375 



mandible short, and advancing upwards ; the wings moderate 

 and rounded ; the tail long, and much rounded ; the tarsi 

 short ; and the toes margined with a membrane, which is 

 more or less united to the middle one. 



Q Genus PODICA, Lesson. 



Bill longer than the head, straight, sides compressed, with 

 the culmen rather elevated, and gradually curved to the tip, 

 which is acute and emarginated ; the gonys of the lower 

 mandible short, and advancing upwards ; the nostrils placed 

 in a broad groove, with the opening large, longitudinal, and 

 near the middle ; wings moderate, with the third, fourth, and 

 fifth quills the longest ; tail lengthened, rounded, and com- 

 posed of long narrow feathers, with the shaft of each strong 

 at the base ; tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and scutellated 

 in front ; toes long, and margined with a broad, lobed mem- 

 brane ; the lateral ones unequal ; the hind toe long, and 

 margined with a broad lobe ; the claws short and curved. 



694. Podica Mosambicana, Peters; Podica 



Petersii, Hartb., Beitr. Fur. Orn,, West. Af., p. 6 ; 

 Abhandlung aus d. Geb. d. Naturwissensch., 1861, 2. 



ABOVE brown ; beneath white ; chest, flanks, and vent, varie- 

 gated fuscous ; head and neck above, black, with violet reflec- 

 tions ; beneath, and on the sides, shining-black ; shoulders 

 violet- black, slightly spotted with white ; bill yellowish, with 

 the culinen black ; legs yellow. 



I have never seen this bird in any of the collections submitted to my 

 inspection. Mr. Ayres has, however, procured it in Natal. 



1855. While walking along the banks of the River Zonder End, at 

 Mr. Vigne's farm, I startled a bird from the cover of a thick bush 

 which overhung the water. At first I took it for a coot, and abstained 

 from firing ; but as the bird dropt its legs, I saw the feet were bright- 

 orange, and apparently webbed : other peculiarities also convinced me 

 that I had a stranger before me. I fired, and my bird dropt into the 

 water, but instantly dived. It appeared again on the surface, and I 

 gave it my second barrel half a charge of dust-shot. I saw this 

 strike all over it, but it again dived ; and though 1 hunted for more 

 than an hour, I saw no more of my quarry. Since I have seen the 

 Indian Podica in the collection of Mr. Webb, of JNTewstead Abbey, I 

 am convinced this was our African bird. 



February, 1867. I saw a second specimen of this bird at the Berg 

 River, at a farm belonging to Sir William Hodges. Though badly 

 wounded, it dived and concealed itself amid the bushes drooping into 

 the river, and I lost it. As I saw it swim across the river, and had a 

 good view of it, I am sure of its identity. 



