6 MR. J. S. BUDGETT ON ~- [Jan. 20, 
On July 29th I looked from a high point on the road on to 
Lake Albert, a vast sheet of glistening water, 1000 feet below, 
bordered on this side with level plains of park-land, broken here 
and there by lagoons and*swamps, where I was to try first for the 
Polypterus. 
Of the results of my Polypterws work during this journey I 
shall say nothing here; suffice it that I stayed down by the 
lake-side from J uly 30th to August 15th, trapping, netting, and 
shooting. During this time the ‘fishes most abundantly sae ‘with 
were Hydr ocyon for skalii, Alestes baremose, Distichodus miloticus, 
Labeo hosei, Bagrus bayad, Hutropius niloticus, Synodontis 1 ignites 
Tilapia nilotica, also very large specimens of a Citharinus. 
Lates niloticus is frequently caught by the natives here 5 and 
6 feet long, usually with the spear. Protopterus and Polypterus 
were both obtained here. The River-Tortoise (7'rionyx triunguis), 
28 inches in length, and very large specimens of Rana occigtalis 
were also common here. 
The common Antelopes were Cobus thomasi, Cobus defassa, 
Tragelaphus scriptus, Ovibi, and Cephalophus equatorialis. Down 
on these lake-side flats the avifauna differs in a marked manner 
from that in the highlands. Wyphantornis cucullatus was now 
building in hundreds in the water-side bushes ; Laniarius barbarus 
and Telephonus senegalus in the low bushes, with Merops albicollis, 
Lamprocolius purpureus, Pyromelana flammiceps, Terpsiphone 
perspicillata, and Dicrurus assimilis, were the birds most 
frequently met with. These birds were seldom seen in the 
highlands. 
Lanius excubitorius seems to have a curious habit of giving a 
peculiar chattering call whenever a wounded animal is near. We 
often made use of this indication when tracking wounded beasts, 
and I have no doubt of the truth of this fact. 
From here I struck due east through the Budonga Forest again 
to the Victoria Nile. The journey through this woodland country 
was at this time of year most arduous, all the paths being densely 
overgrown with rank grass, while in the ravines the creepers and 
hanging lianas were a great hindrance to the porters. During the 
four days I was in this rank jungle I saw very little in the way of 
animal-life except Elephants, a few Baboons, and an occasional 
Puff-Adder, one of them 4 ft. 5 in. in length, and a few interesting 
insects—Phasmidee and Mantidee. 
Plant-life was much more interesting, and almost overwhelming 
with its abundance of variety and its beauty. 
The handsome Nightjar (Cosmetornis vexillarius) was often seen 
at sunset in these forest-camps. 
At length we struck the old road from Masindi to Wadelai, and 
the bicycle came into use again. At my first camp along this road 
there were large numbers of a golden-eyed black Weaver-bird 
(Ploceus migerrimus), which I saw nowhere else. In its size and 
shape, courting- and nesting-habits, it resembles very closely the 
gregarious Hyphantornis cucublatus. 
