Expedition to the Zambesi River. 449 
again by a tremulous whistle towards nightfall, and kept up 
long after the evening had closed in. 
The Zambesi natives look upon this bird with a certain 
amount of superstition. Nothing would induce them to eat 
it, and they told us that its flesh was poisonous. The 
native name for this species is “ lnkankatori,” that of the 
Helmeted bird “ Inkanka.” 
Adult £ (sexual organs in breeding condition: Jan. 1, 
1899). Iris red; naked skin on head, chin, throat, and neck 
bluish slate-colour; fold of naked skin at back of neck dirty 
yellowish white; bill greenish horn-colour; legs and feet 
slaty horn-colour. 
This description was taken directly after the bird had been 
shot, and there was no sign of red on the throat as described 
by Mr. Elliot in his Natal specimens (Elliot, Monogr. Phas. 
ii. pi. 44, 1872). 
242. Pterocles bicinctus Temm. 
Of local distribution, but in the favoured localities the 
flocks are large. We first came across this Sand-Grouse just 
above Tete, beyond which it was fairly numerous, especially 
at Chishomba. These birds frequent open spots in the woods 
where the soil is loose and stony, and the slopes of hilly 
banks that are coated with dried grass. They are fond of 
basking in the sun, remaining in a sleepy condition during 
most of the day. When on the ground it is difficult to see 
them, and one nearly treads upon them before they rise 
up, startling one almost out of one's wits with their flare 
of wings and noisy “ chuk, chuk ” notes, which are given 
out simultaneously and with great zest. Out of the breeding- 
season they go together in large batches, sometimes 30 or 40 
in one flock. Each of these companies has its own particular 
locality, from which the birds seldom stray far. In habits 
they might almost be termed crepuscular. Every evening, 
as regular as clockwork, and just as dusk is closing in, they 
wing their way to their watering spots, while, should the 
night be moonlight, they feed in the vicinity of the water. 
At Chicowa we happened to pitch our tent in the direct 
