1869.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF ANGOLA. 565 
the inhabitants. The Harlequin Quail is found in the large swamps 
and prairies which surround the miserable town of St. Anna da Chaves. 
On one occasion I heard it a little higher up in the mountainous part 
of the island; but { think it is a rare visitor to the mountains, which 
are rich in vegetation and everywhere covered with trees and bushes. 
The only place where the Quails are numerous is in the neighbour- 
hood of the town. I used to hear them every morning from about 
7 to 11 o’clock, and afterwards from 3 to 6 in the evening. Their 
ery, which is continually heard, has a great similarity to that of our 
European Quail, but is not quite so powerful, more like hoog-hoo- 
hoo, hoog-hoo-hoo, &c. 
“«'The bird is most difficult to observe in the act of calling, as the 
grass and herbage grow exceedingly high in these countries, and the 
Quail, directly it hears any thing suspicious approaching, immediately 
conceals itself by lying squatted on the ground; nor does it stir 
till the danger appears to have passed. I sometimes managed to 
approach within a few paces of where the bird was lying, making 
sure that in a moment I should see the bird fly up and have a flying 
shot; but after walking round about for some time I was obliged 
to give up the chase, being both unable to flush the bird and to 
find it hiding in the grass. At last, after many days spent in en- 
deavouring to procure a specimen, I called in the assistance of a 
little negro boy, who showed me by signs (for I could not under- 
stand his language) that he was able to catch it. We therefore 
together silently approached the spot where the bird was calling, 
creeping along the ground and parting the herbage as we went. All 
at once I saw the little nigger give a start forward, and at the same 
moment a bird got up and flewaway. He very nearly caught it with 
his hands, and as for myself I was so much surprised that I quite forgot 
to fire. Some days after this, a man brought me one alive, which 
he had found and caught hiding its head in a hole of a land-crab. 
The inhabitants assured me that only the negroes know how to find 
the bird, which sometimes lies so close as actually to be trodden 
upon by the person in search of it. After a little time I was able to 
find them myself, and shot them as they flew up. The inhabitants, 
who are little acquainted with the bird, know it by the name of 
Codorniz.” 
The following is a list of Mr. Monteiro’s Angola collection. It 
has been formed chiefly at Ambriz and on the river Quanza, both 
well-known localities. Those believed to be recorded from Angola 
for the first time have a dagger (t) prefixed to their names. Re- 
ferences are also made to Dr. Hartlaub’s standard work on the Or- 
nithology of Western Africa, to Mr. Monteiro’s papers (Ibis, 1862, 
p- 333, and P.Z.S. 1865, p. 86), and to Professor Barboza du Bocage’s 
recent papers in the Lisbon ‘ Jornal.’ 
- 
+1. PHYLLOPNEUSTE TROCHILUS. 
“No. 11. Obtained at Columbo on the river Quanza, November 
1868. Very active, hanging on to and going round branches of trees. 
Stomach full of ants and other small insects.’’—J. J. M. 
