APPENDIX 325 



Swifts 



Swifts of several kinds — including our British species in 

 winter — were observed, some comparatively small. 



CoLIES (Colius) 



These mouse-grey birds with tufted heads and very long 

 tails are numerous, darting about in packs with rapid flight. 

 Their long wings and tails at first suggest " Parrakeets " ; but 

 on aliofhtins, the Colies are seen to run and climb on trees and 

 move in the style of Creepers or Nuthatches, creeping along 

 boughs or up and down vertical stems in search of berries or 

 buds. For climbing purposes, their toes are so arranged that 

 all four can be directed forwards, and are furnished with sharp 

 prehensile claws. When ascending a sloping branch they 

 appear to use the "knees" also. Figured at p. 65. 



Colies breed in November, the nests being untidy grass-built 

 structures like those of Sparrows, placed in bushes or low trees, 

 and with an entrance at the side. 



Cuckoos 



Solitary Cuckoo — Cuculus solitarius. Njemps, August. 



White-browed Coucal — Ccntroims suioereiliosiis. 



Purple-crowned Lark-heeled Coucal — C. monaelius. 



These two are reclusive birds, skulking by day amid 

 tliick reed-beds or bush and seldom seen. They are largely 

 of nocturnal habit, and very noisy at night. The first- 

 named Coucal has an extraordinary bubbling note that 

 resembles water gurslins from an inverted bottle, and 

 may be heard all night at Mombasa (where " water-bottle 

 bird " is one name for it). We also heard it far up- 

 country, at Makindu, Baringo, etc. 



Both species are also known as Bush-Cuckoos, or 

 Ground-Cuckoos. Sketched at pp. 59, 109, 112. 



TOUEACOS 



Grey Touraco, or Lourie — Schizorliis concolor (South-African). 

 Purple-crested Lourie — Gallircx chloroclilamys. 

 Purple-winged Lourie — Turacv.s hartlauhi. 



