596 Mr. A. B. Percival on Birds 
83. Ardetta pusilla Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 476. 
Ardetta podiceps (Bp.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvi. 
p. 225 (1898). 
Common in the marshes near the river. The males seemed 
to be much more common than the females. They kept to 
thick cover^ as a rule, and perched on the reeds. 
84. Erythrocnus rufivextris (Sundev.) ; Sharpe, Cat. 
B. Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 200 (1898). 
I obtained only one specimen of this pretty little Heron, 
but saw one or two others ; they are very wild. They settle 
high up on reeds, and so are able to see anyone approaching. 
Iris yellow ; bare skin round eye greenish yellow ; bill — 
upper mandible blacky lower yellow with black tip ; legs 
yellow. 
85. Leptoptilus crumenifer (Cuv.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1894, 
p. 477. 
Numerous in the Elephant-marsh. 
86. Phyllopezus africanus (Gm.). 
Parr a africana Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 25. 
These graceful birds were to be seen wherever there was 
any floating weed or marshy bank. They were particularly 
common on the Portuguese side of Buo, opposite Chiromo, 
and in a narrow stream which joined the Shire above Chiromo, 
after coming through the Elephant-marsh. They were always 
in pairs or parties ; it was a most unusual thing to see a 
solitary bird. They looked very pretty running about 
over the floating stuff or flying round. If two parties meet 
they will at once start to fight, following each other on the 
wing until one party or the other is driven off. If wounded 
they dive well, often taking hold of weeds under water and 
staying there. 
87. Himantopus candidus Bonn.; Shelley, Ibis, 1894, 
p. 475. 
Bare; I saw only two pairs during all my trips, and those 
escaped me. I watched them for some time feeding. They 
are good swimmers ; one which I saw took quite a long swim 
across a channel. 
