218 MR. A. D. BARTLETT ON THE KAGU. [June 24, 



nearly 1 inch ; height of head, 2 inches ; length of body, from occi- 

 put to back of hind legs, 8 inches ; total length of tail, 12 inches ; 

 length of tail to commencement of single crest, 5^ inches ; length of 

 the part of it with single crest, 7| inches. 



On the whole, this new species seems to combine many of the 

 characters both of C. vulgaris and C. leptorhynchus . In its head it 

 is nearest to C. vulgaris ; in its colouring, scuta, and tail to C. lep- 

 torhynchus. 



I owe this specimen to the kindness of the Rev. W. C. Thomson, 

 the accomplished missionary at Old Calabar. He wrote me word 

 long before I received it that there was another species of Crocodile 

 in the Old Calabar besides the two generally known, that it was ex- 

 tremely scarce, but that he would endeavour to procure a specimen 

 for me. He did so, and sent me the individual from which this de- 

 scription is taken, alive. It reached Liverpool in good health, but, 

 most unfortunately, was drowned on the railway on its passage to 

 Edinburgh. The gentleman who was kind enough to charge himself 

 with it thought it would not live unless brought in water, and he 

 put it in a foot-pail half full of water. The water was too deep to 

 allow the poor animal to rest on the bottom of the pail and stretch 

 up its head for breath ; and when the jolting of the railway com- 

 menced, it was kept in a constant state of submersion. The con- 

 sequence which might have been anticipated ensued, and my Croco- 

 dile arrived dead. There is no doubt that it is a good species, half- 

 way between C. vulgaris and C. leptorhynchus. 



15. Note on the Habits and Affinities of the Kagu 

 (Rhinochetus jubatiis). By A. D. Bartlett. 



(Plate XXX.) 



At the first sight of this bird, one is struck with its resemblance 

 to several different genera, and at once calls to mind Eurypyga, (Edi- 

 cnemus, Cariama, Psophia, Nycticorax, and Scopus : one and all 

 appear more or less represented in its singular combination of cha- 

 racters. 



The actions and movements of the Kagu are generally quick and 

 lively, so opposite to the slow and chameleon-like movements of the 

 true Herons that one can hardly suspect it to be an Ardeine bird. 

 This, however, it doubtless will prove to be, but so modified and 

 adapted to a different kind of diet and mode of life, that its real affi- 

 nities are difficult to recognize. 



With its crest erect, and wings spread out, the Kagu runs or skips 

 about, sometimes pursiiing and driving before him all the birds that 

 are confined with him in the same aviary [among these are several 

 Blue Waterhens (Porjjhyrio)], evidently enjoying the fun of seeing 

 them frightened ; at other times he will seize the end of his wing or 

 tail and run round, holding it in his bill : from a piece of paper or 

 dry leaf he derives amusement by tossing it about and running after 



