The last Journal of W. A. Forbes. 535 



two. This is first rain for about two months, except one or 

 two very slight showers. It rained again in night, sleepless 

 for me. 



Dec. 21st. Got a large Silnroid, with big rounded adipose 

 fin ; I think new to me. Dull and cloudy all day, and in 

 evening it came on to rain about 5, and rained afterwards 

 again all night. Did not go out all day. 



Dec. 22ud. Not out in morning. Got a few fishes, but 

 nothing new. Cloudy and dull all day, but no rain; cleared 

 up a little before sunset. Went about 5 down creek, and 

 got a young black Tern (new) and a second Cossi/pha verti- 

 calis on a tree the other side of creek. Saw the wdiite male 

 Tchitrea again, with female Laniarius and Dicrurns, &c. 



Dec. 23rd. Down to usual shooting-grounds, but saw and 

 shot nothing new. Ploceus brachypterus is now abundant ; 

 these feeding on corn (and palms?). Got another of the 

 Drymoecine form, in which sexes differ in colour of soft 

 parts, a Macromjx (perched in a biggish tree), one of the 

 Zosterops-Wke. form, and a Hypergerus. In evening down 

 creek ; got two males of the Tchitrea (one in perfect, one 

 in immature dress) and a Scopus. 



Dec. 21th. Down to usual shooting-grounds in morning, 

 and then turned off to right over hills, where grass has been 

 burnt, and so back to Shonga> Saw several (and shot one) 

 Hoplopterus sphiosus, Toccus pcecilorhynchus, a Dicrurus, 

 Macrodipteryx, and two or three of a Pterocles in sandy 

 places on hills, the Zoster ops, &c. A pair of Kenorhyuchas 

 again in rice-fields opposite, stalking about in afternoon. 



Dec. 25th. Christmas Day. Out shooting in morning, 

 but got little, though I saAv several nice things — an Oriole, 

 grey Campephaga (?), a single Pterocles, Toccus pcecilorhyn- 

 chus (several), &c. &c. A small flock of Schizorhis in 

 palm-groves ; they have a loud call-note, rapidly repeated, 

 " cow-cow-coio " &c., and when sitting sometimes raise tail 

 till quite vertical over body. Bag : one Turdus pelios (shot 

 hopping on ground amongst burnt bush) and one Dryniceca. 

 Got a D'lodon (or Tetrodon) from a native woman — ground- 

 colour olive- black ; chin and belly nearly whitish, shading 



