22 Mr. \V. L. Sclater on Birds colltded 



Tete I was unsuccessful in findiiigone occupied. This nest was 

 robbed on the 22nd Sept., 1907, when it contained four young 

 in down and one infertile egg. The nest, which was placed in 

 tiic fork of a large tree some 12 ft. from the ground, was the 

 usual huge conglomeration of sticks, having the entrance-hole 

 at the side leading to the centre cavity in which the eggs are 

 laid ; there was no lining of feathers or other material. The 

 cry is shrill and sharp, and can be heard at a good distance, 

 and may be described as '^ sikwee, sikwee, kwee kwee/^ 

 sharply pronounced. Eotli the Machangaan and Nhlangaan 

 names have reference to the long legs, but the Zambesi name 

 is derived from the call. 



The soft parts of the adult are : — Irides dark brown ; bill, 

 legs and toes sooty black. In the nestling the irides are 

 white; bill blackish horn-coloured; le^s and toes rather paler.] 



585. ArDEA GOLIATH. 



Z. Umfolosi Station, Aug. (1 ? ). 



587. Ardea melanocephala. 

 Tv. Pietersburg, Feb. (I). 



588. Ardea purpurea. 

 P. Masambeti, Nov. (1). 

 ['^Shiku'^ of theNtebis. 



I have only occasionally^ noticed this Heron and always in 

 the summer season. It is found along dykes, ditches, and 

 swampy country, standing in the water or at the edge, 

 and feeds principally on frogs and tadpoles. It is very tame, 

 and if flushed at close quarters will often fly up and perch 

 on the top of a tree. I have seen both immature aiid old 

 birds ; in November 1907 near Beira I killed one in first 

 plumage that had not yet started moulting, but as it was 

 shot with an expanding bullet it was unfit for preservation.] 



594. BUBULCUS IBIS. 



Z, Umfolosi Station, Aug., Sept. (5); Ngoye Hills, Oct. 

 (3). _ 



[This is a common bird on the coast and coast-lands, and 

 is always found in flocks of considerable numbers. During a 



