of the dusky striations on the throat and breast. Althougli known for a long time to
occur in Western Africa, it was generally confounded with U. melanocrissa, and it was
only in 1870 that Drs. Finsch and Uartlaub discriminated it clearly and bestowed on it
a separate specific name.
The typical specimens came from Casamence, and we have ourselves seen several
examples from the same locality. It is not common in any part of Senegambia,
according to Dr. de Rocliebruue, who states that he met Avith it at the following localities—
Gambia, Casamence, Melacorde, Zekiukior, Sedbiou, and Bathurst.
The late Mr. W. A. Forbes met with the species at Shonga, on the river Niger, and
the pair of birds obtained by him are now in the British Museum, Avith the collection
bequeathed to the nation by that admirable and much-regretted naturalist.
In North-eastern Africa Von Heuglin observed this SAvalloAV in the marshy districts of
the Gazelle River in the month of February, Avhere it Avas living in small communities.
According to the same observer, it is probably a migratory bird in those districts. He
describes it as liaAnng a swift and elegant flight, in the course of Avhich it makes a
hovering movement without any apparent vibration of the Avings. They may often be
obserA'ed flying oif the bare branches at the tops of high trees, generally three or more
together. The note is a plaintive Avhistle, “ ter-ter.”
The figure in the Plate is draAvn from a specimen in Capt. Shelley’s collection.
The descriptions are taken from a pair of birds collected by the late Mr. W. A. Forbes
on the ri\'er Niger.