to the ugly reptile.  They are frequently seen on the sand-banks with the alligator, and, to one passing by, often appear as if on that reptile’s back; but I never had the good fortune to witness the operation described not only by St. John and Geoffrey St. Hilaire, but also by Herodotus.  However, that which none of these authors knew my head boatman, Mashauana, stopped the canoe to tell us, namely, that a water-turtle which, in trying to ascend a steep bank to lay her eggs, had toppled on her back, thus enabling us to capture her, was an infallible omen of good luck for our journey.

   * The ‘Hagidash’, Latham; or ‘Tantalus capensis’ of Lich.

Among the forest-trees which line the banks of the rocky parts of the Leeambye several new birds were observed.  Some are musical, and the songs are pleasant in contrast with the harsh voice of the little green, yellow-shouldered parrots of the country.  There are also great numbers of jet-black weavers, with yellowish-brown band on the shoulders.

Here we saw, for the first time, a pretty little bird, colored dark blue, except the wings and tail, which were of a chocolate hue.  From the tail two feathers are prolonged beyond the rest six inches.  Also, little birds colored white and black, of great vivacity, and always in companies of six or eight together, and various others.  From want of books of reference, I could not decide whether they were actually new to science.

Francolins and Guinea-fowl abound along the banks; and on every dead tree and piece of rock may be seen one or two species of the web-footed ‘Plotus’, darter, or snake-bird.  They sit most of the day sunning themselves over the stream, sometimes standing erect with their wings outstretched; occasionally they may be seen engaged in fishing by diving, and, as they swim about, their bodies are so much submerged that hardly any thing appears above the water but their necks.  The chief time of feeding is by night, and, as the sun declines, they may be seen in flocks flying from their roosting-places to the fishing-grounds.  This is a most difficult bird to catch when disabled.  It is thoroughly expert in diving—­goes down so adroitly and comes up again in the most unlikely places, that the people, though most skillful in the management of the canoes, can rarely secure them.  The rump of the darter is remarkably prolonged, and capable of being bent, so as to act both as a rudder in swimming, and as a lever to lift the bird high enough out of the water to give free scope to its wings.  It can rise at will from the water by means of this appendage.

The fine fish-hawk, with white head and neck, and reddish-chocolate colored body, may also frequently be seen perched on the trees, and fish are often found dead which have fallen victims to its talons.  One most frequently seen in this condition is itself a destroyer of fish.  It is a stout-bodied fish, about fifteen or eighteen inches long, of a light yellow color, and gayly ornamented with stripes and spots.  It has a most imposing array of sharp, conical teeth outside the lips—­objects of dread to the fisherman, for it can use them effectually.  One which we picked up dead had killed itself by swallowing another fish, which, though too large for its stomach and throat, could not be disgorged.