THE LAST JOURNAL OF W. A. FORBES. 453 



light yellow or greyish loam, apparently quite recent and fluviatile. 



Saw in morning a few deep-blue small Swallows, with white on tail Ibis ' 18 ^ 



(? Atticora fasciata), and a small Motucilfa, very white. In afternoon a 



small Buceros or two, solitary, black, with white belly, high black beak, 



and casque with large white mark (? Buceros Jistulator). 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 Gypohieracc (both in 

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

 saw two Hippopotami ; but Macintosh failed to hit them. Ardea flavi- 

 rostris, 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 horizontally. 

 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 Acrcea of two or three species. 

 Shot a male Hypliantornis 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. 



Aug. 17th. Passed Osomari, Alenso, Atani, and about noon got to Ibis, 1883, 

 Abutschi. In morning, just above Osomari, met Captain Macintosh in P- 5< ^ 

 the ' Jessie ' from Lukoja. He came on board for a few minutes and 

 went on to Akassa. Abutschi is about 270 miles by river from Akassa, 

 a little way below Onitschi, on the left bank of the river. Caught a few 

 butterflies about the steamer on landing at factory, and in afternoon 

 went down to a large sand-bank with Captain D. Macintosh and suc- 

 ceeded in shooting a hippopotamus from the bank. He sank, but his 

 body could not be found, though we sent a boat and boys to watch for 



