(EDICNBMIDJ3 (EDICNBMUS 319 



Iris pale green ; bill black, yellowish at the base ; legs pale 

 greenish-slate. 



Length (in flesh) 15-0; wing 8-0; tail 4-25; culmen 1-75; tarsus 30. 



The female is somewhat duller in plumage than the male, but of 

 about the same size. 



Distribution. — The Water Dikkop is found all over South and 

 East Africa as far north as Loango on the west, Victoria Nyanza 

 in the centre, and Mombasa on the east. Though widely distri- 

 buted in South Africa it appears to be always a somewhat rare 

 bird, and is not found on the high veld or far away from large 

 rivers or the sea. 



The following are localities : Cape Colony — Bredasdorp (S. A. 

 Mus.), Knysna in March (Victorin), in October (Marais), Port 

 Ehzabeth, rare (Brown), King Wilham's Town (Bt. Mus.), St. 

 John's Eiver, April (Shortridge) ; Natal — Durban, June and July 

 (Ayres), Umgeni Eiver mouth (Seebohm), Ivuna Eiver in Zulu- 

 land (Woodward) ; Transvaal — Sabi Eiver, June (Francis, in S. A. 

 Mus.); Bechuanaland — Nocana,.July (Fleck) ; Ehodesia — Quaequae 

 Eiver and Umfuli Eiver, October (Ayres) ; Portuguese East Africa 

 — Tete (Kirk). 



Habits. — The Water Dikkop is nowhere very common; it is 

 nearly always found in pairs or in small parties about the mouths or 

 along the banks of rivers, where it finds its food, which consists of 

 small insects and Crustacea. It is very shy and runs swiftly out of 

 sight, concealing itself among low trees and shrubs which Hne the 

 river banks. Ayres noticed that it was only found about Durban 

 Harbour in winter (June and July), and Mr. Shortridge tells me he 

 has only seen it on the St. John's Eiver, some distance from the 

 mouth, in April. It is probably partially migratory. 



Two eggs of this species in the South African Museum were 

 obtained by Mr. Eriksson on the Cunene Eiver ; they were laid on 

 the bare ground within a couple of feet of the water. They are 

 somewhat smooth and shiny, of a very pale sandy brown ground- 

 colour, heavily blotched and spotted with a very much darker shade 

 of brown. They are slightly pointed at one end, and measure 

 1-90 X 1-35. 



