APPENDIX 
325 
Swifts 
Swifts of several kinds—including our British species in 
winter—were observed, some comparatively small. 
Colies ( Colins ) 
These mouse-grey birds with tufted heads and very long 
tails are numerous, darting about in packs with rapid flight. 
Their long wings and tails at first suggest “ Parrakeets ”; but 
on alighting, the Colies are seen to run and climb on trees and 
move in the style of Creepers or Nuthatches, creeping along 
boughs or up and down vertical stems in search of berries or 
buds. For climbing purposes, their toes are so arranged that 
all four can be directed forwards, and are furnished with sharp 
prehensile claws. When ascending a sloping branch they 
appear to use the “knees” also. Figured at p. 65. 
Colies breed in November, the nests being untidy grass-built 
structures like those of Sparrows, placed in bushes or low trees, 
and with an entrance at the side. 
Cuckoos 
Solitary Cuckoo— Cuculus solitarius. Njemps, August. 
White-browed Coucal— Centropus superciliosus. 
Purple-crowned Lark-heeled Coucal— C. monachus. 
These two are reclusive birds, skulking by day amid 
thick reed-beds or bush and seldom seen. They are largely 
of nocturnal habit, and very noisy at night. The first- 
named Coucal has an extraordinary bubbling note that 
resembles water gurgling from an inverted bottle, and 
may be heard all night at Mombasa (where “ water-bottle 
bird ” is one name for it). We also heard it far up- 
country, at Makindu, Baringo, etc. 
Both species are also known as Bush-Cuckoos, or 
Ground-Cuckoos. Sketched at pp. 59, 109, 112. 
Touracos 
Grey Touraco, or Lourie— SchizorJiis concolor (South-African). 
Purple-crested Lourie— G-allirex chlorochlamys. 
Purple-winged Lourie— Turacus hartlaubi. 
