90 MR. J.J. MONTEIRO ON THE BIRDS OF BENGUELA. (Jan. 24, 
8. Or1s prcruRatA, Hartlaub, sp. nov. 
Both these handsome Bustards, called “Tuas” by the natives, are 
found abundantly all along the littoral region of Angola, becoming 
more so in the vicinity of Benguela, and inhabiting in preference the 
gypsum plains and country driest and barest of vegetation. They 
utter a loud clucking cry, and go about always in pairs, run very 
fast, and when alarmed fly low and heavily, generally dropping to 
the ground again at a short distance. They are very shy, and diffi- 
cult to shoot. Their flesh is the most delicate and best-tasted of 
perhaps any game bird. There is a third magnificent species similar 
in appearance to no. 8, with a white belly, but twice its size. The 
stomachs of these birds contain flowers, buds, and leaves of several 
species of shrubs, remains of scorpions, and several kind of hard 
seeds. I have known several Portuguese who have attempted to 
rear these birds, or keep the old ones in their gardens, but have 
always failed to preserve them alive for any length of time. 
9. PrerocLes NAMAQuus (Gm.). 
Male and female. Inhabit the same locality as the preceding ; 
gregarious in small flocks, but keeping together in pairs. 
10. Cursorrus BistGNatvus, Hartlaub, sp. nov. 
Same locality and habits. 
11. LoBrvANELLUS LATERALIS, Sm. 
Same locality ; scarce. 
12. Popicers minor (Limn.). 
Abundant on the freshwater lakes of Angola. 
13. ARDEA MINUTA, Linn. 
This beautiful species was shot at the Bimbas or freshwater lakes 
at Benguela. 
14, ParRA AFRICANA, Gm. 
This beautiful bird is common on all the still freshwaters of 
Angola. 
15, GALLINULA CHLOROPUs (Linn.). 
Common in the same localities as the preceding. 
16. Corvus scapuLaAtus, Daud. 
Common to the whole of the Angola coast and interior. Have the 
same impudent thievish propensities as cur Common Crow, and very 
nearly the same caw and croak. Have wonderfully acute sense of 
sight or smell. I could never encamp anywhere but they would 
soon make their appearance, often in the most bare and desert situ- 
ations on the coast. J once only at Benguela, but several times at 
Mossamedes, observed another species, all black, and the size of our 
rook, or perhaps a little smaller. 
