451 
Expedition to the Zambesi River. 
244. Phyllopeztjs africanus (Gm.). 
Inhabits the vicinity of pools in dried-up watercourses. 
Always found in pairs. It is by no means shy, and allows 
of a close approach. In the breeding-season they become 
very demonstrative, the male continually chasing the female 
from one side of the pool to the other, and uttering the 
whole time a series of hoarse guttural notes. The flight is 
weak, the long legs being dropped, which gives a very clumsy 
appearance to the bird. 
Adult S • Total length (measured in the flesh) 10 inches, 
wing 7. Iris bluish black; frontal shield and bill bluish 
lead-colour; legs and feet lead-colour. 
Adult $ . Total length (measured in the flesh) 10'6 inches, 
wing 7*6. Colours as in male. 
This last specimen was obtained on Oct. 17, and had 
sexual organs in breeding condition. 
Immature birds with white breasts were also obtained 
about the same time. It is probable that these birds do not 
assume the adult plumage till the second year. In immature 
individuals the iris is brown, the legs and feet brownish 
green. 
245. Lobivanellus albiceps (Gould). 
First observed near Senna on July 22. This bird is found 
in pairs here and there along the river, haunting the margin 
of the water where the banks are gently sloping and of a 
sandy nature. At one's approach these Plovers jump up in a 
spasmodic manner, as if their very souls had been startled, 
to fly out low across the water in a circuitous flight, in order 
to regain the bank further ahead. When startled they are 
noisy birds, uttering their plaintive but not unmusical 
“ whit," “ whit," repeated rapidly in succession, and they will 
often set up these cries for no apparent reason whatever, 
obliging the feeding Water-hen (Limnocorax niger) to take 
quickly to the shelter of the reeds, and causing the neigh¬ 
bouring wild-fowl much uneasiness. They seem to take a 
delight in giving alarm on the slightest provocation. They 
are often to be found at some distance from water, haunting 
