r- FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE JOURNAL ^ OF THE EDITED BY Di'. J. W. B. GUNNING, ALWIN HAAGNER, F.Z.S., and B. C. R. LANGFORD. VOLUME V. PUBLISHED BY THE UNION IN PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL LONDON AGKNT: R. II. roKTKn, 7 ruiNCES sthkkt, rAVKvnisH squark. "\v, I ill' ALKHE T FLAMMAM. PRTNTKD BY TAYLOR AND PBANOIS, RED LIOS COUKT, FLEET STHEKT, LONDON. P R E F A C E. Tins number completes Volume V. of the Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union. An apology is necessary for its belated appearance. It should have been published in December 1909, and the MS. was sent to England in October, but the London Agents who had the preparation of the Indexes in hand could not get them out in time, hence the delay. We must again appeal to the Members of the Union for more support, both as regards matter for the Journal and as regards the question of Migration. THE EDITORS. COXTENTS. Pages TlTLEPAGE i Preface iii Contents v Roll of Members vii-xii List of Papers in this Volume xiii-xiv Subject-matter Index xv-xvii Proceedings of the Union : Account of the Sixth Annual Meeting xix-xxiv Journal 1-121 Index 123-140 ROLL OF MEMBERS AS AT olsT August, 1909. No. Year of Election. 1909 1905 1907 1906 5 1907 1905 1904 1907 10 55 1908 1907 1909 1906 15 1907 1904 1907 1906 20 1905 Name and Address. Abdt, Col. A. J., E.A. ; Potchefstroom. Andersson, C. L. ; Box 2162, Johannesburg, Tvl, Baxter, G. L., Lieut. Q. O. Cameron High- landers. Bell, Theodore; Downside, Epsom, 8urrey,England. Bolus, Frank ; Sherwood, Kenilworth, Cape Town. Booth, H. B. ; " llyhill," Ben Ehyddiug, Yorkshire, England. Bourke, E. E. ; Box 321, Pretoria, Tvl. Bridgeman, E. O. B., Lieut. E.JS". ; Weston Park, Shipnal, Salop, England. Briscoe, Dr. J. E. ; Charlestown, Natal. CalA'ERLEY, Major, Govt. Librarian, O.E.C. ; Bloem- fontein, O.E.C. (Govt. Offices). Chambers, Eoland, E.M. ; Bethulie, O.E.C. Chtjbb, E. C. ; Box 240, Bulawayo, S. Ehodesia. Clark Kennedy, J. ; Standerton, Tvl. CocH, Max; Eietfontein Lazaretto, Box 1076, Johannesburg. Cooper, C. W. ; address unknown. Davies, C. G., Sgt. C.M.E. ; Bizana, Pondoland, C.C. Davy, J. Burtt, F.L.S., E.E.G.S., Govt. Botanist ; Dept. o[' Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl. Day, M. F., Lieut. K.O. Yorkshire L.I. ; Canton- ments, Pretoria, Tvl. D'Evelyn, Dr. V. W. ,: 2103 Clinton Av., Alameda. California, U.S.A. Draper, E. H. U.; Govt. Laboratories. P.O. Box 1080, Johannesburg, Tvl. 25 au Year of Election lio 40 1905 1904 1907 1909 1905 190G 1907 1908 1905 190G 1904 1909 1907 1908 1906 1909 1905 Ifame and Address. DuEEDEN, Professor J. E.; c/o Albany Museum, Grahaiustown, C.C. Evans, J. B. Pole- ; Dept. of Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl. Fairbeidge, AV. G. ; 141 Longmarket Street, Cape Town, C.C. Eeltham, H. L. L., F.E.S. ; P.O. Box 46, Johannes- burg, Tvl. Eey, Haeold a. ; P.O. Box 46, Johannesburg, Tvl. GiLFiLLAN, D. E. ; Box 1397, Johannesburg, Tvl. GoDFEEY, Eev. J. ; Pirie Forest Mission, King- williamstown, C.C. GoEDON, Capt. C. W. ; The Castle, Cape Town, C.C. GouGii, Lewis H., Ph.D.; Box 593, Pretoria, Tvl. Government Libhariax ; Govt. Offices, Bloem- fontein. O.K.C. Graham, Eeancis, C.C. & K.M. ; Gnihanistown, C.C. Geaxt, C. H. B. ; Natural History Museum, S. Kensington, London, England. Geeathead, Dr. J. B. ; Greystones, GraluinistoM u, C.C. Geonvold, Henkik ; Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London, England. GuNxViXG, J. W. B., M.D., F.Z.S.; Director, Museum and Zoological Gai'dens, Pretoria, T-'l. HaaGiNEE, Alwin K., F.Z.S., Col.M.B.O.L., Super- intendent Tvl. Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. Hale, P. E., Insp. O.li.C. Police; Bethleheni,O.K.C. Halheb, N. G. B., 3rd Battn.; Egyptian Army, Khartoum. Hamilton, Major J. S. ; Superintendent, (■lame Eeserves, Komati Poort, Tvl. Hamond, Philip, Lieut. 2nd Norfolk Eegt. ; East Dereham, Norfolk. Hardiman, E. H. :\I.; AVepener, O.K.C. Hatchaei), J. G., F.K.A.S. ; Loco. Drawing OUices, C.S..\.R., Bloemfontehi, O.E.e'. Vo. Ynar of Eleotiou. 1905 45 1908 1907 1905 1908 50 19C5 1906 1904 1905 1909 1905 1904 1907 1904 00 I 1906 I [ 1905 1908 1904 1905 65 ! 1904 1908 HoBSBRUGH, Major BoYi), A.S.C. ; c/o Cox & Co., Bankers, 16 Chariug Cross, London. HowAHD, C. W. ; Dept. of Agriculture Lourenro Marques. HowABD, Jamks L. ; Yankee-Doodle Mine, Selukwc, S. Rhodesia. Hudson, C. E. ; Dept. of Agriculture, liloenifonteiu, O.E.C. Ingle, J. C, l-'./.S. ; P.O. Saliie, Lydenburg, 1M. Innes, Dr. W'alteu, M.B.O.U. ; School of Medicine, Cairo, Egy])t, Ia'Y, J. EoiiSON ; Taxidermist, Graliamstown. C.C. Ivy, RoBEitT II., F.Z.S. ; Grabanistown, C.C. Jackson, Beuver ; Govt. Offices, Bloeinfontein. O.R.C. Jeppe, JulilS; P.O. Box (50, Johannesburg, Tvl. Johnston, C. McG. ; Bloemfontein Club, Bloem- fonteni, O.E.C. Johnston, K. C. ; Westminster, O.E.C. Jones, A. C. II., Capt. 5th Pusiiiers ; c/o Staff- Captain, i/c Eeconnaissauce Surveys, The Castle, Cape Town. KiEBY, W. ; Intermediate Pumping Station, AValer- woi'ks, Kimberley, C.C. KiBKMAN, Dr. A., M.D. ; Touws Elver, C.C. Knapp, Col. ; Kingwilliamstovvn, C.C. Langiobd, B. C. E. ; P.O. Box 557, Pretoria, Tvl. Littledale, JI. a. p., Lieut. K.O. Y.L.I. ; Eoberts Heights, Pretoria, T\l. Lotjbseb, M. M.; Port Elizabeth, C.C. Mally, C. AV., M.Sc. ; Eastern Province Entomolo- gist, Grahamstown, C.C. Marshall, G. A. K., F.Z.S., E.E.S. ; P.O. Box iV.\ Salisbury, Mashonalnnd. Maethinii'S, Dr. J. G. ; District Surgeon, \Ve[)ener, O.E.C. Millar, A. D., Col.M.B.O.U. ; 298 Smith Street, Durban, Natal. MoiiS. F. E. O.; Box 77 ! 1908 1907 1909 1904 SwYNNEiiTON, C. F. M. ; Gungunyana, JNIelsetter Dist., S. Rhodesia. Taylor, C. H. ; Grassridge, P.O. Bankop, Ermelo. Tayloe, L. E. ; Assist. Conservator of Forests, Dept. of Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl. Theiler, Dr. A., Govt. Veterinary Bactf-riologist ; Box 385, Pretoria, Tvl. Thompson, Chas. 8.; High School, San Bernardin, California, U.S.A. TnoMSEN, F. ; c/'o Govt. Entomologist, Govt. Bklgs., Pretoria, Tvl. TowNSEND, S. F. ; Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Tyrrell, E. G. Harcourt ; Greytown, Natal. Upton, Capt. C, A.S.C. ; Tempe, Bloemfontein. Vaughan-Kirby, F., F.Z.S. ; Suuuyside, Pretoi-ia, Tvl. WiGLESWORTH, J., M.D., M.B.O.U. ; Rainhill, Liver- pool, England. AVooD, A. E., A.R.M. ; Wepener, O.R.C. Wood, John ; Box 363, East London, C.C. Workman, W. H., M.B.O.U. ; Lismore, Belfast, Ireland. Hon. Jlciiihcrs. Allen, Dr. J. A. ; Araer. Musfuiu of Nat. His!., Washington. BucKNiLL, The Hon. J. A., M.A., F.Z.S. ; The King's Advocate, Nicosia, Cyprus. Hartert, Dr. E. ; Director Triiig Museum. Triug, Herts, England. Herman, Dr. Otto; Hung. Central Bureau of Ornithology, Budapest, Keichenow, Dr. A. ; Kaisl. Zool. Museum, Li- validenstrasse, Berlin, Germany. ScLATER, P. L., D.Sc, F.R.S. ; Odiliain Priory. Winchtield, Hants, England. Ko. Year of Election. Name and AdcUvss. 7 1907 ScLATEE, W. L., M.A., F.Z.S. ; 1511 A\^ood Avenue Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A. 8 1904 Shelley, Capt. Gr. E., F.Z.S. ; 39 Egerton Garden.^ London. 9 " Tkimex, E., F.K.S. ; e/o Entomological Society London, W. LIST OF PAPERS IN THIS VOLUME. Vol. v., No. 1, April 1909. Page I. Account of Fiftli Annunl Geiieriil Meetin;^: 1 ir. Pi'esidential Address. (Abstract.) By J. E. Duer- DEX, Ph.D. &c 5 III. A Xote on the Black-faced Love-Bird {Agaporni^ nigrigenis). By Alwix Haagxer, F.Z.S. itc. (Plntel.) IG IV. Ohservrttions on Migratory Birds at Komatipoort. By Major J, Stevexson Hamiltox, Hnpt. Sain Game Re.'^ei'ves 19 T. Pijroinelana oryx and its Nesting Parasites. By Rev. Noel Roberts 22 VI. A List of, and Notes on, Birds collected and observed in the District of Beira, Portuguese S.E. Africa. By P. A. Sheppard 24 VII. Occasional Notes 50 VIII. Short Notices of Ornithological Publications 56 \1V Lli^T OF PAPERS. Vol. Y., Xo. 2, Octoher 1909. Page IX. Oa Birds collected between Eulaw;i yo iiud the Tegwaiii River. By E. C. Cuuijb, F.Z.S 07 X. Xotes upon some South African Bird.s observed during a Journey through Portuguese Nyassaland (July and August 1908). By Major J. Stevexsox Hamiltox, Warden Tvl. Game Reserve 72 XL Xotes from Cape Colony. By Lionel E. Taylor, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U 81 XIL Miscellaneous Xotes. By Alwin 1L\agxer, F.Z.S., Tvl. Zoological Gardens 87 XIII. A List of the Birds of the KafFrarian Frontier. By F. A. 0. Pym, Curator Public Museum, King- williamstown 91 XIV. Occasional Xotes 113 XV. Hhort Xotices of Ornithological Publications 119 SUBJECT-MATTER INDEX, IXCLUDING NAMES OF CONTEIBUTOKS. rage Allen's Galliimle in Basutolimd 11 (i * Annals of the Transvaal Museum,' noticed 5!», li>() Annual General Met'ting-, Fifth 1 , Sixth xix ' Avicultural Mng-azine,' noticed 08 Reira, a List of, and Notes on, Birds collected and observed in the District of, Portuguese S.E. Africa L'4 Black-faced Love-Bird {A(/apornis nit/rii/eiiin, W. L. Sclater), a Note on tlie 1 (5 Black Stork Breeding in South Africa 11(5 Bolus, Frank. The Pin-tailed Whydah (^Vidi/a sei-ena) 113 British Ornithologists' Union, Special Meeting of 55 Bulawayo and the Tegwani River, on Birds collected between . . 67 'Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club,' noticed 0", 120 Cape Colony, Notes from 81 Chambers, Roland. Depredatory Habits of Grey Heron 50 Chubb, E. C, On Birds collected between Bulawayo and IJje Tegwani River 07 Depredatory Habits of Grey Heron (Ardcu cinerea) 50 Duerden, J. E. The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa 5 FitzSimons, F, W. Marabou Stork and Flamingoes at Port Elizabeth 55 . Long-winged Petrel at Port Elizabeth 1 1 r. -. Yellow Wagtail at Port Elizabeth 1 is Frigate Bird at Bloemfontein, O.R.C ILS Fry, Harold. On Protective Resemblance in Soutli African Birds. 5l' Godniau, F. D. ' A Monograph of the Petrels ((h'der Tubinares),' noticed 1 l'U (uinning, Dr. .1. W. B. Description of Two new Species of Birds in tlie Transvaal Museum 51 • . On a new Species of CussijpJm from West Pondoland .... (!l XVI SI-R.IKCT-MATTKll INDEX. iTaa.|T:iK'V, A. A Xote on the Bkck-faced Lovp-lih\l {A(/tij)oniis nl(iri()onix. W. L. Sclater) 1 ('> . Descriptions of Two new Species of Flycatchers from Portiig-uese South-east Africa 62 . Description of a new Warbler of the Genus C'isticola .... (5'^ . Miscellaneous Notes 87 Hamilton, Major .T. Stevenson. Ob^^ervatioiis on Migratory Birds at Komatipoort 10 . Notes upon some South African Bii-ds observed during a .Tourney throujrh Portuguese Nyassaland (.July and August 190<«) '. 7i> Ilornian, Otto. The International Convention for the Protection of nirds coucluded in 1902, noticed .1l(> . 11 luigarian Stork in Natal 114 — — . L'inged Birds 117 Hungarian Stork in Natal 114 ' Ibis, The : a Quarterly .lournal of Ornithology,' noticed .... 5(1, 119 , Jubilee Number, noticed 110 Ingle, J. C. Xidilication of Red-billed Oxpecker 117 Johnson, K. C. Black Stork Breeding in South Africa ....... IIG . White-breasted Duikers Nesting in the O.Il.C 118 .Tohnston, (J. McCI. Secretary Bird and Snakes .50 . Frigate Bird at Bloemfontein, O.R.C 118 KalFrarian Frontier, a List of the Birds of the , , 91 Long-winged Petrel at Port Elizabeth 116 ^farabou Stork and Flamingoes at P(n-t I^lizabeth .55 ^Marked White Stork in Basutoland 1 1.5 Migratory ]5irds at Komatipoort, Observations on 19 , Ringing of 115 Miscellaneous Notes 87 Murray, J. I'. Marked \\'hite Stork in J'>asutoland 1 lo . Allen's Galliinile in liusutoland 116 Nidification of Red-billed O.xpecker 117 Occasional Notes 50, 11.3 Ostrich, The Domesticated, in South Africa 5 Pin-tailed Whydah ( Vidua scretia) 1 ] .3 I'ortuguese Nyassaland, Notes upon snnie South African Birds observed during a Journey thmugli (July and .Vujfust 1008). . 72 STJBJECT-:\rATTI<:H INDKX. XVll PiVge Presidential Address. — The Domesticated Ostrich in Soutli AlVica . 5 Proceedings, Fifth Annual Meeting 2 , Sixth Annual Meeting xix of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Pliiliulrlphia, vol. Ix. part 1, noticed 59 Prohibition to Import the Plumage an.l Skins of Wild Rirds .... r,0 Protective Resemblance in South African Birds 62 Pym, F. A. O. A List of the Birds of the Kaftrariaii Frontier . . 91 Pyromelana oryx and its Nestiug Parasites 22 Ringed Birds 117 Roberts, Rev. Noel, ryromelana ori/.v and its Nesting Parasites. 22 Secretary Bird and Snakes 50 Sheppard, P. A. A List of, and Notes on. lairds collected and observed in the District of Beira, Portuguese S.E. Africa. ... 24 Short Notices of Ornithological Publications 56, 119 Taylor, Lionel E. Notes from Uape Colony 81 White-breasted Duikers Nesting in the O.R.0 118 Yellow Wagtail at Port Elizabeth 118 PLATE I. (to face p. 16). Jlcliospiza voomcco and Ayaponiis nit/rujems. YUL. Y. PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNION. Account of the Sixth Annual Meeting. The Sixth Annual Meeting of the S. A. 0. U. was held in Bloemfontein on the 30th September, 1909, at 10 a.m., in the Normal College. Present were : — Dr. J. B. Greathead (Norvals Pont), J. P. Murray (Maseru) ; C. McG. Johnston, Captain Upton, A.S.C., C. E. Hudson, J. G. Hatchard, F.R.A.S., o£ Bloemfontein ; L. E. Taylor F.Z.S., E. M. Skea, and A. K. Haagner (Honorary Secretary), of Pretoria. In the unavoidable absence of the President (Dr. J. E. Duerden), Dr. Greathead was nominated to the Chair. Migration. — The question of extending the observations in South Africa was thoroughly discussed. Mr. Taylor suggested that Storks might be captured and ringed in this country ; but Mr. Haagner pointed out that these birds were ringed in the nest in Europe and anticipated a lot of trouble in accomplishing this out here, fearing even that it was impossible. Mr. Taylor further wished to emphasise that South African migrants should also be reported upon and that we should not only confine ourselves to oversea migrants. Mr. Murray suggested that the marking of Quail would throw some light on the present mystery of their movements. Mr. Johnston moved that as the Transvaal Museum had done so much in the cause of ornithology, that institution be requested to be good enough to issue to schools in the O.R.C. and Transvaal a set of skins of the birds upon which data are XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNION. required — the main reason of this being to ensure accuracy in the determination of the species by the uninitiated. This was carried with a rider that the other Museums be requested to do hkewise in their respective Colonies. Accounts. — The Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the past year, duly audited by Messrs. Langford & King, was passed. A copy follows this account of the Meeting. The Secretary's Report was read and passed. The Report follows : — Secretary's Report. The last Meeting of the S. A. 0. U. was held, as you are all aware, at Grahamstown, in conjunction with that of the S. A. A. A. S., between the dates of 6th and 12th Jnly, 1908, under the Presidency of Dr. J. E. Duerden, M.Sc, Professor of Zoology, Rhodes University College, Tiiis was ati exceedingly successful meeting — so much so that it was decided to re[)eat the experiment this year and hold our meeting at Bloemfontein, again in conjunction with that of the S. A. A. A. S. Publications — Last year (1908) the Union issued three numbers of the Journal, containing 149 pp. letterpress, and 1 coloured and 5 photographic plates. This year two numbers have been issued up to date, containing 121 pp. letterpress and one hand-coloured lithographic plate. The third and final No., to comj)letc Vol. V., will appear shortly. Besides the Journal, No. 1 of the ' Popular Bulletins ' (South African Birds of Prey, in relation to Man) was published last year and No. 2 (a Short History of Orni- thology, with special reference to South Africa) this year — both by the Hon. Secretary. Migration Sm'vey, — The First Report, published in the 2nd No. of Vol. IV. (October 1908), was very favourably received and commented upon by our European colleagues, notwithstanding the paucity of the data. The Report of 1908 and 1909 will appear in the first part of Vol. VI. ; and while the number of observations have increased, I have SIXTH ANNUAL MRKTING. XXI again to draw the att(Mition of Members to this im[)ortant work and to I)e<^' of th(Mn a litth^ more co-operation. In order to attain anything like success we require a great many more observing stations. To endeavour to enlist the practical sympathy of teachers I propose giving a short discourse on birds illustrated by the lantern, and will then point out the ditfereuce between the European and White-throated Swallows. — This year is a record one, so far as Migration is concerned, as no less than four ringed White Storks {Ciconui alha] have been obtained in South Africa : one in the Kalahari, one in Polela, Natal (liberated by the Royal Hungarian Bureau of Ornithology), and two in Basutoland (liberated by the Vogelwarte, Rossitten, Germany). It therefore behoves all South African oi-nithologists to keep a keen look-out for these marked Storks in future. The fact that Storks from North Germany migrate as far south as Central and South-Central South iVfrica is now established beyond a doubt. In recognition of the work done by the S. A. 0. U. in this direction, the Hungarian Department of Agriculture has conferred upon your Secretary the Diploma of Honorary Membership of the Royal Hungarian Bureau of Orni- thology. Meinherslilp. — The additions since last meeting number 10 new Members, and the resignations 3. — I would also ask for the necessary permission to remove 10 Defaulters from the Roll, whose subscriptions are more than two years in arrear. Most of these Members have left South Africn and all trace of them has been lost. The number of Members at date is 109 Ordinary and 8 Honorary. Finance. — The Cash Statement explains itself. The Union has about £30 in hand at date, while there is about £G0 si ill outstanding. A. K. Haagner, I'retoiia, Sec. 8f Treas. S. A. O. U. September '20, 1000. PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNION. Officers for 1910. — The office-bearers for 1910 were elected as follows : — President Vice-Presidents . . < Hon. Secretary I and Treasti7-er \ Assistant-Secretary . Elitorial Cu)nmittee . ^Members of Council Dr. J. W. T5. Gunning, Director Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. Dr. DUERDEN, M.Sc. Dr. Peringuey, F.G.S. A. D. Millar, Esq., Col.M.B.O.U. A. K. Haagner, F.Z.S., &c. E. M. Skea. The retiring Members, Dr. Gunning and Mr. Haagner, were re-elected. L. E. Taylor Transvaal. C. McG. Johnston .... O. R. C. J. A. O. Pym Cape Colony. Dr. J. E. Briscoe Natal. J. P. Murray Basutoland. P. A. SiiEPPARD Port. East Africa. !<:. C. Chubb, F.Z.S Rhodesia. C. Pogge German S.W. Africa. JSeiv MeniJiers. — The following new Members were duly elected : — Col. A. .T. Abdy (Pretoria) ; Rev. J. Godfrey and Col. Knapp (King- ■vvilliamstown) : D. Gunn (Kroonstad); E. H. M. Hardiman (Wepener); P. E. Hale (Bethlehem) ; K. C. Johnston (Westminster) ; C. S. Thompson (California) ; S. F. Townsend (Bulawayo) ; Capt. C. Upton (Bloemfontein). Hon. Members. — Dr. Otto Herman and Dr. J. A. Allen were elected Hon. Members. " The Secretary notified the Meeting of the resignation of 3 Members, and 8 more were removed from the roll for non- payment of subscriptions. Protection of Game-Birds. — Mr. Johnston notified the Meeting that he was endeavouring to obtain a total protection of all Game-Birds in the 0. R. C. for three years, on account of their usefulness in the destruction of white ants and other STXTir AXNCAL :\IEETING. XXlll insect posts. On the inutiou ul' .Air. ^liKKAV, seconded by Mr. Haagner, it was decided to notify till Divisional Councils in South Africa of a resolution stating that the opinion of the Meeting was strongly in favour of a law prohibiting the export of giinie from one Colony to another for the purpose of sale. The close-season for Partridges in the 0. II. C. was brought up on the motion (by letter) of Mr. Haruimax, of Wepener ; but after some discussion the matter was left in the hands of Mr. Johnston, Member of Council for 0. R. C, for further investioation. the Hon. Sec. for his past services, concluded a very suc- cessful meeting. The following excursions and amusements were attended by Members of the Union : — October 29, 1009. Visit to the Military (^mtonments at Tempe. (Exhibition of quick-firing guns, ])()1<) match, ami tea. Host : Col. Huleatt, K.E.) At Home, 9 p.m., at Government House (His Excellency Sir Hamilton Goolu-Adams). October 30, 1909. Visit to the O. R. C. lAFuseum. November 1, 1909. Visit to Maseru, Basutolaud. PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNION. South African Ornithologists' Union. 1308. Jau. 1. Dec. 31. Caxh Statenieiif, 1908. d. (Jash on Land 40 14 Subscriptions 9o 8 Sales of Journal 9 15 Illustration Fund 2 12*" 6 Advertising 15 Printing and issuing Journal Postages and Stationery Illustrations Commission and Bank Charges .... Sundry Expenses Covers and Binding Migration Survey Other Publications Balance on hand .... a/c E. H. Porter, unpaid 7 9 G 6 0 £ s. d. 71 7 5 11 16 8 12 10 9 2 13 0 7 12 0 1 11 9 9 6 2 9 4 46 5 11 £156 16 4 £156 16 4 A. K. Haagner, Scvretary and Treasurer S. A. 0. I'. Accounts audited by II. E. King and B. C. K. Langfodd. THE JOURNAL OF THE SODTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, Vol. V. APRIL 1909. No. 1. I. — Fifth Annual General Meet'mg. The Fifth Annual General Meeting was held, in affiliation with the meetings o£ the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, at Grahamstown. The visitors arrived on Monday the 6th of July, and in the evening were accorded a reception, by the Mayor and Corporation of Grahamstown, in the Town Hall. This was preceded by the Address of the President of the S. A. A. A. S. (Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, Governor of Cape Colony), and the presentation to Dr. A. Theiler of the British Association's Medal for scientific research. On Tuesday morning (7th July) the Members of the Association and Union were welcomed at the Rhodes University College by the Hon. Mr. Justice Kotze, LL.B., K.C., Chairman of the College Council, and in the afternoon a party of the Members proceeded to Eagle-nest Kloof and viewed the nest of Spizaetus coronatiis illustrated in Dr. Stark's ' Birds of S. Africa,' vol. iii. p. 308. The cave in which Stark took shelter during his sojourn in the kloof was also seen. In the evening Members attended Professor Cory's lecture, illustrated by lantern- views, on the history of the Eastern Province. — On Wednesday the Members of both Societies and their friends VOL. V. 1 2 Fiftli Annual General Meeting. travelled to Port Alfred by train, wliere they were taken up the beautiful Kowie River in a motor-launch and subse- quently partook of luncheon in the Marine Hall, returning to Grahamstown at G.30 p.m. The evening was spent at an entertainment provided by the Grahamstown Athena3um. On Thursday at 9 a.m. the Members assembled in the Zoological Laboratory of the Rhodes University College, for the Fifth Annual General Meeting, which was followed by the President's Address. A detailed account of the meeting and abstract of the Address appear below. In the afternoon the visitors were driven round the famous Mountain Drive and given tea on Signal Hill, whence a magnificent view of the surrounding country with its wooded kloofs was obtained. In the evening Members attended a lecture on Subtropical Diseases by Dr. A. Theiler, C.M.G., which was illustrated by lantern-views. On Friday the collections in the Albany Museum were examined under the guidance of Dr. Duerden. Through the courtesy of the authorities, and with the assistance of Miss Baines, Members had access to the collection of bird- skins at any time during their stay in Grahamstown. In the afternoon the visitors were driven out to " Table Farm," Mr. C. White's Ostrich-farm, and there inspected modern methods of farming these huge birds under the guidance of Dr. Duerden, President S.A.O.U. In the evening the Members assembled in Dr. Duerden's house and discussed matters remaining over from the Annual Meeting. The visitors departed on Monday, 13th July, at 9 A.m., having been most hospitably entertained by the inhabitants of Grahamstown. Proceedings, Fifth Annual Meeting. The Fifth Annual General Meeting was held in the Zoological Laboratory of the Rhodes University College, at 9 A.M. on Thursday morning, 9th July, Dr. Duerden, M.Sc, Professor of Zoology at the College, President S.A.O.U., in the Chair. Also present were Doctors Gunning (Vice-President) Fifth A/unial General Meeting. 3 and Theiler of Pretoria, Dr. Robertson of Grahamstown, Messrs. J. Burtt Davy, F.L.S. &c., and E. M. Skea (Pretoria), C. W. Mally, M.Sc, Robert H. Ivy and J. Robson Ivy (Grahamstown), F. A. 0. Pyni (Kingwilliams- town), and A. K. Haagner, Hon. Sec. (Modderfontein), and a number of non-members. After the minutes had been read and accepted tlie Hon. Secretary read his report, a brief outline of which is as follows : — There were 16 new Members for election ; seven resignations had been sent in during the year, and five Members were to be removed for non-payment of subscrip- tions. This left the roll of Members at date of meeting at 119 Ordinary and 7 Honorary Members. Seven numbers of the Journal had been issued to date; the Migration Survey had been started, and the first report, then in the press, Avould be published in the October No. of the Journal, From this report it was hoped that Members would perceive the necessity of closer co-operation to ensure the success of this important work. The report as well as the Treasurer's statements were adopted. A lengthy discussion took place over the future policy and character of the Journal, and it was finally decided that it should be open to scientific matter only, and [)lates of scientific value, and that papers of a popular nature should be published in a separate series to be known as " Popular Bulletins." The following new Members were declared duly elected : — Messrs. Graham (C.(^.. & R.M.), Dr. Robertson, C. W. Mally, M Sc, and J. R. Ivy, of Grahamstown ; E. G. Harcourt-Tyrrell, of Greytow^n, Natal ; J. Heward, of Selukwe, Rhodesia, and Rev. S. S. Dornan (Bulawayo) ; Messrs. Mors and C. Wilde of Pretoria, F. Bolus (Cape Town), Major Calverly (Bloemfontein), R. Chambers, R.M. (Bethulie, O.R.C.), D. F. Gilfillan (Johannesburg), Major Hamilton (Komati- poort), A. L. Sclatcr (Helvetia, S. Rhodesia), and H. H. Phoar (Kimberley). The resignations of the seven gentlemen were accepted with regret, and the five defaulters were removed from the l{oll of Members. 1* 4' Fifth Annual General Meelinri. The office-bearers for 1909 were elected as follows : — President : Dr. J. E. Duerden, M.Sc. Vice-Presidents : Dr. J. W. B. Gunning. Dr. L. Peeinguey. . A. D. Millar, Col. M.B.O.U. Hon. Secretary : A. K. Haagner. Hon. Treasurer : A. K. Haagner. Mr. Spicer, having tendered his resignation as Hon. Treasurer, the thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to this gentleman for the able work executed by him during his tenure of office. Members of Council: — Cape Colony : F. A. 0. Pym (Kingwilliamstown). Transvaal : A. Duncan (Johannes- burg). O.R.C. : C. McG. Johnston, Bloemfontein. Natal : Dr. J. E. Briscoe (Charlestown). Basutoland : J. P. Murray (Maseru). Rhodesia : E. C. Chubb, F.Z.S. (Bula- wayo). Portuguese S.E. Africa: P. A. Sheppard (Beira). German S.W. Africa : C. Pogge (Windhuk). It was decided to hold the Meeting in 1909 at Bloemfontein, again in affiliation with the S.A.A.A.S. The following papers were submitted and will be published in the ' Journal ' or ' Bulletins ' as stated below : — 1. Presidential Address. Dr. J. E. Duerden. Full text iu ' Popular Bulletins.' 2. "History of Ornithology in S.Africa." A. K. Haag^ver, Hon. Sec. ' Popular Bulletins.' 3. " Birds in Eelation to Insect Pests." C. W. Mallt, M.Sc, East Prov. Entomologist. ' Popular Bulletins.' 4. "Notes on Birds collected in Beira, Port. E.A." P. A. Sheppard. ' Journal.' 5. " Pyromelana oryx and its Nesting Parasites." Eev. N. Egberts. ' Journal.' 6. "Notes on Migratory Birds at Komatipoort." Major J, Stevenson Hamilton. ' Journal.' rreshleittldl Addre II. — Presidential Address. — The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. By J. E. DuERDEN, Ph.D., M.Sc, Pro- fessor o£ Zoology, Rhodes University College. Gentlemen, — It might be expected that the Presidential Address at the Annual Meeting of the South African Ornithologists' Union would be devoted to a survey of the year's work in Ornithology, or at least directed to some phase of ornithology as the subject is usually understood. I must, however, con- fess that I am incapable of such a task, and should feel that I were here under false pretences were it not that your Council was fully aware of my deficiency in this respect at the time it invited me to this honourable position. Lest you should be disappointed by the absence of this traditional accompaniment of an annual gathering, namely a survey of the year's work, I have ventured to ask the Secretary to perform the duty for me ; and I am sure you will agree with me that the task could not have been placed in abler hands, for I make bold to sa}^ there is no one in South Africa working more successfully upon birds than he, no one doing more for the cause of ornithology, even beyond his arduous duties of Secretary of this Union and Editor of its Journal. There is one step forward in South African ornithology, however, which I cannot permit to pass unnoticed. I refer, of course, to the recent appearance of the book ' Sketches of South African Bird Life,' by Mr. Haagner and Mr. Ivy. When I think of the circumstances under which the w^ork has been produced I marvel at the degree of success which has crowned the endeavour, and sincerely desire to con- gratulate the authors upon their production and to wish it all success. The book is bound to have much influence in stimulating a popular interest in the subject to which both writers are so earnestly devoted, and has received verv favourable reviews from many independent sources. Having confessed myself in the matter of the neglect of a 6 Presidential Address : strictly ornithological address, and o-iven myself the pleasure of expressing my appreciation of the ornithological book of our year, I shall now ask for your indulgence towards a subject which the Secretary announced at a very early stage in our arrangements, one to which I have for the last two years, amidst many other duties, given considerable attention, namely, the bionomics of the domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. The Ostrich must ever have an interest for a zoologist in South Africa, whether regarded from a purely scientific point of view or from its great economic importance. It is the largest living bird in existence, a kind of " left-over," as it were, from a past state of affairs. In it we have before us a straightforward instance of a bird originally wild being- brought under a high state of domestication ; we still have numbers in their primitive wild condition, while there are now hundreds of thousands subjected to farming influences. We can observe the changes which the Ostrich is undergoing as a result of fundamental modifications in its environment, probably better than in the case of any other domesticated animal. The production of feathers has reached an intense degree of specialization, equal to that of many of the older animal or vegetable products of value to man. The plumes are studied in all their details with the same degree of thoroughness we give to the productions of sheep or cattle, or of the vine and the cereals; and I see no reason why the term ornithologist may not be extended to one who studies the domesticated Ostrich in all its phases, with a view to arriving at the solution of the scientific problems underlying its altered existence. We are living in an age when everywhere there is a demand that the forces of science should be devoted to the solution of such problems as will assist man in the better knowledge and control of nature ; and especially is this the case in South Africa, where nature is often so wayward and there are so few to direct her. As Zoologists we have pro- bably all been trained under the influence best expressed by the aphorism, "' science for science^s sake " ; a principle it The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. 7 was very necessary to strive for in the early days of scientific research, before its intrinsic value was appreciated, but this having been conceded we can now with satisfaction take the wider view, and, where possible, show the relationship of whatever we achieve to human welfare. If I -may be pardoned for introducing a word of personal reference, I should like to say that on coming to South Africa, three years ago, my interest was drawn to the Ostrich from the stand- point of what we are pleased to call pure scientific research. It was only after gaining an acquaintance with the many difficulties and troubles under which the industry is carried out, that I was convinced it was one's duty to embrace in the research aspects which would have a bearing upon some of the practical problems presented by the Ostrich, and thus, if possible, contribute something to advance both science and its applications in the Colony in which our lot is cast. 1 shall attempt to give you some account of how the Ostrich industry is carried on at the present time, indicating some of the questions, both of practical and scientific interest, which call for solution *. Methods of Gstricli- Farming. After a brief historical introduction the various methods of Ostrich-farming followed in South Africa were described. It was shown that these have all been evolved within the past forty years or so, and differ greatly according to the nature of the veld, whether capable of irrigation or not, and the nature of the farmer, whether progressive or conservative. The fact that the industry is fairly lucrative under proper management has served as a great stimulus to a large ])roportion of the farmers, and at the present time many improvements and advances in methods are in progress. Probably more than with any other stock, the problems involved in successful Ostr-ich management call for high intelligence, ability, and experience on the part of the farmer. * What follows is only an abstract of the paper submitted : the complete paper will be published elsewhere. 8 Presidential Address : It is found that birds thrive best, are freest from diseases, and give the strongest and richest feathers when subjected to a variety of conditions, such as was possible in their free, wild state. The combination of lucerne or rape pasturage and natural veld, now generally adopted, unquestionably gives the best results. Variety of food and conditions is one of the great secrets of successful Ostrich-farming, but there is still much to be learnt and many improvements to be made before the management of the bird can be said to have reached the highest success. For Ostrich-farming to be worthy of the name, the birds will have to be kept under effectual control, not left to wander unnoticed for months on the open veld ; the farms will have to be divided more and more by fencing, so that the flocks can be kept under closer observation, and better account taken of their condition. The industry is becoming more intensive year by year, and it is encouraging to record that the majority of the farmers are endeavouring to keep pace with its progress. Whatever other advantage may have come from the high price of feathers, one of the chief benefits to the Colony has been the stimulation and opportunity it has given towards developing the best there is in both the farmer and his land. y^alue of Feathers. The Ostrich is farmed solely for the feathers which it pro- duces ; there is no other use to which any part of the bird is applied. From their gracefulness and delicacy when curled ostrich-plumes are peculiarly suitable objects for personal adornment, and in one form or another seem to be always in fashion's demand. Last year (1907) their export value from Cape Colony reached nearly £2,000,000 (£1,819,606). This, combined with the smaller quantity of feathers produced in other countries, will represent approximately the enormous sum of £5,000,000 per annum piid to the retailers of Ostrich feathers, when the latter have been finished and manu- factured ready for wear. At present very high prices are o-iven to the farmer for superior feathers, and even the poorer The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. 0 classes are remunerative, though much less so than formerly; as a consequence all progressive farmers are rapidly weeding out their inferior birds. The value of a feather is technically determined by a number of " points,'^ which have reference to the length, breadth, density, and compactness of the flue ; the shape, especially as regards the tip, butts, and sides of the feather ; the strength, quality, and lustre of the flue ; narrowness and strength of shaft ; and freedom from barring defects. Phima/ Jiirds at Komatipoorf. 19 EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. Fig. L Heliospiza nooinece, Gunning,* 2. Ayapornif! iiu/rif/eins, W. L, Sclater, IV. — Observations on Mhjratorij Birds at Komatijworf. By Major J. Stevenson Hamilton, Snpt, Sabi Game Reserves. During February, 1908, large numbers of Hobbies were reported in tbe country between tbe Letaba and Limpopo ; tbey were hawking the flying ants. Tiie ranger shot one to make sure, but did not report whether they were Falco suhhuteo or cuvieri ; they only remained about a week, and the same ranger says he never before saw any in the three years ho liad been in that locality. The same informant reports that large numbers of Storks, both ahdhnii and alha, were seen during the same month. I myself saw large numbers of the latter collecting on the Lebombo, close to the Komati River, on February 15th. As previous to that date I had repeatedly seen them during the summer, and as since that date I have seen none, nor can hear of any others having been observed, I am of the opinion that they left very soon after 15tli February. From the 2nd until the 20th February moderately strong S.E winds blew. This agrees wit'i i\Iajor Fraser's observations above mentioned, as he records that the birds were coming in fast about the middle of February. I saw two Saddle-Bills {E. senegalensis) on the Sabi on March 14, and Major Fraser saw two on the Itendi (a tributary of the Letaba) on 28th February. Merops 7iuUcoides (Carmine-throated Bee-eater). — These birds w^ere seen by me in pairs throughout the sunnner on the Sabi. The last time I saw any was on, I think, February 10th, or possibly a few days earlier. I noticed them first in tho early part of November. * See 'Journal S. A. 0. U.' vol. iii. Xo. 2 (December 1907). ^0 Major J. Stevenson Hamilton on Coracias garrulus. — The European Roller was here in very large numbers during the months o£ November, December, and January ; one I kept in captivity for a few days became very tame. From the beginning of February the numbers steadily decreased. On the 10th March, not having seen any for some time, I went carefully through their usual haunts, and in the course of the dny only observed one ; since that date I have not seen any. C. caudatus is apparently resident here. During the summer ffarrulus far exceeded in numbers any of the other species. South-easterly winds have predominated since January up to tlie end of April. Garrulus was generally to be seen in large numbers wherever there were young locusts or grasshoppers; I never saw them in pairs, but always either collected in numbers or as single birds. Sivalloivs. — A pair of HirundojnieUa bnilt a nest and brought out their young under the shelter of my verandah. They began to build early in October, and the young ones left the nest on 20th February. As soon as they had done so the birds disappeared, and I did not observe them again. On April 14th during a heavy rainstorm, 15 birds, which I judged from their size to be II. cucullata and not puella, perched on a small bare tree with their backs to the rain, and stayed so throughout the downfall. Their conduct was in striking contrast to that of H. rustica and H. alhigidaris, which were fluttering about and seeking shelter under the eaves of the roof, and even inside the house. I have not seen H. cucullata nor II. puella since that date. H. rustica were here throughout the summer. Every evening I used to see about fifty hawking insects or perched together with alhigularis and dimidiata on the telegraph- wires. On my return from a short absence upon March 5th, the wind having meantime been S.E., I saw no Swallows at all for a few days. About the 12th there suddenly appeared a very large concourse of H. rustica, and for more than a week several hundred birds were to be seen every evening. These ao-ain disappeared during some wet and windy weather, and Migralorij Birds at Koinatijwori. 21 about the beginning of April there reappeared about 100 birds. I am inclined to think that those all represent different migrations — for one reason, that the permanent summer residents always perched on the same stretch of telegraph-wire ; while the birds that came later favoured a different place, and after each successive reappearance were seen to take up different quarters. On the 14th April we had heavy rain and wind, and large numbers of H. rmtica were driven indoors; many were injured, and so I had no difficulty in clearly identifying them. During the next few days the weather continued rather stormy and several were killed by cats, so that up to April 20th I had plenty of chances of inspecting dead birds. After this till the end of the month the Swallows, I am practically certain H. riatica and H. alUgularis, continued to hawk insects every evening round the cattle kraals, just as the two species had done all the summer. The numbers seemed to become gradually less ; on May 5th I noticed about ten birds, but on the Gth there were none, nor have I seen any sign of them since in their accustomed haunts. Very light north-easterly breezes prevailed at the time, and there was a marked fall in the night temperature. On the 8th I saw some Swallows hawking flies over the river and bathing at sunset ; these appeared like H. alhigu- laris, but on shooting one I found that it was H. smithii. They were acting quite differently from the Swallows I had been hitherto observing, however, and it was at some distance from the place frequented by them. On the whole I am pretty sure that the last of the northern Swallows did not leave here till the beginning of May, though the exodus began perhaps two months earlier. Milvus (pgyptius arrived about the beginning of November, was in great numbers throughout December and January, when the afterbirths of the calving game seemed to attract them, and disappeared somewhere about the end of February (they had been increasing in numbers throughout the latter month). From the 1st of March onwards I saw no more 22. Rev. Noel Roberts on of them nor of any of the genns Biiteo, of which desertoruni, and I think jakal, were present in the hot months. On the 29th of April at 8.30 a.m., and about 14 miles north of the Crocodile River and Delagoa Bay Railway, I saw what may have been a migration. A long line of birds (about 60) was flying steadily northwards at a height of at least 600 feet from the ground — possibly more, as it carried them well over the tops of the hills. The distance was unfortunately too great for me to identify them even with glasses, but they were certainly large birds of the Stork type. A group of birds flew at the head and a single file streamed out behind. The wind was blowing steadily from the south. They came over the tops of the hills some two miles to my front, and I watched them out of sight northwards. V. — Pyromelana oryx and its Nesthuj Parasites. By the Rev. Noel Roberts. The following notes may interest readers of the ' Journal.' On Dec. 9th of last year I visited a large colony of nests of Pijromelana oryx about fifteen miles north of Pretoria. Having noticed several Grolden Cuckoos ( C. cupreus) on a willow tree overhanging part of the colony, I examined every nest, hojiing to find a clutch containing a Cuckoo's egg. The search revealed several nests occupied by young birds of this species, one of which was almost fully fledged, and I was amply rewarded by finding four clutches each containing a Cuckoo's egg. These specimens differ from any I have seen before in that they are of an uniform verditer-blue, like the eggs of the host, from which they" could be distinguished by their greater size. This disparity in size did not quite convince me at first, as I have on several occasions found diminutive specimens in otherwise normal clutches of P. oryx and other birds. In this case, however, the proof of the egg lay in the blowing, and the application of this test produced incontrovertible evidence as to the correctness of my surmise^ Pyromelana oryx and its Nesting Parasites. 23 for two of the eggs hud far advanced in incubation and con- tained well-developed zygodactylous embryos. But the " blowing ^' did not only " prove " the eggs of th(^ Cuckoo : it tended to throw a little more light on the breeding- habits of Qiielea qiielea. Scores of these birds were flying about and resting on the reeds in the colony, and I picked up a dead male beneath one of the nests. A large number of asparagus and other bushes, besides a small plantation of Spanish reeds in the neighbour- hood, were literally covered with masses of their nest-work. On this, as on many previous occasions, I examined several of these so-called courting-nests, but I have never (bund one lined, or giving any indication that they are used for breeding purposes. Knowing this, and arguing from the analogy cf another ' Finch (Vidua principalis : vide 'Journal,' vol. iii. No. 1), it is not difficult to suppose that Q. quelea is parasitic in its breeding-habits ; and P. oryx suggests itself as the most probable host. These convictions were greatly strengthened by the dis- covery that in a clutch of four eggs I'rom the nest of a P. oryx (including one of the specimens of C. cupreus above referred to), only two of the smaller eggs were hard set : the remaining one being quite fresh. This specimen differs very slightly in size, shape, and shade of colour from the others, and I believe it to be an egg of Q. quelea. 1 had hoped to secure a final proof in the shape of fledglings from the nests, but my efforts were frustrated by the ruthless depredations of some other member of the genus Homo. Taken in connection with their great numbers, and the fact that where they occur in the same locality P. oryx and Q. quelea are often found feeding together and frequenting the same roosting-places, the above evidence taken cumu- latively, if not sufficient to establish the fact beyond doubt, is at least sufficient to warrant the assumption that Quelea quelea is parasitic in its nestiny-hahits, and that Pyromelana oryx is sometimes, if not always, the host. 24 Mr. P. A. ShepparJ on B'lnU collected and Note. — The measurements of the last-named clutch are as follows : — P. oryx 20'5xl5'0 mm. ; C. cupreus 24-5 x 15'5 mm.; Q. quelea 18 x 14 mm. I also discovered a clutch of spotted specimens of P. oryx. Has this variety been recorded before ? I have only observed two other instances, one of which occurs in my own collec- tion, and the other is now, I believe, in the beautiful collection of the Transvaal Museum. The spots are very minute, but unmistakable. The Cathedral Precincts, Pretoria. April 2, 1908, VI. — A List of, and Notes on, Bird^i collected and ohserved in the District of Beira, Portuguese S.E. Africa. By P. A. Sheppakd, AViTH the exception of a very few species, the following birds were collected by me in the Beira territory. The District is extremely flat, consisting of open grass plains. A belt of higher ground is reached about four miles inland, Avhich in places is thickly wooded : in others the woods are more open, with two or three small streams flowing down on to the flats. The highest elevation collected over is about 165 feet above sea-level. The area over which the birds "Were collected, with the exception of a few, is not much more than 36 square miles. The list is by no means complete, there being a number of Warblers, Wrens, and other small birds, also a few water-birds, which I have noticed, but not yet collected or identified. The nomenclature followed is that of Sclater and Stark's " Birds " ('Fauna of South Africa Series^). I have to thank Prof. Roichenow, of the Berlin Museum, and Mr. A. K. Haagner, of the Transvaal Museum, for identifying many doubtful S})ecies, ohserced in the District of Beira. 25 1. CoRVDS SCAPULATUS, Daud. Pied Crow. Very common, and sometimes seen in flocks o£ 30 to 40 frequenting the sand-banks in front of the town. I found a nest in January 1905 built in the to]) of a " Bottle Palm " tree, about GO feet from the ground, but was unable to get the eggs. 2. DiLOPHUS CAEUNCULATUS (Gm.). Wattled Starling. Uncommon here, occurring only singly or in jtairs during the hot months. 3. Lampeogolius ph(enicopterus bispeculatus (Strickl.). Red-shouldered Glossy Starling. Uncommon, visiting us during the colder season in small flocks of G or 7. 4. Lampeogolius melanogaster (Sw.). Black-bellied Glossy Starling. The commonest Starling, arriving here about November. I have found its nests in hollow trunks of the mangrove trees ; eggs pale bluish-green without spots. 5. CiNNYEiGiNCLUS VEEEEAUXi ([Boc] Finsch & Hartl.). Plum-coloured Glossy Starling. A very common summer visitor, arriving here in Sei)t. ; earliest date observed Sept. 22. It lays, in holes in old trees, from two to four eggs. G. Oeiolus larvatus, Licht. Black-headed Oriole. Very common. 7. Hyphantoenis nigeiceps, Lay. Bhick-headed AVeaver Bird. Uncommon. 8. Sitagea oculaeia (Sm.). Smith's Weaver Bird. Very common. 9. Sycobrotus bicolor (VieilL). Black-backed Weaver Bird. Very plentiful in wooded districts. It is generally seen in pairs, and is very partial to suspending its nest from the telegraph-wires along the railway-line. 26 Mr. P. A. Sheppard on Birds collected and 10. Amblyospiza albifrons (Vio-.). Thick-billed Weaver Bird. I have only seen and shot one female. 11. Pytelea melba (L.). Southern Red-faced Finch. Common. 12. Lagonosticta niveoguttata (Ptrs.). Peters's Ruddy Finch. Common, usually in pairs. 13. Lagonosticta jamesoni, Shell. Jameson's Ruddy Waxbill. Scarce. 14. EsTRiLDA astrilda (L.). Common Waxbill. Extremely common everywhere. 15. EsTRiLDA INCANA, Sund. S.A. Grey Waxbill. Scarce. IG. Spermestes fringilloides (Lafr.). Pied Weaver- Finch. A very common Finch all over the district ; it builds a dome-shaped nest, often in colonies, laying from five to nine eggs, pure white in colour. 17. Spermestes scutatus (Heugl.). Hooded Weaver- Finch. Common; found in small flocks. 18. Spermestes nigriceps, Cass. KuEous-backed Weaver- Finch. Usually seen in pairs, but I have sometimes seen as many as ten or a dozen together, consorting with the Common Waxbill. 19. QuELEA quelea (L,). Red-billed Weaver. Common, in small flocks. 20. Quelea erythrops (Hartl.). Red-headed Quelea. Scarce. 21. Pyromelana oryx (L.). Red Bishop Bird. Not particularly common. observed hi (ha Jh'sfr'tct of Bcira. 27 22. Pyromelana capensis approximans ((Jal>.). Black- and- Yellow Bishop Bird. Very coniinon. 23. Urobrachya axillaris (ISin,). Red -shouldered Widow Bird. Very common on the flats. 24. Vidua principalis (L.). Pin-tailed Widow Bird. Very common. 25. Vidua, paradisea (L.). Pcaradise Widow Bird. Quite uncommon in this locality. 26. Petrokia petronella (Lcht.). Diamond Sparrow. Fairly plentiful here during the hot months. 27. JSerinus ICTERUS (Bonn.). Eastern Yellow Seed-eater. Very common, usually seen in j^arties of G to 10. 28. Emberiza flaviventris (Vieill.). Golden-breasted Bunting. Not uncommon here from May to July, usually found in twos or threes. 29. Fringillaria TAHAPisi (Sm.). Rock Bunting. A pair ( c? and ? ) were procured on the railway-line about 23 miles inland, at M^Zimbiti. The male had a large black ant in its bill. 30. Calendula crassirostris (Vieill.). Thick -billed Lark. Very uncommon; have only seen a few s[)ecimcns here. 31. MiKAFRA nigricans (Sundev.). Dusky Lark. Not common. One specimen obtained. 32. Anthus nicholsoni, Sharpe. Nicholson's Pipit. 33. Anthus rufulus, Vieill. Cinnamon Pii)it. Both these Pipits were fairly common. 31. Macronyx croceus, Vieill. Yellow-throated Long- claw. One of the connnonest birds in the district. 2S Mr. P. A. Slieppard on Birds collected and 35. MoTACiLLA CAPENsis (L.). Cape Wagtail. Common. 36. CiNNYRis MiCROKHYNCHUS, Shelley. Little Bifasciated Sunbird. Very uncommon clo.se to Beira, but much more plentiful at M'Zimbiti, 23 miles inland. 37. CiNNYRis GUTTURALis (L.). Scarlet-chested Sunbird. Very plentiful near Beira. I have seen quite a number on a small plantation of Ceara rubber-trees when in blossom ; they are also very partial to bananas when flowering. 38. CiNNYRis KiRKi, Shell. Kirk's Sunbird. Very plentiful here, and often seen frequenting the same trees as the previous species. 39. CiNNYRis VERREAUXI, Sm. Mouse-coloured Sunbird. Scarce in the district ; I shot one male on the top of a mangrove-tree on the sea-coast, the only specimen I have seen. 40. CiNNYRis OLIVACINA (Ptrs.). Olive-coloured Sunbird. Very uncommon in this district. 41. Anthreptes collaris (Vieill.). Little Collared Sun- bird. Fairly common. 42. Anthreptes reichenowi, Gunning. Blue-throated Sunbird. CAnnals Tvl. Museum, Jan. 1909.) S . M'Zimbiti, near Beira, 17. 5. 08. ?. „ „ 6.7.08. 43. Parus NIGER, Bonn. & Vieill. Black Tit. Common among woods. 44. Lanius collaris, L. Fiscal Shrike. Very common. 45. IjANIUS minor, Gm. Lesser Grey Shrike. I procured a male on the 29th March, 1908, on newly cleared ground. T saw another a few days later at the same obftei'ved in the District of Beira. 29 place ; these birds were evidently migrating, as I have seen no others since. Both these birds were continually settling on some stump or branch of a dead tree in open patches of newly cleared ground, and were anything but timid, coming- close up to the kaffirs who were hoeing the ground and apparently picking up insects. 46. L ANILS coLLumo, L. Red-backed Shrike. Not common. I procured a young bird in December 1906. 47. NiLAUS NiGRiTEMPORALis, Rchvv. Black - browcd Brubru Shrike. Common. 48. Dryoscopus cubla (Shaw). Puff-back Shrike. Very common. 49. Dryoscopus FERRUGINEUS (Sund.). Large Puff-back. Not common. 50. Laniarius sulphureipectus (Less.). Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike. I have so far only seen one specimen, a male, which I shot in thick bush. 5L Laniarius starki (W. L. Sclater). Southern Grey- headed Bush-Shrike. Common. 52. NiCATOR GULARis, Finsch & Hartl. Zambesi Green Shrike. Not uncommon in inland wooded localities, and plentiful in low bush near the sea. This is rather a shy bird, but it frequently emerges into the open to feed amongst low ground- plants. It has a few very loud and not unpleasant notes. 5;'>. SiGMODUS TRICOLOR (Gray). Zambesi Helmet Shrike. Found in wooded districts, but, so far as my observations go, does not enter the densest bush, but prefers open spaces, where it is usually found in companies of from 3-5 ; I have never seen more than five together at one time. It seems to prefer the larger trees, and flies no distance when dis- turbed, but usually makes to a tree close by : its fliglit is 30 Mr. P. A, Sheppurd on Birds collected and rather heavy ; it is a much more wary bird than P. talacoma and not so noisy. I do not think it is a resident here, but on this point am not quite certain. Have only noticed this bird here during the hot months : October to March. 54. SiGMODUS SCOPIFRONS, Ptrs. Chestnut -crowned Hehnet Shrike. On the evening of May 3rd I saw a flock of eight birds, which I took to be S. retzii, on a large tree quite near the house, out of w^hich I shot five, but on picking up the bodies I found them to be a species quite new to me, although I had seen one other before, shot by C;. H. B. Grant in this district. The first bird T brought down was only w'ounded, and its crying brought all the others to it. As they flew round and settled on low dead branches they kept up a constant chattering, in this resembling the next species. Its habits are very similar to retzii ; it keeps to the higher trees, and with a very feeble flight travels from one to another. I have only seen this species in thickly wooded districts. I found small insects in the stomachs of those shot. It appears to be a migrant, as I have not seen one for at least two months. Feet and bill red, tip of bill orange-yellow. 55. Prionops talacoma (Sm.). Smith's Helmet Shrike. Found throughout tlie district, among low bush and forests, in flocks varying from 5 or 0 to 12 or 15. It is a very noisy bird and has a heavy flight. It is not very shy and only flies for short distances, from tree to tree. If a bird happens to be only wounded when shot, its crying attracts the attention of the rest of the flock, which at once come down to it, and continue hopping and flying round it, keeping up a continuous chatter. When picking up a wounded bird, I have had them flying so close that it would have been an easy matter to have knocked them down with a stick ; they do not attack the wounded bird in any way, but after a minute or so leave it to its fate. These birds are very restless, being continuously on the move. Their food consists observed in the District of Belra. ' 31 chiefly of insects, which I have seen tliem, on one or two occasions, catch on the wing, but nsually those are picked from the leaves and branches of trees and sometimes off the ground. 56. Crateropus jardinii, Sm. Jardine's Babbler. Uncommon visitor to these parts. I have onlv once shot this bird, procuring three out of about six or seven, but have seen them occasionally since ; they appear to like thick caue- patches. 57. Crateropus hartlaubi, Boc, Hartlaub's Babbler. Not uncommon, in thick bush land. 58. Pycnonotus layardi, Guru. Black-capped Bulbul. Undoubtedly our commonest bird. Nests in low bushes ; I also found a nest built in a bunch of bananas, containing two eggs, both with birds inside. 59. Andropadus importunus (Yieill.). Sombre Bulbul. A very common species. 60. Andropadus debilis (W. L. Scl.) . Slender Bulbul. a. M'Zimbiti, near Beira, 17. 5. 08. (Iris pale yellow.) 61. Phyllostrophus capensis, Swains. Cape Bristle- necked Bulbul. Very scarce. 62. Parisobia layardi, Hartl. Layard's Tit-Babbler. Very uncommon. 63. Phylloscopus trochilus (L.) . Willow Wren. Not uncommon during hot season. 64. Hypolais icterina (Vieill.). Icterine Warbler. Not uncommon during hot season. 65. ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS (Bcclist.). S . Beira, 26. 12. 06. 'o^. Eremomela scotops, Sund. u. Beira, 15.7.08. 1)2 Mr. P. A. Slieppurd on Birds collected and 67. Camaroptera sundevalli, Sharpe. Grey-backed Bush Warbler. I shot a male in thick bush on the 15. 13. 07. It is not common here and keeps, as a rule, to the upper branches oE the trees ; it can always be located by the peculiar note it utters when searching for insects. 68. Camaroptera griseoviridis (v. Mull.). Green-grey Bush Warbler. a. Beira, 13. 3. 06. 69. Sylvietta whytei (Shell.). Whyte's Crombec. Fairly common in the woods. This is a new record for South Africa. 70. Apalis neglecta (Alex.). Black -breasted Bush Warbler. ^ . Beira, 24. 6. 07. ?. Beira, 28.1.06. 71. Prinia mystacea, Riipp. Tawny- flanked Wren Warbler. Common. 72. CiSTicoLA strangei (Fras.). Grey-headed Grass Warbler. (J. Beira, 26.12.06. 73. CiSTicoLA NATALENSis (A. Sm.). Natal Grass Warbler. ? . Beira, 1. 9. 07. 74. CiSTicoLA LUGUBRis (Riipp.). Buff- fronted Grass Warbler. S. Beira, 11.1.06. 75. CiSTicoLA rufa (Fras.). Rufous Grass Warbler. ? . Beira, 1.9.07. 76. CiSTicoLA cinnamomeiceps, Haagn. Cinnamon- crowned Grass Warbler. (Annals Tvl. Museum, Jan. 1909.) a. M'Zimbiti, 23 miles inland from Beira, 12. 1. 08. observed in the District of Beira. 33 77. Tdrdus libonianus (Smith), Kurrichaine Tlirnsli. Very common in woods ; have taken several clutches of c^ggs from nests built in fork of a tree. 78. Pratincola touquata (L.). S.A. Stonechat. A visitor during the colder months, arriving about April and leaving in September. 79. Saxicola pileata (Gm.). Cajiped Whcatear. A fairly common visitor during the colder months and very partial to the short salt grass-flats. 80. Erythropygia LEUCOPHRYS (Vieill.). AVhite-browed Ground Robin. Not uncommon among thick bush. 81. Erythropygia quadrivirgata (Rchb.). Rufous- breasted Ground Robin. Appears to be fairly plentiful here in the thick forests, but difficult to obtain on account of its shyness. In a patch of forest-land that has been cleared I find it is very fond of coming out of the dense thickets and feeding among the dead branches of trees that have been cut down, hopping about near to, and on the ground, where it can be fairly easilv shot if one keeps quite quiet and waits. According to the stomachs of specimens examined, its food consists entirely of insects and grubs. It has a nice song, although its notes are not very varied ; some are quite powerful and melodious, and can be heard at all times of the day, but particularly at early morning and evening. I know nothing of its nesting-habits so far. 82. Muscicapa grisola, L. Spotted Flycatcher. An uncommon summer visitor here. 83. Muscicapa c^erulescens (Hartl.). Blue-grev Flv- catcher. Very uncommon in thick woods. 84. Smithornis capensis (Sni.). Cape Broadbill. 1 $ shot y. 5. 08. Found in thick bush. VOL. V. 3 34 Mr. P. A. Sheppard on Birds collected and 85. Bias musicus (Vieill.). Black-and- White Flycatcher. Very scarce ; have only seen one specimen, shot by Mr. C. H. B. Grant while collecting at M'Zimbiti. ^(3. Platystira peltata, Snnd. Green-throated Fly- catcher. Scarce here ; usually found in small companies, in thick bush near water, keeping among the lower branches and undergrowth. It is o£ shy habits, and rather difficult to shoot. It is very partial to bamboo-thickets, and keeps up a continuous twittering when on the move. I have only once seen this species far away from water, in bush ; it seems to prefer the woods in low-lying, damp ground. 87. Pachyprora molitor (Hahn & Kiist.). White- flanked Flycatcher. A'^ery common. 88. Pachyprora sheppardi (Haagn.). Sheppard's Fly- catcher. \_Batis sheppardi, Annals Tvl. Museum, Jan. 1909.] c?. M'Zimbiti, near Beira, 27. 5. 08. ? . „ „ 3. 5. 08. 89. Bradornis pallidus murinus, Finsch & Hartl. Mouse- coloured Flycatcher. Fairly common. Two females procured. 90. Sheppardia gunningi, Haagn. Orange-breasted Fly- catcher. [Annals Tvl. Museum, Jan. 1909.] S . M'Zimbiti, near Beira, 5. 1. 08. 91. Trochocercus cyanomelas (Vieill.). Blue-mantled Flycatcher. Uncommon and only seen in dense bush. 92. Terpsiphone per^picillata (Swains.). Paradise Flycatcher. A common species here, especially on the mangrove- swamps, w^here it apparently builds, as I have often seen a ohserved iit the J >}striH of Jit'wa. ?>') fhniily of five or six together, but liave never been aljle to find a nest. 93. DiCRURUs AFER (Lcht.). Fork-tailed Droncro. Very common. 1)4. DiCRURUs LUD\vi(;i (Sm.). Square-tailed Drongo. Not quite so plentiful as tbe ])revious species. 95. Campophaga nigra, Vieill, Black Cuckoo Shrike. Not by any means a common l)ird here. 96. Campophaga hartlaubi, Salvad. Hartlaub's C/uckoo- Shrike. Have only seen one specimen, shot by Mr. C. H. B. Grant, at M^Zimbiti, 23 miles inland. 97. Graucalus pectoralis. Black-chested Cuckoo Shrike. 1 (^ shot 15.5,08 on top of a high tree in woods. A young ^ procured on 14th April, 1906, has the throat white, and upper chest pale grey. 98. HiRUNDO RUSTICA, L. European Swallow. Common. 99. HiRUNDO GRISEOPYGA, Sund. Grcy-rumped Swallow. S . Beira, 15. 6. 08. A fairly plentiful visitor. Arrived here during June and the last seen was on Sept. 14th. I found the nest of this bird on Sept. 10th, 1908, built in a hole made on the level surface of the ground. I watched the birds for some time and eventually one settled and did not reappear. On walking to the spot I discovered a hole like that made by a rat, and on digging, found a loose structure of grass aud grass-stems, which contained four pure white eggs ; feeling in further, I found the female at the end of the hole. The nest was practically flat. I shot the male also at the same time. Size of eggs ^" X /g" ; rather pointed and not shiny. On Sept. 12th I found another nest within a hundred vards of the other : I watched the birtls eircliiitj: round for a 3G Mr. P. A. Sheppard ou Birds collected and little wliile, when one settled and remained hidden. I dis- covered the nesting-hole, identical with the first ; the nest contained three almost fully fledged young, of which I kept the skins, and caught the female on the nest as \vell, but could not get a shot at the male, as he flew away, and although I waited for some time he did not return. Both birds kept up a constant twittering while flying round the nest. Both nests were about 3'-4' deep in the tunnel, which was in a slightly slanting direction. 100. HiRFNDO PUELLA, Temm. & Schl. Smaller Stri[)e- breasted Swallow. Have only seen this bird, when passing on its way south in October last, at M'Zimbiti, where 1 procured several specimens flying over a white ant heap, after a shower of rain, in company with H. rustica. Have never seen this species near the coast at Beira. 101. HiRUNDO MONTEIRI, Hartl. Monteiro's Swallow. Fairly common here during the hot months only. 102. PsALiDOPROCXE ORiENTALis, Rchw. Eastern Rough- winged Swallow. 1 have seen and shot this Swallow throughout the year, but it is much more plentiful during the hotter months. On several occasions during the last two or three weeks I have watched these birds going through a most peculinr performance. At first I thought they were building, as they were constantly settling on dead tufts of grass, which had become dried after being hoed up ; but on watching them further, I noticed they picked up pieces and flew high up, continually circling as they flew, and then dropped the grass, not attempting to recover it ; this I saw done on many occasions on different days, not only by one bird, but by many. These birds are resident here throughout the year, and by far our commonest Swallow. 103. Pitta angolensis, Vieill. Angolan Pitta. A male brought in to me alive by a native, who said he ^aw another in the woods running on the ground. ohserced in the District of JBeira. 37 104. Upupa africana, Bclistn. S.A. Hoopoe. Fairly common throughout the wooded districts, but very difficult to approach. 105. Irrisor viridis (A. Lcht.). Kakelaar. Not so common as the previous species and as difticult to approach ; usually seen three or four together. 106. Rhinopomastus cyanomelas (Vieill.). Scimitar-bill Very common in woods. 107. Tachornis parva (Lcht.). Palm Swift. Common everywhere and is seen throughout the year. 108. Ch^tura bohmi (Schal.). Bohm's Spine-tail. A very scarce bird. I have only seen a few flying at M^Zimbiti, where I managed to procure three s[)ecimcns in November last. 109. Caprimulgus rufigena, A. Sm. Rufous-cheeked Nightjar. Very common round here in dry sandy places, among low scrub. 110. Caprimulgus fossii [Verr.], Hartl. Mozambique Nightjar. Very common all over the district. 111. CoRACiAS garrulus, L. European Roller. A very common bird during the summer months, and it also remains with us sparingly during the colder weather. I notice them migrating in hundreds from north to south every year during November ; they fly at a great height as a rule, although many come right down. Last year I shot several specimens in a very worn condition. 112. CoRACiAS caudatus, L. Moselikatz's Roller. Common all over the flats and resting on low bushes. 113. EuRYSTOMUS AFER (Lath.). Cinnamon Roller. A very common visitor in all wooded localities ; the first appearance this season was one on the 28th Sept., followed by several a few days later. They are now building, or rather laying, in holes in old dead trees, which they invariably 38 Mr. P. A. Sheppard on Birds collected and prefer, and also a hole at the end of a horizontal branch near the top of a tree. A pair are building here near the house ; the male keeps constantly in close contact with the tree, settling on the highest branches, where he keeps up a con- tinuous and monotonous chattering, darting off wildly at intervals for a short distance and returning again, often to the same branch. The female is seldom seen, and seems to remain in the hole for hours at a time, but, in this particular case, may be sitting. On the 15th November I found two eggs in a hollow tree, about 20 feet from the ground. The female flew from nest, which I shot. Eggs pure white and slightly incubated. Later on in the season they can often be seen in small parties late in the evening, searching for insects on the wing, when they keep up a constant chattering, as is their custom. I have never once seen them approach the ground. Their flight is very erratic and sometimes very swift. They are not by any means shy, and generally easily shot. 114. EuRYSTOMUS GLAUCURUS (St. MiilL). Madagascar Cinnamon Roller. A male in not fully adult plumage was procured at Manga, near Beira, on the 31. 3. 06, and kindly identified for me by Mr. Haagner, of the Tvl. Museum. This is a new record for South Africa. 115. Merops pp:rsicus, Pall. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. Very numerous here during the earlier part of the summer, arriving in September. Last year I observed 30 or 40 on Sept. 12, their first appearance in the district. They are particularly fond of mangrove-tree swamps, and during their stay may be seen every evening in hundreds roosting and flying over these trees in front of the town of Beira. 116. Merops nubicoides, Des Murs & Puch. Carmine- throated Bee-eater. Very scarce and only seen passing south in November and December. Mr. C. H. B. Grant procured a few specimens at M'Zimbiti, and also within six miles of Beira. I saw four last December at M'Zimbiti. ohseri'ed in the District of Beiva. 39 117. Melittophagus meridionalis, Sharpo. Little Bee- eater. Very common, nests in the banks along the railway. I found young birds in November 1907. 118. DicROCERCUs HiRUNDiNEUS (Lcht.). Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. I found a nest on October 5th, built in the sand under a path used daily. Tunnel length 2' 6", diam. 1^", and oval chamber about G'' diam. It contained four eggs, very much incubated, oval, and of a pure white and shiny, size y x f . They were laid on bare sand. The female flew ofE the nest just as I approached. I followed her up into a wood close by and shot her ; I saw the male but could not procure him. It was only by the merest chance that I found the nest, as it was in the side of a drain on the plantation ; this drain was being cleaned out in readiness for the rainy season, and on seeing the hole, I dug it out, thinking to find eggs of meri- dionalis. Previous to this, I had never once seen either of the parent birds, although I walk over the path and the nest- hole three or four times every day. I found another nest on October 29th, built in the em- bankment on the side of the railway ; structure similar to above, but not so deep in. It contained three eggs, of a beautiful rich salmon-pink colour, but after blowing they were pure white, shiny, and quite clear, of the same size as above. I saw one of the parent birds leave the nest^ which I followed up and shot (female) ; after waiting hidden near the hole for a long time, the male appeared, which I also shor. About a mile further along the line I came across a tree on which there were quite a dozen, and by hiding under a thick bush I managed to shoot five (two males, two females, and a young one) . Their flight is very similar to that of M. meri- dionalis, but they keep to higher trees and are much more shy. 119. Halcyon albiventris (Scop.). Brown-hooded Kingfisher. One of the most ))lonliful of the Kingfishers in the district. 40 Mr. P. A. ShepparJ on Birds collected and I found a nest-hole in the river-bank in soft sand, about 2 feet 6 inches in depth, 2^ inches diameter, and the chamber at the end about 7 inches in diameter and oval in shape. It contained five eggs, laid on the bare sand, of a pale pink, but pure white and shiny after blowing (size 1 X }f inch; all of the same size). These eggs are considerably larger than those of H. sioain- soni and of a much duller white; the nest-hole is larger, I found another nest of same species in the railway embankment similar to above, containing four eggs, and caught the female. Both nests were found on October 11th. These birds are very wary and difficult to approach, but not so shy as sivainsoiii. I had considerable difficulty in getting the female of the first clutch found in the river-bank, and was quite unable to get a shot at either of the males. Their call-note is quite different to that of sioai7iso7ii, is much louder and emitted at intervals only. These birds are by no means always found near water, and setm to prefer wooded country; I have watched them often dart after dragon-flies and return again to the same tree. They are very fond of resting on telegraph-wires along the railway. 120. Halcyon chelicuti, Stanley. Striped Kingfisher. Plentiful near the coast, especially among the mangrove- swamps. 121. Halcyon swainsoni (Smith). Grey-headed King- fisher. Vei-y uncommon. I had only seen and shot one specimen previous to this season, but have lately taken two clutches of eggs, and in both cases seen the parents, shooting the male of one pair, and taking the female of the other off the nest, which contained three pure white eggs. Both nests were found on Nov. 1st. The birds are extremely shy and it was only by waiting hidden for some time that I could get a shot at the male, which flew on to the top of a very tall tree near by. They also keej» up a constant call while near the nest and fly from tree-top observed in the District of Beira. 41 to trcc-top in the vicinity, but well out of range, and as soon as hunted tly into the forest at once. The first nest I found was built in the river-bank in soft sand about 2 feet from tlu; top, a tunnel about 18 inches long, 2 inches diameter, and at the end an oval chamber about 6 inches diameter. The eggs, four in number, were laid on the bare sand, and were of a beautiful salmon-pink colour and shiny, but pure white after blowing; size |f x|-| inch, all about the same size. The other nest was in an embankment on the railway, and I saw the male just aljove the nest on telegraph-wires, and found the female on the eggs. Nest and eggs similar to the above. Both clutches were quite clear. 122. Cekyle rudis (L.). Pied Kingfisher. A very common bird in this locality and very fond of mangrove-swamps on the sea-coast, where it may at any time be seen in quantity. I have often noticed from five to eight or nine together fishing. It also frequents inland waters, but usually only singly or in pairs. 123. Ceryle MAXI5IA (Pall.). Giant Kingfisher. Not by any means an uncounnon species on inland waters, but very difficult to approach. I have never seen this bird near the sea-coast, nor at river mouths where the water is salt. [Ibis is contrary to its custom in the Cape. — Edd.] 124. Alcedo semitorquata, Sw. Half-collared King- fisher. Rather an uncommon bird round here. 125. CORYTHORNIS CYANOSTIGMA (Rupp.). Malachite Kingfisher. Very conunon. 126. IsriDiNA NATALENSis (A. Sm.). Natal Kingfisher. Very common, more so than the previous species. 127. CoLius STRIATUS MINOR, Cab. Speckled Mouse- bird. Connnon in certain districts all the year, and is c.-^pecially foud of thick bush close to the sea-coast. 42 Mr. P. A, Sheppard o)i Birds collected and 128. CoLius ERYTHROMELON, VieilL Red-faced Mouse- bird. Occurs in flocks of 30 or 40 during the cool season, in low bush, generally thorn, near swampy ground. I have not seen any during the hot months. 129. BucORAX CAFER (Schl.). Brom-vogel. Yery common and very difficult to shoot. 130. Bycanistes buccinator (Tem.). Trumpeter Horn- bill. Common. 131. LoPiiocEROS MELANOLEUcrs (A. Lcht.). Crowned HornbiU. Very common. 132. LORHOCEROS ERYTHKORIIYNCHUS (Tem.). Red-billed Hornbill. Extremely common. 133. Hapaloderma narina (Steph.). Narina Trogon. Not at all uncommon during the summer months in all woods, but apparently very scarce during the colder season; in fact I have not seen any after the month of March, nor heard their call, which is continuous throughout the breeding- season. The males seem to far outnumber the females in this locality. 134. Campothera notata (Lcht.j. Knysna Woodpecker. Very common. 135. Campothera bennetti (A. Sm.). Bennett^s Wood- pecker. Common in all forests. 136. Dendropicl's cardinalis (Gm.). Cardinal Wood- pecker. Commonest of all W^oodpeckers in this locality. 137. Thripias namaquus (A. Lcht.). Bearded Wood- pecker. Not uncommon in wooded districts. observed in I fie Distrlcf of Be'ira. 43 138. Indicator variegatus, Less. Scaly-throated Honey- Guide. I have only occasionally met with this bird. 139. Indicator minor, Steph. Little Honey-Guide Rather uncommon. no. Lybius Torquatus (Dum.). Black-collared Barbet. A very common species round here. 141. Stactol.t:ma leuCOTIs (Sund.). White-eared Barbet. Very uncommon; I have only seen a few specimens, which were shot by Mr. C. H. B. Grant. 142. Barbatula bilineata (Sund,), Wliite-browed Tinker, Uncommon here; have only shot a few specimens. 143. CoccYSTEs jacobinus (Bodd,). Black-and- White Cuckoo. Fairly plentiful in thick forests and low scrub during the hot months. 144. Centropus burchelli, S\v. BurchelFs Coucal. One of the commonest birds round here. 14.5, C*euthmochares AUSTRALis, Sharpe. Green Coucal. Very uncommon; 1 have only seen and shot one specimen. 14G. Gallirex porphyreolophus (Vig.), Purple- crested Laurie. Very plentiful in all the woods. 1 found a nest of this bird on Nov. 19th containing two eggs, and both had young birds in ; I shot the hen. The nest was merely a slight hollow built entirely of twigs and not lined, and about 10 feet al)ove the ground on the edge of a wood. Eggs pure white, round and shiny. 147. TuRACUS LiviNGSTONEi, G. R. Gr. Livingstone's Lourie. Rather uncommon: I ha\e onlv seen a fe\v lun-e. 44 Mr. P. A. She[)pard on Birds collected and 148. PYOCEPHALUS ROBUSTUS SUAHELICU3, RcllW. BrOWIl- necked Parrot. Not uncommon in wooded districts. The plumage varies considerably. A specimen collected (now in the Tvl. Museum) has the crown strongly washed with scarlet. In September 11106 I saw quite a number of these birds on different (kites, usually in twos or threes. They are also very noisy when flying, and only settle on a tree for a few seconds at a time, unless it happens to be a feeding-tree. I on one occasion found a tree upon which these birds were feeding on its fruit, and shot five in one afternoon. It was amusing to see the extraordinary positions they got into when trying to get at the fruit, crawling about the branches high up in the tree. Their flight, like that of the preceding species, is very swift and high. 149. PcEOCEPHALUS FUSCiCAPiLLUs (Vcrr. & Dcs M.). Brown-headed Parrot. Very common, usually in flocks of five to eight or nine. When on the wing this bird keeps up a continuous shriek- ing, which may be heard a long way off. It is very fond of settling on dead trees, where it will remain sitting for a long time if undisturbed. It is very wary and difficult to approach. I have watched them feeding on the young shoots of certain trees, where they creep about the ends of the upper branches and are usually very difficult to see. If a bird is wounded it keeps up a continuous shrieking, which attracts the others; these do not fly away, but remain moving about in the trees. On this account I once managed to shoot four specimens on one tree. I have never yet found them at a water-hole. This species seems to feed throughout the day, although more often seen at early morning and at evening. 150. Strix flammea, L. Barn Owl. I have only once shot this bird in the woods, but found quite a colony of them in an unused building near the Beira Railway Station last year, and also procured one egg. ohseyred in the District of Beira. 45 151. Strix capensis, A. Sm. Grass Owl. I have only seen one specimen, shot by Mr. C. 11. B. Grant near Beira. 152. Glaucidium capense (A. Sm.). Barred Owlet. A rather common bird romid here. I have shot several specimens during the day resting in trees in woods and also in bamboo thickets. They are usually found in pairs. 153. Syrnium woodfordi (A. Sm.). Bush Owl. Male shot 1.4. 08, in thick woods, resting on a low l)ranch of a large tree. 154. Scotopelia peli [Tem.], Bp. Pel's Fishing-Owl. Very scarce. — I shot a male about seven years ago here, and another male last year. The latter bird was sitting on top of a very tall tree close to a vley in a thick wood. 155. TiKNUNCULUs DiCKiNSONi (Scl.). Dickinson's Kestrel. Male shot 20. 3. 08, sitting on a dead tree, on open cleared ground. There are several of these birds in this locality; they are partial to the open cleared ground and fond of settling on old dead tree-stumps. They are not very shy, usually allou ing one to approach within easy gunshot. I have frequently seen them feeding on the ground and picking up grasshoppers and other insects in the early morning. They have a very shrill note, continually repeated. 156. AsTUR POLYZONOIDES (A. Sm.). Little Banded Goshawk. A female shot 4. 3. 08, sitting in the middle of a tall iliick tree ; this is the only specimen I have seen uj) to now. 157. Haliaetus yocifer (Daud.). Sea Eagle. A very common bird along the rivers and at the mouths of rivers, where it may be seen sitting on a mangrove-stump quite close to the water. I kept a male and female in captivity for about 1^ years and fed them entirely on fish. 158. Helotarsus ecaudatus (Daud.). Bateleur. Not at all uncommon, but I have never yet been within gunshot range of one. 4(1 Mr. P. A. Sheppard on Birds collected and 159. MiLvus ^GYPTius (Gm.). Yellow-billod Kite. The commonest of our Falconidse. IGO, Circus ranivorus (Daud.). S.A. Harrier. Not at all uncommon during tlie summer months. IGl. Gyps kolbii (Daud.). Kolbe's Vulture. A common bird round here ; a flock o£ eighteen or twenty are always feeding and flying about the backof the town. I have not yet found where their nesting-place is. 162. LoPHOGYPS OCCIPITALIS (Burch.). White-headed Vulture. I have only seen one specimen, which was shot by a friend of mine about 7 miles from Beira. 1G3. PoLYBOROiDES TYPicus, A. Sm. Harrier Hawk. Mr. C. H. B. Grant shot a specimen at M'Zimbiti, the only one I have seen. 164. Pelecanus roseus, Gm. Eastern White Pelican. Very common here at the mouths of tlic rivers Pungue, Busi, and Sabi. 165. Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis (Shaw). Saddle- bill. I have only twice seen this bird, but was unable to get within gunshot. 166. Leptoptilus crumeniferus ( [Cuv.] , Less.). Marabou. A common species in the district. 167. Scopus umbretta, Gm. Hammerkop. Very common. 168. Ardea melanocephala, Vig. Childr. Black-headed Heron. Common. 169. Ardea purpurea, L. Purple Heron. Very common. 170. Herodias alba (L.). Great White Egret. Not at all uncommon. observed in the District of Beira. 47 171. Herodias brachykhynciia, Boclim. Yellow-Lilled Egret. Very common ; may be seen in flocks of 15-50 or mor(^ feeding on mud- flats at the mouth of the Pungue. 172. Ardeola ralloides (Scop.). Squacco Heron. Very common on inland swamps, 173. Erythrocnus rufiventris (kSund.). llufous-bellicil Heron. A very common bird on all inland swamps. 174. BuTORiDES atricapillus (Afzel). Green-backed Heron. a. Juv. Beira, 21.7.07. 175. Ardetta sturmi (Wagl.). African Dwarf Bittern. Very common. 176. Ibis ^thiopica (Lath.). Sacred Ibis. Very plentiful on sand-banks in rivers. 177. Hagedashia hagedash (Lath.). Hadada. Very common, and excellent eating. 178. Platalea alba, Scop. African Spoon-bill. Very plentiful along rivers in large flocks. 179. Phcenicopterus roseus, Pall. Greater Flamingo. Very common in large flocks at certain seasons on rivers and salt mud-flats. 180. Plectropterus gambensis (L.). Spur-wing Goose. Common on open waters and rivers. 181. ViNAGO delalandei (Bp.). Cape Green Pigeon. Very common. 182. Turtur semitorquatus (Riipp.). Red-eyed Turtle Dove. Very common. 183. Chalcopelia afra (L.). Emerald-spotted Dove. Commonest of all the Columbi(Uc here. 48 Mr. P. A. Shoppard on B'lnh collected and 184. Francolinusseph^na (A. Sm.). Crested Francolin. Examples were shot by Mr. C. H. B. Grant at M'Zimbiti. 185. Pternistes humboldti (Ptrs.). Humbold's Fran- colin. Very common in all wooded districts. 186. ExcALFACTORiA ADANsONi (Verr.). Blue Quail. Not uncommon, usually found in pairs. 187. NuMiDA MiTRATA, Pall. E.A. Guinea Fowl. Very common, but not so plentiful as 6r. edoxiardi. 188. GuTTERA EDOUARDI, Hartl. Crested Guinea Fowl. Very common. 189. TuRNix HOTTENTOTA (Tem.). Hottentot Hemipode. Fairly common on the flats in long grass. 190. TuRNix LEPURANA (A. Sm.). Kurrichaiuo Hemipode. Unconnnon on the flats. 191. Balearica regulorum (Benn.). Crowned Crane. Fairly common on inland vleys and rivers, I have seen four or five together in one small swamp ; the natives catch these birds and bring them into town. I kept three in my garden for over two years; they become very tame in captivity. 192. Otis melanogaster, Riipp. Black-bellied Knorhuan. I have only seen this bird on three occasions. Mr. C. H. B. Grant shot a specimen at M'Zimbiti. 193. CEdicnemus vermiculatus, Cab. Water Dikkop. I have only shot one specimen, a male, but I have seen several others ; all were standing on the edge of a small river running through thick forest. 194. Dromas ardeola, Payk. Crab Plover. Have only shot one specimen, six miles inland. 195. Rhinoptilus chalcopterus (Tem.). Bronze-winged Courser. Very uncommon ; I have only shot one specimen in the manffrove-swamps and seen a few others. ohserved in fhe District of Be'tra. 49 19G. AcTOPHiLUS AFRiCANUS (Gui.). African Jacana. A very common bird on all open waters. 197. LOBIVANELLUS LATERALIS (A. Sm.). Wattled Plover. Very nncommon round this district. 108. Stephanibyx inornatus (Sw.). Swainson's Plover. A very plentiful bird here in swampy land during the hot season; always seen in flocks of from 10-20 or 30, very shy and difficult to shoot. 199. ^GiALiTis HL\TiC0LA (L.). Ringed Plover. Apparently uncommon, as far as I know ; I have only once shot this bird. 200. NuMENius ARQUATUS (L.). Curlew. One of the commonest birds in the district. 201. ToTANUs GLAREOLA (L.). Wood Sandpiper. Very common. 202. ToTANUS OCHROPUS (L.). Green Sandpiper. Very common. 203. ToTANUS HYPOLEUCUS (L.). Common Sandpiper. Very common. 204. Calidris arenaria (L.). Sanderlincr. May be seen in flocks of dozens. 205. Gallinago major (Gm.). Double Snipe. Not at all uncommon in marshy ground. 206. Gallinago nigripennis, Bp. Ethiopian Snipe. Mr. C. H. B. Grant shot specimens at M'Zimbiti. 207. RosTRATULA capensis (L.). Painted Snipe. I picked up a specimen on the railway-line, dead, early one morning, but have never seen or shot any others. 208. Sterna media (Horsf.). Smaller Crested Tern. One specimen procured. 50 Occasional Xofes. VIT. — Occadonal ^^otes. 1, Secretary Bird and Snakes. — Last week I saw a Secretary Bird kill a snake three feet six inches in length. It accomplished the feat with great ease, bnt made no attempt to swallow its victim. This fact suggests the inference that the remains of snakes found in the stomachs of specimens examined may hy no means represent the number of snakes killed. C. McG. Johnston. Eloemfontein, Aug-. 7, 1908. 2. Depredatory Habits of Grey JIkro's (Anlca cine7'ea). — 1 saw a rather unusual thing the other day. On a farm in this district a Grey Heron descended on a flight of small birds driven up from a mealie-putch, and seizing a Sparrow by the leg tried to gulp it down, but let it go on the approach of a man. I alwavs knew the bird was a good mouser, but have never heard of its preying upon other birds before. Roland Chambers, R.M. Eethulie, O.R.C., Aug. 2, 1908. ;'). Prohibition to Import the Plumage and Skins of Wild Birds. — The above Bill, which is the work of Lord Avebury (perhaps better known as Sir John Lubbock), was read a second time in the House of ('ommons on May IDth and referred to a Select Committee. The folloAving extracts may be of some interest : — " The object of this Act is to check the wanton and whole- sale destruction of birds which is being carried on everywhere throughout the British Empire, and in all parts of the world, without regard to the agricultural, educational, and ?esthetic value of birds. As a proof of the extent of the destruction that at present goes on, and which is threatening the ex- tinction of some of tho most beautiful species, it may be mentioned that at the plume-auctions held in London during the last six months of 11H)7 there were catalogued 19,742 Occasional Notes. 51 skins of the Birds of Paradise, 1411 packages of the nesting- plumes of the White Heron (representing the feathers of nearly 115,000 birds), besides immense numbers of the feathers and skins of almost every known species of orna- mental-plumaged bird. At the June sale, held at the Com- mercial Sale Rooms, 1386 Crowned Pigeons' heads were sold, while among miscellaneous bird-skins one firm of auctioneers alone catalogued 20,000 Kingfishers. A de- plorable feature of the recent sales is the offer of large numbers of Lyre-birds' tails and of Albatross quills. The constant repetition of such figures as those given above — and these plume-sales take place at least every two months — shows that the Legislature must choose between the exter- mination or the protection of the birds in question." The protective clauses of the Bill are : — " 1. Any person who, after January first, one thousand nine hundred and nine, shall import or bring into the United Kingdom for the purpose of sale or exchange the plumage, skin, or body, or an}^ part of the plumage, skin, or body, of any dead wild bird which is not included in the schedule of exemption to this Act, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall on summary conviction be liable to a penalty of not exceeding five pounds, and for every subsequent offence to a penalty of not ex- ceeding twenty-five pounds, and in every case the Court shall order the forfeiture and destruction of the articles in respect of which the offence has been committed. " Provided that this section shall not apply — '"' (a) to anything done by virtue of a licence issued from time to time by the Board of Trade under such conditions and regulations as they may prescribe for the purpose of supplying specimens of any birds not included in the schedule to any particular natural history or other museum or for the purpose of definite scientific research ; or 4* 52 Occasional Xofes. " (//) to the plumage, skin, or body, or to any parts thereof, of any bird not inckided in the schedule to this Act and forming part of the wearing apparel being bona fide the property of and either actually in the use of or ar-companying any person entering the United Kingdom and not being for the purpose of sale or exchange. Every such person shall if so required make a written declaration to this effect. " 2. On the advice and with the consent of the Privy Council the name of any other foreign wild bird may at any time be added to or removed from the schedule to this Act by notice published in the ' Gazette,' and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall take effect as if such bird had been included in or removed from the schedule to this Act. " The following is the schedule referred to in the Bill : — • " Birds Exempted. " 1. Ostriches. " 2. Eider Ducks. " 3. Wild Birds used as articles of diet." 4. On Pkotective Resemhlance in South African Birds. — Mr. Haagner's paper in the April number of this Journal deals with an interesting subject, and one may share his hope that it will receive the attention of local ornitho- logists. In referring to the game-birds as well as the Goatsuckers and some others as instances of Protective Resemblance, Mr. Haagner is of course on safe and familiar ground. To take what seems an undoubted case, such as the Quail. Here we find a type of coloration which seems clearly to be an adaptation for the purpose of concealment. Moreover, the Quail has the habit of, in the first instance, remaining motion- less in the face of danger— a habit which seems to be the necessary accompaniment of protective coloration. The vahie Occas'.onal Xotes. 53 o£ this coloration, together with the habit referred to, are obvious to anyone who has watched a Hawk working over veld which is known to contain Quails. But when some of Mr. Haagner's other instances are ex- amined it is not so easy to agree with his conclusions. Whilst not claiming to be an ornithologist, I am interested in the theory under discussion, and would beg leave to deal with some of the cases of birds with which I am tolerably familiar. Ploceid^e. — The fact that the females are generally obscurely coloured does not necessarily imply that they are protectively coloured. Mr. Haagner says their coloration " renders them almost invisible to the casual eye." Perhaps it does, but this fact by itself does not appear to me to be sutficient reason for including these birds among cases of Protective Resemblance. Can it be said that having regard to their habits their coloration assimilates so closely to their usual surroundings as to warrant the belief that it would assist in concealing them from the vigilant eye of a hawk, a snake, or a mungoose ? I think not. It may be pointed out that in the case of the Bishop Birds or the Widow Birds, the females, at the time when they most need concealment, viz. during nesting, are concealed in domed nests. Again, in winter, these birds are generally found in large flocks, and are then active and fairly noisy birds, evidently relying more on vigilance than on concealment for safety. Nectariniid^. — It seems to me quite impossible to cite either the Black, the Scarlet-breasted, or the Malachite Sun- birds as instances of Protective Resemblance, without unduly straining the whole theory. No doubt these biids are some- times difficult to distinguish amid some of their surroundings. As Mr. Selous, in his latest book ' African Nature Notes and Reminiscences,' says, " there is no colour in nature and no combination of colours which at a certain distance, if stationary, would not be found to harmonize well with some portion of or objects in an African landscape." But such harmonizing with surroundings is not necessarily Protective Resemblance. 54 Occasional Sotes. The Sunbirds are active, strong-flying little birds, which do not appear to depend in any way on concealment for safety, and spend as much of their time in the open chasing and capturing insects as they do in sucking nectar from flowers. The Black Sunbird does not appear to lose its brilliant colours throughout the year. No doubt it is difficult to distinguish this bird amid the Kaffir Boom flowers, but these trees are only in flower during a few weeks in the year, and it cannot be suggested that the Black Sunbird's colour has been acquired for concealment among Kaffir Boom flowers. Again, this Sunbird is found where there are no Kaffir Booms, and frequents many flowers which in no way resemble its colour. At the time of writing these lines (May) there are generall} three male Black Sunbirds in full plumage in my garden every n)orning, darting about among the bare branches of the fruit-trees, or gathering nectar from the eucalyptus flowers, and in my opinion they can only be described as quite conspicuous. Mr. Haagner's remarks regarding the Malachite or Long- tailed Green Sunbird are not clear to me. The flowering period of the Mimosa Thorn lasts a very short time in each year, and the bird is not specially or even usually associated with Mimosa Thorns in my observation, and is Ibund plenti- fully where there are no thorns. Stark says that JS\ famosa frequents Proteas, and it is clear that there can be no close resemblance between the colour of the leaves or flowers of Proteas and the brilliant metallic green of the bird. If it is correct to say that fhe Malachite Sunbird loses its bright plumage about the time that the Mimosa Thorn sheds its leaves, it is equally certain that before the Thorn is in leaf again, and certainly long before it is in flower, there are plenty of these Sunbirds in all stages of plumage to be found hovering round the orange and brick-red coloured flowers of the thorny-leaved Aloe, which grows all along the Band, and in regard to which there can be no question of Protective Resemblance. In concluding, I would say that Mr. Haagner's observations Occasional J^^otes. 55 on the 3'oung Fiscal Shrikes are most interesting, and seem to point to a good ca^e of a modification of hahit for the purpose of conceahnent. Harold Fry. Rock House, Bertrainstowii, Johanuesburg-, Mav 31, 1908. 5. Marabou Stork and Flamingoes at Port Eliza- beth.— The following may be of interest : — A Marabou Stork ( L. crnmen'items) was shot yesterday at Cookhouse, within a few miles of Port Elizabeth, on the bank of the Zwartkops River. This I believe is a new locality. A big flock of Flamingoes have been frequenting the same river, and have approached within three or four miles of Port Elizabeth. One was shot last month. They have appeared in this locality during November and December for several years. F. AV. Fitz Simons, Director, Port Elizabeth Museum. Port Elizabeth, Dec. IG, 1908. 6. A Special Meeting to commemorate the fiftieth Anniversary of the Foundation of the British Ornithologists' Union was held in the Zoological Society's Rooms at 3 Hanover Square, on Wednesday the Hth December, 1908. The agenda included — (i.) An Address by the President, (ii.) A Short History of the Union and its Founders. By Dr. P. L. Sclater. (iii.) Notices of the Life and Work of some of the principal Members of the Union. By Mr. A. H. Evans. (iv.) The Presentation of Gold Medals to the Four Surviving Original Members. The Meeting was followed by a Dinner at the Trocadero Restaurant, and an exhibition of Cinematograph photographs of Bird-life. On behalf of the S. A. 0. U. the Secretary cabled to Dr. Sclater on the morning of the 9th December : " South Africans' hearty congratulations,^^ which has been acknow- ledged by the B. 0. U. with warm thanks. 5(J Sltort yotices of Ornlthologkal Pi(hlications. VIII. — Sliort Xotices of OrnitJiulogical Publications. I. The Ibis : a Quarterli/ Journal of Ornithology, The July .1908 number contains a continuation of Mr. C. F. M. Swjnnerton's papers on the birds of Gazaland. It is illustrated by a beautiful chromo-lithographic plate depicting the eggs of the following birds : — yectarinia arturi, Ciuni/ris olivacina, Serinus sharpei, Sitagra ocularia (a pale blue-green mottled with olive-green variety), Dryo- scopus guttatus (^=- Laniarius major), L. quadricolor, L. starki, Batis erythrophthalma, Terpsiphone plurnbeiceps, S'nithurnis capensis, Cossypha natalensis, C. heuglini, Phyllastrephns milanjensis, P. capeiisis, P. flavostriatus, Chlorocichla occi- dentalis, Erythacus swynnertoni. The following are recorded from South Africa for the first time : — Cypselus a (juatorialis, v. Miill., Dendropicns zanzibari, Malh., and Melociclda orientalis, Sharpe. In this paper Mr. Swynnerton follows the error made by Mr. W. L. Sclater in calling the Brown-necked Parrot /-'. robustus angolensis, when it should be P. r. suahelicus (vide Kchw. vol. ii. pp. 8 & 9). In the account of the Annual General Meeting we are pleased to see that new rules have been passed which will assist in the preservation of certain birds in the British Isles. The October number, which is the 200th (and the last of the 50th Anniversary), contains only a sliort paper on the "Breeding-seasons of the Birds in Southern Kamerun," by G. L. Bates, of interest to South African ornithologists. II. The International Convention for the Protection of Birds concluded in 1902 ; and Hungary, by Otto Herman, Director of the Hung. Centr. Bur. of Ornithology. (Budapest, 1907.) This is an account of the European movement for the protection of birds and is issued under the auspices of the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture. The subject was dis- cussed at each of the International Ornitholo^^ical Conf^-esses Short Sotices of Ornitholoyical Publications. 57 (Vienna, 1884; Budapest, 1891; Paris, 1895). At the 3rd Congress schedules of species were actually drawn up, but differences of opinion caused Great Britain, Russia, Holland, and Italy to withdraw their representatives. After several years of discussion the Convention for the Protection of Birds became an accomplished fact in 1906, the signatories being Austria, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Monaco, Luxemburg, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. The history of the development of the Convention is very fully given, with excerpts from the laws affecting Bird Protection in each of the European countries. A full account of the Protection of Birds in Hungary and an index of bird-names are included. At the recently concluded Agricultural Congress in Pretoria, some of the delegates brought up the question of the Protection of Birds, but Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director of the Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gardens, proposed that the Government should appoint a special Committee to obtain inlormation, and enquire into the Protection of Birds with a view to ultimate legislation, which proposal was duly adopted. II [. Bulletin British OrnitJiologists' Club. In the January 1908 number we have the description of a new subspecies of Francolin {Fr. jugularis pallidior) from German S.W. Africa, and in the February number that of Pterocles bicinctus multicolor from Rustenberg — both by Dr. Ernst Hartert, of Tring. The last number also contains the description of a new Seed-eater {Foliospiza mennelli, re- sembling P. gularis) from Rhodesia, by Mr. E. (J. Chubb, the Assist. Curator of the Rhodesia Museum. In the March number we have a record of the remainder of the additions to the South African list from the collections of Mr. C. H. B. Grant, made during his seven years' collecting in this country for the Rudd Zoological Survey; these are : — Francolinus kirki, Beira. Turacus reiche)iowi, Beira. 58 Short Xotices of OniitJioIogical Publications. Campot/iera filUeborni, Beira. Chcetura anchietce ?, Tete. Sigmodus scopifrons, Beira. Fi/telia afra, Gorongoza district. Mr. Grnnt also rediscovered the long-lost Hypargns mar- gar tatus (Strickl), which he met with at Inhambane, and discovered a new species, herein described by Dr. Sharpe as Fyrenestes granti (similar to P. coccinens). In the May number we have descriptions of a new Grass- bird (Sphenoeacits transvaalensis) from the Woodbush, re- semblino- S. natalensis ; also Apalis ruddi (similar to A. griseiceps) and Cinnyrls neergaardi from Inhambane District. Mr. Grant further records the following species for the first time within southern limits : — , Galaclochrysea emini (Shelley), from Tete. Batis soror, Rchw., P.E.A./ Orthostomus erythropterus (Jard.), Gorongoza. Cinnyrls microrhyncJius, Shelley, Inhambane. This number also contains the descrii)tion of a new species of Warbler {Calamocichla zuluensis) by Oscar Neumann, resembling C. gracilirostris, Hartl., and C. leptor/iyncha, Rchw. Type in Tring Museum, and collected by R. B. and J. D. S. Woodward at Eschowe, Zululand. IV. ' Avicultural Magazine ' The October 1908 number contains a note on the breeding in England of the Knysna Lourie {Turacus corythaix), by the Rev. H. Astley. The parents did not succeed in rearing the young however. The same number contains a paper by Captain B. R. Horsbrugh, A.S.C., on the breeding of the Kurrichaine Button Quail (^Turmx lepurana^ in captivity in his aviaries at Potchefstroom. The October number contains an account of the breeding of the Black-cheeked Love-bird (with coloured plate) in England by Reg. Phillipps. Short Notices of OrnlUtohxjical Pahl'ieatlnns. HO V. Proceedings of the Academy of Xatural Sciences of Philadelphia, \o\. Ix. part i. (1908), contains an interestincr paper by Witnier Stone, on the " Methods of Recording and Utilizing Bird Migration Data.'' He dwells upon the importance of comparing the records of several observers at practically the same locality ; and demonstrates from the records of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club how regular were the arrivals of many migratory birds. He considers the best and most accurate results obtainable by having a large number of observers in a limited area and combining their results. — This may be possible in a thick!}'- })opulated countrv like America, but here in 8. A. v,e have so far not been able to get one observer in each district. VI. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, vol. i. no. 3 (January I'JOD). This No. contains the following descriptions of new birds, which may not be out of place reproduced herein : — Description of Tu-o new Species of Birds in the Transvaal Museum. By Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director. Anthreptes reichenowi, sp. nov. Description : Male. Above pale olive-green, a little ])aler on the upper tail-coverts ; front half of crown, chin, and throat, as far as upper breast, bright metallic idigo-blue with violet reflections ; the edges of the metallic patch more inclined to steel-blue. Lores and a ring round the eye pale yellow, the former shaded with dusky. Wings olive-brown, the feathers being edged with olive-green ; paler on the remiges, inner margins of the latter pale whitish-grey. Tail olive-brown, the feathers edged with olive-yellow. Under surface yellow, strongly washed with greyish-olive, particularly on the flanks and sides of the chest. Pectoral tufts pale yellow; axillaries pale yellow; under wing- coverts white tipped with pale yellow, those on carpal bend pale yellow. Length lOtJ mm.; wing 53'j ; tail 415; tarsus 15; culmen 15"5. GO Short J\\>fices of Ovnitholoyical Publications. Female : Coloured much like the male, but is without the metallic pai'ts, the throat and forehead being ipale yellow- grey. The upper surface is slightly paler and the lower duskier than the male. Length 100 mm. ; wing 54 ; tail 37 ; tarsus 14*5 ; culmen 15. Male. Mzimbiti, near Beira, Portuguese South-East Africa, 17th May, 1908. (P. A. Sheppard.) Female. Mzimbiti, near Beira, Portuguese South-East Africa, 0th July, 1908. (P. A. Sheppard.) It is somewhat difficult to know where to place this bird, as all its characters are not in accordance with the definition of the genus Anthreptes ; the beak being distinctly curved (even the keel of the lower mandible being slightly curved). In general appearance the bird comes nearest to the illustration of Cinnyris reichenbachii in Shelley's ' Monograph of the Nectariuiidfe,' but the blue is deeper and only reaches as far as the middle of the crown and does not include the ear-coverts, which are olive-green. On the under surface the grey is not half so pronounced, and the tail is only slightly rounded, not graduated. It is also considerably smaller. Hemipteryx minuta, sp. nov. This bird is considerably smaller than textrix, is not streaked on the flanks and breast, and has a comparatively shorter tail. Description : Feathers of the upper surface blackish-brown edged with pale brown, rustier on the wings, and on the wing- and upper tail-coverts. C'rown reddish-brown, the bases of the feathers being darker, giving a mottled ap- pearance. A short eyebrow, and the cheeks greyish-cream, shading into pale rusty-brown on the nape, forming an indistinct collar. Lores blackish. Under surface greyish- white, the sides of the chest dusky-brown, the flanks fawny ; under tail-coverts tawny-white. Tail blackish-brown, the feathers (excepting the central pair) narrowly tipped with while. Thighs tawnv-rufous. Sho7't Notices of Ornltholor/ical Pahlicatlons. Gl Female : Length 89 mm. ; wing 49 ; tail 24 ; tarsus 20; culmen 9'5. Waterfalls, Haenertsburg, 5th February, 1908. (Iris tawny ; bill horn above, light brown below, tip darker. Tarsus ashy-yellow. F. V. Kirby.) Male : Length 90 mm. ; wing 49-5 ; tail 24-5 ; tarsus 20; culmen 9"5. Woodbush Forest Reserve, Zoutpansberg, 29th January, 1908. (L-is dark brown. Bill dark brown. Tarsus light pinkish-yellow. Gape olive. F. V. Kirby.) These birds were collected by Mr. F. Vaughan-Kirby in the north-central Transvaal. On a new Species of Cossypha from West Pondoland. By Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director of the Transvaal Museum. Among a collection of birds collected by H- H. Swinny at Ngqeleni in West Pondoland, shot on 2n(l August, 1908, I found a specimen which at first sight I took for Cossypha b coloi' (Sparrm.). C'loser examination, however, showed that I had to do with a new and very distinct species. In hicolor the sides of the face, ear-coverts, and lores are black, which is entirely abs;int in the new species, which I desire to name after my assistant, Mr. A. K. Haagner, the energetic Secretary of the South African Ornithologists' Union. Cossypha haagneki, sp. nov. Description : Adult female, above, including the crown and wing-coverts, bluish slate-grey, merging into orange on the rump and upper tail-coverts. Lores, a broad stripe over the eyes, ear-coverts, under wing- and under tail-coverts and entire under surface of the body uniform bright orange. Back of the neck washed with orange-brown. Primaries blackish, broadly margined with bluish-grey on the outer web, except the first two, which are entirely black. Tail : Outer feather inner web orange, outer web dark brown, second, third, and fourth orange, fifth orange margined near the tip with dark brown, middle feather entirely dark brown. Bill black, iris brown, feet pinkish brown. 62 Short Xotices of Ornithulor/ieal Puhlicatiojis. Length 198 mm. in the flesh ; wing 93 ; tail 91 ; bill 15; tarsus 31. The type is in the Transvaal Museum. Descriptions of Two nexo Species of Flycatcliers from Portnqvese South-East Africa. By Alwin Haagner, Assistant, Trans- vaal Museum. Amongst a small collection of skins sent me in August, 1908, for verification and identification by Mr. P. A. Sheppard, of Beira, several appeared to be new to science. To make certain of this before describing, they were sent to Dr. Reichenow, of the Berlin Museum, for comparison, who very kindly acceded to my request, for which I wish to tender him my thanks and due acknowledgment. From the locality in which Mr. Sheppard resides, a collection of birds has already been made by a trained collector — Mr. C. H. B. Grant, of the British Museum — and from which several new species have been described, so it is all the more noteworthy that, in addition, three new species and several new records for South Africa have been discovered by Mr. Sheppnrd. I have named the first species after its discoverer, and for the second a new genus seems necessary, to which I have also attached the name of its collector, giving to it the specific name of gunningi, in honour of Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director of the Transvaal Museum, who is now my chief. These birds have since been acquired by the Transvaal Museum. Batis sheppardi, sp. nov. (A.) Male. Top of the head and nape grey ; a broad black band frotn the bill through the eye, over the cheek, and continued on to the nape ; above this, a short, narrow, white line, forming the commencement of an eyebrow. Upperside olive-brown, the feathers of the mantle and back with more o'- less partly hidden white spots ; rump much greyer. Upper tail-coverts black ; throat and sides of neck snow-white, followed bv a broad breast-band of orange-brown, which is Short Xofircs of Ormthological PnhUcationa. 63 continued on either side of the body on to the flanks, fadinir into whitish on the lower portion. Middle of the under- surface from the breast-band to the vent (incliidino; under tail- covert) white. Axillaries and under wing-coverts for the inner half white ; those nearest the edge of the wings black, tipped with white. Upper wing-coverts black, the median broadly tipped with white and the inner greater-coverts with the outer web also white. Rectrices tipped with white, the two outer feathers being also edged with white, very narrowly on the innei', broader (about half of the web) on the outer w^eb. Length (of skin) 111 mm. ; wing 60, 75; tail 35 ; tarsus 18*5 ; bill 12 ; sex, incert. Locality : Mzimbiti, about twenty-three miles from Beira, Portuguese South-East Africa. 27th May, 1908. (P. A. Sheppard.) I take this bird to be a male, from the pure white chin and throat, as the females of both molitor an 1 capensis have a large patch of orange-brown on the throat, from both of which, if a female, it differs in the absence of this patch. In addition, the red flanks distinguish it from molitor and the black upper wing-coverts from capensis. (B.) Female. Not quite adult ; collected on the 3rd May, 1908, at the same place as the preceding skin. This example has the sides of the face dark gi^ey, and an eyebrow^ of buffish-white from the base of the bill, carried on to the temporal region ; chin white ; throat whitish, strongly washed with orange-brown. Flanks grey. Wings like that of B. capensis female. Length 110 rnm,; wing 59 ; tail 35 ; bill 12. Professor Reiclipnow asked me to compare those birds with the description of B. erytliropldlialma of Swynnerton before describing, with which, however, it cannot be confused, as I have already shown ; Swynnerton in his description distinctly stating that his bird resembles B. capensis, differing only in size and in the coloration of the iris, while my bird differs considerably from B. capensis. Sheppardia, gen. nov. Resembling Bradnrnis in the narrower bill (ir2.") mm. liro;i(I G4 Short ]S^oti('es of OnntlwJog'ical Piihlicafions. at base), tail shorter than the wing and nearly square (only the outer feather on either side hardly a mm. shorter than the others) : differino- from that genus in that the fourth to sixth primaries are the longest, the second longer than the eighth ; rictal bristles well developed, reaching to within 5 mm. of the tip of the bill. Sheppardia gunkingi, sp. nov. Male. Upperside olive-brown, greyer on the head and rustier on the rump and upper tail-coverts. A white eyebro^v from the base of the bill behind the nostrils, till beyond the eye. Lores and ear-coverts greyer. Under surface ochreous- orange or pale orange-rufous ; the centre of the body from the lower-breast to the under tail-coverts white, the latter slightly tinged with yellowish. Thighs grey. Upper wing- coverts slate-grey, the median shaded and edged with olive. Remiges brown, the first six or seven being edged with grey, and the remainder with rusty olive. Under wing- coverts whitish, tipped with pale yellow, those along the outer edge of the wing grey. Bill dark brown above, and tip of lower mandible ; base of lower pale horn. Tail brown, the feathers edged with rusty olive on the outer web. Length 130 ; wing 70*5 ; tail 46-75 ; bill 13 ; tarsus 19. Type in Transvaal Museum. Male : Mzimbiti, near Beira. 5th January, 1908. Collector : P. A. Sheppard. This bird, which in general coloration resembles the Callene ct/ornithopsis of Sharpe (Bull. B. 0. 0. xii. 1901, and 'Ibis,' 1902, p. 95, plate 4), and which I at first took for C. sharpei or C. cequatorialis, differs from these birds in its almost square tail, and in not agreeing with Reichenow's diagnosis of the generic character : "Schnabel seitlich zusammen gedrueckt," w^hereas this bird has a flatter bill, resembling that of Bj^a- dornis, but a little more slender. Dr. Reichenow has kindly examined the skin for me, and says that in his opinion it is certainly a " Muscicapide." From cyornithopsis it differs in having only the centre of the abdomen white, thereby re- .sembling Jackson's cequatorialis^ but differing from the latter in the colour of the undei- tail-coverts, which in cequatorialis Short Notices of Ornitliological Puhlica.tions. G5 are "orange-rufous" {cf. Bull. B. 0. C. cxxi., January 1906, p. 46). From both of the just mentioned species (jimningi is further distinguished by its white eyebrow, and from these, as well as sharpei, by its grey upper wing-coverts. Description of a new Warbler of the Genus Cisticola. By Alwin Haagner, Assistant, Transvaal Museum. Amongst the small collection of birds sent by Mr. P. A. Sheppard, from the neighbourhood of Beira, and mentioned in my previous paper in this number of the ' Annals/ was a little Warbler which appeared to be undescribed. In revising the Museum collection of Warblers I came across another specimen from Matabeleland, Avhich appears to be identical with the Beira bird, except that it is a little larger. I have since also found another example in the recently acquired collection of Messrs. Kirby and Roberts, from the Boror District, just north of the Zambezi River, Portuguese South- East Africa. Cisticola cinnamomeiceps, sp. nov. Similar io fulvicapilla, but differing in that tlie underparts are whitish, only the sides of the breast and body and flanks being greyish, the flanks and chest washed with yellowish ; cheeks pale tawny, and not dusky-grey, as in fulvicapilla. Description : Above drabbish-brown, with a wash of tawny. Top of head and nape pale chestnut-brown or " cinnamon-rufous." Under surface whitish with here and there a yellowish tinge. Sides of the breast and flanks grey, washed with very pale tawny-yellow. Under tail-coverts dirty white. Thighs pale fulvous. Tail coloured like the back, with the ends of the feathers paler, and a faint indication of a subterminal dusky bar. Lores, eyebrow, and cheeks pale tawny-yellow, the latter streaked with dusky. Remiges brown, edged with pale fulvous on the outer web, the edging of the outermost primaries being nearly white. Inner web margined with pale irufous. liill : Upper mandible pale born-brown ; lower pale yellowish. VOL. V. 5 66 Short Notices of OrnitJiological PuhUcations. (a) Male. Matabeleland, 16th September, 1905. (C. Wilde.) Length 108 mm. ; wing 52; tail 42-75; tarsus 18-5 ; bill 11. {h) Sex uncertain. IVPZimbiti, near Beira, 12th January, 1908. (P. A. Sheppard.) Length 100 mm.; wing 50 ; tail 39 j tarsus 18; bill 11. THE J 0 U K N A 1. OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' DNION. VoL V. OCTOBER 1909. No. 2. IX. — ' On Birds collected between Bidawayo avd tlie Tegwani River. By E. 0. Chubb, F.Z.S. The following birds were collected by Mr. Richard Dougla?, to whom I am indebted for allowing me to examine them, during a short trip from Bulawayo to the Mission Station on the Tegwani River, in which the Khami, Gwaai, and Manzamnyama Rivers were crossed respectively about 10, 27, and 30 miles north-west of the railway. The altitude is about 4500 feet. 1. CiNNYRlCINCLUS LEUCOGASTER VERREAUXl (Bocage). Verreaux's Glossy Starling. a. S ]y. 15 March. Gwaai River. h. S • 17 „ Gambo's. c. S - 24 „ Nonyonko's, Manzamnyama River. a is in the brown plumage ; there are no signs of the metallic violet feathers of the adult appearing. 2. Oriolus larvatus, Licht. Black-headed Oriole. Gwaai River. Tegwani River. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. Nonyonko's, Manzamnyama R. The heads of c and d are mottled black and yellow, except the ear-coverts, which are entirely black ; the breasts iire streaked with black, and the bills are black. VOL. v, C a. 6. 15 March. b. 6- 25 „ c. S imm. 23 „ d. S imm. 24 „ 6S Mr. E. C. Chubb on Birds collected between 3. Vidua paradisea (Linn.). Paradise Widow Bird, a. c? • 24 March. Nonyonko's, Manzamnyama River. 4. PoLiospiZA GULARis (Smith). Streaky-headed Seed- eater. a. ? . 15 March. Gwaai River. 5. CiNNYRis GUTTURALis (Linn.). Scarlet-chested Sun- bird. a. (^ . L3 March. Khami River. 6. Urolestes melanoleucus (Jard. & Selby). Long- tailed Shrike. a, fe, c. 2 (^ c? J 1 ? • 18 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama R. All moulting. 7. NiLAUS brubru (Lath.) . Brubru Shrike. a. ? . 13 March. Khami River. 8. Laniarius atrococcineus (Burchell). Black-and- Crimson Shrike. a, 6, c. 2 c? c? , 1 ? . 20 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama R. d,e. 2c? c?. 22 „ 9. Prionops talacoma, Smith. Smith's Helmet-Shrike. a. ? . 13 March. Khami River. />, t". 2^^. 17 ,, Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 10. Crateropcs jardinii, Smith. Jardine's Babbler. a. ? . 21 March. Gambo's. 11. Crateropus bicolor (Jardine). Pied Babbler. a, 6. (J ? . 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. c, d. c? ? • 21 „ 12. CisTicoLA cinnamomeiceps, Haagner. Cinnamon- crowned Grass- Warbler. a. c? . 15 March. Gwaai River. 13. TuRDUS LITSIPSIRUPA (Smith). Ground - scraper Thrush. a, (J. 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. Bidawayo and the Tef/icani River. 69 14. Pachyprora molitor (Hahn & Kiister). White- flanked Flycatcher. a. ^ . 2d March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 15. DiCRURUS AFER (Licht.). Fork-tailed Drongo. a,h. ($ % . 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 16. Upupa africana, Bechst. South African Hoopoe. a,b. 2 ? ?. 20 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 17. Irrisor viridis (Licht.). Kakelaar. a, ^ . 7 March. Khami River. Measurement of wing 6'5 inches, tail 9'8. 18. Rhinopomastus cyanomelas (VieilL). Scimitar-bill. «. (J . 20 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 19. Caprimulgus fossii, Hartl. Mozambique Nightjar. a,b,€. 2 ? , 1 ?. 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama R. 20. CoRACiAS mosambicus, Dresser. Purple Roller. a. ^ . 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 6. ?. 22 „ 21. Melittophagus meridionalis, Sharpe. Little Bee- eater. a. — . 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 22. Ceryle rudis (Linn.). Pied Kingfisher. a. ($ . 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 23. Halcyon chelicuti Stanley. Striped Kingfisher. a. (^ . 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. b. (J . 23 „ ,, J, 24. Lophoceros melanoleucus (Licht.). Crowned Hornbill. a. (J. 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 25. Trichol.ema leucomelas (Bodd.). Pied Barbet. a. (S . 17 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. Evidently a young bird. The bill seems very small : it measures '1 inch. 6* 70 Mr. E. C. Chubb on Birch collected between M. Trachyphonus uafer (Vieill.) Crested Barbet, a. S • 23 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 27. CoccYSTES JACOBINUS (Bodd.). Black-and- White Cuckoo. a, h. S "^ • 21 March. Gauibo's, Mauzauinyama River. 28. ScHizoRHis CONCOLOR (Smith). Grey Lourie. a, b. 2 (J (^ . 16 March. Gwaai River. 29. Asio LEUCOTis (Temm.). White-faced Owl. a. ^ . 20 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 30. Glaucidium perlatum (Vieilh). Pearl-spotted Owl. a. ? . 13 March. Khami River. b. ? . 22 „ Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 31. BuTEO DESERTORUM (Grill.). Steppe Buzzard. a. (^ . 9 March. Khami River. This is the first record of the occurrence of this species in Southern Rhodesia. 32. MiLVUS ^GYPTius (Gmel.) Yellow-billed Kite. a ^ . 24 March. Nonyonko's, Manzamnyama River. 33. AsTUR POLYZONOiDES (Smith). Little Banded Gos- hawk. a. ? . 20 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. "• + • "-^ )? ?) }^ C. ^ . Z4: ,, ,, ,, 34. Melierax mechowi. Cab. Mechow's Goshawk. a. S . 14 March. Khami River. b. S . 16 ,, Gwaai River. 35. CiCON[A alba, Gurney. White Stork. a. — . 18 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. 6. Sarcidiorxis melanonota (Penn.). Knob-billed Duck. a. ? . 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. Bulawajjo and the Tegwani River. 71 37. VlNAGO DELALANDii (Bp.) Cape Green Pigeon. . ? . 21 „ Nonyonko's, 40. NuMiDA CORONATA, Gray. Common Guinea Fowl, a, i, c. 3? ?juv. 17 March. Gambo's^Ianzamnyama R. d. (J juv. 20 e. I mm. f. ? imm. 17 9- ? imm. 19 h. S ad. 17 This is an interesting series, showing the plumage at various ages. In the young bird, represented by specimens a to d, the bony helmet is absent, and the head is covered instead with short downy feathers of bhick and pale buff, arranged in alternate longitudinal bands ; the throat is pale grey, the lower neck all round and upper breast are black, each feather having a central white streak ; secondaries with transverse white bands, not spots as in the adult ; on the back are a number of reddish- brown feathers with black and white margins, intermixed with the normally coloured ones. The immature birds (e and /) are losing the downy feathers of the head, and the helmet is commencing to develop, appearing as a central bony tubercle. A few streaked feathers remain on the neck, and the secondaries are barred as in the young. 41. LoBiVANELLUs LATERALIS (Smith). Wattled Plover. a. ? . 9 March. Khami River. 42. HoPLOPTERUS ARMATUS (Burch.). Blacksmith Plover, a. c? . 21 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. h 2 '>'> 72 Major J. S. Hamilton on Birds observed 43. iEoiALiTis TRicoLLARis (VieilL). Three - banded Plover. a. ? . 19 March. Grambo's, Manzamnyama River. 44. Pavoncella pugnax (Linn.). Ruff. a. $ . 19 March. Gambo's, Manzamnyama River. X. — Notes upon some South African Birds observed during a Journey through Portuguese Nyassaland [July and August 1908). By Major J. Stevenson Hamilton, Warden Tvl. Game Reserve. The route lay between the 12th and 14th parallels of south latitude, and from about the 40th to the 30th parallel of ea&t longitude. Twenty-five miles from the coast or thereabouts the country rose rapidly in altitude, and remained at an approximate average height of 1500 feet until the foot of the Nyassa hills was reached. The middle country thus included consisted without exception of rolling terrain, intersected by occasional ranges of hills, dotted with granite outcrops, and covered with an unvarying garment of dense, thornless, and largely un- deciduous dwarf forest. The climate at this season was cool and equable, the air being exceptionally dry and fresh for a tropical zone of that altitude. Water, on the whole, was not abundant, but was very much more so than is the case in the Eastern Low Country of the Transvaal. Owing to the exigencies of the journey, it was quite out of the question to make any extensive observation of birds and none at all of mammals, although indications were not wanting of rich possibilities in both fields. There was neither time nor opportunity for the preservation of skins ; and even the little collecting and classifying work it was possible to do was conducted under considerable difficul- ties. The results of the latter I append. Bird life, upon the whole, did not differ to any great extent to that met with in the Transvaal Low Country, and during a Journey through Portuguese Nyassaland. 73 approximates, I should imagine, rather to that of South than to that of North Central Africa. Many purely South African species were observed, and it was naturally to such that I devoted most attention. A mountain barrier of over 4000 feet, rises betwixt British and Portuguese Nyassaland, and at its higher elevations bird life was found to be extremely scarce. In fact during one day's march, at an elevation of 4200 feet, the only representatives of the avifauna noticed were two Pied Crows and a little lower down some Helmet-Shrikes. The scarcity of the Accipitres, especially of the Vulturida?, was a marked feature ; I did not, in fact, see one single Vulture of any description before crossing tne Nyassa moun- tains. Very marked, too, was the absence of S. concolor, whose querulous " Go away ! " is so well known in the South African bush, and, indeed, in forest countries to the west on the same parallel of latitude. Francolins were but rarely heard or met with ; Sand- Grouse not at all. A single Coturnix was noticed at an elevation of 2500 feet,, but there was no opportunity of determining the species to which it belonged. 1. CoRVULTUR ALBicoLLis. White-necked Raven. Very common throughout the province both in uninhabited forest and near habitations up to a height of 3000 feet. Always extremely tame and fearless. 2. CoRVUS SCAPULATUS. Pied Crow. In great numbers at the coast, and very common all along our route right through to Lake Nyassa, especially near villages and other habitations. A pair were observed on the mountains east of the lake at an elevation of 4200 feet, being the only birds noticed thereabouts. They appeared usually in pairs. None of the genus Buphaga were noticed along the route. 3. Lamprocolius ciiloropterus. Green-winged Glossy Starling. A iiood luanv of these l)irds were observed in -mall Mock< 74 Major J. S. Hamilton on Birds observed of six to ten individnals near the Lureco and Lugenda rivers, at an approximate altitude of 1500 feet. 4. Sycobrotus stictifrons. Spot-headed Weaver-bird. A few pairs seen in bush near the banks of the Lugenda and Msalu rivers. 5. Lagonisticta jamesoni. Jameson's Ruddy Waxbill, This or a very closely allied species was common through- out the centre of the province in large flocks wherever there were old native lands. 6. Lagonisticta brunniceps. Little Ruddy Waxbill. Not noticed east of the Lugenda (long. 36° E.). Thence as far as the foot o£ the Nyassa mountains was always pretty numerous in the neighbourhood of native lands, either in pairs or a few together. 7. Lagonisticta NivEOGUTTATA. Peters^s Ruddy Waxbill. Generally met with in the bush in the neighbourhood of all the principal rivers, a few together. 8. EsTRiLDA ANGOLENSis. Blue-breasted Waxbill. Seen usually in ])airs westwards from the Lugenda River, in the neighbourhood of the millet-fields. Always very confiding and tame. Serinris.—A very large number of birds of this genus, no doubt embracing several species, were seen about the exten- sive lands near Mtarika'son the Lugenda, but time prevented any attempt at collection, except 9. Serinus imberbis. Van der Decken's Seed- eater, — which was very numerous both singly and in flocks. 10. Emberiza flaviventris. Golden-breasted Bunting. Seen between Ibo and Pemba near the coast, usually five or six together, perching on ihe trees of the thick forest and very tame. 11. MoTACiLLA vidua. Pied Wagtail. Observed on the Lureco River and also at Lake Nyassa. Onlv two or three seen. duriiKj a Journei/ tJiroiajh Portuguese Nyassalaml. 75 12. CiNNYRls LUDOViCENSis. Northern Double-collared Sunbird. One only observed near the Lugenda River. 13. CiNNYRis GUTTURALis, Scarlet-chested Sunbird. A pair seen at Kissanga on the coast, and occasionally met with along route. 14. Urolestes melanoleucus. Long-tailed Shrike. Met vi^ith throughout the bush country from the coast to about the Lugenda River. Above an elevation of 1800 feet or thereabouts no more were seen. Always noticed a few together. 15. Telephonus senegalus. Black-headed Bush-Shrike. This bird appears to be sparingly distributed throughout the bush country, especially west of the Lugenda, but is nowhere common. 16. Prionops talacoma. Smith's Helmet-Shrike. Met with everywhere throughout the route from within a few miles of the coast right up to Nyassa. Usually observed in parties of not less than six and not more than twenty indi- viduals ; they frequented both the uninhabited forest and the cultivated millet-lands. It was also met with up in the moun- tains at a height of between 3000 and 4000 feet, where other birds were infrequently encountered. Crateropus. — During the journey I was unable to obtain a specimen of a Babbler nor even to get a sight of one, though on a few occasions I heard them in the bush not far off. To the best of my belief, the chattering was not quite similar to that of Cjardinii, which is so very common in the neighbourhood of the Sabi River, in the Eastern Transvaal. The genus is, however, I should say, not very strongly repre- sented in so far as the particular line of country traversed is concerned. 17. Pycnonotus layardi. Black-capped Bulbul. A few individuals seen near the coast at an elevation of about 100 feet : not noticed afterwards. 76 Major J. S. Hamilton on Birds observed Turdus. — T twice saw a specimen of a rufous- or orange- breasted Thrush, hopping about on the ground in the bush country, but on neither occasion had the means of collect- ing it. 18. DiCRURUS AFER. Fork-tailed Drongo. An extremely common bird all along the route, up to an elevation of about 2500 feet. Wherever seen it was always very tame and fearless. 19. HiRUNDO SMITHI. Wire-tailed Swallow. Probably by far the most numerous species of Hirundo m the province, and met with all along the route excepting the high altitudes. Usually met with in pairs, and near habita- tions and water. In the evenings large numbers might be noticed hawking insects over the surface of the larger rivers and near the shores of Lake Nyassa. A pair were building a nest (August) under the eaves of the Portuguese Com- mandant's house at Mluluka, and another pair had begun to do the same thing under the iron deck-screen of one of the Nyassa steamers while lying near Fort Johnston. During her subsequent voyage up the lake to Mtengula (a distance of about 150 miles) and back again, these two Swallows remained constant attendants upon the steamer, continually fluttering backwards and forwards underneath the deck- covers. The nest appeared to be about half completed. 20. Hirundo puella. Lesser Stripe-breasted Swallow, Met with from Kissanga on the coast as far as the Lugenda, becoming less common as we travelled west. Near the Mntepuesi River and tributaries these Swallows were con- stantly seen in considerable flocks hawking flies over the watercourses. {Hirundo cvcullata was not observed, although I was constantly on the look-out for this South African migrant.) 21. Hirundo monteiri. Mouteiro's Swallow. This Swallow was met with on two occasions near the coast ; on each the birds were flying high in parlies of six or dur'inq a Journey through Portuguese Nyassaland. 77 eight. The flight appeared to differ in some degree from that of other Swallows, consisting, when I observed it, of a succession of darts at insects followed by poises, when the birds remained nearly motionless with fluttering wings, not at all dissimilar to the habit of some of the smaller Falconidse. 22. PsALiDOPROCNR IIOLOMEL.ENA, Black Rough-winged Swallow. A small flock of what I took to be these Swallows were seen late one afternoon (early August) flitting around the large shade-trees on the banks of the Lugenda River. 23. Scopus umbretta. Hammerkop. Met with near all the rivers on the route. 24. Herodias garzetta. Little Egret. Met with at Ibo and Kissanga, and a few seen on the Lugenda. 25. Melanophoyx ardesiaca. Black Heron. One seen on the Lugenda. 2^. Hagedashia hagedash. Hadadah. Seen in small flocks on the Lugenda and Msalu rivers. 27. Nyroca erythrophthalma. South African Pochard. Met with on the Lugenda. 28. ViNAGO delalandii. Green Pigeon. Not met with until reaching the eastern shore of Lake Nyassa. 2^. Turtur capicola tropicus. Tropic Turtle-Dove. Very common all along the route. 30. CEna capensis. Namaqua Dove. Not seen east of the liUgenda River; here in the old lands, however, a considerable number were observed. 31. Chalcopelia afra. Emerald-spotted Dove. Occurred in pairs and very common from the coast to the Lngfmda River ; west ol' that point no more were seen. 78 Major J. S. Hamilton on Birds observed 32. Francolinus coqui. Coqui's Francoliii. Seen on the Missolo River ani occasional!}^ elsewhere in the bush country, but nowhere connnon. 33. Francolinus shelleyi. Shelley's Francolin. A few pairs of this Francolin were seen as far west as the Lugenda. Like F. coqui, however, it seemed very scarce. 34. Pternistes swaInsoni. Swainson's Red-necked Francolin. I saw a single pair of what I took to be these Francolins, near the Msiilu River, and occasionally heard their call. 35. NuMiDA mitrata. East African Guinea Fowl. Encountered throughout most of the bush country. Habits generally appeared much as those of A^. coronata, but the birds appeared to have a custom which 1 have not noticed in the southern species, namely, after the morning forage was over, instead of going off and hiding in the long grass during the heat of the day, they would fly up into the branches of large trees, either growing in swamp or surrounded by dense undergrowth or cane-brake, where they appeared to remain until the latter part of the afternoon, when they would fly down to feed. 36. Guttera edouardi. Crested Guinea Fowl. I saw one pair in captivity at Ibo, said to have been obtained on the coast. Family Otidse conspicuous by its absence all along the route. 37. CEdtcnemus vermiculatus. Water Dikkop. One individual seen on the Lureco River. 38. Larus cirrhocephalus. Grey-headed Gull. Numerous on Lake Nyassa. 39. Tachornis parva. Palm Swift. Encountered all along the route wherever there were palm-trees. Once at the Msalu River, and again on Lake Nyassa, I saw a considerable number of these birds hawking insects where there were no palms in the neighbourhood. during a Journey throiufli Portuguese Nyassaland. 7',) At the Msalu they were in company with a number o£ //. smithi flying over old native lands and around undeciduous thorn- less trees. They appeared generally in pairs and in com])any with //. smithi, as above, or with H. puella. 40. Caprimulgus fossil Mozambique Nightjar. Occasionally seen on route as far as Lugenda. Femah^ specimen secured had very indistinct white markings on r,h. Ceryle maxima, 41, 79, 102. ^ nidis, 41, 69, 79, 102. Veuthmochares australis, 43. Chcetura anchietce, 58. bohnd, 37. Chalcopelia afra, 47, 77, 110. Chanting Goshawk, IOC. Chat, Ant-eating, 99. , Brown Robin, 100. , Buff-streaked, 99. , Cape Robin, 100. , Mountain, 99. , Noisy Robin, 99. , South African Stone, 99. — — , White-shouldered Bush, 99. Chestnut-crowned Helmet Shrike, 30. Chlorocichla occtdentalis, 5(i. Chrysococcy.v cupreu^, 22, 104. klaasi, 104. smaragdineus, 86, 104. Ciconia alba, 19, 70, 107. ciconia, 115. • nigra f 107. Cinnamon-crowned Grass- Warbler, 32, 68. Pipit, 27. Roller, 37, 102. Clnnyricinclus leucogaster verreauxi, 67. verreauxi, 25. Cinnyris afer, 96. Cinnyris amethystinus, 96. chalybeus, 96. ffutturalis, 28, 68, 75. kjrki, 28. ludovicensis, 75. microrhynchus, 28, 58. neergaardi, 58. olivticina, 28, 5fi. reichenbachii, 60. verreauxi, 28, 96. Circaetus pectoralis, 106. Circus maurus, lOG. ranivorus, 46, 107. Cisticola, 121. aberrans, 98. cimiamomeiceps, 32, 65, 68, 119. fulricapilla, 98, 119. lugubris, 32. nataleusis, 32. rufa, 32. stranyei, 32. siibnijicapilla, 99. terrestris, 98. Coccystes ylandarius, 104. jiicobinus, 43, 70. serratus, 104. Coliopasser ardens, 94. ' 2)rocne, 94. Colius capensis, 102. erythrotnelon, 42, 102. siriatus, 102. minor, 41. Coliuspasser albonotatus, 89. Collared Sunbird, 96. Columba arquatrix, 109. phceonota, 109. Common Guinea Fowl, 71. Sandpiper, 49. Waxbill, 49, 93. Coot, Red-knobbed, 111. Coqui's Francolin, 78. Coracias cattdatus, 20, 37, 79. garrulus, 20, 37, 102. mossambicus, 69, 79. Cormorant, White-breasted, 118. NAME INDKX. Cormorants, 83. Conndtiir alhicoUis, 73, 91 . Corvus capensis, 91. srapulatus, 2o, 73, 91. Con/fkornis cyanostigma, 41, 102. Cosstjpha bicolor, (51 , 99. caffra, 100. • haognevi, 61. heuglini, 50. — — nafalenm, oO. sig>mta, 83, lOO, Coturniv, 73. africana, 1 1 0. delagorguei, 110. Coucal, Burchell's, 43, 104. , Green, 43. , White-browed, 104. Courser, I3ronze-winged, 48. , Temminck's, 112. Crab Plover, 48. Crake, Baillon's, 111. , Black, 111. , European Corn, 111. , Jardine's, 111. , White-spotted, 111. Crane, Blue, 111. , Crowned, 48, 111. , Wattled, 111. Craferopus, 7n. ■ bicolor, 68. hartlaiibi, 31. jardinii, 31, 68, 75. Crested Barbet, 70, 80. Francolin, 48, 71. Guinea Fowl, 48, 7L Hawk Eagle, 106. Crex pratensis, 111. Crombec, 98. Crow, Black, 91. , Pied, 25, 73, 91. Crowned Crane, 48, 111. Guinea Fowl, 110. Hawk Eagle, 106. Hoinbill, 42, 69, 103. Lapwing, 112. Crowned Pigeon, 51. Cuckoo, 86. • , Black, 104. , and-White, 43, 70, 104. , chested, 104. , crested, 104. , Didric, 104. , Emerald, 104. , Golden, 22. , Great Spotted, 104. , Klaas', 104. Shrike, Black, 35, lOl. , Black-chested, 35. , Grey, 101. , Hartlaub's, 35. Shrikes, 85. Cucidus clamosus, 104. solitarius, 104. Curlew, 49, 112. Cursorius temmincki, 112. Cgmodroma, 120. Cypsebis (equatorialis, 50. africanus, 101. coffer, 101. I). Dabchick, Cape, 113. Delalande's Green Pigeon, 109. Dendropicus cardhialis, 42, 103. zanzibari, 56. Diamond Sparrow, 27. Dickinson's Kestrel, 45. Dicrocercns hirundineus, 39, 102. Dicrurus afer, 35, 69, 70, 100. ludtmgi, 35. Didric Cuckoo, 104. Dikkop, 112. , Water, 78. Di/opkm carunculatus , 25, Ol. Diomedea cauta, 87. Double Snipe, 49, 113. Dove, Cape Turtle, 77, 109. , Emerald-spotted, 47. 77, 110. , Laughing. 100. 128 XAME INDF.X. ]")ove, Lemon, 110. , Namaqua, 77, 110. ■ , Red-eyed, 47, 109. . , Tambourine, 110. , Tropic Turtle, 77. Dramas anleola, 43. Drongo, Fork-tailed, 35, 69, 76, 100. , Square-tailed, 35. Dn/oscopus cubla, 29, 97. fernuiincus, 29, 97. — — - gvftat.its, 56. Duck, Black, 109. , Knob-billed, 70. Ducks, 52. Dufresne".s AVaxhiH, 9.}. Duiker, Eeed, 107. , Trek, 107. , White-breasted, 107, 118. Dusky Flycatflier, 100. Lark, 27. Dwarf Cioose, 109. K. Eagle, African Buzzard-, 80. — -, Hawk-, 80. , Balaleur, 45, 80, 106. , Black-breasted Harrier, 1 06. , Crested Hawk, lOi!. , Crowned Hawk, 106, , Fish, 80. , Martial, 80, 106. , Sea, 46, 106. , Tawny, 105, , Verreaux's, 105. East African Guinea Fowl, 48, 78. Eastern Province Grass Bird, 99. Rough-winged Swallow, 36. White Pelican, 46. Yellow Seed-eater, 27, 04. Egret, Cattle, 108. ■ , Great White, 46, 108. -, Little, 77, 108. — ■ — , Yellow-billed, 47. Lider Ducks, o2. Elaiius coTuleiis, 106. Emheri~a flavivenfris, '27, 74, 95. Emerald-spotted Dove, 47, 77, 110. Ephippiorhynchus seneijalensis, 19, 46 Ere^nomela scotops, 31. Erythacus stoyniiertoni, 56. Erythrocercus nifirentris, 47. Erythrojjygia coryphceus, 100, leucophrys, 33, 100. quadrivirgata, 33. rtijiventris, 47. Edrilda angolensis, 74. astrilda, 26, 93. dufresn'i, 93. incana, 26, Ethiopian Snipe, 49,113. European Bee-eater, 102. Corn Crake, 111. Nightjar,. 102. Roller, 20, 37, 102. Swallow,. 35, 101. EiirystomuH nfer, 37, 102. gldiicurus, 38. Eutolma'et%(s bellicosns, 80, 106. spilogastcr, 80. Excalf actor ia adantioni, 48, llU. F. Fcdco binrmicus, 105. cuvieri, 19, minor, 105, aubbuteo, 19. Finch, Peters' Ruddy, 26. , Southern Red-faced, 26. Finfoot, Peters', 111. Fiscal Shrike, 28, 97. Fish Eagle, 80. Flamingo, Greater, 47. Flamingoes, 55. Flycatcher, Black-and- White, 34. ••, Blue-grey, 33. , Blue-mantled, 34, 100. ! , Cape, 100. I , Dusky, 100. NAME INDEX. 120 Flycatcher, Green-tbroated, 34. , Mouse-coloured, ?t4. , Orange-breasted, 34. , Paradise, 34, 100. , Spotted, 33. , Wliite-flanked, 34, 69, 100. Fork-tailed Drongo, 35, 69, 76, 100. Fraucolin, Coqui's, 78. , Crested, 48, 71. , Humboldt's, 48. , Red-necked, 110. , Shelley's, 78. , Swainson's, 71. , Red-necked, 78. Francolins, 73. Francolinus ofi-icanus, 110. coqui, 78. jugularis j^nllidior, 57. kirki, 57. levaillanti, 110. sejihccna, 48, 71. shelleyi, 78. Fregata aquila, 118. Frigate Bird, 118. Fringillaria imijetuani^ 95. taha^jisi, '11 , 95. Fulica cristata, 111. G. Galactochrysea emiat, 68. Gallinago major, 49, 113. nigripennu, 49, 113. Gallinula chlorojms, 111. Gallinule, Allen's, 116. Gallirex porpMjreolophus, 43. Gannets, 84. Geelbec, 109. Geocolaptes olivacens, 103. Gero7iticus atlvus, 83, 109. Giant Kingfisher, 41, 79, 102. Glareola melanojitera, 112. (lUmcidium rapenne^ 45. perkdiiin, 70. Glossy Starling, Ulack-bellied, 25, 92. , Green-winged, 73. , Plum-coloured, 25. , Red-shouldered, 25, 92. — , Verreaux's, 67. Goatsuckers, 52. Golden-breasted Bunting, 27, 74, 95. Cuckoo, 22. Oriole, 92. Goliath Heron, 108. Gom Paauw, 112. Goose, Dsvarf, 109. , Spur-winged, 47, 109^ Goshawk, African, 106. , Chanting, 106. , Little Banded, 45, 70. , Mechow's, 70. Grass Bird, Cape, 99. , Eastern Province, 99. Owl, 45, 105. Warbler, Buff-fronted, 32. , Cinnamon-crowned, 32, 68. , Grey-headed, 32. , Natal, 32. , Rufous, 32. Gruiicalus ccesius, 86, 101. pectoralis, 3o. Great Spotted Cuckoo, 104. tailed Widow Bird, 94. White Egret, 46, 108.' Greater Double-collared Sunbird, 96. Flamingo, 47. Puff-back Shrike, 97. Green-backed Bush Warbler, 98, Heron, 47. Coucal, 43. grey Bush Warbler, 32. Pigeon, 77. Sandpiper, 49. Greenshank, 112. Green-throated Flycatcher, .'Jf. White-PVP, 06. 130 >!AME INDEX. Green-winged Glossy Starling, 73. Grey- backed Bush Warbler, 32. Grass Warbler, 99. Wagtail, 96. ■ collared Lark, 95. Cuckoo Shrike, 101. headed Grass-Warbler, 32. Gull, 78. Kingfisher, 40, 79. Heron, 50, 108. Lourie, 70. rumped Swallow, 3o. Tit, 96. wing Partridge, 110. Ground Robin, Rufous-breasted, 33. , White-eyebrowed, 33. scraper Thrusli, 68. Woodpecker, 103. Guinea Fowl, Common, 71. , ('rested, 48, 78, , Crowned, 110. , East African, 48, 78. Gull, Grey-headed, 78. , Southern Black-backed, 113. Gulls, 117. Cjhittera edonardi, 48, 78. Gyps kolbiiy 46, 107, H. lladada, 47, 77, 108. Hcemalopus moquini, 112. Hac/edashia Jtagedash, 47, 77, 108. Halcyon albiventris, 39, 102. chelicnti, 40, 69. stcainso7ii, 40, 79. Half-collared Kingfisher, 41, 102. HaUaetus vocifer, 45, 80, 81, 106. Hammerkop, 46, 77, 108. Hapalodenna narina, 42, 86, 103. Haplopelia larvata, 1 10. Harlequin Quail, 110. Harrier, Black, 106. Hawk, 46, 107. , South African, 46, 107. Hartlaub's Babbler, 31. Cuckoo-Shrike, 35. Hawk, 52. , African Sparrow, 106. , Black Sparrow, 106, , Harrier, 46, 107. , Little Sparrow, 106. , Sparrow, 86. Heliolais erythruptera, 121. kirbyi, 121. Heliospiza noomece, 19. Helmet-Shrike, Smith's, 75. Shrikes, 73. Ilelvtarsus ecaudattis, 45, 80, 106. llemipode, Hottentot, 48, 110. , Kurrichaine, 48. Hemipt.eryx minuta, 60. Herodias alba, 46, 108. brachyrkyncha, 47. yarzetta, 77, 108. Heron, Black, 77. , Black-headed, 46, 108, ■ , Goliath, 108. -, Green-backed, 47. , Grey, 50, 108. , Night, 108. , Purple, 46, 108. , Rufous-hellied, 47. , Squacco, 47, 108. , White, 51. , backed Night, 108. Herons, 117. Heteronyx ruddi, 120. Hirundo albiyularia, 20, 101. cucullata, 20, 76, 101. dimiduita, 101. griseopyya, 35. monteiri, 36, 76. ptiella, 20, 36, 76, 79, 101. rustica, 20, 35, 101. smithi, 21, 76, 79. Hobbies, 19. Honey-Guide, Lesser, 103. , Little, 43. , Scaly-throated, 43, 103. NAME INDEX. l.Tl Honey-Guide, Sparrmau's, 103. , Yellow-throated, 103. Hooded Weaver-Fincli, 26. Hoopoe, South African, 37, 101. Jliiplopterus armatus, 71. Hornbill Crowned, 42, US), lO-J. , Red- billed, 42, 7'J. , Trumpeter, 42, 103, Hottentot Ilemipode, 48, 110. Humboldt's Francolin, 48. Hungarian Stork, 114. Ilypargus margaritatus, 58. Hyphantonds nigricepit, 25. spilonotus, 92. subaureus, 92. — — velaius, 92. Hypolais icterina, 31. T. ibis eethiopicaj 47. Ibis, Bald, 83, 108. , Sacred, 47. Icterine Warbler, 31. Indicator major, 103. minor, 43, 103. sparrmani, 103. varicgatus, 43, ]0.> Irrisor viridis, 37, 96, lOl. Ispidina natalensis, 41 . ly/Kv rtificollis, 103. .Tacana, African, 49, 112. , Smaller, 112. •Tackal Buzzard, 106. Jackass Penguin, 113. Jameson's Ruddy Waxbill, 26, 74. Jardine's Babbler, 31, 68. Crake, 111. KafEr Rail, 110. Kakelaar, 37, CO, 101. I Kestrel, Dickinson's, 45. ! , Larger, 105. , South African, 105. Kingfisher, Brown-hooded, 39, 102. , Giant, 41, 79, 102. , Grey-headed, 40, 79. , Haff-collared, 41, 102. I , Malachite, 41, 102. , Natal, 41. I , Pied, 41, (59, 102. I , Striped, 40, 69. Kingfishers, 51. Kirk's Sunbird, 28. Kite, Black-shouldered, 106. j , Yellow-billed, 46, 70, 80. j Klaas' Cuckoo, 104. I Knob-billed Duck, 70. 1 Knorhaan, Black-bellied, 48. I , Vaal, 111. 1 Knysna Lourie, 58. j , Plantain-eater, 104. i , Woodpecker, 42, 103. J Kolbe's Vulture, 46, 107. I Kurrichaine Button Quail, 58. Ilemipode, 48. ! Thrush, 33. L. LayonoKticta hrunniceps, 74. jamesoni, 26, 74. niveogutt.ata, 26, 74. riibricnta, 85, 93. Lamprocolius chloropterus, 73. inelanogaster, '2h, 92. phoinicopterus, 92. bispecularis, 25. Laniarius atrococcineus, 68. gutturalis, 97. major, 66. olivaceus, 97. quadrivolor, 5Q. rubiginosus, 97. starki, 29, 56, 98. sulphurcipedus, 29, 97. U2 NAMR lIs'DEX. Lanms cullaris, 28, 97. collurio, 29, 85, 97. minor, 28. Lanner, South African, 105. Jjapwing, Crowned, 112. Large Puti-back Slirike, 29. Yellow Seed-eater, 94. Larger Kestrel, 106. Stripe-breasted Swallow, 101. Lark Bunting, 9o. , Cape Long-billed, 96. , Dusky, 27. , Grey-collared, 95. , Red-capped, 95. , llufous-naped, 95. , Thick-billed, 27. Lams cirrhocep/ialus, 78, 88. domimcanus, 113. Laughing Dove, 109. Layard'a Tit-Babbler, 31. Lemon Dove, 110. Leptoptilus crunifniferus, 46, 65. Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, 96. Grey Shrike, 28. Honey-Guide, 103. Puff-back Shrike, 97. Stripe-breas^ted Swallow, 7G. Tawny Pipit, 95. Levaillant's Parrot, 104. Lilac-breasted Roller, 79. Liiimucontx nUjer, 111. Lioptilus nigricupillus, 100. Little Banded Goshawk, 45, 70. Bee-eater, 39, 69, 79. Bifasciated Sunbird, 28. Collared Sunbird, 28. Egret, 77, 108. Honey-Guide, 43. Ruddy Waxbill, 74. Sparrow Hawk, lOG. Stint, 112. liivingstone's Lourie, 48, 80. Luhioanellus lateralis, 49, 71. Long-claw, Orange-throated, 95. , Yellow-throated, 27. Long^tailed Green Sunbird, 54. Shrike, 68, 75. winged Petrel, 116. Lophoaietus occipitalis, 106. Lophoceros erijihrorhynchus, 42, 79. melanoleucus, 42, 69, 103. Lophogyps occipitalis, 46. Lourie, Grey, 70. , Knysna, 58. , Livingstone's, 43, 80. — - — , Purple-cre.sted, 43. Love-bird, Blaclc-cheeked, 58. , faced, 16. Lybius torquatus, 43, 104. Lyre-bird, 51. Macrony.v capensis, 95. cjvceus, 27. Madagascar Cinnamon Roller, 38. Majaqueus, 120. aquinoctialis, 120. xMalachite Kingfisher, 41, 102, Sunbird, 53, 96. Malagash, 107. Marabou Stork, 46, 55. Marsh Owl, 105. Martial Eagle, 80, 106. Martin, Rock, 101. Masked Weaver Bird, 92. Mechow's Goshawk, 70. Melanophoyx ardesiaca, "il. Melierax cmwrtis, 106. mechowi, 70. Melittophayus vieridionulis, 39, 69, 79. Melocichla orientalis, 56. Merops apiasfer, 102. nufncoides, 19, 38. persicus, 38. Mesopicus griseoaephalus, 103. Microparra capensis, 112. Milvusfef/yptius,2\,ii?,,'i0,9-{). ■ Mirafra nfricaua, 05, N.nrK INDHX. 1 X jirinifra cheiiiana, 120. nif/ricaiis, 27. zomd(7;, 120. iMonteiro's Swallow, oO, 7(). Munticula e.rjjloraior, 99. rupestris, 99. ]\Ioo}hen, 111. :\If)selikatz's Roller, 37. Motacilla catnpestris, 118. capensis, 28, 9(5. longicauda, 96. vidua, 74, 9o. Mountain Canary, 95. • Chat, 99. Mouse Bird, Red-faced, 42, 10.?. , Speckled, 41, 102. , ^Vhite-backed, 102. coloured rivcatclier, 34. Simbird, 28, 9G. Mozambique Nightjar, 37, 09, 79 Muscicapa cceridesceJis, 33. grisola, 83. Mi/1-mecocichla bifasciuta, 99. formicicora, 99. N. Namaqua Dove, 77, 110. Sand-Grouse, 110. Naiina Trogon, 42, 103. Narrow-billed Blue Petnl, 113. Natal Grass Warbler, 32. Kingtisher, 41. Xectarinia arturi, o6. ftniiosa, o6, 9(i. yettopus auritus, 109. Xicator yularis, 29. Nicholson's Pipit, 27. Nightjar, European, 102. , Mozambique, 37, 09, "9. , Rufous-cLeeked, 37, 102. , South African, 102. Night Heron, 108. yUnus brubrii, 68. nigritcmpnralis. 'I'.h Noisy Robin Chat, 99. N(jrdniann's Pratincole, 112. Northern Double-coUared Sunbird, 75. Ntniitnias arquatns, 49, 112. Niimida coronata, 71, 110. jtiitnitd, 48, 78. Nycticorax yriseus, 108. leuconotus, 108. Nijroca eri/throphthabna, 77, 109. 0. Oceanitcs oceaniciis, 113. CEdicneinus capensis, 112. veniiiculatiis, 48, 78. GEnu capensis, 77, 110. aistrelnta, 120. incerta, 120. lessoni, 120. macroptera, 116, 120. mollix, 120. Olive Bush Shrike, 97. 'Coloured Sunbird, 28. Pigeon, 109. Woodpecker, 103. Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, 29, dl Flycatcher, 34. throated Long-claw, 95. Oriole, Black-headed, 25, 67, 92. , Golden, 92. Oriolus (jalbula, 92. larvafus, 25, 67, 92. Orthostomus evythopterus, 58. Ortyyometra piml/a, 111, Ortygospixa polyzuna, 93, Ostrich, 5, 52. Otidff-., 78. Otiscafra, 111, kori, 1 1 2. me/a )ioy aster, 48. riyorsi, 111. Owl, Barn, 44, 105. , Bush, 44. , Cape IvTirle, lOo. 134 Owl, Cape Scops, 105. , Grass, 45, 105, , Marsh, 105. , Pearl-spotted, 70. , Pel's Fishing, 4o. , White-faced, 70. , Woodford's, 105. Owlet, Rarred, 45. Owls, 86. Oxpecker, Red-billed, 91, 117. , Yellow-billed, 91. Oyster-catcher, Black, 112. P. Paauw, Goni, 112. , Stanley, 111. Pachyprora oapcnsis, 100. ■ moHtor, .34, 69, 100. sheppardt, 34. Painted Snipe, 40, 113. Palm Swift, 37, 78. Paradise Flycatcher, 34, 100. Widow Bird, 27, 68. Parisoma layardi, 31. snbcceruleuw, 98. Parrot, Brown-headed, 44, 80. , necked, 44. , Levaillant's, 104. I'artridg-e, Grey-wing, 110. Parus afer, 96. iiif/er, 28, 96. l\isser arcvatus, 94. Pavoucella puf/nax, 72. Pearl-breasted Swallow, 101. spotted Owl, 70. Pelecanus roseus, 46. rufescens, 107. Pelican, Eastern White, 46. , Pink-backed, 107. IM's Fishing Owl, 45. Penguin, Jackass, 113. Peregrine, South African, 105. Peters' Finfoot, 111. Buddv Finch, 26. NAME INDEX. Peters' Ruddy Waxbill, 74. Petrel, Long-winged, 116. , Narrow-billed Blue, 113. , Wilson's 11'3. PetrocheUdon spilodera, 101. Petronia petronella, 27, 94. Phalacrocorax africanus, 107. capensis, 83, 107. hicidus, 83, 107, 118. Phlexis victorini, 85. Phoenicopterus roseus, 47. Phylloscopus trochilus, 31. Phyllostrophus capensis, 31, 56, 98. Jlavostriatus, 56. milati/ensis, 56. Pied Babbler, 68. Barbet, 69, 104. Crow, 25, 73, 91. Kingfislier, 41, 69, 79, 102. Starling, 91. Wagtail, 74. Weaver-Finch, 26. Pigeon, Cape Green, 47, 71. , Crowned, 51. , Delalande'.s, 109. , Green, 77. , Olive, 109. , Speckled, 109. Pinnrornis plumosus, 120. r hade sice, 120. Pink-backed Pelican, 107. Pin-tailed Whydah, 113. Widow Bird, 27, 94. Pipit, Cinnamon, 27. , Lesser Tawny, 95. , Nicholson's, 27. , Small Yellow-tufted, 96. Pitta, Angolan, 36. I^tta angolensis, 36. Platalea alba, 47. Platystira peUata, 34. Plectroptevus gambensis, 47, 88, 109. niger, 88. PlnceidtP, 53. Plotiis nifxs, 107. NAME INDEX. Plover, Blacksmith, 71. , Black-winged, 112. • , Caspian, 112. , Crab, 48. , Ringed, 49. , Swainson's, 49. , Three-banded, 72, 112. , Wattled, 49, 71. Plum-coloured Glossy Starling-, 2^" Pochard, South African, 77, 109. Podica petersi, 111. Podiceps cajiensis, 113. Pcecilonetta erythrorhyncha, 109. Pceocephalus fusciciipilhis, 44, 80. robtistus, 104. anyolensis, 56. • suahelicus, 44, 56. Poliospiza gularis, 57, 68, 94. mennelli, 57. Polyboi'oides typicus, 46, 107. Porphyria alleni, 116. Pratincola torquatn, 33, 99. Pratincole, Nordmann's, 112. Prima hypoxanthn, 98. maculosa, 98. mystacea, 32. Priocella, 120. glacialoidcs, 1 20. Priojinus, 120. cinereus, 120. Prion desolatus, 113. Prionops talacoma, 30, 68, 75. Promerops cafer, 96. Psalidoprocne holomelfena, 77. orientalis, 36. Pternistes humboldti, 48. nudicoUis, 110. sivainsoni, 71, 78. Pterocles bicinctus multicolory 57. Pteroclurus namaqua, 110. Ptyonoprogne fuligula, 101. PufE-back Shrike, 29. Puffimis, 120. gravis, 120. kuMi, 120. Purple-crested Lourie, 43. Heron, 46, 108. Roller, 69, 79. PycHonotus capensis, 98. layardi, 31, 75, 98. Pyrenestes coccineus, 58. granti, 58. Pyromelana capensis, 93. a2>pro.vimaus , 27. minor, 94. ory.r, 22, 26, 89, 93. Pytelia afra, 58. melba, 26. Q. Quail, 52. , Blue, 48, 110. , Cape, 110. , Harlequin, 110. , Kurrichaine Button, 58. Quelea erythrops, 26. quelea, 23, 26. Quelea, Red-headed, 26. Rail, Kaffir, 110. Rallus c(erulescens, 110. Raven, White-necked, 91. Ray's Yellow Wagtail, 118. Red-backed Shrike, 29, 97. Redbill, 109. Red-billed Hornbill, 42, 79. Oxpecker, 91, 117. Weaver, 26. Bishop Bird, 26, 93. capped Lark, 95. collared Widow Bird, 94. eyed Dove, 1 09. Turtle Dove, 47. faced Mouse-bird, 42, 103. headed Quelea, 26. Weaver Finch, 93. knobbed Coot, 111. 13G NAME INDEX. Red-uecked Francolin, 110. Little Bittern, 108. shouldered Glossy Starling, 25, 92. Widow Bird, 27, 94. Redwing, Cape, 110. Ked- winged Starling, 91. Reed Duiker, 107. Warblers, 85. Rhino pomastes cyanomelas, 37, G9. Rhinoptilus chalcopterus, 48. Ringed Plover, 49. Robin, Cape Ground, 100. , Rufous-brejisted Ground, 3.3. , Silent Bush, 100. , White-browed Ground, 100. , starred Bush, 100. Rock Bunting, 27, 95. Martin, 101. Roller, Cinnamon, 37, 102. , European, 20, 37, 102. , Lilac-breasted, 79. , Madagascar Cinnamon, 37. , Moselikatz's, 37. , Purple, 69, 79. Rnstratula capensis, 49, 113. Ruddy-bveasted Bush-Shrike, 97. Ruff,72. Rufous-backed Weaver-Finch, 26. bellied Heron, 47. breasted Ground Robin, 33. . cheeked Nightjar, 37. Grass Warbler, 32. naped Lark, 95. Sacred Ibis, 47. Saddle-bill, 19, 40. Sanderling, 49. Sand-Grouse, 73. , Namaqua, 110. Sandpiper, Common, 49. , Green, 49. , Wood, 49, Sarcidiornis melanonota, 70. Sarothrura elegans, 111. lineata, 111. Saxicola monticola, 99. pileuta, 33, 99. Scarlet-breasted Sunbird, 53. chested Sunbird, 28, 53, 08, 75. Scaly-throated Honey-Guide, 43, 103. Schizorhis concolor, 70. Scimitar-bill, 37, 69. Scops capensis, 105, Scopus umhrctta, 46, 77, 108. Sea Eagle, 45, 106. Secretary Bird, 50, 107. Seed-eater, Eastern Yellow, 27, 94. , Large Yellow, 94. , Streaky-headed, 68, 94. ■ ', Sundevall's, 95. , Van der Decken's, 74. , White-throated, 95. Sentinel Rock Thrush, 99. SeriniLs, 74. albigularis, 94, canicollis, 94. icterus, 27, 94. imberbis, 74. sharpei, 56. scotops, 95. sulphu7-atus, 95. Serpentmnus secretarius, 107. Shelduck, South African, 109. Shelley's Francolin, 78. Sheppardia, 63. gunningi, 34, 64. Sheppard's Flycatcher, 34. Shrike, Bacbakiri, 97. , Black-and-Crimson, 68. , browed Brubru, 29. , headed Bush, 97. , Brubru, 68. , Chestnut-crowned Helmet, 30. , Fiscal, 28, 97. , Greater Puff-back, 97. , Lesser Grey, 28. ^ Puff-back, 97. NAME INDEX. i;'.; Shrike, Loug-tailed, G8, 75. , Olive Bush, 97. , Orange-breasted Bush, 29, 97. , Pui=f-back, 29. , Ruddy-breasted Bush, 97. , Smith's Helmet-, 30, G8. , Southern Grey-headed Bush, 98. , Tchagra, 97. , Zambesi Green, 29. , Helmet, 29. Shrikes, 85. Sigmodus retzii, 30. scopifrons, 30, 58. tricolor, 29. Silent Bush Robin, 100. Sitagra capettsis, 92. ocularia, 25, 56, 92. Slender Bulbul, 31. Small Yellow-tufted Pipit, 95. Smaller Black-and- Yellow Bishop Bird, 94. Crested Tern, 49. Jacana, 112. Stripe-breasted Swallow, 3(3, 101. Smiihornis capensis, 33, 56. Smith's Grass Warbler, 98. Helmet-Shrike, 30, 68, 75. Weaver Bird, 25, 92. Snake Bird, 107. Snipe, Double, 49, 113. , Ethiopian, 49, 113. , Painted, 49, 113. Sombre Bulbul, 31, 98. South African Cliff S\YaIlow, lol. Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, 29. Grey WaxbiU, 26. Harrier, 46, 107. Hoopoe, 37, 69, 101. Kestrel, 105. Lanner, 105. Nightjar, 102. Perogrine, 105. South African Pochard, 77, 10i». Rock Sparrow, 94. Ruddy Waxbill, 93. Shelduck, 109. Stonechat, 33, 99. Wryneck, 103. Southern Black-backed Gull, 113. Grey-headed Bush Shrike, 98. Red-foced Finch, 26. Sparrman's Honey-Guide, 103. Sparrow, 50. , Cape, 94 , Diamond, 27. Hawk, 86. , South African Rock, 94. Speckled Mouse-bird, 41, 102. Pigeon, 109. Spermestesfringilluides, 20. niyriceps, 26. scut.atus, 26. Spheniscus demersus, 113. Sphenceacus africanits, 99. ■ intermedius, 99. natalensis, 58. tramvaalensis, 58. Spine-tail, Bohm's, 37. Spizci'etus coronahts, 1, 100. Spoonbill, African, 47. Spot-headed Weaver-bird, 74. Spotted Eagle Owl, 105. Flycatcher, 33. backed Weaver Bird, 92. Spreo bicolor, 91. Spur-winged Goose, 47, 109. Squacco Heron, 47, 108. Square-tailed Drongo, 35. StactolcBma leiicotis, 43. Starling, Pied, 91. , Red -winged, 91. , Wattled, 91. Stephanibyx corotiatiis, 112. inornatits, 49. 77iclanoptera, 112. Steppe Buzzard, 70, 106. Sterna media, 49. i;i« NAME INDEX. Stint, Little, 112. Stork, Black, 107. , Hungarian, 114. , Marabou, 55. , White, 70, 107, 117. , bellied, 107. Stork.'=, 19, 117. Streaky-headed Seed-eater, 68, 94, Striped Kingfisher, 40, (59. Siri.v capensis, 45, 105. Jlammea, 44, 86, 105. Sugar-bird, Cape Long-tailed, 93. Sula c(i])e7is{s, 84, 107. Sunbird, Black, 5.3,96. , Blue-throated, 28. , CoUared, 96. , Greater Double-collared, 96. , Kirk's, 28. , Lesser Double-collared, 96. , Little Bifasciated, 28. , Collared, 28. ■ , Long-tailed Green, 54. , Malachite, 53, 96. , Mouse-coloured, 28, 96. , Northern Double-collared, 75 ■ , Olive-coloured, 28. , Scarlet-breasted, 53. , chested, 28, 53, 68, 75. Sundevall's Seed-eater, 95. Swaiusou's Francolin, 71. Plover, 49. '. Red-necked Francolin, 78. Swallow, Black Rough-winged, 77. , Eastern Rough-winged, 36. , European, 35, 101. , Grey-rumped, 85. , Large Stripe-breasted, 101. , Lesser Stripe-breasted, 76. ■ , Monteiro's, 36, 76. , Smaller Stripe-breasted, 3i 101. , South African Cliff, 101. tailed Bee-eater, 39, 102. , White-throated, 101. ■ , Wire-tailed, 76. Swallows, 20, 117. Swift, African White-rumped, 101. , Palm, 37, 78. , White-bellied, 101. Sycobrotus hicolor, 25, 93. sticifi'ons, 74. Sijlviella rufescens, 98. whijtei, 32. Syrniuni woodfordi, 45. Tachornis parva, 37, 78. Tambourine Dove, 110. Tarsi(/er silens, 100. stellatus, 100. Tawny Eagle, 105. flanked Wren-Warbler, 32. headed Grass- Warbler, 98. Tchagra, 97. Telephonus senegalus, 75, 97. tchayra, 97. Temminck's Courser, 112. Tephrocorys cinerea, 95. Tern, Smaller Crested, 49. Terpsiphone. perspicillata, 34, 56. plumheiceps, 56. Tetrapteryx paradisea, 111. Thalassceca, 120. Thalaiisogeron layardi, 87. Thamnolcea cinnamomeiventris, 99. Thick-billed Lark, 27. Weaver Bird, 26, 93. Three-banded Plover, 72, 112. Thripus namaqmis, 42. Thrush, 76. , Cape, 99. , Rock, 99. , Ground-scraper, 68. , Kurrichaine, 33. , Sentinel Rock, 99. Tinker Bird, 104. , White-browed, 43. Tinnunculus dicJdnsont, 45. NAME INDKK. 139 Tmmmmhia rnpicolus, 10."). rupicoloides, 105, Tit Babbler, 98. , Layard's, 31. , Black, 'IS, 96. , Cape Penduliue, 9". , Giey, 90. Totanus f/lareola, 49. fflottis, 1 1 -2. /ii/poleitcua, 49. udiropus, 49, Trachyphonus cafer, 70, 80. Trek Duiker, 107. Triclwlcema Icucomelas, 09, 104. Tringn minuta, 112, Trochocercus ci/anoinela,'^, 34, 100. Trogon, 86. , Narina, 42, 103. Tropic Turtle Dove, 77. Trumpeter Hornbill, 42, 103. Turacns corythaix, 58, 104. livinffstojiii, 43, 80. reichenowi, 57. Turdus, 7G. libonianus, 33. litsitsu-upa, 68. olivaceus, 99. Tu7-nix hottentotta, 48, 110. Icptirana, 48, 58, Turtur capicola, 109. tropicus, 77. sejuitorquatus, 47, 109. senegalensis, 109. Tympanistria bicolor, 110. U. Z7/;?/p« africa)ia,'i7 , 69, 101. Urobrackya axillaris, 27, 94. Urolestes vielanoleucus, 67, 75. V, Vaal Knorhaan, 111, "Van der Decken's Seed-eater, 74, VOL. V. Verreaux's Eagle, 105, Glossy Starling, 07, Vidua paradisea, 27, 08. priiicipalis, 27, 94, Serena, 113. Tinof/o delalandii, 47, 71, 77, 109. Vulture, Kolbe's, 46, 107. , White-headed, 46. Vulturidce, 73. W. Wagtail, African Pied, 95. , Cape, 28, 96, 118, , Grey-backed, 96, , Pied, 74. , Ray's Yellow, 118, Warbler, Bar-throated, 98, , Cape Wren, 98, , Green-backed Bush, 98. , Grey-backed Grass, 98. , Icterine, 31. , Reed, 85. , Saffron-breasted Wren, 98, , Smith's Grass, 98. , Tawny-headed Grass, 98. Water Dikkop, 48, 78. Wattled Crane, 111. Plover, 49, 71. Starling, 25, 91. Waxbill, Blue-breasted, 74. , Common, 26, 93. , Dufresne's, 93. , Jameson's Ruddy, 26, 74. , Peters' Ruddy, 74. , South African Grey, 26. , Ruddy, 93. Weaver, Red-billed, 20. Bird, Black-backed, 25. , headed, 25, 93, , Cape, 92. , Masked, 92. , Smith's, 25, 92. , Spot-headed, 25. , Spotted-backed, 92. 11 140 NAME INDEX. Weaver Bird, Thick-billed, 26, 92. , Yellow, 92. Finch, Bar-breasted, 93. , Hooded, 26. , Pied, 26. , Red-headed, 93. , Rufous-baclied, 2f!. Wlieatear, Capped, 3.3, 99. White-backed Mouse Bird, 102. • Night Heron, lOS. bellied Stork, 107. Swift, 101. breasted Coi-morant, 118. Duiker, 107, 118. browed Coucal, 104. — Ground Robin, 100. Tinker, 43. eared Barbet, 43, eye, Andersson's, 90. , Cape, 96. , Green, 96. eyebrowed Ground Robin, 33 faced Owl, 70. flanked Flycatcher, 34, 69, 100. Heron, 51. necked Raven, 73, 91 . shouldered Bush Chat, 99. spotted Crake, 111. starred Bush Robin, 100. Stork, 70, 115. throated Seed-eater, 94. Swallow, 101. White's Crombec, 32. Whydah, Pin-tailed, 113. Widow Bird, Great-tailed, 94. , Paradise, 27, 08. , Pin-tailed, 27, 94. , Red-collared, 94. ■ — -, shouldered, 27, 94. Birds, 53. Willow-Wreu, 31 . Wilson's Petrel, 113. Wire- tailed Swallow, 76. Woodford's Owl, 105. Woodpecker, Bearded, 42, , lieimett's, 42. , Cardinal, 42, 103. , Ground, 103. , Knysna, 42, 10.3. , Olive, 103. Wood Sandpiper, 49. Wren Grass Warbler, 98. AVarbler, Tawny-flanked, 32. Wryneck, South African, 103. Yellow-billed Egret, 47. Kite, 4(5, 70, 80. Oxpecker, 91. — — -throated Honey-Guide, 103. Long-claw, 27. Weaver Bird, 92. Z. Zambesi Green Shriki:', 29. Helmet Shrike, 29. Zosterops antlerssoni, 96. capensis, 96. virens. 96. THINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS. KED 1 iON CO' RT, FLEV-T STCKET. Vol. V. No. 1. APEIL 1909. Price 6s. Od. T.HE JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH nici oiiTUOwisTS' ymoii. EDITED BY All WIN HAAGNER, P.Z.S., Dr. J. W. B. GUNNING and B. C. K. LANGPORD. CONTENTS. Pa«f. I. Account of Fifth Annual General Meeting 1 II. Presidential Address. (Abstract.) By J. E. Duerden, Ph.D. &c 5 III A Note on the Black-faced Love-Bird (^^oj^onns we^jv^raw). By Alwin HaaGnee. F.Z.S. &c. (Plate 1.) 16 IV. Observations on Migratory Birds at Komatipoort. By IVIajor J. Steven- son Hamilton, Supt. Sabi Game Eeserves 19 V. Pyrontelana ori/x and its Nesting Parasites. By Rev. Noel Eoberts 22 VI A List of. and Notes on, Birds collected and observed in the District of Beira, Portuguese S.E. Africa. By P. A. Siiei-pard 24 VII. Occasional Notes • ^*-^ VIII. 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This Journal will be issued as often as the funds of the Union permit, subject, of course, to there being sufficient matter suitable for publication. Fifteen copies of every papev published in the Journal will be reserved for the author free of charge. The Editors will be pleased to answer, to the best of their ability, through the medium of this Journal, any questions relating to ornithological matters, and to identify ornitho- logical specimens submitted to them. In cases where an immediate answer is required, a reply will be forwarded through the post if a stampcil addressed envelope is enclosed with the enquiry. The Editors respectfully draw attention to the necessity for support to the Illustration Fund, and invite subscriptions thereto. THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. PRESIDENT. J. W. B. Gunning, M.D., F.Z.S. (Director Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gai'dens, Pretoria.) VICE-PRESIDENTS. J. E. DuERDEN, Ph.D., M.Sc. (Professor of Zoology, Rhodes Univ. College, Grahamstown, CO.. iiud Keeper Zoological Department, Albany Museum.) A. D. Millar, Col.M.B.O.U. (Durban.) L. PfiRINGUEY, D.Sc, F.Z.S., &c. (Director S.A. Museum, Cape Town.) HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER. Alwin Haagner, F.Z.S., Col.M.B.O.U. (Transvaal Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, Transvaal.) EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Dr. J. W. B. Gunning. B. C. E. Langford. A. K. Haagner. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. F. A. 0. Pym. (Cape Colony.) L. E. Taylor, F.Z.S. (Transvaal.) C. McG. Johnston. (Orange River Colony.) Dr. J. E. Briscoe. (Natal.) E. C. Chubb, F.Z.S. (Rhodesia.) J. P. Murray. (Basutoland.) C. PoGGE. (German S.W. Africa.) P. A. Sheppard. (Portuguese S.E. Africa.) EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Editors invito contributions on South African Orni- thology from all students. These should, if possible, be type- written. Drawings (which, for the purpose of ease of reproduction, should be, as far as possible, in line and without wash) and photographs from nature will ' be gladly welcomed. Original MSS., drawings, and photographs will, if desired, be returned, after publication, to their owners. The Editors will be pleased to receive from contributors short extracts from concurrent literature or accounts of the Meetings of Associations dealing with South African Orni- thology or of general interest to the Members of the Union. All documents intended for publication should be for- warded to A. Haagner, Esq., Transvaal Museum, Box 413, Pretoria. This Journal will be issued as often as the funds of the Union permit, subject, of course, to there being sufficient matter suitable for publication. Fifteen copies of every paper published in the Journal will be reserved for the author free of charge. The Editors will be pleased to answer, to the best of their ability, through the medium of this Journal, any questions relating to ornithological matters, and to identify ornitho- logical specimens submitted to them. In cases where an immediate answer is required, a reply will be forwarded through the post if a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed with the enquiry. The Editors respectfully draw attention to the necessity for support to the Illustration Fund, and invite subscriptions thereto. THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, PRESIDENT. J. E. DuERDEX, Ph.D., M.Sc. (Professor of Zoology, Pthodes Univ. College, Grahamstown, C.C, and Keeper Zoological Department, Albany Museum.) VICE-PRESIDENTS. J. VV. B. Gunning, M.D., F.^.S. (Director Transvaal Museum find Zoological Gardens, Pretoria.) A. D. Millar, Col.M.B.O.U. (Durban.) L. Pi;RiNGUEY, D.Sc, F.Z.S., &c. (Director S.A. Museum, Cape Town.) HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER. Alwin Haagner, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. (Tran.svaal Museum, Box 413, Pretoria, Transvaal.) EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Dr. J. W. B. Gunning. B. C. E. Langford. A. K. Haagner. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. F. A. 0. Pym. (Cape Colony.) A. Duncan. (Transvaal.) C. McG. Johnston, (Orange Eiver Colony.) Dr. J. E. Briscoe. (Natal.) E. C. Chubb, F.Z.S. (Rhodesia.) J. P. Murray. (Basutoland.) C. PoGGE. (German S.W. Africa.) P. A. Sheppard. (Portuguese S.E. Africa.) EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Editors invito contributions on South AFricau Orni- thology from all students. These should, if possible, be type- written. Drawings (which, for the purjiose of ease of reproduction, should be, as far as possible, in line and without wash) and photographs from natui-e will be gladly welcomed. Original MSS., drawings, and photographs will, if desinMJ, be returned, after publication, to their owners. The Editors will be pleased to receive from contributors short extracts from concurrent literature or accounts of the Meetings of Associations dealing with South African Orni- thology or of general interest to the Members of the Union. All documents intended for publication should be for- warded to A. Haagnek, Esq., Transvaal Museum, Box ^l'^, Pretoria. This Journal will be issued as often as the funds of the Union permit, subject, of course, to there being sufficient matter suitable for publication. Fifteen copies of every paper published in the Jonrnnl will be reserved for the author free of charge. The Editors will be pleased to answer, to the best of their ability, through the medium of this Journal, any questions relating to ornithological matters, and to identify ornitho- logical specimens submitted to Ihem. In cases where an immediate answer is required, a reply will be forwarded through the post if a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed with the enquiry. The Editors respectfully draw attention to the necessity for support to the Illustration l^'und, and invite subscriptions thereto. THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. PRESIDENT. J. E. DuERDEN, Ph.D., M.Sc. (Professor of Zoology, Rhodes Univ. College, Grahamstown, CO., and Keeper Zoological Department, Albany Museum.) VICE-PRESIDENTS. J. VV. B. GuxNiNG, M.D., F.Z.S. (Director Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gardens, Pretoria.) A. D. Millar, Col.M.B.O.U. (Durban.) L. PfeRINGUEY, D.Sc, F.Z.S., &c. (Director S.A. Mu.seum, Cape Town.) HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER. Alwin Haagner, r.Z.S., M.B.O.U. (Transvaal Museum, Box 413, Pretoiia, Transvaal.) EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Dr. J. W. B. GuNxiNG. B. C. E. Langford. A. K. Haagner. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. F. A. 0. Pym. (Cape Colony.) A. DuNCAX. (Transvaal.) C. McG. Johnston. (Orange River Colony.) ])r. J. E. Briscoe. (Natal.) E. C. Chubb, F.Z.S. (Rhodesia.) J. P. Murray. (Basutoland.) C. Pogge. (German S.W, Africa.) P. A. Shepp^RD. (Portuguese S.E. Africji.)