frfjb/ ^f FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY A.M.N.H, THB JOURNAL OF THE EDITED BY Dr. J. W. B. GUNNING, ALWIN HAAGNER, F.Z.S., and B. C. R. LANGFORD. VOLUME VI. PUBLISHED BY THE UNION IN PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL. LONDON AGENTS : WITHERBY & CO., 326 HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. 1910. // af^fi^o- (^4^4^^ PREFACE. This number completes Volume VI. of the Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union. The appeal to the Members of the Union for more support, both as regards matter for the Journal and as regards the question of Migration, has not met with much response, hence the present volume is not as large as it might have been. THE EDITORS. a2 CONTENTS. Pages TiTLEPAGE i Preface iii COXTEXTS V Roll of Members vii-xi List of Papers, &c., in this Volume xiii-xiv Subject-matter Index , xv-xvii Proceedings of the Union : Account of the Seventh Annual Meeting xix-xxiii Journal 1-52 Index 53-58 ROLL OF MEMBERS AS AT olsT December, 1910. No. Name and Address. 1909 Aedy, Col. A. J., E.A. ; Army Headquarters, Pretoria. 1905 Andeksson, C. L. ; Box 2162, Johannesburg, Tvl, 1906 Bell, Theodore ; Downside, Epsom, Surrey,England. 1907 Bolus, Frank; Sherwood, Kenilworth, Cape Town. Booth, H. B. ; " Eyhill," Ben Ehyddiug, Yorkshire, England. 1905 BouEKE, E. E. ; Box 321, Pretoria, Tvl. 1904 Bridgeman, E. 0. B., Lieut. E.N. ; Weston Park, Shipnal, Salop, England. 1907 Briscoe, Dr. J. E. ; Charlestown, Natal. 1908 Chambers, EoLAND, E.M. ; Lindley, O.F.S. 10 1907 CuuBB, E. C. ; Box 240, Bulawayo, S. Ehodesia. 1909 Clark Kennedy, J.; Stauderton, Tvl. 1906 CocH, Max; Eietfontein Lazaretto, Box 1076, Johannesburg. Cooper, C. W. ; Salisbury, Ehodesia. 1907 Davies, C. G., Sgt. C.M.E. ; Bizana, Pondoland, C.C. 15 1904 Davy, J. Burtt, E.L.S., E.E.G.S., Govt. Botanist ; Dept. oC Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl. 1906 D'Eyelyn, Dr. F. W. ; 2103 Clinton Av., Alameda, California, U.S.A. 1905 Draper, E. H.U. ; Govt. Laboratories, P.O. Box 1080, Johannesburg, Tvl. Duerden, Professor J. E. ; c/o Albany Museum, Grahamstown, C.C. Evans, J. B. Pole- ; Dept. of Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl. Vlll 1^0 25 30 35 Year of Election. Name and Address. 1904 40 1907 1909 1905 1906 1907 1908 1905 1906 1904 1909 1907 1908 1906 1909 1905 Faiebridge, W. G. ; 141 Longmarket Street, Cape Town, C.C. Feltham, H. L. L., F.E.S. ; P.O. Box 4G, Johannes- burg, Tv]. Fry, Harold A. ; P.O. Box 46, Johannesburg, Tvl. GiLFiLLAK, D. F. ; Box 1397, Johannesburg, Tvl. Godfrey, Rev. J.; Pirie Forest Mission, King- williamstown, C.C. Gordon, Capt. C. W. ; The Castle, Cape Town, C.C. GouGH, Lewis II., Ph.D.; Box 593, Pretoria, Tvl. GOYERNMENT I>IBRARIAN ; GoVt. Ollices, Bloeui- fonteiu. O.E.C. Graham, Francis, C.C. & liM. ; Gnihamstown, C.C. Grant, C. H. B. ; Natural History Museum, S. Kensington, London, England. Greathead, Dr. J. B. ; Van Wyksfontein, Norvtils Pont, C.C. Gronvold, Henriic ; Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London, England. Gunning, J. W. B., M.D., F.Z.S.; Director, Museum and Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, Tvl. Haagner, Alwin K., F.Z.S., Col.M.B.O.U., Super- intendent Tvl. Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. Hale, P. E., Insp. O.K.C. Police; Bethlehem,0.1l.C. Halheb, N. G. B., 3rd Battn. ; Egyptian Army, Khartoum. Hamilton, Major J. S. ; Superintendent, Game Eeserves, Komati Poort, Tvl. Hamond, Philip, Lieut. 2nd Norfolk Pegt. ; East Dereham, Norfolk. Hardiman, E. H. M. ; Wepeuer, O.R.C. Hatchard, J. G., F.E.A.S. ; Loco. Drawing Offices, C.S.A.E., Bloemfontein, O.R.C. HoRSBRUGH, Major Boyd, A.S.C. ; c/o Cox & Co., Bankers, 16 Charing Cross, London. Howard, C. W. ; Dcpt, of Agricullure, Louren<;o Mar(iu('s. IX" Ko. 4o 50 00 65 Yf-ar of Election. 1908 1907 1905 1908 1905 1904 1905 1909 1904 1907 1910 1904 1906 1905 1908 1905 1904 1908 1905 1907 1900 Name and Adclresa. 1905 Howard, James L. ; Tankee-Doodle Mine, Selukwe, S. E-hodesia. Hudson, C. E. ; Dept. of Agriculture, Bloemfontein, O.R.C. Ingle, J. C, F.Z.S. ; P.O. Sabie, Lydenburg, Tvl. Innes, Dr. Walter, M.B.O.U. ; School of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt. Ivy, J. lioiiSOiV ; Taxidermist, Grrahamstown. Ivy, Eobekt H., F.Z.S. ; Graliamstowu, C.C. Jeppe, Julius ; P.O. Box 60, Jobannesburg, Tvl. Johnston, C. McG. ; Bloemfontein Club, Bloem- fontein, O.E.C. Johnston, K. C. ; AVestminster, O.E.C. KiEBY, W. ; Intermediate Pumping Station, Water- works, Kimberley, C.C. KiEKMAN, Dr. A., M.D. ; Queenstown, C.C. Knapp, Col. ; Kingwilliamstown, C.C. Knobel, J. C. J., Porter Eeformatory, Eetreat, C.C. Langeobd, B. C. E. ; P.O. Box 557, Pretoria, Tvl. Littledale, H. a. p., Lieut. K.O. Y.L.I. ; Eoberfs HeiglitH, Pretoria, Tvl. LouBSER, M. JNl. ; Port Elizabeth, C.C. Mally, C. W., M.Sc. ; Eastern Province Entomolo- gist, Grahamstown, C.C. Marthinius, Dr. J. G. ; District Surgeon, AVepener, O.E.C. Millar, A. D., Col.M.B.O.U. ; 298 Smith Street, Durban, Xatal. Mobs, F. E. O.; Box 776, Pretoria, Tvl. Murray, J. P. ; Maseru, Basutoland. Neethling, Harry ; address unknown. Nehrkorn, Adole ; Adolfstrasse, Braunschweig, Germany. Newman, T. H., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; Newlands, Harrowdene Eoad, Wembley, England. NooME, E. 0. ; c/o Traii-svaal Museum. Pretoria, Tvl. 0BEKH0LSEE,nAKRY C; Biological Survcy, Washing- Ion. D.C. U.S.A. No. 70 80 85 90 Year of Election 1904 1907 1905 1908 1907 1906 1907 1904 1907 1908 1906 1904 1905 1904 1907 1905 1904 1907 1909 1906 1909 Name and Address. Pease, Sir Alfbed E., Bart., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.; BarbertoD, Transvaal. Peecival, a. B., F.Z.S., M.B.O.CJ. ; Nairobi, Brit. East Afr. Protectorate. P:6RiNGUEy, Dr. L., E.Z.S., &c. ; Director S.A. Museum, Cape Towd, C.C. Peeshouse, Stanley, Border Begt. ; c/o Miss Pindlay, 9 St. Leonard's Road, Exeter, England, Pheae, pi. H. ; Box 424, Ivimberley. PiCKSTONE, S. P.; Box 4820, Johannesburg. PoGGK, C. ; Conservator of Forests, Germany. Peitchaed, a. G. R. ; Box 4820, Johannesburg. Pym, Peank a. O. ; Public Museum, Kingwilliams- town, C.C. RoBEETS, Austin ; Box 413, Pretoria, Tvl. RoBEETS, Rev. Noel ; English Church, P.O. Gezina, Pretoria, Tvl. RoBEETSON, Dr. W. ; Bacteriological Institute, Graharastown. SCLATEE, Aethue L. ; " Helvetia," Southern Mel- setter, S.E. Rhodesia. Sheppaed, p. a. ; Mile 23, M'Zimbiti, Beira, P. E. A. Skea, Eenest M. Spaeeow, R., M.B.O.TJ., Major 7th Dragoon Gds. ; Rookvvoods, Sible Headingham, Essex, England. Swinbuene, John, M.B.O.U. ; Rand Nat. Labour Assoc, Pietersburg, Tvl. SwiNNY, H. H. ; Port St. John, West Pondoland. Swynneeton, C. p. M. ; Gungunyana, Melsetter Dist., S. Rhodesia. Tayloe, C. H. ; Grassridge, P.O. Bankop, Ermelo. Tayloe, L, E. ; Assist. Conservator of Forests, Dept. of Agriculture, Pretoria, Tvl, Theilee, Dr. A., Govt. Veterinary Bacteriologist ; Box 385, Pretoria, Tvl. Thompson, Chas. S. ; High School, San Bernardin, California, U.S.A. Thomsen, F. ; c/o Govt. Entomologist, Govt. Bldgs,, Pretoria, Tvl. To^vnsenjd, S. F. ; Bulawayo, Rhodesia. XI No. Year of Election. 1908 1909 95 1906 1905 1906 1904 99 1905 1 1909 2 1908 Name and Address. Ttbbell, E. G. Harcourt ; Greytown, Natal. Upton, Capt. C, A.S.C. ; Tempe, Bloemfontein. Vaughan-Kirby, F., F.Z.S. ; ISunuyside, Pretoria, Tvl. WiGLESwoETii, J., M.D.,M.B.O.U. ; Eainhill, Liver- pool, England. Wood, A. E., A.E.M. ; Wepener, O.E.C. Wood, John ; Box 363, East London, C.C. Workman, W. H., M.B.O.U. ; Lismore, Belfast, Ireland. 1907 1909 1904 ?j 1907 1904 Hoii. Members. Allen, Dr. J. A. ; Amer. Museum of Nat. Hist., Washington. BucKNiLL, The Hon. J. A., M.A., F.Z.S. ; The King's Advocate, Nicosia, Cyprus. Hartekt, Dr. E. ; Director Tring Museum, Tring, Herts, England. Herman, Dr. Otto ; Hung. Central Bureau of Ornithology, Budapest. Eeichenow, Dr. A. ; Kaisl. Zool. Museum, \n- A'^alidenstrasse, Berlin, Germany. Sclater, p. L., D.Sc, F.E.S. ; Odiham Priory, Winchfield, Hants, England. Sclater, W. L., M.A., F.Z.S. ; 10 Sloane Court, London, S.W. Shelley, Capt. G. E., F.Z.S .; 39 Egerton Gardens, London. Trimen, E., F.E.S. ; c/o Entomological Society, London, W. LIST OF PAPERS, &c, IN THIS VOLUME. YoL. VI., No. 1, Anyirst 1910. Page I. Migration Report 1908-1909 ^ II. A Second Contribution to the Ornithology of Eastern Pondoland. By C. G. Da vies, M.B.O.U 5 III. On a new Species of Flycatcher from Rhodesia. By Alwin Haagxer, F.Z.S. &c 14 IV. Field-Notes on the " Woodbush Warbler" {Hemi- pteryx mimUa, Gunn.). By F. Vaughan-Kirby, F.Z.S 15 V. Some Remarks on the Migration of the White Stork {Ciconia ciconia). By Alwin Haagxer, F.Z.S. &c. 17 VI. Obituary : Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, Asst. Keeper, British Museum. (Plate I.) 20 VII. Occasional Notes 21 VIII. Short Notices of Ornithological Publications 24 XIV LIST OF PAPERS. Vol. YI., Xo. 2, December 1910. Page IX. llenmrks upon some further (mostly hitherto un- described or unfigured) Eggs of certain South African birds. By John A. Bucknill, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., and G. Henrik Gronvold. (Plate II.) 27 X. Notes on the Plumage of the Mountain Chat (Saxi- cola monticola, Bechst.), By C. G. Davies, M.B.O.U 33 XI. Field-Notes on some little-known Birds, including two new Species, from Observations made during the Nesting - Season of 1909 near Beira, P.E.A. By P. A. Sheppard 37 XII. Occasional Notes 45 XIII. Short Notices of Ornithological Publications 48 SUBJECT-MATTER INDEX, INCLUDING NAMES OF CONTEIBUTORS. Page Allen, J. A. Thanks 21 * Aquila,' Oro-an of Roy. Hung. Bureau of Ornithology, noticed . . 25 ' Avicultural Magazine,' noticed 49 Beira, Field-notes from (P. A. Sheppard) 37 Bi-annual Nidification of Black-chested Wren- Warbler 22 Biedermann, Dr. K., " On Holding of Foot of Birds in Flight," noticed 26 Bucknill, J. A., & Gronvold, H., " Remarks upon some fui'ther Eggs of S. African Birds " 27 Bulletin Br. Orn. Club (Migration Report, 1908), noticed 2o Check-list cf Birds of South Africa (Gunning and Haagner), noticed. 51 Congress of Ornithology, 5th International 47 Davies, C. G., M.B.O.U. A Second Contribution to the Ornithology of Eastern Poudoland 5 , Notes on the Plumage of the Mountain Chat 33 East Africa and Uganda Nat. History Society, noticed 21 Eggs of South African Birds (Bucknill and Gronvold) 27 ' Emu,' Organ of Australasian Ornithol. Union, noticed 50 Field-notes on some little-known Birds, including two new Species, irom Observations made during 1900 near Beira 37 Field-notes on the Woodbush ^Varbler 15 FitzSimons, F. W. Garden Warbler at Port Elizabeth 22 Flycatcher, on a new species of (Ilaagner) 14 Generic Names applied to Birds during the Years 1901 to 1905 inclusive (Chas. W. Richmond), noticed 26 Geographical Distribution of Genus Macronyx, noticed 62 Godman, F. DuCane. * Monograph of the Petrels,' noticed 52 Gronvold, H. {See Bucknill.) Xvl Sr'H.IF.CT-MA'l'rKI! ixoi'x;. Pasp llaagiier, Alwin. Ilubits of Great-tailed Widow-Bird 45 . On a new Species of Flycatcher from Rhodesia ] 4 . Some Remarks on the Migration of the White Stork .... 17 Hand-list of Genera and Species of Birds (Dr. Bowdler Sharpe), noticed o2 Herman, Dr. Otto. Thanks 21 ' Home Life of a Golden Eagle ' (Witherby & Co.), noticed 52 ' Ibis : Journal of Ornithology/ noticed 24, 48 Ingle, J. C, F.Z.S. Soft Parts of Narina Trogon 23 International Congress of Ornithology, Fifth 47 Ixodid on Swallow (J. P. Murray) 47 ' Journal fiir Ornithologie,' noticed 50 ' Katalog der Eiersamnilung ' (A. Nehrkorn), noticed 57 ' Kent, History of the Birds of (Ticehurst), noticed 26 Kirby, F. Vaughan. Field-notes on Woodbush Warblei- 15 ' Life of William MacGillivray ' (Murray), noticed 51 ' MacGillivray, William, Life of,' noticed 51 Macpherson, H. B. ' Home Life of Golden Eagle,' noticed 52 Marked Hawk in Senekal, O.F.S 23 Mem. Man. Lit. & Phil. Soc, noticed 52 Migration Report S.A.O.U., 190S-9 1 Migration Report B.O.C., 1908, noticed 25 Migration of White Stork (Haagner) 17 ' Monograph of the Petrels ' (Witherby & Co.), noticed 52 Murray, J. P. Ixodid on Swallow 47 Nehrkorn, A. ' Katalog der Eiersamnilung,' noticed 51 Notes on the Plumage of the Mountain Chat 33 Obituary : Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe 20 Occasional Notes 21, 45 Occurrence of White Egret with Ring , 46 ' Oruithologisches Jahrbuch,' No. 7, noticed, , 26 Ornithological Congress, 5th Intern 47 Pondoland, Second Contribution to Ornithology of 5 Port Eli/abeth, Garden Warbler at 22 SUBJECT-MATTER INDEX. Xvil Page Remarks upon some further (mostly imdescribed) Eggs of South African Birds ( Bucknill and Gronvold) 27 Richmond, Chas. W. ' Generic Names of Birds,' noticed 2<) Ring on White Egret (John Wood) 4H Roberts, Austin. Bi-annual Nidification of Black-chested Wren- Warbler 22 Second Contribution to the Ornithology of Pondoland H Sharpe, Dr. R. Bowdler. Obituary Notice 20 Sbeppard, P. A. Field-notes on some little-known Birds, including two new Species, during Nesting-season of 1909, near Beira, P.E.A 37 Short Notices of Ornithological Publications 24, 48 Some Remarks on the Migration of the White Stork 17 Ticehurst, N. F. ' History of Birds of Kent,' noticed 26 Van der Merwe, C. R Marked Hawk at Seuekal 23 Vaughan-Kirby. See Kirby. Wood, John. Ringed White Egret 4(j Platk I. Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. „ 11. Figures of Eggs of S. African Birds. VOL. VI. PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNION. Account of Seventh Annual Meeting. The Seventh Annual Meeting of the S. A. 0. U. was held in Cape Town on Friday, 6th November, at 11 a.m., in the South African Museum, by kind permission of the Director, Dr. Peringuey (a Vice-President of the Union), who, in the absence of the President (Dr. Gunning), kindly took the Chair. The Meeting was very poorly attended, on account of so many meetings and attractions having been arranged within the space of a week. Amongst those present were, however, Messrs, W. G. Fairbridge and Frank Bolus, of Cape Town ; Dr. Theiler, Mr. Burtt Davy, and the Hon. Secretary, from Pretoria. After the Minutes of the previous Meeting (held in Bloemfontein) had been read and confirmed, a discussion took place on the difficult subject of Migration. — The Secretary informed the Meeting that the idea, recommended at the Bloeinfontein Meeting, that small sets of skins of the more important migratory birds should be presented to all the more important schools, had not been put into effect on account of Union coming in. Dr. Peringuey thought this was not easily an-anged, as loan collections were out of the question, being too badly handled b}^ the average teacher, and to give each school a set would require considerable outlay and time. Dr. Theiler thought good, large wall-pictures would meet the case, provided they were submitted to the S. A. 0. U. for a])proval XX PROCEEDI>'GS OF THE UNION. prior to issue. Upon this a resolution was taken that all Provincial Education Departments be asked to co-operate in the providing and furnishino; of such wall-pictures, orif^inals and proofs of which shouhl first be submitted to the Union authorities, to prevent glaring errors from creeping into these pictures, and so rendering them worse than useless. Protection of Game-Birds. — Dr. Peringuey thought that the recommendations of the Bloemfontein Meeting were bevond practicability, and thouglit such matters should be left to the Game Protection Associations. Mr. Burtt Daw sugfesfed that any species which may become very scarce could be placed on the list of Royal Game. The discussion was carried forward. Secretary's Report. — The adoption of this was proposed by Mr. Burtt Davy and duly carried. Treasurer s Statement. — This was ])assed in order, and Mr. Austin Roberts was appointed to Audit the Books and Accounts. Change of Agency. — This matter, after some discussion, was left in the hands of the Council. Members. — Mr. J. C. Knobel, proposed by Mr. L. E. Taylor, was duly elected a Member. The Secretary was authorised to remove from the Roll 3 Members, for non-payment of subscriptions. Council. — As Mr. A. Pogge had left South Africa, his name was removed from the C/Ouncil. Officers for 1911. — The office-bearers for 1911 were elected as follows : — President .... Dr. J. W. V,. Gunning, Director TransAaal Museum and Zooloj,ncal Gardens, Pretoria. Dr. DUERDEN, M.Sc. Vice-Preside7its . . jht. land. Pretoria (Zoo). A. Ilaagner. 17. 10. 09. Dh'parttms. Bethulie, O.R.C. R. Chanjl.ers. 27. 2. OS. W. Komatipoort. Major Hamilton. 20. 3. 08. S.E. Melsetter, S. Rho- A. L. Sclater. 3. 5. 08. S.E. desia. Lesser Kestrel {CercJtneis nanmanni). Arrivals. Melsetter. A. L. Sclater. 13. 10. 08. S.E. Irene. L.E.Taylor. 11.11.08. Bethulie. R.Chambers. 4. 1.09. W. to N.W. Maseru. J. P. Murray. 12. 12. 08. W. KiugwiUiamstown. F. A. O. Pym. 20. 1.09. Matatiale. C. G. Davies. 12. 12. 09. Migration Report 1908-1901) Place. Observeh. Date. Wind and Remarks. European Swallow { Fiirnndo rustica). Arrivals. Melsetter. A. L. Sclater, 27. 0.08. S.E. Komatipoort. Major Hamilton. 1. 11. 08. S.E. Irene. L. E. Taylor. 10. 11.08. Bethulie. R. Chambers. 27. 11. 08. N.N.W. Umtamvuua River. C. G. Davies. 9. 11. 08. Bizana. Do. 11. 10. 09. Departures. Komatipoort. Major Hamilton. ■26. 4.08. X. Floc-ks. Do. Do. 5. 5.08. Last one seen Bethulie. K. Chambers. 27. 3.08. Unitamvuna Biver. C. G. Davies. 18. 3.08. N.E. Bethulie District. E. Collins. 26. 4.09. „ Town. R. Chambers. 29. 4.09. Komatipoort. Major Hamilton. 8. 3.09. Massing-. Do. Do. 20. 4. 09. Last flock. Do. Do. 20. 4.09. Last one seen Ai lis. Greaf. Spotted Cuckoo {Clamator glandarius). Umtamvuna River. C. G. Davies. 6. 9. 08. Steppe Buzzard (^Buteo desertorum) . Irene. L. E. Taylor. 4. 11. 08. Pallid Harrier {Circus macrurus). Belfast. L. E. Taylor. 19. 10. 08. Land-Rail (^Crex crex). Irene. L.E.Taylor. 13. 1.09. B. — African Migrants. Arrivals and Departures. African Stripe-breasted Swallow {Hirundo cucullata). Pretoria. Noel Roberts. 23. 9.08. Irene Dist., do. L. E. Taylor. 16. 9.08. Bizana, Podoland. C. G. Davies. 30. 9. 08. Do. Do. 22. 9.09. Umtamvuna, do. Do. 21. 4.08. thi the Oritiflioloc/i/ of I'MStevn Pondoland. Plack. Observer. Date. Date. Arrivals and Departures. Lesser Stripe-breasted Swallow (Hirimdo jiuella^ Bizana. C. G. Davies. 9. 9. 08. Do. Do. 25. 9. 09. Umtamvuna. Do. 29. 3. 08. White-breasted Swallow (IlirunJo aWigtdaris). Irene, ur. Pretoria. L. E. Taylor. 23. 8. 08. Umtamvuna. C. G. Davies. 11. 8.08. Bizana. Do. 15. 3. 08. Do. Do. 19. 9.09. Hanover, C.C. G. S. G. Malan. 7. 9. 08. 25. 3. 09. Sabi. Major Hamilton. 5. 5. 09. Bethulie, O.F.S. H. Chambers. ' 21. 4. 09. Carmine-throated Bee-eater {Merops nubicoides). Sabi. Major Hamilton. 1. 10. C9, Do. Do. 20. 3. 09. African White-rumped Swift {Apus caffer). Sabi. Major Hamilton. 17. 4. 09. South African Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius). Umtamvuna. C. G. Davies. 13. 10. 08. Black Cuckoo (^Cuculus clamosus). Umtamvuna. C. G. Davies. 17. 10. 08. Golden Cuckoo (^Clinjsococcyx cupreus). Umtamvuna. C. G. Davies. 1.11. 08. Irene, nr. Pretoria L. E. Taylor. 4. 10. 08. II. — A Second Contribution to the Ornithology of Eastern Pondoland. By C. G. Davies, M.B.O.tl. The birds mentioned in the following list I have obtained since writing my previous paper, published in the ' Journal S.A.O.U.' for December 1907. In the same paper I recorded on page 182 having procured two specimens of Quelea erythrops. I have since been fortunate enough to obtain seven more specimens, viz., two males at Flagstaff and two males and three females on the 6 Mr. C. G. Davies on the Umtamvnna liivcr. It is strange that this equatorial species should be suddenly found so far south. I have to acknowledge my thanks to Mr. Haagner for much kind help and for seeing my ])apers through the press. My thanks are also due to many of my friends for kindly lending mo specimens of many rare birds ; notably Sergeants Heale and Rhodes and Corpl. Aris of my regiment and to Mr. F. M. Allison of Palmerton, near Lusikisiki. I have continued the numbering of the species from my last paper, which brings the total up to 287 from this part of Pondoland. 237. Petkonia surEBCiLiAWS ([Hay] Blyth). Diamond Sparrow. This species is not uncommon amongst the mimosa-bush in the valleys. 238. Serinus sulphuratus (L.). Large Yellow Seed- eater. Not uncommon locally, usually found in old native gardens. 239. Semnus SCOTOPS (Sund,). SundevalFs Seed-eater. Rather scirce ; I found a few on the coast near Lusikisiki and on the Umtamvuna Piver. 240. Fringillaria tahapisi, A. Sm. Eock Bunting. I have found this species fairly common on the hillsides along the Umtamvuna River, freciueiiting the native corn- lands, and open bush mixed with rocky ground. They feed mostly on the ground, flying up into the. bushes when disturbed. 24L MiRAFRA africana, a. Sm. Rufous-naped Lark. I have onlj" met with this Lark on the Umtamvuna River, where they are fairly common. During the winter months they are seldom seen, keeping almost entirely to the ground, and prefer hiding or running to taking flight ; but dui'ing the spring they are amongst the most conspicuous birds ; they are everywhere to be seen perched on the tops of low Ornhlioloaii of Eastern Pondolund. 7 hnslies, uttering their loud whistle. At this season they sometimes utter a short song wliilst on the wing. 242. Anthus crenatus, Finsch & Hartl. Large Yellow- tufted Pipit. I shot a single adult male o£ this species on the top of a rocky hill near the Umtamvuna River. This is the only specimen I have seen in Pondoiand. 243. Anthus nicholsoni, Sharpe. Nicholson's Pipit. This Pipit is not uncommon along the Umtamvuna River, frequenting rocky hillsides. 244. MoTACiLLA CAPENSis, L. Cape Wagiail. This species was accidentally omitted fiom my previous paper ; it is very common everywhere. 245. PoMATORHYNCHUS TSCHAGRA (Vieill.) . Tsclmgra Bush-Shrike. I overlooked this species for a long time, mistaking it for P. senegalus. It appears to be fairly common amongst the scrub-bush in the valleys, keeping mostly to the ground, and is rarely seen. 246. AcROCErHALUS ARUNDiNACEUS (L.). Great Reed- Warbler. Not common. I have only secured four specimens, two at Flagstaff and two on the Umtamvuna River. They are generally found in the valley's, frequenting both the reeds and the scrub-bush along the banks. 247. AcROCEPHALUsrALUSTRis(Bechst.). Marsh-Warbler. Although not unconnnon in some of the river valleys, this species is one of the hardest birds I know of to collect. They frequent the thickest parts of the scrub, and although one often hears their pretty song, the most one usually sees of them is a glimpse of a small brown bird which appears for a second on the top of some low bush, and on the slightest alarm di\c's back into cover, to appear again perhaps 100 8 Mr. C. G. Davies on the Yards away. The son<; is very pretty though somewhat dis- jointed ; the alanii-note a short '' chat." 248. Bradypterus bab^cula (VieilL). Babbling Reed- Warbler. Not uncommon amongst the reeds along river-banks. It has a realiy beautiful song when it chooses to sing steadily, but it usually only utters a bar here and there as it ho[)S about amongst the reeds just above the w^ater, 249. Prinia mystacea, Riipp. Tawny-flanked Wren- Warbler. Very common in the lower river valleys, frequenting open scrub, and generally going about in small family parties. The young differ a good deal in colour from the adults, having the tail longer, the plumage more olive above and more yellow below, and the bill and inside of mouth, which are black in the adult, are yellow in the young, the cuhnen being brown. 250. (?iSTicoLA FULViCAPiLLA (VieilL). Tawny-headcd Grass-Warbler. Common amongst the scrub in the valleys ; they also fre- quent the mealie-lands and feed a good deal on the ground. 251. CiSTicoLA RuncAPiLLA (A. Sm.). Rufous-headed Grass-Warbler. Not so common as the previous species, and found more in the open. 252. CisTicoLA TINNIENS (Lcht.). Lc Vaillant's Grass- Warbler. Common amongst the sedge and reeds along the streams and marshes on the higher ground, but not found in the lower valleys. 253. CisTicoLA SUBRUFICAPILLA (A. 8m.), Grey-backcd Grass- Warbler. Not uncommon amongst the long grass on the hillsides. In spring the males sometimes indulge in a curious love- OrtiiUioJojy of luisteni Poiuloland. 9 elance, hovering in the air above the female, the tail spread out and jerked up and down, reminding one of the love-dance of y^idaa sevena. 254. CisTicoLA CHiNiANA MAGNA, Gould. (Haagner, Ann. Transvaal J\Iuseum, p. 2'1^^. no. 5.) This species, which has been confused with C. natalensis and C. chiniana, resembles C. sabrujica/nlla in most of its habits, and frequents much the same ground : I found it fairly common near the Umtumvuna lliver. 255. Myrmecocichla fokmicivoka (Vieill.). Ant-eating Chat. Apparentl}' rare in this region. I have only met with a single specimen near Bizana. 256. Saxicola bionticola (Vieill.). Mountain Chat. I procured a single female near the Umtamvuna liiver ; this was probably a straggler from the Tugela Mountain in Natal. 257. Campephaga haktlaubi (Salvad.). Yellow-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike. Rather scarce ; but I have shot specimens at St. John's, Flagstaff, and on the Umtamvuna River. 258. RiPAKiA PALUDicoLA (Vieill.). S. African Sand- Martin. This species is decidedly rare in E. Pondoland ; I have once or twice seen single specimens on the Umtamvuna River, but not elsewhere. 259. Caprimulgus trimaculatus (Swains;)' Freckled Nightjar. I shot a single adult female of this scarce Nightjar on the Umtamvuna River and have seen no others. 260. Caprimulgus natalensis, A. Sm. Natal Nightjar. This species is not uncommon in the river valleys, its liquid note beins: heard on all sides on fine summer eveninos. 10 Mr. C. G. Davies on ^Z<^ 261. CoLius iNDicus, Lath, lled-taced Mouse-bird. I have oidj mot with tliis species on one occasion, when I came across a flock amongst some scrub-bush near the sea at Port St. John. 262. Iynx ruficollis, Wagl. S. African Wryneck. Not uncommon along the Umtamvuna Kiver from March till September, l)ut I have met with it elsewhere. 20n. CucULUS CANORUS, L. European CUickoo. This is a scarce bird in E. Pondoland, and although T believe I have seen it on one or two oeca-ions, the only- specimen I have secured was an adult male picked up by some natives with its wing broken and in a starving condition. 2G4. Clamator GLANDARius (L.). Great Spotted Cuckoo. This species seems to be rare. 1 shot an adult ma'e near the Umtamvuna E-iver on the 6.9.08. This is the only one I have seen. 2G5. Clamator hypopinarius, Cab. & Heine. Black-and- Grey Cuckoo. I have received a single s[)ecimen (an adult female) from ('Oi})l. J. A. Aris, shot near his station on the Umtamvuna. I have not met with the species myself. 2()G. Strix flammea, L. Barn Owl. I have not been able to procure a sj)ecimen of this Owl, but am sure it occurs, as I have often heard the note at )iight and have found feathers under krantzes. 20 7. CiRCAiiTUS pectoralis, A. Sni. Black-breasted Harrier-Eagle. This species appears to be more or less migratory : they appear in fair numbers along the river valleys in the spring, and after staving a day or two the majority seem to disappear. A fine adult was shot by Mr. Allison )iear Lusikisiki. Ornitliolocjij of Eastern Vondoland. 11 2G8. Circus macrurus (Gm.). Pale Harrier. Not common ; but during the summer months a fe^v ure generally to be seen flying slowly oA'er the open veldt and niealie lands. 2G0. AcciPiTER MTNULLUs(Daud.). Little Sparrow-Hawk. Mr. Allison kindly sent jne a skin o£ an adult male, shot in the Lusikisiki District. I have not met with it myself. 270. CiCONiA NIGRA, L. Black Stork. This is rather a rare bird. One was killed some years ago near Lusikisiki, and I myself saw a fine adult bird at the mouth o£ a lagoon on the coast near Lusikisiki on the 1.G.07. It was very wild and I was unable to shoot it. 271. Herodias ALBA (L.). Great VVhite Egret. I received a fine female in the flesh from Sgt. llliodes, stationed at Webster's Drift, on the Umtamvuna River. This bird was shot on the 28.8.08 and was in non-breeding plumage. 1 have not personally met with this species. 272. Ardetta MiNUTA (L.). European Little Bittern. I shot an adult male of this pretty little Bittern on the Umtamvuna Kiver, the only s|)ecimen I have seen. It was climbing slowly through the reeds just above the water. I have since received a rather mangled skin of a female from Mr. Allison, but do not know whether to refer it to this species or to A. pagesl. 273. Phcenicofterus roseus, Pall. Greater Flamingo. I have received the skin of an immature bird of this sj)ecies from a friend who shot it at the mouth of the Umtamvuna River. It was one of four birds^ all in the brov\ n plumage. This is apparently a rare bird in Pondoland, as none of the natives or traders had ever seen one like it before. 274. Plectropterus C4Ambenris (L.). Spur-wing Goose. This is a very scarce bird in E. Pondoland ; I saw a flock of Ave pass over the camp at Lusikisiki one day, and have heard of one having been killed on the upper Umzimvubu River. 12 Mr. C. G. Da vies on the 275. Nettapus auritus (BoJd.) Dwarf Goose. I have received three specimens of this beautiful little Goose, two males and a female, killed by CorpL Aris, C.M.R., near his camp on the Umtamvuna River on the 27.7.08. I have never met with this species myself and think it must be rare. 27(j. Dendrocycna viduata (L.). White-faced Duck. I received a single female of this species from Sgt. Rhodes, who tells me that a flock of about twenty had passed the greater part of the winter on the river near his camp ; he said they were rather wihl, but he had shot about eight of them. I do not think this species has before been recorded from so far south. 277. Anas undulata, Dubois. YeHow-billed Duck. I only met with this Duck at the mouth of the Umgazi River, where I saw a large flock. 278. Anas capensis, Gm^ Cape Teal. I saw a single specimen of this Teal on the Umtamvuna River on the 1.12.08. I had unfortunately no gun with me at the time, but there could be no doubt as to the species, as it was quite close, and I watched it for some time from behind the reeds, I cannot understand why this species should be called the " Cape Wigeon *' in Stark and Sclater's book, as it is a true Teal, and bears no resemblance to a Wigeon either in appearance or habits. 270. Francolinus natalensis, A. Sm. Natal Francolin. This species is found in fair numbers along the lower I'iver valleys. They are true bush birds, frequenting the scrub- bush, and are rarely found outside, except when feeding in the natives' lands. They have a very harsh, loud call, uttered usually in the early morning and evening, which sounds in the distance just like the yelping of a dog. When flushed they usually perch in a tree, and when flying utter a short " kek kek." OrnitJioIor/i/ of Eastern l^ondoland. \_?y 280. CoTURNix Dia.AGOiiGUEi (Deliio.)- Harlequin Quail. I received a skin of a fine adult male of this species from Mr. Allison, shot on the 20.7.08. Mr. Allison states that he saw one or two others, but did not secure them. 281. Ceex egregia, Ptrs. African Crake. Sgt. E. M. Heale, C.M.R., sent me a pair shot near Bizana on the 28.12.08. 282. Sarothrura rufa (VieilL). Red-chcstcd ('rake. I shot a sinole adult female in a marsh near Flaostaff on the 31.12.07. I have seen no others. 283. FuLiCA CRiSTATA, Gm. Red-knobbed (Joot. iSgt. Heale informs me that he has shot several of these birds near the Umtamvuna mouth. 284. Otis cafra, Lcht. Stanley Bustard. Although I suspected that this species^ as well as 0, luduigi, occurred on the flats near the sea, I never could procure one for identification. Sgt. Heale, however, tells me that both species occur there, this one being the commoner, and that he had shot several, the largest weighing 17 lbs. He s:!ys they disappear during the summer months. 285. RosTRATULA BENGALENSis (L.). Painted Snipe. I have received a single adult male from Sgt. Heale, shot near Bizana, but have not heard of any others having been shot in Pondoland. Since writing the above paper, I have collected the two following birds : — 286. HiERAisTus PENNATUS (Gm.). Booted Eagle. I shot an adult female in beautiful plumage of this species near my camp on the Umtamvuna River. This bird had been stealing our chickens for some days, and when killed the crop contained the remains of a young chicken. This species is, I think, rare, and I have not previously met with it. 1-4 On a new Flycatcher from Rliodes'ia. 287. HiERAKTL'S spiLOGASTEU ([Dii Bus] Bp.) . ACiican Hawk-Eagle. I received the skin of a male bird of this species from Mr. Allison, which he had shot near Palmerton in the Lusikisiki District. He inforniod me that he had shot another of the same species, hut larger, probably a female. I have not met with it myself. III. — On a new Species of Flycatcher from Rliodesia. By Alwin Haagner, F.Z.iS. &c. Hyliota rhodesi.e, nov. sp. Similar to //. australis, bnt differing markedly in some respects. Like that species it has no metallic coloi-ation in the plumage, but differing in that the inner secondaries are broadly margined on the outside with white, the remainder as well as the primaries (excepting the two outermost) narrowly edged with white. No mention of this is made in the original description of Captain Shelley (' Ibis,' 1882, p. 258), nor is there any sign of it in the plate (pi. 7. fig. 1). Another marked difference is that the outer tail-feather on either side is crossed by a broad white bar. Description. — General colour dull blackish brown, paler on the head and mantle, darker on the wings and tail. Rump regions as in australis. Wing as in australis except the above-mentioned points. The tail-feathers are blackish ; the outermost with the outer web white from the black tip to within about 10 mm. of the root of the tail, the basal portion of the feather being black. A broad white bar across the whole feather near the tip, the other edge slightly sprinkled with black, thereby somewhat interrupting the white band. Entire under surface creamy ochreous, darker on the breast, inclining to pure creamy on the abdomen. Thioiis and under wing-coverts white. Total length 125 mm.; wing GO'S; tail 43 ; cuhnen 11-8. This specimen is in the Albany Museum, No. 282, Matoppos, Rhodesia, June 1003 (7?. Willmms). On the " Woodhush Warbler^ 15 Remarks. — As this bird is not sexecl, and no soxes are given to any o£ the specimens of austraUs mentioned in lists subsequent to Shelley's original description, T cannot say whether this may not turn out a specimen of //. austraUs after all. This, however, is very unlikely, as a seasonal, juvenile, or sexual difference would hardly occur in the coloration of the tail-feathers. IV. — Field-Notes on tJie " Woodhish Warhler" (Hemipteryx minuta, Gnnn.). By F. Vaughan-Kirby, F.Z.S. The following brief notes upon the haunts and habits of the little Woodbush Warbler may bo of interest to readers of the Journal. This bird, it will be remembered, was described by Dr. Gunning in the April number of the Journal (1909, vol. v. no. 1) from specimens brought by me from the Woodbush early in the previous year. 1 again met with it during August 1909, when collecting in the Groote Spolonken, and was enabled to make the observations which form the subject of this article. My first acquaintance with this Warbler in the Woodbush led me to think that it was of comparatively rare occurrence, but from my experiences in the S})elouken — where I had exceptionally favourable opportunities of closely watching it — I am of opinion that the rank growth of grass which everywhere covered the Woodbush Hill sufficiently accounts for its a[)parent scarcity. In the Spelonkcn I tramped through many nides of similar grass and only saw one specimen, but fortunately there were also large areas of "old burns/^ and there I frequently met with the little creature. I never saw them, however, on fresldy burnt ground. When found in long grass it invariably adopts a definite line of action : a sudden rise at oue's feet^ a short, quick, low flight to some swaying grass-stem, a momentary pause as it clings thereto, then a dive — as sudden as its rise — into IC) On the •' Woodbusli Wurblev" the shelter of the surrounding cover, whence 1 have never yet succeeded in again flashing it. But in the hurnt areas when the young grass has commenced to sprout these little Hemipteryx may be observed at leisure, and their frequent occurrence in such localities suggests that open, sparsely- grassed veld in their chosen habitat. During the heat of the day they seem to hide away in undiscoverable spots, but up till 10 a.m. and the evening after 4 p.m. they could always be found in places such as described above. At a spot about half a mile away from my camp I counted seven of these birds on a sloping hill-side, near a stream, in company with a pair of Pratincola torquata, a single Macronyx croceus, and three Anthus nicholsoni. They run swiftly, pausing every now and then to look around, irresistibly reminding one of the Larks and Pipits. They take short flights, however, more frequently than these birds. If one walks after them, but not pushing them too closely, they invaribly seek to escape by running along the ground. Their wonderfully protective coloration and skill in hiding themselves make them exceed- in oly difficult birds to pick up. Every projecting grass-tuft, every tiny inequality in the surface of the ground is utilised for their secretive purposes. I have frequently drawn up to one of these little beings, after carefully watching it as it disappeared behind a little bunch of burnt twigs, or a skeleton o-rass-tuft, until I dare not advance another yard for fear of dismembering it if I used my gun. There stands the tuft — there is not apparently the tiniest vestige of cover for many yards around, but Hemipteryx has vanished ! Sometimes by following up the general direction of pursuit a tiny fawn- coloured spot may be seen, apparently resting on the ground ; this suddenly resolves itself into the head and neck of the bird itself, looking out from behind a minute depression, but it is off" again at once, running, dodging, doubling, and hiding as before. If pushed, they spring up suddenly into the air, pursue a quick erratic flight (about 4 feet from the ground) for about 30 or 40 yards, then drop to earth again On the Migration of the White Stork. 17 and take to their leo-s. Durino; such flii'-ht thoy arc as difficult to hit as a Button Quail. When closely, but quietly, watched they strike the observer as being of a highly mercurial temperament. Never Still, always progressing with short, jerky little runs, hither and thither over the irregular surface, moving rapidly for a few feet, then pausing for a moment perhaps to seize some insect dainty, and again resuming its onward progress. On one occasion I watched a pair playing together ; these repeatedly flew up one after the other into the air, alighting again quickly. Occasionally, but very seldom, one of them perched on a low shrub, or rather clung to its stem, paused thus for an instant, then flew down to rejoin its mate. They remained playing thus, within a radius of about 30 yards from my watch- place, for over an hour; at the expiration of this time they flew together to the stream and dropped into the reeds, whence I could not see them emerge. The natives say they make their nest low down in the fork of a small shrub ; I did not, however, meet with any. Dr. Gunning in describing the species does not apparently recognise any sexual difference of coloration. It appeared to me, from the mutilated remains of two males which I shot, that the mantle and interscapulars of the male are slightly darker than in the female, whilst the upper tail-coverts are of a more pronounced red-brown. This may be merely slight local variation. The wings of the two males measured respectively 50 and 50*5 mm. The only call I heard these birds utter consisted of three sharp chirrups, and this but seldom. In the stomachs of all I have examined I have found onlv the remains of ants, with the exception of one male, which, in addition to ants, contained the wings of some small fly. V. — Some Remarks on the Migration of the White Stor/c (Ciconia ciconia). By Alwin Haagner, F.Z.S. &c. By menus of the practicil experiment of marking Storks with an aluminium ring, now adopted by our ornithological T'OL, VI. 2 18 Mr. A. ILiagner on friends iu Germany and Hungary, it has been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that birds from the northern })art of Europe wend their way southwards, across the Equator to the heart of South Africa. Seebohm's idea was that the migrants from furthest north go furthest south, while Mr. W. L. Schiter, in the case of the Bee-eaters [Merops apiaster), suggests the reverse (Journal S. A. 0. A. vol. ii. No. 1, p. 17). This matter can only be satisfactorily settled where a complete chain of observers exists between north and south. This desirable position may not be so very far ahead, as iu British East Africa a Natural History Society has just been formed, and I have already been in communication with its Secretary as to the probability of co-operating in this im- portant work. The reply received from Mr. Sergeant (the Secretary) was very satisfactory. When we know the dates the binls leave North and South Europe, and arrive in North, Central, and South Africa, something like a positive result can be expected. It is with the hope of inducing all our Members, as well as those of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society, to do their best in the matter of observing, that these few remarks are penned. If a Member cannot find time to observe and report upon all the migrants mentioned in our circulars, then let him confine himself to the White Stork for the present. These birds, as is well known, breed in Europe, and the method adopted by the followers of the Vogelwarte Rossitten and the Hungarian Bureau of Ornithology is to mark the young birds (fledglings) in the nest before they fly. This marking is done by means of an aluminium ring, so light and so loosely litted on the leg that no harmful effect on the bird is noticed. The following record of ringed Storks obtained in South Africa will prove the efficacy of the method adopted : — (a) Marked by the Vogelwarte Rossitten: — (1) Fort Jameson ; (2) Kalahari Desert ; (3) Morija, Basuto- land ; (4) Maluti Mountains, near Maseru, Basuto- land. {b) Marked by the Royal Hungarian Central Bureau : — the Mhjration of the White Stork. 19 (1) Polela, Natal; (2) Lake Banagber, Ennelo Dist., Tvl. ; (3) Glencoe, Natal ; (4) Morija, Basuto- land; (5) Senekal, O.F.S. A few particulars of some of these Storks will interest my readers. The two first mentioned (Nos. 1265 & 1416) from Basutoland were ringed in East Prussia in June 1908, and were procured in Basutoland in January and February 1909 by natives, and reported to me by our energetic Member of Council for that country, Mr. J. P. Murray. The bird procured at Lake Banagber on the 22nd November, 1909, was marked at Bogyan, in Hungary (No. 1415), on the 16th June of the same year. Although recorded from the Cape Division in the west, and Port Elizabeth in the east, the occurrence of the White Stork so far south is rare. Mr. John Wood, of East London, says it has never been found at that place, although he records it from Stutterheim, some distance to the north ; Trevelyan observed it at Kingwilliamstown ; and Sgt. (■. G. Davies, C. M. Rifles, at Flagstaff', in Pondoland. In the Transvaal it is common in most districts from November to February or March. The earliest authentic dates of its occurrence in South Africa are — 20th September, 1907, at Komatipoort (Major Hamilton) ; 26th September, 1907, at Modderfontein, Dist. Pretoria (HaagnerJ; and 28th September, 1908, at Ermelo (C.H.Taylor). In January and February of this year the White Stork seemed to be pretty widely distributed over South Africa. I saw the bird in small scattered troops all along the line from Pretoria to Zuurfontein in January, and between the 3rd and 6th of March observed them in small flocks near Heidelberg, Standerton, and Volksrust. At the latter place they were widely scattered over the veld ; I saw them in twos and threes up to dozen individuals together all the way from Volksrust to near Majuba. No locusts were to be seen ; however, they may have just been hatching out. During the heavy rains which prevailed at the time, I ^noticed the birds betook themselves to the higher ground. 20 Obituary. Mr. Frank Pym, of Kingwilliunistown, CO., reports the Storks ill flocks of 50 to 100 on the 25th January, dis- appearing in a north-easterly direction on the 20th February. He says locusts were not to be seen, but there were an unusually large number of grasshoppers, which probably accounts for the birds three weeks' sojourn in that district. The last Stork seen by nie was on the 30th March, when a solitary individual, which had been frequenting a barley- field near the zoo, suddenly disappeared. VI. — Obituary. Dr. R. Bowdlek Sharpe, Asst. Keeper, British Museum. (Plate I.) South Afkican ornithologists will be sorry to hear of the sudden death of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, whose name is indelibly stamped upon their memory by his edition of E. L. Layard's well-known ' Birds of South Africa." Dr. Sharpe was an honorary member of many ornithological societies, as well as that of our Union. The following brief notice of his life is taken from the London ' Times ' of 31st December, 1909 : — " Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. " We regret to announce that Dr. Richard Bowdler Sharpe, the well-known ornithologist, and an Assistant Keeper in the Department of Zoology at the Natural History Museum, died on Christmas Day at his house in Barrowgate Road, Chiswick. " Richaril Bowdler Sharpe was born in London on November 22, 1847, and was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Bowdler Sharpe, publisher, of Cookham and Malvern Link. He was educated at Brighton, and at Peterborough and Louohboroueh Grammar Schools. Li 1863 he entered the service of Messrs. W. H, Smith and Sons, and after a year with Mr. Bernard Quaritch he became in 1867 the first Librarian to the Zoological Sociely of London, a post which he held until 1872, when he joined the British Museum as Senior Assistant in the Department of Zoology, to become an Assistant Keeper in 1895. ^Lpn. yk^ i'i'."^/^.^^.^^^^:^^^^. Occasional JS^otes. 21 " Dr. Bowdler Sliarpe's principal work lay in ornithology, in which subject he worked more as an editor and classifier than as a field observer. Of the monumental catalogue of birds in the British Museum in 27 volumes, he was respon- sible for the greater part ; the first four volumes of the ' Hand-List of Birds ' were also his work; while with Dresser in 1871 he began the publication of the ' Birds of Europe/ one of the completest works of its kind, which was finished by his collaborator in eight volumes in 1879. Among other works on ornithology are his monographs on Kingfishers, Swallows, and Birds of Paradise. The first of these, on the family of Kingfishers, published 40 years ago, at once brought a reputation to its youthful author, and described 125 species of the Alcedinidse, grouped into 19 genera and divided into two subfamilies, Alcedininse and Daceloninse. Among other works Dr. Sharpe edited Allen's ' Natural History ' and White's ' Natural History of Selborne,' to which he was enabled to add, as he explained in his preface, a good deal of matter of interest to lovers of Gilbert White, having spent some weeks in Selborne for the purpose." VII. — Occasional Notes. 1. Dr. Otto Herman, of the Royal Hungarian Bureau of Ornithology, and Mr. J. A. Allen, of the American Museum of Natural History, desire to thank the Members of the S. A. 0. U. for the honour conferred upon them at the Bloemfontein meeting;. 2. The Hon. Secretary has received a letter from the Hon. Sec. of the " East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society " (in reply to one from him), welcoming the idea to collaborate in the important matter of Bird Migration. It is only when the link between North and South is more or less complete that we can hope for certain knowledge as to the actual movements of the Northern migrants. 22 Occasional JYoles. 3. Members of the Union may be glad to hear that Mr. Haagner, who has been the Hon. Secretary o£ their Association since its inception, and Joint-Editor of the ' Journal^ since 1907, has been honoured by the Hungarian Government, the Royal Hungarian Minister of Agriculture having conferred on him a " Diploma^' as Hon. Member of the Royal Hungarian Central Bureau of Ornithology. The British Ornithologists' Union has also honoured him by electing him a " Colonial" Member of their Union. 4. Bi-annual Nidification of Black-chested Wren- Warbler, — An instance of bi-annual nidification has recently come under my observation which may be of sufficient interest to publish. About a month ago a pair of Black-chested Wren- Warblers (^Prinia flavicans) were to be seen carrying material about the flower-garden here, evidently with the object of building a nest. On looking about I located the nest in a may-bush almost finished. Sparrows are in the habit of building extra-warm nests to sleep in during the winter, and I thought that this nest was built for a similar reason. I was much surprised, therefore, when I found three eggs in it ten days later. They were of the usual type. To-day, on examining the nest, the old birds made a great fuss, and I found the funny little young ones had deserted the nest and were in hiding, looking ver}^ cold and miserable, in the neighbouring hedges. The breeding-season for these Warblers is during the hottest months of the year, and this occurrence is such an unusual one that it is hard to account for. Pretoria, 8. 7. 09. AusTIN ROBERTS. 5. Record of Garden Warbler at Port Elizabeth. — Last month a specimen of the Garden AVarbler [Sylvia simplex) was shot at Perseverance, which is a railway station Occasional Notes. 23 a few miles from Port Elizabeth. It was procured by Mr. A. W. Ryneveldj who complained that it ate his figs. I see Sclater mentions it has this habit, but states that it has not been known to occur as far south as our Colony. Port Elizabeth, F. W. FiTzSlMONS, 8. 5. 1910. Director P. E. Museum. 6. Soft Parts of Narina Trogon.— I note in Journal, vol. iii. no. 2, page 192, some remarks on the coloration of the soft parts of the Narina Trogon by Mr. C. G. Davies. I should like to state that on 7th September, 1903, I shot two Trogons in a kloof on the farm Suns- klip, adjoining this farm. I watched them for two days before getting a shot at them, and noticed their slow and dipping flight, also that gaily coloured as the bird is, it was most difficult to see, either at rest or in flight. No note was heard from either bird. They kept well aloft in the trees of the kloof, seeming to prefer dead branches to settle upon. The one is now in the S. A. Museum, and is the Narina Trogon that Sclater states he got from Sabi Dst. of Lyden- burg, as I sent him the skin. The soft parts are accurately described by Mr. Davies, and agree exactly with my notes on them. I thought perhaps it would be well just to verify Mr. Davies's observations, as he states Stark and Sclater give soft parts wrongly. The stomachs contained large grass- ho])pers and beetles, the elytra of which were very roughly broken, one piece being quite ^'' in diameter. The Narina has never been seen before or since, either by myself or natives, who do not know the bird. P. O. Sabi, 2. 4. 1910. J. C. Ingle, F.Z.S. 7. Marked Hawk in Senekal, O.F.S. — It has been reported to us by Mr. 0. P. van der Merwe, the Assistant Biologist of the Orange Free State, that a Hawk (pro- bably a Sparrow- Hawk, judging from the fe;ither) was shot at Senekal, O.F.S., by J. Grobbelaar, of the Farm 24 SJi07't JS^otices of Ornithological Prihlicathws. Langkuil, on 20th January, 1910. One of the primary wing-feathers bore the No. 167, on the left leg was an india- rubber ring and on the right an aluminium ring with the legend: "215 JEHS. 08-9." If any one of our readers should know something of the history of the bird, the Editors of this Journal will be pleased to hear from him. VIII. — Short Notices of Ornithological Publications. 1. TAe Ibis, a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology, April 1909 No. contains "Contributions to the Ornitho- logy of Egypt. — No. II. Birds of the Province of Giza : Part 1,^' by H. J. Nicoll, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. This is a long list of the birds occurring in the Giza Province of Egypt, by the Assistant Director of the Giza Zoological Gardens, although the author himself doubts its completeness. It is illustrated by a fine lithographic plate of Scotocerca inguieta (Cretzschm.). July 1909 contains Part 2 of Mr. Nicoll's just mentioned paper. We have here also a continuation of Mr. A. L. Butler's " Contributions to the Ornithology of the Sudan,'" the portion under notice relating to the birds observed on the Red Sea coast in May 1908. Of more interest to South African ornithologists than the above-mentioned papers is one by Gerard H. Gurney, F.Z.S. ^c, entitled " Notes on a Collection of Birds made in British East Africa.'' The field-notes are in many cases excellent, and there are of course many references to well-known South African species. October 1909. This number commences with an article on the birds of Cyprus by our one-time Editor and President Mr. J. A. Bucknill, M.A., &c. Part 3 of Mr. Nicoll's " Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt (Province of Giza) " also appears herein. We have also the description of a new bird (with coloured plate) : P seudocalyptomena graueri, genus et species nova. Shoi't Notices of Ormtliological PahUcations. 25 2. Tlie Aquila : Organ of the Royal Hnnf/arian Central Bureau of OvJiitJiologi/. Edited by Dr. Otto Herman. We have received vol. xvi. o£ 1909, and it teems with interesting matter. Of most interest to us is an account of the accomplishments of the Royal Hungarian Bureau by its veteran Director, Dr. Herman, which includes an account of the ringing experiment of the White Stork and its first result in South Africa, viz. the bird shot in Polela, Natal. This is accompanied by a sketch-map showing the bird's flight from Hungary to South Africa. Dr. Herman also gives excerpts of our first migration report. Following this " sketch" is an " In Memoriam " of the late Professor Newton, including the correspondence between the revered ornitho- logist and Dr. Herman. This is succeeded by a comparison of species observed in Western Liberia and Africa by Dr. Finsch. The bulk of the volume is, however, naturally given to the 15th Annual Report of the Bureau on the Migration in Hungary during the spring of 1908. This is illustrated by very clear plates — both coloured and plain — of some of the species. An account of the ringing of birds with a list of the stations, &c.^ by Jakob Schenck, is also worthy of our study. 3. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, vol. xxiv. Report on the immigrations of summer residents in the spring of 1908. &c. Few birds in this, the 4th Report of the Migration Committee of the British Ornithologists' Club, are of interest to the South African ornithologists. We notice the date of the earliest Spotted Flycatcher is April 27th. Th? Pretoria Zoo was full of these birds the first week in March, but by the IGth the majority of them had departed. The earliest date given for the Red-backed Shrike is 21st April, and that of the European Cuckoo as April 1st. VOL. VI. 3 26 Short JS^otices of Ornithological Publications. 4. A History of the Birds of Kent. By Normau F. Ticehnrst. We have, through the courtesy o£ the publishers Messrs. Witherby & Co., of London, received a copy of this well got up book of moderate price. To ornithologists of the county of Kent in particular, and of England in general, it must be of great interest. We even as South Africans find it very interesting reading, the reproductions of old plates with which it is illustrated being of special interest. 5. We have received Pamphlet No. 1656 of the ' Pro- ceedings of the U.S. National Museum,' which is a list of " Generic Names applied to Birds during the Years 1001 to 1905 inclusive," with further additions to Waterhouse's ' Index Generum Avium,' by Chas. W. Richmond. 6. An interesting little paper with diagrammatic sketches appears in the ' Ornithologisches Jahrbuch,' Jahrgang 7, No. 3, " On the Holding of the Foot of Birds in Flight,'^ by Dr. Richard Biedermann. THE JOURNAL OF THE SODTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. Vol. VI. DECEMBER 1910. No. 2. IX. — Remarks upon some further (jnoslly hitherto undescrihed or unfigured) Eggs of certain South African Birds. By John a. Bucknill, M.A., F.Z.S.', M.B.O.U., and G. Henrik Gronvold. (Plate TI.) TuRDUS CABANisi [Bp.], Cab. Cabanis's Thrush. (PI. II. fig. 1.) The eo-or fio-ui'eJ is one of a clutch of three taken at Kromdraai, in Natal, on November Uth, J i>03, by Mr. Austin Roberts. The eggs are now in the collection of the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria. The clutch was previously shortly described by Mr. Bucknill in this Journal (October 1908, p. 83), but the egg of this species does not seem to have been described before that date or figured prior to the representation on the plate exhibited to this paper. The eggs are of bluish-green ground-colour, one slightly lighter and more yellowish than the others. They exhibit (a) underlying blotches and spots of lavender and yellowish- lavender, some pale and some well defined ; (li) umber-brown surface-spots of about ^ inch in diameter. The above markings are evenly and fairly boldly distri- buted over the whole of the eggs, whilst in addition there are VOL. VI. 4 28 Messrs. Bucknill ai^d Gronvold o?i J^ggs of — also similarly distributed — a number of small and minute spots of the above colours, though the ground-colour is still left quite conspicuous. The shell is rather smooth and the surface somewhat glossy : shape oval. Sizes: 27-0 X 21-7; 25-7 x 21'9 ; 27-Gx21'Gmm. PoLiOHiERAX SEMITORQUATUS (A. Sm.). Pigniy Falcon. (PL II. % 2.) The egg figured is a single specimen taken on the 15th October, 1905, at Wolmaranstad, in the Transvaal, by Mr. Austin Roberts. It is now in the collection of the Transvaal Museum at Pretoria. This specimen was shortly described by Mr. Bucknill in this Journal (October 1908, p. 9(5), but the egg does not appear to have been previously known or figured. The effs is of an uniform whitish-cream colour, with some very faint buffish-cream blotches on the obtuse end (which are very probably nest-stains). The shell is finely granulated and the surface dull : shape oval. Size : 28-0 x 22-9 mm. Amydrus morio (L.). Pcd-vvingod Starling. (PI. II. fig. 3.) The effof figured is one of a clutch of three taken in a krantz at Worsthill, near Grahamstown, Cape Colony, by Mr. Bertram E. Jupp, on October 25th, 1902. Mr. Jupp's collection is at prasent in the possession of the South Kensington Natural History Museum. The egg of this species is, of course, well known^ but has not been hitherto satisfactorily figured. In this Journal (October 1908, pp. 74, 75) Mr. Bucknill described several clutches from Natal and Cape Colony. The eggs of this species vary a good deal in shape, and the specimen figured belongs to the somewhat extremely elongated type which is not uncommon. The eggs of this species do not vary much in colour or markings, and the subjoined description of the specimen certain South African Sirds. 29 figured may be taken as fairly typical of those which the authors have handled. The ground-colour is of a rather light bluish green with spots of black, reddish brown, and lavender, from the size of a medium pin's head downwards ; these spots are freely scattered over the whole shell, but most numerous at the obtuse end. The black spots are largely predominant. The surface is smooth and not very glossy. Shnpe from "ovate" to " cylindical ovate." In size the maximum length of those measured was 37*0 mm. ; minimum length oOO mm. ; maximum breadth 25-2 mm. ; minimum breadth 22*0 mm. Mean length of ten 33'9 mm. ; mean breadth often 236 mm. CoLius iNDicus, Lath. Red-faced Mouse-Bird. (PI. II. fig. 4.) =:er}jthrumelonf Reichenow, Die Vogel Africas, vol. ii. p. 208. The egg figured is one of a pair taken at Oatlands, Natal, in December 1902, and is from the Jupp collection. The egg of this bird does not seem to have been previously figured. The ground-colour is a light cream, with a few small scribblings and some bolder spots of dark purplish brown distributed over the whole surface, occurring, however, most closely at the broader portion. The surface is veiy finely granulated and almost devoid of any gloss. Sizes : 21-0 x IG-Q ; 21-1 x 16-0 mm. Apalis florisuga [Lcht.], Rchw. Yellow-bellied Bush- Warbler. (PI. II. fig. 5.) Apalis florisuga, Rchw. Bd. iii. p. 610. CMorodyta neylecta, Alex., Scl. vol. ii. Birds of S. A. The egg figured is a single specimen from the Jupp col- lection, taken in January 1904 at Blaauw Krantz in Enstern Cape Colony. The ground-colour is a very light greenish white ; the obtuse end is covered with round spots, from the size of a small pin's head downwards, which are of a reddish-brown 4* 30 Messrs. Bueknill and Groiivold on Eggs of and lavender colour, those of the former tint strongly pre- dominating ; these spots grow fewer towards the narrower end of the egg, the apex being quite unspotted. The surface is smooth and somewhat glossy : shape ovate. Size : 15-Oxll'O ram. [The egg of this species has already been figured (Journal S. A. 0. U. June 1907, j)l. iii. fig. 5), but as tliis example seems to differ considerably in shape and markings we figure it again. — Edd.] CiNNYRis AFER (Linn.). Greater Double-collared Sunbird. (PL 11. fig. G.) The egg figured is one of a clutch of two from the Jupp collection, taken in January 19C4 at Blaauw Krantz, near Graham stown. The eo-g of this Sunbird does not seem to have been figured lief ore. In this clutch the ground-colour is greyish or greenish- grey, spotted and lined with very small blackish-brown mark- ings ; surrounding these markings lie ill-defined splashes of a tint rather darker than the ground-colour of the shell, giving a cloudy appearance to the whole. In a second clutch of two eggs (from the same locality and collection) one of the pair is without any blackish-brown markings whatever, the surface being merely Idotched as before described, the cloudy effect being thus much inten- sified ; in the second egg, on the other hand, the dark spots and scribblings are larger and bolder than in either of tho eggs of the first clutch, whilst there are also noticeable some few small spots of a lavender-grey tint. The surface is smooth and dull : the shape ovate. Sizes : mean length 1825 mm.; mean breadth lo'.lO nun. Tarsiger stellatus (Vieill.) White-starred Bush-Robin. (PI. 11. fig. 7.) Tho egg figured is one of a clutch of three taken on February 2nd, 1900, at Kilgobbin, Natal, by Mr. Austin Roberts. The clutch is now in the possession of the Trans- vaal Museum, Pretoria. This clutch was described in this Journal (October 1908, certain South African Birds. 31 pp. 87, 88) by Mr. Bncknill. The egg of tliis species does not appear to have hitherto been figured. The ground-colour is o£ a creamy tint ; the larger portion of the obtuse half of the egg is thickly splashed with pale pink-buft' and faint lavender blotches, which at the pole are sufficiently thick to hide the ground-colour ; the lower portion of the egg, with the exception of a few scattered marks, is almost free from spots, though a number of very fine dots of pale pink-buff are found over the whole shell. The surface is smooth and slightly glossy : shape ovate. Sizes : 25'0 X 16-8 ; 22 6 x 10*5 ; 22-8 x 16-0 mm. EuTOLMAETUS SPILOGASTER [Dubus], Bp. African Hawk Eagle. (PL II. fig. 8.) The egg figured is one of a pair taken on the 9th July, 1904, in Matabeleland by Mr. C. Wilde. The male bird was shot off the nest. The egos are now in the Transvaal Museum. The clutch was shortly described by Mr. Bucknill in this Journal (October 1908, pp. 71 & 97), but the egg of this species does not appear to have been hitherto figured. The ground-colour of the egg figured is a dull white ; the entire surface is covered with minute pale brown spots con- fluent in many parts and forming irreguhir patches of fairly large size, particularly towards the obtuse end of the egg. In the second egg the })atclies are almost entirely confined to the narrower half of the egg ; the obtuse end is ulmust free from colourino; and the markino-s are, throuiihout, nmch fainter. The surface is finely granulated and without gloss : shape a somewhat pointed oval. Sizes: 69-5 X 53-5 ; 69-0 X 52-7 mm. Kaupifalco monogrammicus (Temm.). African Buzzard Eagle. (PI. II. fig. 9.) The egg figured was taken from the oviduct of a female shot by a friend of Mr. A. L. Butler on March 27th, 1907, at Khor Gitti, Sudan [vide 'The Ibis,^ 1908, p. 253]. Mr. Butler kindly lent this egg for the purposes of this paper. 32 J^99^ of certain South African Birds. In this Jonrnul (October 1908, p. 98) Mr. Bucknill de- scribed an egg believed to be of this species ttaken by Mr. C Wilde in Matabeleland, and now in the Transvaal Mtisenm ; but the colouring does not at all agree vith that of the egg now figured, and Mr. Wilde probably made a mistake in identification. Luckily Mr. Butler's egg was available for comparison and was plated instead of Mr. Wikle's, thus avoiding any possibility of error. The egg of this species has not previously been figured. The ground-colour is a uniform very light blue. The surface is densely and finely pitted and dull : shape oval. Size : 4:2-5x 35'5 mm. Rhinopomastus cyanomelas (Vieill.). Scimitar^billed Hoopoe. (PI. II. fig. 10.) The egg figured is one of a clutch of four taken on the 22nd October, 1904, at Potchefstroom, Transvaal, by Mr. Austin Roberts. They are now in the collection of the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria. The egg of this species does not appear to have been figured hitherto. The egg is of a uniform bluish green. Surface smooth and glossy : shape an elongated oval. Sizes :' 21-0 X 15-8 ; 23'9 x 15-9 ; 23*9 X 15-9; 23-0 x 16*0 mm. StEphakibyx melanopterus (Cretzschm.). (PL II. fig. 11.) The discovery of the eggs of this species was made in 1906 by Mr. Clamle Taylor, and a description of the nesting-habits of the bird and of some clutches of its eggs was given by Mr. Taylor and Mr. Bucknill in this Journal (vol. iii. 1907, p. 40). The eggs were all taken in early September 1906 at Indhlovodwaiitie, Amsterdam District, Transvaal. Mr. Taylor presented clutches to the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, the (\mbridge Natural History Museum, and the South Ken- sington Natural History Museum, the egg figured being one Joi, m. S.A. 0. IT. Vol. M. Pl.U. "i. 10. Bale & Da-mels ■ii-i\FRIC/vN Plumage of tUe Moanta'in Chat. 33 from the clutch of three in the possession of the last of these institutions. The eggs vary little and those of each clutch hardly at all. The ground-colour is olive-buff with some underlying markings of lavender; the surface is rather evenly and freely splashed with rounded spots of dark and light sepia. The surface is smooth and without gloss : shape " ovate- pyriform.'" Sizes : average 43'0 X 30"0 mm. It may, perhaps, be added that the expressions of colour and shape used in this paper are taken from Ridgway's ' Nomenclature of Colors.' London, October 1909, X. — Notes on the Plumage of the Mountain Chat (Saxicola moniicola, Bechd.).' By C. G. Da vies, M.B.O.U. As the different plumages of the Mountain (*hat have been a puzzle to writers on S. African ornithology for many years, and even now are little understood, i venture to hope that the following notes may be of interest, and may perhaps help towards the final settlement of this question. Before proceeding with my own observations, it will perhaps be advisable to give a short summary of some of the previous literature on the subject. In the volume of the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society' for the year 1874, p. 213, Messrs. Blanford and Dresser gave an important monograph of the genus Saxicola, Bechstein, and in writing of the Mountain Chat, divided it into five species, viz., Saxicola monticola, leucomelana, diluta, griseiceps, and castor, being led astray by the different plumages assumed by this species. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, in the first volume of his edition of Layard's ' Birds of S. Africa,' followed the example of the 34 Mr. C. G. Diivles 07i the above authors, but added anotlier species, viz, S. anderssonl, adding, however, a note, of which the following is an extract : — " .... But in stating our views it must be admitted that the changes of plumage are so little under- stood that it is quite possible that our conclusions will require further modification ....■" Mr. Seebohm, in vol. v. of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, reduced the number of species to two, viz,, S. leucomelcvna and S. monticola, with two subspecies, viz., S. len cornel cena monticola and *S'. monticola Jeucomelcena ; but, at the same time, propounded the theory that the two latter might, as well as other forms, be caused through the inter- breeding of the two species : he, however, fell into the error of ascribing all the birds in grey plumage to the female sex, in spite of the fact that many of the specimens examined by him had been sexed by the collectors as males. In the volume of 'The Ibis' for 1883, p. 331, Messrs. Butler, Feilden, and Reid wrote a long and interesting article on this species, in which they gave their opinion that from observations made in the field, and from a large series of specimens collected by themselves in Natal, they had come to the conclusion that there was only one species, viz. S. monticola, which passed through a regular series of plumage-chanues from black to grey. They illustrated this theory by a list of nine plumage stagvs. Dr. E. B. Sharpe, in the same volume of ' The Ibis,' wrote an article in wliich he, after having examined the series of this species in the British Museum, came to the conclusion that the theory of the above authors was the correct one. In the volume of 'The Ibis ' for 1887, Mr. Seebohm, in an article on Natal birds, while admitting that he had made a mistake in the matter of the females, declined to admit the correctness of the theory of Messrs, Butler, Feilden, and Reid. He stated his reasons, and considered that, in his ©pinion, the above authors had produced no proof, and still adhered to his opinion that the different varieties were caused bv interbreeding. Plumage of the Mountain Chat. 35 Mr. W. L. Sclater, in the second volume of the Birds of the 'Fauna of 8. Africa' series, apparently agrees with Messrs. Butler, Feilden, and Reid, hut gives only seven stages of plumage. Since October 1909, I have, in the district of Matatiele, E. Griqualand, where the Mountain Chat is fairly common, devoted a good deal of my time to observing and collecting specimens of this species. As the result of my observations, and thinking carefully over the matter, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Seebohm's theory is the nearest to the truth. Although being unable to disprove the theory of Messrs. l)utler, Feilden, and Reid, I am not inclined to agree with with it, as some of my observations do not altogether agree with theirs. My own theory is a modification of Mr. Seebohm's, but with this ditference, that instead of there being tw^o species, that there is only one^ which is dimorphous, i. e., having two formSj a black and a grey one, and that all the intermediate plumages betw^een the two extremes may be caused through the interbreedino- of the two. I do not consider the fact that the females do not vary much in colour to be against my theory, as it is well known that among many nearly allied sj)ecies of birds, of which the males differ very much from one another, the females are almost indistinguishable (a case in point is Pyronielana orLc and P. taJia). Now I think that if it was the case that the males of S. moiiticola changed gradually through a regular sequence of plumiiges from black to grey, the birds in the plumage intermediate between the two extremes would be as common as the latter, whereas 1 have found this far from being the case ; in fact, that while I could have secured a large number of both black and grey birds, I have had con- siderable ditficulty in getting specimens in intermediate plumages. Messrs. Butler, Feilden, and Reid give as one of the reasons for believing the grey birds to be the oldest is their scarcity ; but I have found this form, if not the commonest, •>^ Plumage of the Monntain Chat. quite as common as the black birds, and, curiously enough, as a rule much tamer than either the latter or the birds in intermediate plumage. The weak spot in my theory is that, so far, I have not succeeded in finding a male changing direct from the first black plumage into the grey plumage ; but, on the other hand, such moulting birds as I have met with have been changing into a plumage exactly similar to the previous one, after allowing for the old feathers being worn and discoloured. I advance the above theory for what it is worthy and am quite ready to admit that I may be wrong. The only way I can think of settling the question is for some of our Members, who have the time and opportunity, to get young birds of this species and try and rear them in captivity, and make careful notes on the changes of plumage. This should not be difiicult, as the Mountain Chat is a hardy bird and should make an attractive inmate for the aviary. I would note here tliat S. monticola only moults once in the year, viz. in autumn, and therefore those who wish to collect specimens and get a correct idea of their plumages should shoot them in the early winter, as in the spring and sunnner the jdumage becomes so worn and abraded that it is hard to get a good idea of the original colour. The following are some of the principal plumages as observed by me : — 1. Brownish black, with white rump and base of outer tail-feathers, females and young males ; but I shot a young male, hardly fledged, wiih white shoulders, this skin is now in the Transvaal Museum. 2. Black with white shoulders : in this plumage there is usually a more or less distinct shade of grey on the crown and nape, when in good plumage. Common. 3. Black with white shoulders. The crown and nape pale grey, contrasting strongly with the jet-black of the rest of the plumage. Scarce. JS^ote. — The form in which the crown is xcliite does not occur in these parts. This form was formerly Little-known Birds from near Beira. 37 known as S. Jencomekrna, and might be retained as a subspecies under tbe above name. 4. Grey with white shoulders, but the mantle and under- parts much darker than the head. Scarce. 5. Grey with grey shoulders, the shoulders paler than the rest of plumage. Common. 6. Grey with white shoulders. Common. I consider that the amount of white on the underparts, like that on the tail, to be purely an individual variation, some birds having more, some less, when otherwise in the same plumage. The females also vary slightly in depth of colouring, some being darker in colour, some much lighter. XI. — FieJd-Xofes on some Uttle-hiown Birds, indudiny two new S2>ecies, from Observations made during the Nesting - Season of 1909 near Beira, P.E.A. By P. A. Sheppard. 1. Harrier Hawk. Polyhoroides t/jpicns, H. Smith. A nest was found on Se[)t. 19th built in the fork of a tall leafless tree situated on the bank of a stream on the outskirts of a forest, and placed about 40 It. from the ground. The tree was practically impossible to climb, being very large in the trunk, with smooth bark, and with no branches for at least 25 ft. On climbing a tree close alongside a good view of the interior of the nest could be obtained from a higher level, and it was found to be empty and not completed. On examinino- the nest ao;ain on Oct. 17tli two eogs were seen, but it was not until a quantity of leaves had been removed from inside the nest that the eggs were discovered, they being entirely covered up. On approaching the nest I could see that it was occupied, and moved cautiously to try to get a shot at the parent bird. Just as I reached the tree the bird left the nest, when I manaoed to l)ao; it. The male 38 Mr. P. A. ShQpl,ard—FiehI-^^otes on was circling round high up over the tree. The eggs were obtained by fastening a net on to the end of a long bamboo jd carei'uUj scooping tliem out. The nest was built o£ sticks and was a faix'-sized structure, approximately "1' 6" in diameter on the outside, deep, and lined with a quantity o£ leaves, a large proportion of which were nearly fresh and green. Of the two eggs, one was very much incubated, while the other one was almost clear. Both eggs are very handsome, the ground-colour being cream, but almost entirely covered with large blotches and markings of a rich red-brown. Size of eggs: 2^" X hV' ^"^^ 2^" X j ^ 2. African Buzzard Eagle. Kaupifalco monogramynicus (Temm.). Three nests were found during the season. No. 1. — On Sept. 14th a pair was noted to have commenced building in a fork of a tree about 25 ft. from the ground on the outskirts of a wood, and easily seen from a distance of fifty yards. Both birds took part in the building. On Sept. 24th the nest was apparently completed, but contained no eggs ; examined agnin on Oct. 7th, two eggs were found, the female flying off' the nest on u\j approaching. Both eggs were quite clear. The nest was built of small branches and lined with finer twigs, roots, and leaves, and measured about 12" to 14" across the inside. I managed to snare the female under the tree by baiting. Colour of eggs : a dirty crenmy white with a few strenks and scrawls of rust-colour at the smaller end only — both e similarly marked. No. 2. — On Oct. 17th I found a nest built in the same kind of tree and in a similar position in the woods as that of No. 1, about 20 ft. above the ground, and containing one Qgg. Visiting the nest again on Oct. 25th, it still contained only the one egg ; the female flew off the nest on my approach. The egg was very much incubated. The female kej>t close little-hunni Birds front near Beira. 39 by all the time, flying from tree to tree, but the male only put in an appearance once and then disappeureLl. Colour of the egg : a pale greeny white, with a few scrawls of blood-colour round the larger end. No. 3. — I watched a nest being built on Nov. 4tli, but o\Ay saw one bird at work, probably the female. This nej^t was built in the same kind of tree as Nos. 1 and 2, in the fork of a bouo-h about 30 ft. hio'h. I noticed that the sticks were carried to the nest held in the claws, placed on the nest, and then arranged. I watched the building for about half an hour. On examinino- the nest aoain on Nov. 16th I found it contained one youno- bird and one eoo- with the bird hatching out. This seems very (luick incubation, as on Nov. 4th the nest was only just commenced. The full clutch of eggs of this species appears to be two, but further observations are necessary. 3. Cuckoo Falcon. Baza verreauxi (Lafr.). A nest was 'discovered on Nov. 11th, built in the top of a young tree about 25 ft. from the ground, inside the branches where they formed a clump of thick foliage. The tree was in fairly open woods. I located the nest only by the bird, which jiroved to be the male, flying out, the nest being almost invisible from below. It contained one egg. After waiting for a long time hidden in bushes to ,c',et a shot at the bifds, I was forced to retire unsuccessful, and returned again later on, but with no better luck. In the evening I visited the nest for the third time, and it was not until practically dark that I managed to get a shot. The female did not put in an appearance the whole day. The nest was built very loosely of sticks, roots, and coarse grasses, &c., and lined with leaves and small bits of stick ; it measured about 16" in diameter and was fairly deep. The single egg was perfectly clear, and I should imagine a full clutch would consist of more than one. Colour of egg : pale greenish white, rather sparingly but 40 Mr. P. A. ^hepY)ard—Field-^^otes on fairly evenly spotted and marked in scratches with rich and dull red-bi own. Size of egg : If" X If'^ (Length of bird in flesh IG^'.) 4. White-buowed Tinker Bird. Barhatula Ul'ineata (Sund.). A nest was found on Dec. 1st, 1909. Quite by chance, when walking through the woods towards my house one da}^ I noticed a vcr}^ small bird on a decayed branch of a large tree, and, waiting for a few seconds, saw it fly off with something in its bill to a bough a few yards awav, on reaching which it dropped its burden. This con- tinued for some time, when I discovered that the bird was carrying away bits of decayed wood from a hole it was excavating for nesting purposes, and, furthermore, I identified the bird as the above species. As the tree in which this nest was made stands on the side of a path used daily, I kept observations as far as possible, but always found it difficult to catch the bird at work, in fact I only saw it on two occasions after the first discovery. On Dec. 11th I shot a male of this species about 80-100 yards distant from this tree which possibly may have be- longed to this nest. The following day I examined the nest and found the female inside. She flew cut after a time and settled on a bough only a few yards off ^ and was exceedingly bold and angry, keeping up a continual chatter. The nest contained two eggs, both of which were broken on extracting them from the nest, and only one could be preserved. The bough containing the nest-hole I kept, and the measurements are as follows : — Entrance 1" X \" ; chamber 4'' x 2'', which was quite clean and bare. C!olour of eggs : pure white, slightly shiny. Size of egg (1) \l" x i'', slightly pointed. .5. White-eared Bahbet. Buccaiwdon leucotis (Sund.). A nest was found on Dec. f)th, 1909. After procuring a male, which was on an old decayed tree Uttle^knoion Birds from near Beira. 41 on the edge of a forest, I searched for a nesting-hole, which I soon discovered about 20 ft. up the main trunk. The entrance-hole was considerably larger than that usually made by L. torquatus. After a few minutes a bird put its head out of the hole. On cutting away the trunk nothing- was found in the chamber, which was about 18" deep, and the bird, which I took to be the female, turned out to be a fully fledged young male. No more young birds could be found. 6. Lilac-breasted Roller. Coracias caudatiis, L. Two birds arrived on Ihe plantation the same day (Aug. 28th), and were the first observed of the season. They subsequently built in a hole in a dead tree-stump, evidently the old nesting-site of a Woodpecker : the female I first saw enter the hole on Sept. loth, and she had great difficulty in getting in and out ; the male remained close by all the time, but was not seen to enter the nesting-hole, which was about 30 feet from the ground and about 18 inches deep in the trunk. It contained no lining whatever, the eggs beino- laid on bits of decaved wood. The nest was examined on Sept. 2Gtli and contained three pure white eggs, which were a pale pink before blowing ; two of the eggs were slightly incubated. All the eggs were exactly the same size, viz. 1]%'' x li\y". From Sept. 16th to Sept. 2Gth the female was not once seen, although close observations were kept every day; neither was the male once seen to visit the nest, although he was always in the vicinity. On examining the stomach of the female 1 found it was absolutely empty and the bird very thin. The female did not fly out until the nest-hole was being cut away, when she settled on a large bough of a tree close bv and appeared quite dazed for some time, eventuallv flving away to settle again only about 200 yards fuither off'. During the time the nest was being examined the male kept on flving from tree to tree close round and makino- a oreat disturbance. I eventually procured both birds, and these 42 Mr. P. A. ^hel)[^ard—FieId'Xotes 07i were tlie only two I saw all through the season. They appear to he more numerous nearer Beira, on the flats among low scrub. 7. Orange -BREASTED Flycatcher. Bafis sheppardi, Haagner. A nest was found on Nov. 30th, 1909, built in a small low shrub about three feet high and situated in a somewhat open glade in thick forest. Neither of the parent birds was to lie seen when I found the nest, so I decided to try and snare the female on its nest, as I was quite ignorant of the species to which the nest and eggs belonged. On returning after about four hours absence 1 found the female duly snared, which, to my great surprise and pleasure, proved to be the above species. The two eggs found in the nest were quite clear. The nest was built of fine grass-stems and ornamented with bits of bamboo-leaves and cobwebs, and was a cu])-?hape structure If" diam. inside X ^" deep. Colour of eggs : creamy white and glossy, sparingly blotched and spotted w ith light brown, with a thick zone of chocolate-coloured blotches and grey spots at the larger end. Size : both practically alike, |l" x ^". The habits of this species are very similar to those of B. molitor, with which species it is often found in company, inhabiting thick forests, where it flies about from bough to bough catching insects. It is usually found in parties of three, four, or five, and is a resident here, but far less plentiful than B. molitor. 8. Chestnut-fronted Shrike. Signwdas scopj/'frons^'Pivs. A nest was found on Nov. 14th built in a tree, about 15 feet above the ground, and situated in open woods. The nest, which I at first took for that of I), cuhia, was saddled in a fork towards the extremity of a bough, and appeared so similar to the branch that it could easily have been mistaken for a growth on the tree. The nest contained three young birds apparently just hatched. Uttle-knoicn Bird g from near Be'ira. 43 After waiting a few minutes quite near the tree, tliree h'lrds flew on to it, and each one in turn fed t/ie younr/sters and after settling on a bough for a minute or so, continually chattering, flew away, only to retarn soon after and repeat the performance. I watched these birds feeding the young for about 40 minutes ; to be certain of the identification, I shot one of them, which proved to be a young male. This seems to me to be an extraordinary occurrence, where a young male helps the parents of another nest in feeding their young. I was unfortunately unable to visit the nest again in time to procure the young birds or the nest, but hope I may be able to produce further records of observations of this interesting bird later on. 9. Yellow-spotted Shrike. Nicator gularis, Finsch & Hartl. A nest was found on Dec. 17th, 1909, built in a low bush in thick woods ; a somewhat rough structure of twigs, grass, fibrous roots, and bits of bamboo-leaves, cup-shape and measuring 3 inches across the top, inside diameter. The female was snared on the nest to make certain of identification. The colours of the eggs are so similar to those of P. layardi that unless I had the parent bird to prove the species I should certainly have taken them for the Bulbul's ; the blotches of deep rich purple-brown, chiefly at the larger end of the eggs, are rather larger and heavier than on most specimens of P. layardi, and a number of lighter brown spots show up on the backo-round somewhat indistinctlv. Three clear eggs were found in the nest. All the eggs w^ere of the same size : I" x f ". 10. Blue-throated Sunbikd. Anthreptcs reichenowii, Gunning. A nest was found on Oct. 22nd, 1909, built about 15 feet from the ground in a tall thick-leaved bush and suspended to a bough on the outside of the bush, but under a canopy of thick foliage. I first heard the birds calling and then located them, and vol. VI. 5 44 Little-knoion Birds from near Beira. after searching all round found the nest, with both parents on a tree close by; after a few minutes both flew to the nest, but neither entered. Returning to the spot the following day I managed to shoot the male, but could not get the female, although I waited hidden for more than two hours. The nest contained three eggs, all slightly incubated, and was con- structed, in the usual dome-shape of the Sunbirds, of bits of bark, lichens, catkins, fine grass, and bound together with cobwebs, and lined inside with a soft white silky substance obtained from a species of cotton-grass found commonly about the locality. The nest-tree was in a glade in very thick forest. Colour of eggs : white, two of which are spotted and freckled all over (but more thickly at the larger end, forming a zone) of dull red; the third egg is much less heavily marked, but has the zone at the larger end very distinct. bi/es ot eggs . 8 xYg ' a ^le ' i6 -^le • The general habits of this species, so far as my observations go up to the present, are similar in many respects to those of A. coUaris, and they may often be seen consorting with the latter bird. They invariably inhabit the thick woods and forests and are never seen out in the open like C.gutturalis, C. kirki, and C. microrhynchus. They creep and flutter about among the foliage in search of insects, which appear to be their chief food. This species may often be seen and heard hio-h up in large trees, and consort usually in pairs, but some- times three or four are seen together. It appears to be a resident here, as I have observed it throughout the year. It is distinctly scarce. [The procuring of another pair of this very distinct new species of Sunbird and their eggs by Mr. Sheppard is of great interest — Edd.] 11. Rufous-breasted Ground Robin. Erythropygia quadrlmrgata, Rchw. A nest was found on Nov. '22nd, 1909, placed in a hollow on the top of a stump about 3 feet above the ground in Occasional jXolex. 45 the niidJle of a thick forest. It was a cup-shaped structure, built of fine roots and fibres and bits of decayed bark. The nest contained three eggs, but one of them obviously belonged to another species of bird. Neither of the birds belonging to the nest was to be seen, although I waited hidden for a long time, so I decided to try and snare the parent on the nest ; leaving the nest for about 1^ hours, I returned to see the result, and found a female quadrivirgata caught, and on a tree near by was undoubtedly a Cuculus soUtarius, which I fired at but did not kill. I waited for a long time hidden to try to get the male bird, but failed to see him at all. Colour of eggs of E. quadricirgnta : a creamy white, thickly blotched and splashed with red-brown, rather more dense at the larger end. Size of eggs (2) : both measure |" x ^q". Colour of C. soUtarius egg (1) : an even pale terra-cotta. Size of C. soUtarius egg : ]-|" x |". XII. — Occasional Kotes. 8. The Habits of the Great-tailed Widow Bird (Diatropnira procne). — In the January 1910 No. of the ' Avicultural Magazine ' Mr. W. E. Teschemaker gives us an interesting article on the Giant Widow Bird. He discredits the belief that this bird cannot fly well in wet or windy weather. Mr. Claude G. Davies, a talented and energetic Member of our Union, agrees in the main with the writer of the above in a letter to the ' Avicultural Magazine ' (May 1910), but I would draw my friend's, as well as Mr. Tesche- maker's, attention to the following : — I have seen the Saka- bulas caught by the hand by little Basuto boys, in the Maroka District of the Free State, during very heavy rains. But, then, it rains so heavily in South Africa sometimes that no ordinary canvas tent can resist it, leaking through the cloth in all directions 1 It is also a common sight up here to see a fine male bird struggling valiantly against the wind. 46 Occasional Notes. making little or no headway, until he gives up in despair and turning is driven mercilessly before the blast until he " flops " into the grass and so escapes from the struggle. I agree with Davies's remarks on the polygamous habit, viz. that young females are often mistaken for males, but he is mistaken in his assertion that this habit is not imputed to the Pyromelana as well. In my paper on Protective Resem- blance I mention this fact; but as regards this species Mr. A. Duncan once pointed out, at a meeting of the Johannesburg Field Naturalists' Club, the common error of mistaking young males for females. Alwin Haagner. Zoo, Pretoria, 29. 9. 10. 9. Occurrence of White Egret with Ring. Dear Mr. Haagner, — I presume you have information from other countries as to w'hich kinds of birds have been "riuffed^' for mioration records. It seems that two weeks ago a pair of large white Egrets i^Herodias alba) were seen on the Buffalo River near here, and that one of them had a narrow shining ring on its leg which looked like metal. The man who told me this said he saw them almost every day for a fortnight, and that he generally got quite close to them as he passed in a boat. He is very confident that what he noticed on the leg of one of them, as it stood near him on a rock, was a ring. He described the birds first as Storks [Ciconia ciconia), but upon closely questioning him I feel sure they were Egrets. If you have had any notification as to the Large Egret having been " ringed ^'you will presumably pass on this item. Yours sincerely, Jno. Wood. East London, C.C., 5. 9. 10. [There seems little doubt that the birds were Egrets ; this species has also been marked in Hungary. — Edd.] Occasional JS^otes. 47 10. IxoDiD ON Swallow. — I have received the following from the Government Entomologist, Cape Town, under date 1st February, 1910 :— " Professor G. Neumann writes as per the following trans- lation in reply to mj letter accompanying the tick taken from a Swallow : — ' The tick from Hirundo rust'ica which you sent me on the 22nd of December last, and which I received on January 8th, is Ixodes frontalis, Panzer. It is a poorly known species which is sometimes found, always in small numbers, on divers birds in Europe, non-migratory or migratory, and always in the state of female or of nymph. The male has not yet been found, which leaves some doubt upon the morphological limits of the species.' " I wrote to Neumann, on receipt of yours of January 4th, explaining that the Swallow was H. alhigidaris. My first letter had merely stated that the species was probably rustica. Stark says in his book on South African birds that H. alhi- gularis breeds in South Africa and migrates to parts unknown — probably East and Central Africa — towards winter. The tick named seems not to be recorded from Africa before, and there seems to be no telling where the bird picked it up, and — in the absence of any knowledge of the habits of the species — how long it may have carried it." Two of these ticks have since been found on examples of the Pied Starling {Spree bicolor). J. P. Murray. Maseru, Basutoland, 29. 7. 10. 11. The Fifth International Congress of Ornithology. — This was held in Berlin from May 30th till June 4th of this year, under the Presidency of Dr. A. Reichenow, of the Berlin Museum of Natural History. Dr. Briihl was Secretary. A full account of the meeting will appear later. 48 Short Notices of Ornithological Publications. XIII. — Short Notices of Ornithological Publications. 7. TJie Ibis, a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology. The January 1910 No. of the premier Ornithological Journal contains the second part of Mr. J. A. S. Bucknill's }iaper on the Birds of Cyprus. The second paper in this No. is one on the Ornithological Collections of the University of Cambridge, by Dr. H. Gadow, M.A., F.R.S., the Strick- land Curator. These include, besides the original Strickland collection of 6006 specimens, eight large and sundry small collections of birds collected by various celebrities and presented to the University Museum. Amongst these we note two names well known to the South-African Orni- thologist, viz., Col. H. W. Feilden and J. H. Gurney. Paper No. 4 is a lengthy catalogue of the birds of Northern Rhodesia and the Katanga District of Congoland, by S. A. Neave, M.A., B.Sc, &c., with two coloured plates and a text- figure. The two plates represent two new species, viz. Trochocercus vivax, Neave, and Dryodroynus pearsoni, Neave. Mr. Neave says he shot the Blue-spotted and Green- spotted Chalcopelia chalcospilos (Metallic-spotted Dove) within a few days of one another, and that one example had only one purple spot on one wing, while another had several green spots. An example of Otis kori was seen on the Upper Lufupa River, near the watershed. Mr. Neave considers, with Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, that Myrme- cocichla nigra is distinct from M. arnotti. The April number gives us a continuiition of Mr. Neave's notes on the Birds of Northern Rhodesia and Congoland. A new genus and species is described (Paludijxisser locustella) and figured in a coloured plate by Gronvold. The bill of this species and that of Spermestes scutatus (its nearest ally) are also figured in the text. In this number we also have a long " obituary " notice of the late Dr. Dowdier Sharpe. The July number contains a further (the 3rd) contribution on the Ornithology of Cyprus by our one time President and Editor, Mr. Bucknill. Short Notices of Ornithological Publications. 49 We have also a note on a rare Weaver-bird (Othi/ph antes hatesi) bv W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, illustrated by a coloured lithograph by Gronvold. An account of the Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists' Union also appears in this number. The Membership at the date of the Meeting consisted of 424 Ordinary, 3 Extra-Ordinary, 9 Honorary, 9 Colonial, and 20 Foreign Members. Dr. F. DuCane Godman, F.R.S,, was re-elected President, and Mr. J. L. Bonhote, M.A., Secretary. 13 gentlemen were elected Ordinary Members at the Meeting, and 4 ladies Honorary Lady Members. A resolution of regret and grief at the death of that intrepid explorer and enthusiastic ornithologist Capt. Boyd Alexander* was passed. This number also contains a biographical notice of the late Professor H. H. Giglioli, of Florence. 8. J'he AvicuUural Magazine, November 1909 to April 1910. The November number of this popular little Journal contains two papers of interest to South Africans. The first, on the nesting of the Spotted-backed Weaver (Ploceus spilo- notus), calls for no comment. The second, on the breeding of the Quail Finch {Ortygospiza polyzona), is one of those lengthy anecdotal papers we have learnt to expect from the pen of Mr. Reginald Phillipps. He describes the nesting in liis aviaries of the little Bar-breasted Finch, and once again questions the statement of a South-African ornithologist on the strength of his observations in an English aviary (under artificial conditions). The January No. lias an interesting article on the breeding of the Great-tailed Widow Bird {^Diatroprura pi^ocne), here called the Giant Whydah (^Chera pj'ocne), by Mr. W. E. Teschemaker, B.A. He discredits the belief that this bird cannot fly well in wet or windy weather. The February No. has a paper in the correspondence column on the breeding of the Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua serena = principalis) by Dr. A. Butler. * [A biographical notice will appear in the next No. of the Journal. — Edd.] 50 Short Noticeif of Ornitliological Puhlications. The May No. contains a paper on the Red-faced Mouse^ bird {Colius indicns=^erifthromelov) by Frank Finn, B.A., illustrated by a coloured plate by H. Goodchiid. The June No. gives us a short account of the breeding of the Grey-headed Sparrow {Passer griseus = difi(sus) by Mr. W. E. Teschemaker, B.A., also a further letter by this writer on the Pin-tailed and Giant Whydalis. The July and August numbers contain an interesting article by Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote, M.A., on the age of birds in confinement, illustrated by a couple of photo plates. 9. Journal filr Ornitliologie. (Orgaitofthe German Ovnltlio- logical Society.) The January 1910 No. contains an account of the Ostrich farm instituted by Hagenbeck in Stellingen, by Dr. A. 8okolowsky. Although a certain amount of success with incubator chicks was obtained, we hardly think the experi- ment will prove of any great success in the long run, the climatic conditions being so much at variance with what Ostriches are accustomed to. This No. also contains a paper on the genus Pratincola of Koch, by Dr. Ernst Hartert. We are sorry to see that binomials are conspicuous by their absence, only two or three appearing in the list, trinomialism being " to the fore/' which is cumbersome to a degree, if nothing else. The April 1910 No. contains obituary notices of Prof. Giglioli and Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. The only thing of interest to South African ornithologists in the July No., besides the 9th Annual Report of the Vogelwarte Rossitten, is a small paper on a " revision " of the genera Spermospiza and Pyrenestes by Oscar Neumann. 10. The Emxi. Official Organ of the Australasian Ornitho- logists' Union. The July 1910 No. forms the first of volume x., and contains, amongst pnpers of purely local interest, the follow- ing which will appeal to South Africans : — " Bird Life on the Kermadec Islands,^' by Tom Iredale (^herein are iSIwrf Sotices of OrnhJioInrfiraJ PnHicatinns. 51 mentioned many sea-birds common to both countries) ; •' The Destruction of Birds/' by J. W. Mellor. 11. The Life of William MacGillivray, M.A., LL.D. By William MacGillivray, W.S. With a Scientific Appreciation by J. Arthur Thomson, Regius Professor of Natural History, University of Aberdeen. John Murray (London). Price lO^. &d. net. We can confidently recommend this l)ook to any earnest student of ornithology, and to all readers who delight in the earlier scientists. It is well printed and illustrated by half- tone full-page reproductions of MacGillivray 's beautiful drawings in the British Museum. The book is divided into three sections — the first five Chapters being devoted to a biographical account of his life, the sixth to an appreciation of his scientific work by Professor J. Arthur Thomson (whom all South Africans will remember as the S. A. Asso- ciation for Adv. of Science lecturer in 1009), and the seventh to extracts from his works. Suffice it to add that the book makes interesting and instructive reading. 12. Katalog der Eiersammlunn von Adolf Nehrhorn. 2nd Edition. R. Friedlander & Sohn, 1910. Cloth, price 10 mark (lOs.). It is with much pleasure that we give a short notice of this work, which is illustrated by four coloured plates of rare exotic eggs. The total number of species mentioned and described is 5440, an almost incredible total for a private collector, and a glowing tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of the author. 13. Check-list of Birds of South Africa. By Dr. J. W. B. Gunning & Alwin Haagner. Govt. Printing Office, Pretoria, 1910. This compilation was printed as a supplement to the 'Annals of the Transvaal Museum,' but every Member of the Union whose subscription was not too far in arrear was supplied with a free copy, the Union paying for this extra print. The generic and specific names are given with full VOL. YI. 6 52 Short Notices of Ornithological Publications. data, and Euglisli and Dutch vernacular names are given for each species. As, however, this list has been in the press some months, several birds have since been added to the South African list which do not appear herein. 14. The Home Life of a Golden Eagle. By H. B. Mac- pherson. Witherby & Co., 1909. 5^. net. This is a full account of the nesting of a pair of Golden Eagles in the Grampian Mountains ; a special feature of this little book being the excellent photographic plates with which it is illustrated, depicting in a life-like manner various episodes in the life of the young Golden Eagle. 15. The Geographical Distribution of Birds. — I. Genus J/a<;'?'on?/.p, Swainson, by F.Nicholson. (Mem. Man. Lit. Phil. Soc. 1909, No. 24.) In this paper nine species are dealt with, giving their exact distribution so far as is at present known, illustrated by two coloured plates. 16. A Monograph of the Petrels. By F. Du CaneGodman, D.C.L.,' F.R.S. This sumptuous work has now been completed by the issue of parts iv. & v. since our last notice. It should find a worthy place on the bookshelves of all who can afford to pay the £15 155. which is the price of the completed work, bound in full best morocco, with 100 hand-coloured plates. The publishers are Witherby & Co., 326 High Holborn, London, W.C. 17. A Hand-list of the Genera and S^^eAes of Birds. By Dr. 11. Bowdler Sharpe. Vol. V. of this very useful work was issued by the British Museum towards the end of 1 909, the first having appeared in 1899, the whole work having thus been completed in 10 years of the busy doctor's private time. The total number of species given is 18,939 and the genera 2810. This work ought to be of inestimable value to all systematic students of ornithology. A. K. H. NAME INDEX. Accipiter minullun, 11. Acrocephalus arundinacetis, 7. palustris, 7. Afi'icau Buzzard-Eagle, 31, 38. Crake, 13. Hawk-Eagle, 14, 31. Stripe-breasted Swallow, 4. White-rumped Swift, 6, Amydrus viorio, 28. Anas capensis, 12. undulata, 12. Aut-eatlng Chat, 9. Antlu-e])tes collaris, 44. reichenotcii, 43. Anthus creiiatus, 7. nicholsoni, 7, 16. Apali'> florisuya, 29. Apus caffer, 5. Ardetta yninuta, 11. pagesi, 11. Asttirinula 7no)iO(/rammica, 31. B. Babbling Reed- Warbler, 8. Barhatida bilineato, 40. Barbet, White-eared, 40. Barn Owl, 10. Batis molitor, 42. sheppardi, 42. Baza verreauxi, 39. Bee-eater, Carmine-throated, o. , European, 3, Bee-eaters, 18. Bittern, European Little, 11. Black-and-Grey Cuckoo, 10. breasted Harrier-Eagle, 10. chested Wren- Warbler, 22. Cuckoo, 5. Stork, 2, 11. winged Pratincole, 3. Blue-throated Sunbird, 43. Booted Eagle, 13. Bradypterus babcecula, 8. Bucainodon leucotis, 40. Bunting, Rock, 6. Bush-Robin, White-starred, 30. Shrike, Tschagra, 7. Warbler, Yellow-bellied, 29. Bustard, Stanley, 13. Buteo dtsertorum, 4. Buzzard, Steppe, 4. Cabanis's Thrush, 27. Campephaya hartlauhi, 9. Cape Teal, 12. Wagtail, 7. Wigeon, 12. Caprinwlgns nat.alensis, 9. trimacidatus, 9. Carmine-throated Bee-eater, .5. Cerchneis naumanni, 3, 54 KAME INDEX. Chalcopelia r.halcospilos, 48. Chat, Ant-eating, 0. , Mountain, 9, 33. Chera prucne, 49. Chestnut-fronted Shrike, 42. Chlorodyta neglecta, 29. Ciconia ciconia, 2, 17, 46. ■ nigra. 2.11. Cinnyi'is afer, 30. gutturalis, 44. kirki, 44. niicrorkt/iichus, 44. Circaetus pectoralis, 10. Ch'cvs macrtirns, 4, 11. Cisticola chini((na, 9. vKupia, 9. fulviccqnlla, 8. iuitaletisis, 9. rujicajillla, 8. suhnificapilla, 8, 9. tinniens, 8. Clamator ylandarius, 4, 10. hypopinarius, 10. Colius erythromelon, 29, 50. »M(^iCMS, 10, 29, 50. Coot, Red-knobbed, 13. Coracias caudatus, 41. yarrulus, 2. Cotuniiv delayoryuei, 13. Crake, African, 13. , Eed-chested, 13. CVe.r c?'e.r, 4. egreyia, 13. Cuckoo, Black, 5. , and-Grey, 10. , European, 3, 10, 25. Falcon, 39. , Golden, 5. , Great Spotted, 4, 10. Shrike, Yellow-sbouldered, 9. , South African, 5. Cuculus canorus, 3, 10. • clamosus, 5. upreus, 5. soliiarius, 5, 45. D. Dendrocycna viduata, 12. Diamond Sparrow, 0. Diatroprura prociie, 45, 49. Dove, Metallic- spotted, 48. Dryodromus pearsoni, 48. Dryoscopus cubla, 42. Duck, While-faced, 12. , Yellow-billed, 12. Dwarf Goose, 12. E. Eagle, African Buzzard-, 31, 38. , Hawk-, 14,31. , Black-breasted Harrier-, 10. , Booted, 13. , Golden, 52. Egret, Great White, 11. , White, 4G. Erythropygia qiiadrivirgata^ 44, 45. European Bee-eater, 3. Cuckoo, 3, 10, 25. Little Bittern, 11. Roller, 2. Swallow, 4. 1 Eutobna'etus spUoyaster, 31. Falcon Cuckoo, 39. , Pigmy, 28. Finch, Quail, 49. Flamingo, Greater, 11. Flycatcher, Orange-breasted, 42. , Spotted, 25. Francolin, Natal, 12. FrancoUnus nalalensis, 12. Freckled Nightjar, 9. Fringillaria tahapisi, 6. Fulica cristata, 13. NAME INDEX. 55 G. Gai-den Warbler, 22. Giant Wliydah, 49. Glareola melanoptera, 3. Golden Cuckoo, 5. Eagle, 52. Goose, Dwarf, 12. , Spur-wing, 11. Grass- Warbler, Grey-backed, 8. , Le Vaillant's, 8. , Rufous-headed, 8. , Tawny-beaded, 8. Great Reed- Warbler, 7. Spotted Cuckoo, 4, 10. tailed W^idow Bird, 45, 40. White Egret, 11. Greater Double-collared Sunbird, 30. Flamingo, 11. Greenshank, 2. Grey-backed Grass- Warbler, 8. headed Sparrow, 50. H. Harlequin Quail, 13. Harrier-Eagle, Black-breasted, 10. Hawk, 37. , Pale, 11. , Pallid, 4. Hawk, 23. Eagle, African, 14. , Harrier, 37. , Little Sparrow-, 11. , Sparrow-, 23. Hemipteryx, 16. minuta, 15. Herodias alba, 11, 46. Hiera'etus pennatus, 13. spilogaster, 14. Hirundo albiffularis, 5, 47. cucullata, 4. piiella, 5. nistica, 4, 47. Hoopoe, Scimitar-billed, 32. Hyliuta australis, 14, 15. rhodesicB, 14. Ixodes frontalis, 47. lynx rnjicollis, 10. K. Kaupifalco mo7iogrammicus, 38. Kestrel, Lesser, 3. Kite, Yellow-billed, 2. L. Laimodon torquatus, 41. Land-Rail, 4. Lanius coUurio, 3. Large Yellow Seed-eater, 6. tufted Pipit, 7. Lark, Rufous-naped, 6. Lesser Kestrel, 3. Stripe-breasted Swallow, 5. Le Vaillant's Grass-Warbler, 8. Lilac-breasted Roller, 41. Little Sparrow-Hawk, 11. M. Macronyx, 52. croceus, 16. Marsh- Warbler, 7. Martin, South African Sand-, 9. Merops apiaster, 3, 18. nubicoides, 6. Metallic-spotted Dove, 48. Milvus (egyptius, 2. Mirafra africana, 6. Motacilla capensis, 7. Mountain Chat, 9, 33. Mouse-bird, Red-faced, 10, 29, 50. Mynnecocichla arnotti, 48. 56 NAME INDEX. Mynnecocichla formicivom, 9. nigra, 48. Narina Trogon, 23. Natal Francolin, 12. Nightjar, 9. Nettapus auritits, 12. Nicator gularis, 43. Nicholson's Pipit, 7. Nightjar, Freckled, 9. — -, Natal, 9. 0. Orange-breasted Flycatcher, 42. Ortygospiza polyzona, 49. Othyphantes batesi, 48. Otis cafra, 13. kori, 48. ludwigi, 13. Ow], Barn, 10. Painted Snipe, 13. Pale Harrier, 11. Pallid Harrier, 4. Paludipasser locustella, 48. Passer diffusus, 50. griseus, 50. Petrels, 62. Petro7iia superciiiaris, G. Phoenicopterus roseus, 11. Pied Starling, 47. Pigmy Falcon, 28. Pin-tailed Whydah, 49. Pipit, Large Yellow-tufted, 7. , Nicholson's, 7. Plectropterus gambensis, 11. Ploceus spilonotus, 49. Poliohierax semitorquatus, 28. Polyboroides typicus, 37. Pomatorhynchus senegalus, 7. Pomatorhynchus ischagra, 7. Pratincola, 50. torquata, 16. Pratincole, Black-winged, 3. Prinia Jlavicans, 22. mystacea, 8. Pseudocalyptomena grnueri, 24. Pycnonotua layardi, 43. Pyrenestes, 60. Pyromelana, 46. on'j:, 35. te^a, 35. Q. Quail Finch, 49. , Harlequin, 13. Quelea erythrojjs, 5. R. Rail, Land-, 4. Red-backed Shrike, 3, 25. chested Crake, 13. faced Mouse-bird, 10, 29, 50. knobbed Coot, 13. winged Starling, 28. Reed-Warbler, Great, 7. , Babbling, 8. Rhino2)omadus cyanomelas, 32. Riparia paludicola, 9. Robin, Rufous-breasted Ground, 44. , White-starred Bush-, 30. Rock Bunting, 6. Roller, Juuopean, 2. , Lilac-breasted, 41 . Rostratida bengalensis, 13. Rufous-breasted Ground Robin, 44. headed Grass-Warbler, 8. naped Lark, 6. S. Sand-Martin, South African, 9. Sarothrura nifa, 13. NAME INDEX. 57 Saxicola amlersoni, 34. castor, 3'j. diluia, 33. griseiceps, 33. leucomelcena, 33, 34, 37. tno7iticola, 34. monticola, 9, 33-36. leuconieltena, 34. Scimitai'-billed Hoopoe, 32. Scotocerca inquieta, 24. Seed-eater, Ijarge Yellow, 6. , Sundevall's, 6. Serinus scotops, 6. sulphur nf us, 6. Shrike, Chestnut-fronted, 42. , Red-backed, 3, 25. , Yellow-shouldered Cuckoo-, 9. , spotted, 43. Sigmodus scopifrons, 42. Snipe, Painted, 13. South African Cuckoo, 5. Sand-]\Iartin, 9. Wryneck, 10. Sparrow, Diamond, 6. , Grey-headed, 50. Hawk, 23. , Little, 11. Sperinestes scntatus, 48. Sperniospiza, 50. Spotted-backed Weaver, 49. Spotted Flycatcher, 25. Spreo bicolor, 47. Spur- wing- Goose, 11. Stanley Bustard, 13. Starling, Pied, 47. , Red-winged, 23. Stephanihgx mehmnpterus, 32. Steppe Buzzard, 4. Stork, Black, 2, 11. , White, 2, 17, 20, 25. Storks, 4(5. Strixjlananea, 10. Sunbird, Blue-throated, 43. , Greater Double-collared, 30. Sundevall's Seed-eater, G. Swallow, 47. , African Stripe-breasted, 4. , European, 4. , Lesser Stripe-breasted, 5. , White-breasted, 5. Swift, African White-rumped, 5. Sylvia sitnple.v, 22. Tarsiger stellatus, 30. Tawny-flanked Wren- War bier, 8 -headed Grass- Warbler, 8. Teal, Cape, 12. Thrush, Cabanis's, 27. Tinker Bird, White-browed, 40. Totamis glottis, 2. Trochocercus viva.v, 48. Trogon, Narina, 23. Tsthagra Bush-Shrike, 7. Tiirdus cabanisi, 27. V. Vidua prliicipalis, 49. Serena, 9, 49. W. Wagtail, Cape, 7. Warbler, Babbling Reed-, 8. , Black-chested Wren-, 22. , Garden, 22. , Great Reed-, 7. , Grey-backed Grass-, 8. , Le Vaillant's Grass-, 8. , Marsh-, 7. , Rufous-headed Grass-, 8. , Tawny-flanked Wren-, 8. , -headed Grass-, 8. , Woodbush, 15. , Yellow-bellied Bush-, 29. Weaver, Spotted-backed, 49. White-breasted SwalloAv, 5. browed Tinker Bird, 40. 58 NAME INDEX. White-eared Bavbet, 40. Kgret, 46. -faced Duck, 12. starred Bush-Robin, 30. Stork, 2, 17, 20, 2o. Whydah, Giant, 49. , Pin-tailed, 49. Widow-bird, Great-tailed, 45, 49. Wigeon, Cape, 12. Woodbush Warbler, 15. Wren- Warbler, Black-chested, 22. , Tawny-flanked, 8. Wryneck, South African, 10. Y. Yellow-bellied Bush-Warbler, 29. -billed Duck, 12. Kite, 2. -shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, 9. -spotted Shrike, 43. FKIKIED BY TAVl.OK AND rRANtIS, RED LIO.N COL'KT, FLEET STREET, B.C. Vol. VI. No. 1. AUGUST 1910. Price 4s. Od, THE JOURNAL OF THE EDITED BY j Dr. J. W. B. GUNNING, j ALWIN HAAGNER, F.Z.S. &c., and B. C. R. LANGFORD. I CONTENTS. 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Secretary, or from AVtih[:krv & Co., :VH\ Hi}j,h Hoi born, London. W.C. EDITORIAL NOTICES. . The Editors invite contributions on South African Orni- thology from all students. These should, if possible, be tyj:H3. 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 Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. This Journal will be issued as often as the fluids of the Union permit, subject, of course, to there being suthci'^it matter suitable for publication. •Fifteen copies of every paper publislied in the Journal will be reserved for the author free of chai-ge. , 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 innnediate answer is required, a re[)lv will be forwarded through the post if a stamped adtlressed 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 Gardens, Pretoria,) VICE-PRESIDENTS. J. E. DuEKDfiN, Ph.D., M.Sc, (Professor of Zoology, Rhodes Univ, College, Gmhamstown, 0,0.^ and Keeper Zoological Department, Albany Museum.) A. D. Millar, C0I.M.B.O.U. (Durban.) L. P^RINGUEY, D,Sc., F.Z,S-, (fee. (Director SA. Mtiseum, Oape 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. 0. R. Langford. A. K. Haagner. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I". A. O. Pym. (Oape Colony.) L. Is. 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.) P. A, Sheppard, (Portuguese S.E, Afriax.) EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Editors invite contributions on South African Orni- thology from all students. These should, if possible, be ty^ie- 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 th(> 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 Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. This Journal will be issued as often as the funds of tli'> Union permit, subject, of course, to there being sufficient matter suitable for publication. Fifteen copies of every paper published in the Journal will bt! I'eserved for the autlioi* free of charoe. 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 Fund, and invite subscriptions thereto. THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORiTHOLOGISTS' UNION. ^ PRESIDENT. J. W. B. GuNXJxXG, M.D., F.Z.S. (Jjirector Trnns\aiil Musenin and Zoological Gardens. Pipinii.t .) VICE-PRESIDENTS. J. E. DuERDEX, Ph.D., M.Sc. (l-'iotV'.ssoi- of Zoology, Rhodes Univ. College, Graham.stown, (J.C. and Keeper Zoological Department, Albany Museum.) A. D. Millar, CoLM.B.O.U. (Durban.) L. Pkringuey, D.Sc, F.Z.S., &c. (Director S.A. Museum, Cape Town.) HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER. Alwin Haagner, F.Z.S., Col.M.B.U.U. (Transvaal Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, Transvaid.) 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. Sueppard. (Portuguese S.E. Africa.) cz en en Cji- «3 O." C'i 3J