360 Mr. O. Salvin’s Five Months' Birds’-nesting 
not until afterwards recognize tlie birds seen at the latter place 
as belonging to this species, which they undoubtedly did. At 
Chot Saboun, the eastern extremity of the marsh of Zana, the 
bird was most numerous. I myself only saw an occasional bird 
near our camp at Zana, Chot Saboun involving a longer ride 
than I could take without an attack of the climatic fever under 
which I suffered during the last three months of my stay. 
124. Himantopus melanopterus. (Black-winged Stilt.) 
Abundant at Zana, a few pairs occurring at Djendeli and 
Guerah el Tharf. Over the whole of the lower end of the marsh 
of Zana and Chot Saboun the Stilt breeds in great abundance 
amongst the wet grass, choosing for the position of its nest a 
small tuft, so as just to keep the eggs out of the water. Some¬ 
times, however, this object is not attained, as we occasionally 
found nests in which the eggs were half immersed. The bird 
uses its long legs with much greater ease than might be ex¬ 
pected; audits long,deliberate strides, as it stalks about in search 
of food, are far from being ungraceful. The only time they seem 
to be in its way is at the moment of taking flight, when they 
hang awkwardly dow r n till the bird, being fairly started, stretches 
them out, extending them far beyond the tail. We used to 
search for the nests of this bird on horseback, and, on observing 
one sitting, to ride up without taking our eyes off the place. The 
bird would remain quiet till we were within thirty yards of the 
nest, when it would walk slowly away, till, aware of our purpose, 
it would rise and fly wheeling and screaming overhead. The 
young Stilt is able to walk almost immediately on leaving the 
egg; one we found was capable of moving about while the other 
three were struggling to free themselves from the shell. The 
nest is composed of a few bits of dead reed or grass. The com¬ 
plement of eggs laid by one bird is four. 
125. Scolopax g allin ago. (Common Snipe.) 
Mr. Simpson and I found several Snipes in a small marsh near 
Sousa. I afterwards put one up at Zana, about the middle of 
June. 
126. Rallus aquaticus. (Water Rail.) 
Common in the marshy ground of Zana and Djendeli. 
