476 THE LAST JOUENAL OF W. A. FORBES. 



Platalea (a male) has wind-pipe thoracically dilated, depressed, of peculiar 

 structure, and convoluted subcutaneously, the loop coming halfway up 

 neck nearly. Greenshields shot a Balearica opposite factory. In after- 

 noon down creek. Got an immature Squacco Heron and a nice Scopus, 

 perched on a low branch of tree overhanging water ; it vomited up a 

 number of small fishes when shot. Saw the Missa(t) again in reed-beds. 

 Wretched night. 



Dec. 19th. Greenshields shot a second Scopus just outside in morning. 

 Pilled up a tin with spirit-specimens. Felt seedy all day. Went down 

 creek in afternoon, and shot a Cossypha verticalis in bush, and saw others. 

 They hop about ground and low bushes and trees, and are very shy ; 

 their note a harsh whistle. A sharp attack of fever came on in canoe ; 

 so got home early and lay up. No dinner. Got two more Cyclanostcus 

 from a woman ; smaller than others. 



Dec. 20th. Much better this morning. Got another Cydanosteus and 

 five other fishes two Malapterurus and three specimens of a small- 

 scaled barbel. Went down creek in evening and saw two or three 

 Rissa (?) near wharf, and shot a small Phylloscopus (greenish, with yellow 

 soles), which got ruined in rain. About 5.30 a strong tornado-breeze, 

 with lightning and heavy rain, came on ; and we got a good wetting. It 

 Ibis 1883 has Deen yer y co l an d cloudy for last day or two. This is first rain for 

 p. 535. about two months, except one or two very slight showers. It rained 

 again in night, sleepless for me. 



Dec. 21st. Got a large Siluroid, 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. 22nd. 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 Cossypha verticalis on a tree the other side of creek. Saw the 

 white male Tchitrea again, with female Laniarius and Dicrurus, &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 Macronyoc (perched in a biggish tree), one of the 

 Zosterops-like 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. 24th. 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 spinosus, Toccus pceci- 

 lorhynchus, a Dicrurus, Macrodipteryx, and two or three of a Pterocles in 

 sandy places on hills, the Zosterops, &c. A pair of Xenorliynchus again 

 in rice-fields opposite, stalking about in afternoon. 



