rice-fields opposite factory, one 

 of a number ; these birds have appeared quite commonly 

 during the last few days. Saw several Scopus in company 



