

682 Mr. M. J. Nicoll on the Birds collected and 



Male and female immature. Tarsi and toes yellow. 



I saw only the female alive ; the male was procured by the 

 Doctor in a mangrove swamp. The female I shot from a 

 tree in the wood that had grown up on what was formerly 

 cleared land. This species is peculiar to the Comoro Islands. 



MlLVUS MIGRANS (Bodd.). 



Adult female and immature male. 



The Black Kite is very numerous about the harbour in 

 Mayotte ; several were often to be seen perched on the 

 rigging of the yacht while at anchor there. 



Ardea bubulcus. 



Bubulcus lucidus Sharpe, Cat. B. B. M. xxvi. p. 213. 



Four adult males, one adult female. 



The Buff-backed Heron was abundant on Mayotte at the 

 time of our visit. I do not know whether it breeds in 

 the Comoros, but should think that it is only a winter 

 visitor. 



BUTORIDES ATRICAPILLA (Afzel.). 



Butorides atricapilla Sharpe, Cat. B. B. M. xxvi. p. 172. 



One male and two females. 



Iris yellow ; bill black ; a large yellow mark on the lower 

 mandible from base to angle. 



Fairly numerous in the mangrove swamps and very tame. 

 As the tide ebbed numbers used to come from the swamps 

 to the shore and feed in company with the Curlews,. 

 Whimbrels, &c. 



Alectro:nas sganzini (Des Murs). 



Alectrcevias sganzini Salvadori, Cat. B. B. M. xxi. p. 162. 



Iris hazel ; bill greenish, with a white line on the lower 

 mandible ; tarsi and toes greenish. 



This fine Pigeon is now found only among the highest 

 peaks of the hills, where the native vegetation is untouched, 

 nearly the whole of the island having been cleared at some 

 time or another. I saw very few examples, and obtained only 

 two adult males. 



The note of this Pigeon is a very deep " coo." 



