528 
Mr. G. H. Gurney on 
some dead pieces of grass. The chicks were exactly like 
young Quails, and could not have been hatched more than 
a couple of days. 
205. Limnocorax Niger. Black Rail. 
Limnocorax niger (Gmel.). 
Iris red ; bill yellow-green ; legs coral-red. 
The Black Rail was very common at Naivasha, and was 
also obtained in a small stream at Bondoni. It is a 
charming little bird, easily tamed. I kept one, which had 
been snared by a native, alive for nearly two months, but 
lost it on the voyage home. 
206. Gallinula chloropus. Water-hen. 
Gallinula chloropus Lath. 
207. Porphyrio smaragdonotus. Green-backed Purple 
Gallinule. 
Porphyrio smaragdonotus (Temm.). 
Very plentiful at Naivasha. I caught three in tiny rat- 
traps baited with bits of meat, and brought one alive to 
England. 
208. Eulica cristata. Crested Coot. 
Fulica cristata Gmel. 
Iris red; bill slaty-blue; top of head bluish, comb red- 
brown ; legs bluish-black. 
Immense numbers of Crested Coots live in the thick belts 
of papyrus round Lake Naivasha. 
209. Balearica gibbericeps. Crowned Crane. 
Balearica gibbericeps Reichen. 
210. Otis c^erulescens. Blue-necked Bustard. 
Otis ccerulescens Vieill. 
Iris yellow-brown; upper mandible dark brown, lower 
mandible yellow; legs yellowish-white. 
All round Kallima Theki the Blue-necked Bustards were 
common in parties of four or five. They are difficult birds 
to flush, as they continually keep running on ahead, carrying 
