99 
'Expedition to the Zambesi River. 
decorative appearance, and reminds one of those types of 
birds that the Indian loves to depict upon his choicest 
silks. 
Towards evening the bird wakes up from its lethargy and 
takes up a post close to the riverside, whence it skims over 
the smooth water after insects, often striking the surface so 
as to send up a cloud of spray. 
On November 1, not far from Zumbo, we came across 
a nesting-station of this species. The holes, which were 
very numerous, were in a steep portion of the river’s bank. 
On nearing the colony, these holes began to bristle with 
long pointed hills, then feathered heads were poked out, 
a movement soon followed by a general exodus of these 
birds, which, with their peculiar crying notes, thronged 
out to the river in hundreds and then up into the blue sky, 
circling round and round like a flock of Rooks, the light, as 
they passed and turned, playing upon their brilliant plumage. 
It was a fine sight and not easily to be forgotten. 
These birds were breeding. The holes ran very deep into 
the bank, about 3 feet in, and we had no appliances for 
digging them out. 
The last important observation on this species from my 
diary runs as follows :— u December 23, 60 miles from the 
Kafue river. Country open, hills receding much from the 
river. Large numbers of Bee-eaters (M. natalensis) flying 
high overhead, from time to time stopping to circle after the 
manner of Rooks. They must be on migration, since a high 
flight is always then resorted to.” 
136. Upupa Africana (Bechst.). 
Seen occasionally in pairs, from November onwards, on 
the higher reaches of the river. 
137. Irrisor viridis (Licht.). 
Generally observed in small flocks, but not common. 
Moults in August. By the end of October breeding had 
commenced. The feathers then had a strong and disagreeable 
odour. 
h 2 
M 
