444 Mr. B. Alexander —An Ornithological 
the scarcity of Ducks and Geese seemed to us remarkable. 
We saw none of those “ countless hundreds” that hunters 
and explorers are so fond of telling us about in order to hide 
their ignorance in ornithology. 
233. Crex pratensis Bechst. 
An adult male (Matacania), Jan. 19. Among reeds near 
the river. 
234. Limnocorax Niger (Gm.). 
The beds of dried-up watercourses, where there are pools 
made secluded by tall reeds, are favourite resorts, each locality 
having its pair of these Bails. But the bird is shy and 
only to be observed in the early morning and evening, when 
it ventures out from the tangled depths of its thick retreat. 
When the breeding-season approaches (end of Nov.), this 
Bail becomes very noisy, constantly uttering its “cluck, 
cluck ” notes; all the while beating time with the tail as 
it wends its way with dapper gait through the slender 
columns of the fish-cane, near the poohs edge. 
Adult S (Sept. 13, 1898). Total length (measured in the 
flesh) 84 inches, wing 4*2. Iris red; bill dark green ; legs 
and feet brownish red, coral above knee. 
Our three adult specimens are very much shaded with 
grey, while in two the legs and feet are light coral-red. We 
never observed this species on the river itself; it is essentially 
a pool-haunting bird. In the wet season, when the smaller 
watercourses are no longer dry, a migration, probably south¬ 
ward, takes place. 
235. Turnix lepurana (Smith). 
Of local distribution, frequenting patches of thick, tall 
grass on low ground near the river. We obtained a fine 
series of this Quail—the first specimen at Senna, and the 
majority at Chicowa, where on Sept. 13 we procured a 
female with one nestling. 
Adult. Iris straw-colour; bill lead-colour; legs and feet 
flesh-colour. 
