36 Mr. L. Beresford Mouritz on 



native name is "cliosu," but this is applied to otlier species 

 as well. I found the little Emerald-spotted Dove [Chalco- 

 pelia afer) rather numerous^ especially on the Escarpment, 

 and the natives know it as "katutwa.^^ The Coqui Fran- 

 colin [FrancoUnus coqui) was found to be widely distributed, 

 but somewhat more plentiful on the higher ground. Natives 

 call it '^ chesumisondi " or " chintalatala.^^ There were 

 also *'•' partridges " (Francolinus sp. incog.) — ''^kapezi^'^ — and 

 "'pheasants^' {Pternistes sp. incog.) — "insokozi/"' but the 

 latter are the more numerous. The upper plumage of the 

 *' pheasant ^^ somewhat resembles that of P. swainsoni, but 

 below the feathers are speckled with dark greyish-brown and 

 white, and with broad rufous edges extending from the throat 

 to the under tail-coverts — the rufous edging, however, being 

 more pronounced on the lower breast and abdomen than 

 elsewhere. Bare skin round the eyes, on throat, beak, and 

 legs red. Close to the headquarters of the Moushosi River 

 I noticed a species of Rail (apparently Rallus ceerulescens) , 

 whilst on the same river I saw Peters' Fin-foot (Podica 

 petersi). On a tributary I met with a species of Ibis, but 

 was unable to procure a specimen. There were only two of 

 them, and they appeared to be slaty-grey both above and 

 below. It was, however, well known to the natives, as 

 they called it ^''umnganga" and told me that it was an 

 extremely shy bird. This I found to be true. They would 

 not permit me to approach 'within gunshot, but kept on 

 flying off, with shrill cries, to the nearest outstanding tall 

 tree. On the Moushosi River I noticed a good many Black- 

 thighed Bishop-birds {Euplectes icanthomelas), and I first saw 

 males in breeding plumage on the 13th of December, wh€u 

 I also noted a single Red-collared Widow-bird (Coliuspasser 

 ardens), a male and in summer plumage. Once I saw some 

 White-eyes [Zoster ops sp. incog.). The Black Titmouse 

 {Parus niger) was common, and there was also a rarer grey 

 species in evidence at times. On November 30th I shot 

 a species of Psalidoprocne on the Tshinshenda River. Upon 

 dissection it proved to be a male. Description (this specimen 

 was sent to the Pretoria Museum for identification, but was 

 unfortunately lost in the post) : — Above and below sooty 



