The last Journal of IV. A. Forbes. 533 



with these Ibises and Cow-birds ; and there were also a fine 

 pair of Xenorhynchus stalking about in same fields, now with 

 water let off and rice about a foot high. Down creek in 

 evening, and got a new Phylloscopvs in high bush. Saw a 

 pair of Ciconia episcopus flying over creek. 



Dec. 14th. Down to palms in morning ; got a Campe- 

 phaga ( ? ), one of the small Centropus, and three others. 

 Saw a number of what was nearly certainly, from size, colour, 

 and note (which is particularly whirring), Ploceus textor, 

 frequenting the small palms there. Greenshields tells rue 

 they do not return to beach till about March, i. e. beginning 

 of rains. All those I saw to-day were in female plumage, and 

 for a long time I have seen no full-plumaged males. Comet 

 still visible from about 10 till early morning, much more dim 

 than formerly; movement from E. to W. Got a number of 

 small fishes in afternoon, chiefly a perch-like form ; amongst 

 them a curious, spotted, small Siluroid, with the two inferior 

 ])airs of tentacles branched. 



Dec. 15th. Went into rice-fields in morning, but was 

 nearly murdered by mosquitoes and had to come back soon. 

 Shot in rice-fields a large Centropus, an Acrocephalus tur- 

 doides, and aLimnocorax flavirostris. Greenshields afterwards 

 shot an Ibis ; and we saw Scopus and a Ciconia episcopus, 

 each singly, in same flock. In evening down creek and got 

 a Nycticorax europceus in adult dress, but with no long crest- 

 feathers. Saw, going down creek, an antelope (apparently a 

 male Tragelaphus), a Gull {^. Rissa), and a white- winged pale 

 rufous Heron (? Ardea comata). 



Dec. 16th. Rather seedy, with a headache. Went down 

 to palms, and got at last a big Ceryle ; also a Macronyx and 

 a small Dnjmoeca. Did not go out in evening. 



Dec. 17th. Started about 9 with Greenshields in canoe 

 for an expedition down creek into big river (Edon-Tappa- 

 Quorra-Gambari-Oiya-Yagi), getting back about 7.30. In 

 lower part of creek came across Merops bullocki in some 

 numbers, settling in high trees on bank and flying off ni 

 regular Bee-eater style ; also shot a Ceryle (jigantea (V female 

 or young, very different from others) and one of the Lohiva- 



