Identifier: rivercongofromit00john (find matches)
Title: The River Congo from its mouth to Bólobó; with a general description of the natural history and anthropology of its western basin
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Johnston, Harry Hamilton, Sir, 1858-1927
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: London, S. Low, Marston & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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who spent his spare time in collecting birds for certain Museums. He had no notion what the bird was; but, seeing I prized it, not only refused to sell it to me, but would not even let me draw it, or dissect its carcass after it had been skinned, fearing lest I might forestall him in the discovery of a new species. Consequently, I am unable to do more than give a superficial description of its appearance. The general colour of this Podica was a dark mottled brown with green reflections on the whole of the upper surface, while on the throat and belly it was a dirty white. Just above the eye was a streak of light colour, running from the base of the upper mandible to the ear, and beneath this a broader band of dark brown parallel with it. The bre^t >vas NATURAL HISTORY. 249 spotted with dark brown, and there were a few streaks of the same colour on the belly. The tail was about four inches long, and, at the time I saw it, was slightly expanded and resembled very much in general shape the tail
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SCHIZOKHIS GIGAKTEA. of the darter (Plotus Levaillanti). On the central tail-feathers were a few faint white lines, running transversely. The beak and the feet were bright orange. The beak resembled very much in shape the beak of the darter, and was very sharp at the point. The feet were much like a 250 A JOURNEY UP THE RIVER CONGO. grebes, each toe being lined with a membrane a quarter of an inch in width. The general appearance of the bird recalls at once the darters, the herons, the ducks, and the grebes. When swimming, it lies somewhat low in the water, and the neck, which is rather long and kinked, moves slowly backwards and forwards, as if poising the head to dart at a fish. On the river Chiluango, where I have seen it swimming among the mangrove stalks, little more than the neck was visible as it swam, and my companions in the boat took it at first for a snake raising its head from the water. The darter (Plotus Levaillanti) is one of the commonest birds on the Congo. It affects every piece

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