358 Mr. A. H. Evans— Bird-Notes 



among them, according to a resident in the district — were 

 occasionally seen soaring high in the air, a single Crested 

 Hawk (? Baza verreauxi) was observed on the top of a low 

 tree : a few large Bustards which it was impossible to identify, 

 and a much greater number of the smaller species, sped over 

 the fiats as we disturbed them at their repasts. Occasionally 

 the fine purple Plantain-eater [Gallirex porphyreolophus) was 

 seen among the scrub, and much more frequently the grey 

 Schizorhis concolor. Drongos {Dlcrurus afer and D. ludwigi) 

 and Glossy Starlings with their green or blue coloration 

 were a striking feature in the ecene, while at a small vlcy 

 two examples of Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis and a Ham- 

 merkop were reported by the passengers in the first train. 



Often during the daily stoppages I followed up the Bee- 

 eaters and Rollers, but could find no evidence of their breeding^ 

 while the Hornbills flew heavily ahead of me from tree to tree 

 with their broad black-and-white wings outspread, only to 

 settle to rest again as soon as I turned away. The whole of 

 this desert must be a paradise for the ornithologist a little 

 later in the season, but we were evidently too early to see it 

 at its best. The characteristic Dombea trees were covered 

 with their white flowers, but otherwise the vegetation was 

 not in an advanced state, except as regarded some of the low- 

 growing herbaceous plants. 



At Bulawayo, where we broke the journey, 1 was able to 

 arrange for several hours in the "bush"" round the town, 

 but, whether on account of the excessive drought or the 

 season of the year, the avifauna was most disappointing. 

 Evergreens and creepers occurred here and there among the 

 mimosa- scrub and a long avenue had recently been planted 

 leading from the town to the Governor's residence, so that 

 the surroundings were not unsuited to birds ; nevertheless, 

 except for Corvultur albicoUis and a few Doves and Sparrows, 

 all the result of a long and silent watch was to obtain a sight 

 of a few flocks of a lovely little purple-cheeked Weaver- 

 bird (Estrilda granatina) at very close quarters and to hear 

 the harsh reiterated note of a mysterious species wdiich 

 skulked ahead among the tangled portions of the vegetation 



