448 Mr. W. E-. O^ilvie-Grant on 
O' 
143. "^Leptoptilus crumeniferus. 
Leptoptilus crumeniferus (Cuv.) -, Sharpe^ Cat. B. Brit. 
Mus. xxvi. p. 319 (1898) ; Witherby, p. 273; N. C. Botlis. 
& Wollast. p. 30. 
[The Adjutant-Bird, or Marabou Stork, was common. It 
seemed to be able to get its food either on land or from the 
water. It followed in the wake of fires to feed on the 
scorched insects and reptiles. It attended the death of any- 
animal, and I also once saw it standing in a swamp on the 
look out for fishes and frogs. — R. M. H.] 
144. PSEUDOTANTALUS IBIS. 
Pseudotantalus ibis (Linn.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 
xxvi. p. 327 (1898) ; Witherby, p. 273. 
a. J. Fashoda, 31st March. No. 267. 
Iris greyish ; bill ochreous ; cheeks light red ; legs red at 
upper end of tibia, shading into pink on the tarsus and 
feet. 
The male brought home by Mr. Hawker — apparently a 
fully adult bird — has all the freshly-moulted upper wing- 
coverts uniform white tinged with rose, while only a few 
hidden feathers of the greater upper wing-coverts, scapulars, 
and tail-coverts — all in worn condition — shew the lake bars 
characteristic of what has generally been recognised as the 
adult plumage. I am of opinion that further investigation 
will prove that the African Wood-Ibis has distinct winter and 
summer plumages. In the former all the upper wing-coverts, 
&c. are barred with lake ; in the latter these parts are 
uniform white, tinged with rose, as in the bird from Fashoda. 
To satisfactorily settle this interesting point (which, so far as 
I am aware, has never previously been suggested), it would 
be necessary to examine a few adult birds shot in different 
months of the year and properly labelled. Mr. Hawker's 
bird is the only specimen in the British Museum with a label 
bearing the date and other particulars. 
It is to be hoped that collectors in Africa will look more 
closely into this matter. 
[I saw the "Wood-Ibis in flocks, generally feeding in 
places which had just been burnt. — R. M. H.] 
