F orm, &c.—Bill triangular, immediately anterior to frontal feathers much
depressed and the upper mandible is rather wider than the lower, and toward s
its point slightly curved. Wings long, slightly rounded, and when folded
reach to within an inch of the tip of the tail, the second and third quill
feathers nearly if not of equal length, and longest, the first about half an inch
shorter, and about equal to the fourth; the secondary and tertiary quill
feathers very short, scarcely reaching to the base of the tail. Tail long and
slightly rounded. Tarsi and toes moderately strong, the former posteriorly
and anteriorly towards toes scutellated, towards hinder extremity feathered.
Claw of middle toe long, slightly curved, and strongly pectinated; claws of
other toes short, pointed, and strongly curved.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail..............j o 6
of the bill to the angle of the —
mouth ............................. i 4
of wings when folded...... . 7 6
of the tail........................ . £ 4
Male.—Colours not known.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsi ...... 0 1 0 £
of the outer toe ............... 0 4 |
of the middle toe.................... 0 9
of the inner toe .................... 0 4
of the hinder toe................... 0 2:‘
The two individuals I possess were procured in Great Namaqualand ; the one, when it was
shot, was seated upon a high road, and the other was skimming around a pool of stagnant
water, and occasionally darting from its general course as if to capture insects. Many other
individuals, probably of the same species, were observed in the same country; but as they all
kept so extremely close to the edge o f the brushwood, and never appeared till the dusk was
about giving place to darkness, two specimens only were obtained.