Skip to main content

Full text of "The Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union"

See other formats 


FOR  THE  PEOPLE 

FOR  EDVCATION 

FOR  SCIENCE 


LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  AMERICAN  MUSEUM 

OF 

NATURAL  HISTORY 


Bound 


THE   JOURNAL      ^* 


OF   THE 


EDITED  BY 

Dr.  J.  W.  B.  GUNNING, 
ALWIIST  HAAGNER,  F.Z.S.,  and  B.  C.  R.  LANGFORD. 


VOLUME    VIII. 


PUBLISHED  BY 
THE    UNION  IN   PRETORIA,  TRANSVAAL. 

LONDON    AGENTS : 

WITHERBY  &  CO.,  320  HIGH  HOLBORN,  W.C. 
1012. 


f^.(o^/^q.   1f^ 


.r 


PREFACE. 


>+Ȥ+< 


With  this,  the  concluding  number  of  Volume  VIII. 
we  must  express  regret  that  more  material  has  not 
been  available.  We  are  sure  there  must  be  more  of 
our  Members  who  have  interesting  information  to 
communicate,  if  only  they  will  do  so. 

It  is  not  enough  for  Members,  however  keen,  to 
take  a  mere  personal  interest  in  Ornithology.  If 
they  will  not  record  the  results  of  their  observations 
for  their  brother  Members,  the  "  Union"  is  a  Union 
in  name  only. 

We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  Trans- 
vaal Department  of  Education,  as  the  result  of 
representations  by  the  S.A.O.U.,  have  had  coloured 
wall-pictures  prepared  of  the  more  useful  and  inter- 
esting native  birds,  which  it  is  hoped  will  soon  appear 
in  the  schools.  This  cannot  fail  to  be  beneficial,  as 
when  the  children  are  made  famihar  with  the  birds 
and  their  place  in  nature  it  will  rouse  interest  in 
their  feathered  friends. 

THE  EDITORS. 


a  t 


CONTENTS. 


Pages 

TlTLEPAGE         i 

Preface iii 

Contexts  v 

Roll  of  Members vii-xi 

List  of  Papers,  etc.,  ix  tuis  Volume xiii-xiv 

Subject-matter  Index xv-xvi 

Journal 1-122 

Index 123-131 


ROLL    OF    MEMBERS 

AS  AT  3  1st  October,  1912. 


No. 

Year  of 
Election. 

1909 

1905 

1906 

1907 

6 

)j 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1908 

10 

1907 

1909 

1906 

1907 

190-1 

15 

1906 

1908 

1905 

1904 

>> 

j 

Name  and  Address. 


Abdy,     Col.    A.     J.  ;       c/o    Army    Headquarters, 

London. 
Andebsson,  Col.  C  L.  ;  Box  Ul(32,  Johannesburg, 

Tvl. 
BelLjTueodoue;  Downside, Epsom,  Surrey, England. 
Bolus,  Frank  ;  Sherwood,  Kenilworth,  Cape  Town. 
Booth,  H.  B.;  "Eyhill,"  Ben  Rhyddiug,  Yorkshire, 

England. 
BouRKE,  E.  r. ;  Box  321,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 
BiauGEMAN,  E.  O.  B.,  Lieut.  R.N. ;  Weston  Park, 

kjhifnal,  Salop,  England. 
Briscoe,  Dr.  J.  E. ;  Charlesto\\'n,  Natal. 
Chambers,  Eoland,  E.M.;  Lindley,  O.F.S. 
Chubb,  E.  C.  ;  Durban  Museum,  Durban. 
Clark-Kennedy,  J.  W. ;  Tvl.  Police,  Johanneslnn-g. 
CocH,  Max  ;  Box  1076,  Johannesburg. 
Davils,    C.    G.,    Sgt.   C.M.E.  ;      Malatiele,    East 

Griqualand,  C.C. 
Davy,  J.  Burtt,  E.L.S.,  E.E.G.S. ;  Dept.  ol'  Agri- 
culture, Pretoria,  Tvl. 
D'EvELi'N,  Dr.  E.  W. ;  210.3  Clinton  Av.,  Alameda, 

California,  U.S.A. 
DoRXAN,  Eev.  S.  S. ;  J3ula\\ayo,  l^hodesia. 
DuERDEN,  Prof.  J.  E.;  Ehodes   Uni\ersity  College, 

Grahamstown,  C.C. 
Fairbridgb,  W.  G.;    141  Longmarket  Street,  Cape 

To\\n,  C.C. 
Feltham,  H.  L.  L.,  F.E.S.  ;  Box  46,  Johannesburg, 

Tvl. 


vm 


No       '^^*'"  '•^ 
Election. 


Name  and  Address. 


20      1904  I  FiiY,  Harold  A. ;  P.O. , Lenz,  nr.  Johannesburg,  Tvl. 

1907  GiLFiLLAN,  D.  F.  ;  Box  1397,  Johannesburg,  Tvl. 
1909     Godfrey,  Eby.  E.  ;    Pirie  Forest   Mission,  King- 

williamstovvn. 

1908  Graham,  Fraxcis,  C.C.  &  E.M. ;  Grahamstown, 
C.C. 

1905  Gra>'T,  C.  H.  B.  ;  Natural  History  Museum,  South 
Kensington,  London,  England. 

25  1906  Groxyold,  Henkik  ;  Natural  History  Museum, 
South  Kensington,  London,  England. 

1904  Gunning,  J.  W.  B.,  M.D.,  F.Z.S. ;  Director,  Museum 
and  Zoological  Gardens,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 

1912     Gyde,  C.  E.  ;  Auditor,  P.W.D.,  Pretoria. 

1904  Haagnbr,  Alwin  K.,  F.Z.S.,  Col.M.B.O.U. ;  Box 
413,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 

1909  Hale,  P.  E.,  Insp.  O.E.C.  Police;  Bethlehem,  O.F.S. 
30      1907      Halhed,  N.  G.  B.,    3rd    Battn.    Egyptian    Army, 

Khartoum. 
„        Hamilton,  Major  J.  S. ;   Warden,  Game  Eeserve, 
Komati  Poort,  Tvl. 

1906  Hamond,  PuiLiP,  Lieut.  2nd  Norfolk  Eegt.  ;  East 
Dereham,  Norfolk, 

1909     Hardtman,  E.  H.  M.  ;  Wepeuer,  O.F.S. 

1905  Hatciiard,  J.  G.,  F.E.A.S. ;  Loco.  Drawing  Oflicos, 
C.S.A.E.,  Bloerafontein. 

35     1908     Heward,  James  L.  ;  Taukee-Doodle  Mine,  Selukwe, 
S.  Ehodesia. 
1912     Hewitt,  John,  B.A.  ;  Director,  Albany  Museum, 

Grahamstown. 
1905      HoRsiiRUGir,  Major  Boyd,  A.S.C.  ;  c/o  Cox  &  Co., 
Bankers,  16  Charing  Cross,  London. 
Howard,  C.  W.  ;   Dept.  of  Agriculture,  Louren^o 
Marques. 

1907  Hudson,  C.  E.  ;  P.W.D.,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 
40        „        Ingle,  J.  C,  F.Z.S. ;  c/o  M,  Leibinitz,  Esq.,  Kobeyns 

Pass,  Pilgrims  Eest. 
1905     Innes,  Dr.  AV^alter,  M.B.O.U.  ;  School  of  Medicine, 
Cairo,  Egypt. 

1908  Ivy,  J.  Eobson  ;  Taxidermist,  Church  St.,  Pretoria- 


IX 


No. 


45 


50 


55 


Yftar  of 
Election. 


Name  and  Addresa. 


60 


65 


1907 
1912 

1904 
1905 

1909 
1906 

1904 


1909 
1910 

1904 
1906 

1905 

1908 

1905 

1911 
1908 
1912 

1905 
1906 


1905 
1904 
1907 
1905 


Itt,  Robert  H.,  F.Z.S.  ;  Grahamstown,  C.C. 
Jacottet,  Dr.  Gustave  ;  Belfort,  Matatiele,   East 

Griqnaland. 
Jeppe,  Julius  ;  Box  60,  Johannesburg,  Tvl. 
Johnston,   C.   McG.  ;  Agric.  Soc,  Mailland   Blg.s., 

Bloemfontein, 
Johnston,  K.  Cowper  ;  AVestminster,  O.F.S. 
KiRBY,  F.  V  AUG  HAN  ;  Game  Conservator,  Nongama, 

Zulnlaud. 
KiRiiT,  W. ;  Intermediate  Pumping  Station,  Water- 
works, Kiuiberley,  C.P. 
KiRKMAN,  Dr.  A.,  M.D. ;  Queenstown,  C.P. 
Knapp,  Col.  ;  Kingwilliamstowu,  C.P. 
Knobel,    J.  C.    J. ;  Porter,   Reformatory,  Retreat, 

C.P. 
Langford,  B.  C.  R.  ;  Box  557,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 
Littledale,   H.   a.   p.,   Lieut.  K.O. Y.L.I. ;    The 

Castle,  Cape  Town. 
Loubser,  M.  M.  ;  Port  Elizabeth,  C.P. 
Mally,   C.    W.,    U.S.b. ;    Entomologist,    Dept.    of 

Agriculture,  Cape  Town. 
Marthinius,  Dr.  J.  G. ;  Distinct  Surgeon,  Wepener, 

O.F.S. 
Masterson,  B.  a.  ;  Grand  Hotel,  Ilumansdorp. 
Mors,  F.  E.  O.  ;  De  Kroon,  P.O.  Brits,  Tvl. 
MowiTz,  LB.;  21  Westcroft  Square,  Ravenscourt 

Park,  London,  AV. 
Murray,  J.  P. ;  Maseru,  Basutoland. 
Nehrkoun,    Adolf  ;    Adolfstrasse,    Braunschweig, 

Germany. 
NooME,  F.O. ;   c/o  Transvaal  Museum,  Pretoria,  Tvl. 
Oberholser,  Harry  C.  ;  Biological  Survey,  Washing- 
ton, D.C.,  U.S.A. 
Percival,  a.  B.,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.tJ.  ;  Nairobi,  Brit. 

East  Afr.  Protectorate. 
Peringuey,     Dr.    L.,    F.Z.S.,    &c.  ;    Director    S.A. 

Museum,  Cape  Town. 
Pershouse,     Stanley,     2nd    Border    Regt.  ;     c/o 

Messrs.  Cox  &,  Co.,  16  Charing  Cross,  Loudon. 


No. 


75 


80 


85 


90 


Year  of 
Election. 


1908 
1904 

»> 
1907 

1908 

1906 

190-1 

1905 

1904 
1907 

1905 
1904 
1907 

1909 

1906 
1908 
1909 

1905 

1909 
1906 
1904 
1905 


Name  and  Address. 


Pheak,  H.  H.  ;  Box  424,  Kimberley. 

Pym,  Prank  A.  O. ;  Public  Museum,  Grahamstown. 

Egberts,  Austin  ;  Box  413,  Pretoria. 

KoBERTS,  Eev.  Noel  ;  Christ  Church  Vicarage, 
Pietersburg. 

EoBERTSON,  Dr.  W,  ;  Bacteriological  Laboratorj^ 
Pretoria. 

ScLATER,  Arthur  L.  ;"  Helvetia,"  Southern  Mel- 
setter,  S.E.  Ehodesia. 

Sheppard,  P.  A. ;  Vumba  Exp.  Stn.,  nr.  Macequece, 
P.  E.  Af  r. 

Skea,  Ernest  M.  ;  c/o  Eose  Deep  G.M.Co.,  Johan- 
nesburg. 

Sparrow,  Major  E.,  M.B.O.U. ;  Eookwoods,  Sible 
Headingham,  Essex,  England. 

Swinburne,  John,  M.B.O.U. ;  Eand  Nat.  Labour 
Assoc,  Pietersburg,  Tvl. 

SwiNNY,  H.  H. ;  Port  St.  Johns,  West  Pondoland. 

SwYNNEBTON,  C.  F.  M.  ;  GuDgunyana,  Melsetter 
Dist.,  S,  Ehodesia. 

Taylor,  C.  H.  ;  Kellowna,  British  Columbia. 

Taylor,  L.  E.  ;  Kellowna,  British  Columbia. 

Theiler,  Dr.  A. ;  Taubenbaus  Str.  No.  10  b, 
Lucerne,  Switzerland. 

Thompson,  Chas.  S.  ;  High  School,  San  Bernardino, 
California,  U.S.A. 

TiioMSEN,  F.  ;  Govt.  Entomologist,  Pretoria. 

Tyrrell,  E.  G.  Harcourt  ;  Greytown,  Natal. 

Upton,  Capt.  C,  A.S.C. ;  25  Charles  St.,  St.  James's 
Sq.,  London. 

AViGLKSwouTii,  J.,  M.D.,M.B.O.L^. ;  Eainhill,  Liver- 
pool, Eugland. 

Wilde,  C.  ;  AViudhuk,  Damaraland. 

Wood,  A.  E.,  A.E.M. ;  Wepener,  O.F.S. 

Wood,  John  ;  Box  3(53,  East  London,  C.C. 

Workman,  W.  II.,  :\I.B.O.U.  ;  Lismore,  Belfast, 
Ireland. 


XI 


No. 

Year  of 
Election. 

1 

1909 

2 

1908 

3 

1907 

4 

1909 

5 

1904 

6 

>j 

7 

1907 

8 

1904 

Name  and  Address. 


Hon.  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. 
Haetert,  Dr.  E. ;  Director  Triug  Museum,  Tring, 

Herts,  England. 
Heeman,   Dr.    Otto  ;    Hung.    Central    Bureau   of 

Ornithology,  Budapest. 
Eeichenow,   Dr.    A.  ;    Kaisl.   Zool.    Museum,    In- 

validenstrasse,  Berlin,  Germany. 
SCLATEE,   P.   L.,    D.Sc,   F.R.S. ;     Odiham    Priory, 

Wiuchfield,  Hants,  England. 
ScLATEE,  AV.  L.,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.  ;    10   Sloane  Court, 

London,  S.W. 
Teimen,   E.,   F.R.S.  ;    c/o   Entomological   Society, 

London,  W. 


LIST    OF    PAPERS,    &c., 
IN    THIS    VOLUME. 


Vol.  VIII.,  No.  1,  Jah/  1912. 

Page 
I.  On  some  Birds  in  the  Durban   Museum.     By  E.  C. 

Chubb,  Cuiator     1 

II.  Notes  on  the  Migratory  Birds  of  the  Bufialo   River 

Basin.     By  the  Rev.  Robert  Godfrey  4 

III.  Field-Notes    on     Birds    collected     at     Blaauwberg, 

Northern  Transvaal.     By  F.  0.  Noome 15 

IV.  Description    of    a     New     Flycatcher.      By    Austin 

Roberts 21 

V.  Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Birds  in  the  Transvaal 
Museum  from  Boror,  Portuguese  East  Africa. — 
Part  II.     By  A  ustin  Roberts    22 

VI.  Correspondence 62 

VII.   Account  of  the  Eighth  Annual  General  Meeting 64 

VIII.   Occasional  Notes  68 

IX.  Short  Notices  of  Oniitholoiifical  Publications     70 


XIV  LIST  OF  PAPERS. 

Vol.  YIII.,  No.  2,  December  1912. 

Page 
X.  Kandom   Notes   on  South  African  Ornithology.     By 

C.  G.  Davies,  M.B.O.U 75 

XI.  The  Soutli   African  Lanner  Falcon  [Falco  biarmirus) 

and  its  Congeners.    By  B.  C.  R.  Langford.    (Plate.)     82 

XII.  The  Wild  Birds   of  the   Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens. 

By  AuviN  Haagner,  F.Z.S.,  Col.M.B.O.U.,  &c.    ...     85 

XIII.  The  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.     By  James  Buckland...     92 

XIV.  Occasional  Notes  118 

XV.  Short  Notices  of  Ornithological  Publications 120 

Name  Index 123 

Titlepage,    Preface,    Contents,    Roll    of    Members,    List    of 
Papers,  Subject-matter  Index. 


SUBJECT-MATTER    INDEX, 
INCLUDING  NAMES   OF   CONTRIBUTORS. 


rage 

Abbott,  C.  J.     '  The  Home-Life  of  the  Osprey,'  noticed    72 

Account  of  Eighth  Annual  General  Meeting  64 

'  Aquila,'  The  Pieport  of  the  Roy.   Hung.   Bur.  of  Ornithology, 

noticed 72 

Bittern,  The  Nesting  of  the  South  African 68 

Blaauwberg,  N.  Tvl.,  Field-Notes  on  Birds  collected  at     15 

Boror,  Portug.  East  Africa,  Notes  on  a  Collection  from    22 

'  British  Birds,  Hand-list  of,'  noticed     121 

Buckland,  James.     Value  of  Birds  to  Man 92 

Buffalo  TJiver  Basin,  Notes  on  the  Migratory  Birds  of 4 

Chubb,  E.  C.     On  some  Birds  in  the  Durban  Museum ,  .  .  .  1 

Collection  of  Birds  from  Boror,  Notes  on  a 22 

Correspondence , 62 

Davies,  C.  G.     The  Nesting  of  the  S.A.  Bittern 68 

.     IJandora  Notes  on  S.A.  Ornithology     ,,...,  75 

Description  of  a  New  Flycatcher    21 

Durban  Museum,  On  some  Birds  of  the    1 

East  Africa  and  Uganda  Nat.  Hist.  Soc,  Journal  of,  noticed    ....  121 

Falcon,  The  S.A.  Lanner,  and  its  Congeners   82 

Field-Notes  on  Birds  collected  at  Blaauwberg     1/5 

'  Flight  of  Birds '  (Headley),  noticed     121 

Flycatcher,  Description  of  a  New  (Roberts)    21 

'  Game  Birds  of  South  Africa  '  (Hnrsbrugh),  noticed 73, 120 

Godfrey,  Rev.  R.     Notes  on  Migratory  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  River 

Basin 4 

Grant,  Ogilvie-.     '  List  of  British  Birds,'  noticed 71 

Haagner,  Alwin.     Bird  Migration  in  S.  Africa.     (Circular.)     ....  118 

.     Wild  Birds  of  the  Pretoria  Zoo 85 

Headley,  F.  W.     '  Flight  of  Birds,'  noticed 121 

Hor.sbrugh,  Major  Boyd.     'The  Game  Birds  of  S.  Africa,'  noticed.  7'-\ 


XVI  SUBJECT-MATTER  INDEX. 

Page 

'  Ibis  :  Journal  of  Ornitholofry,'  notiood 70 

Langford,  R.  C.  R.     The   South   African  Lannev  Falcon  and  its 

Congeners   8^ 

Locust  Bird  (White  Storlc)  near  Colesberg  69 

Migratory  Birds  of  the  liufFalo  River  Basin 4 

Murray,  .T.  P.     Albino  Rparrow  in  Basutoland    09 

Noome,  F.  0.     Field-Notes  on  Birds  collected  at  Blaauwberg  ....  15 

Occasional  Notes   68, 1 18 

Ornithological  Publications,  Short  Notices  of 70,  120 

Ornithology,  Random  Notes  on  S.  African    7o 

'  Osprey,  Home  lAfe  of  the,'  noticed 72 

Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens,  The  Wild  Birds  of  the 85 

Quail,  Varieties  of  the 70 

Random  Notes  on  S.  African  Ornithology    75 

Reichenow,  A.     '  Vogelfauua  des  Mittelafrikanischen  Seengebietes,' 

noticed    71 

'  Rivista  It.aliana  di  Ornitologia,'  noticed  72 

Roberts,  Austin.     Description  of  a  New  Flycatcher   21 

.     Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Birds  in  the  Transvaal  Museum 

from  Boror 22 

Shelley,  G.  E.,  and  Sclater,  W.  L.     'The  Birds  of  Africa,'  vol,  v. 

No.  2,  noticed    1 22 

Short  Notices  of  Ornithological  Publications    70, 120 

Sparrow,  An  Albino,  in  Basutoland  69 

Value  of  Birds  to  Man  (James  Buckland)     92 

*  Vogelfauna  des  Mittelafrikanischen  Seeugebiete.s,'  noticed   71 

Wild  Birds  of  the  Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens     85 

Wood,  John.     White  Stork  at  Colesberg 69 

.     Viirieties  of  the  Common  (^uail      70 


Pi-ATK :  South  African  Lanner  Falcon  (Falro  fnarviirm). 


THE     JOURNAL 


OF    THE 


SOUTH  AFRICAN  ORNITHOLOGISTS'  UNION. 


Vol.  VIII.  JUNE  1912.  No.  1 

I. —  On  some  JJinh  in  the  Durban  illaseuni. 
By  E.  C.  Chubb,  Curator. 

Whilst  engaged  in  cataloguiiig  the  birds  in  this  Musonin 
hitely,  I  wrote  the  following  notes  regarding  certain  species 
whic^j  appear  to  be  of  interest  on  account  of  their  rarity  in 
South  Africa,  or  because  they  have  not  been  hitherto  recorded 
from  Natal,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained  with  the  limited 
literature  at  my  disposal. 

1.  C*OLYMBUS  CRiSTATUS,  Linn.     Crested  Grebe. 
Although  not  uncommon   in  other  jiarts   of  South  Africa, 

it  has  not  until  now  been  recorded  fi'om  Natal.  There  aro 
two  examples  laljelled  "Natal  "  in  the  collection. 

2.  Hydhobates  PELAGicus  (Linn.).     Storm-Petrel. 

The  ]\Liseum  possesses  a  specimen  of   this  bird  which  was 
obtained  at  Durban  in  liiSS. 

1^.  Anas  capensis,  Gm.     Cape  Wigeon. 
Tliere  are  two  females  of  this  species  in  the  collection. 
They  were  taken  near  Durban. 

4.  Dendrocygna  fulva  (Gm.).     "Whistling  Duck, 
Very  few  occurrences  of  this  Duck  in  South  Africa  have 
been  noted,  and  they  are   from   Lake   Ngami,  the   Zandjezi 
VOL.  VIII.  1 


2  INIr.  E.  C.  ChuLb  on  some 

and  Botleti  Rivers,  so  that  an  example  from  the  neiglibour- 
hood  o£  Durban  in  this  Museum  is  the  first  record  o£  it  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  South  Africa. 

5.  Casarca  cana  (Gm.).     South  African  Shehlrake. 
The  South  African  Shehh'ako,  wliich  ap[)ears  never  to  have 

been  recorded  from  Natal,  is  represented  in  the  collection  by- 
two  females,  labelled  respectively  "  Natal,  presented  by 
H.  Buck  1893,"  and  "Natal,  presented/' 

6.  Terekia  cinerea  (Glild.).     Terek  Sandpiper. 
Records  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  South  Africa 

are  very  scanty.  There  is  one  example  in  this  Museum 
which  was  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Durban. 

7.  Totanus  ochropus  (Linn.).     Green  Sandpiper. 
Sclater  doubts  the  occurrence   of  the  Green  Sandpiper  in 

South  Africa^  remarking  as  follows  : — "  The  occurrence  of 
the  Green  Sandpiper  in  South  Africa  rests  on  the  authority 
of  Mr.  Layard,  who  stated  that  he  received  several  examples 
from  Mr.  Arnot,  procured  near  (Jolesberg,  and  that  it  also 
occurred  at  Zoetendale  Vley  in  Bredasdorf,  near  Knysna, 
and  at  the  Kowie  River  mouth.  No  other  observer  or 
collector,  however,  has  noticed  the  occurrence  of  this  Sand- 
piper in  South  Africa,  nor  is  thci-e  a  South  African  example 
in  the  South  African  Museum.  It  is  quite  |)ossible,  therefore, 
that  Mr.  Layard  was  mistaken  in  regard  to  the  matter.'^  A 
specimen  from  Natal  in  the  Durl)an  Museum  goes  to  show 
that  the  species,  at  any  rate  occasionally,  visits  South 
Africa. 

8.  LiMxoB^NUS  marginalis  (Bp.).     HarHaub's  Crake. 
An  example  of  this  rare  Crake  was  obtained  on  the  ]3url)an 

Racecourse  by  the  late  Mr.  A.  D.  ]\Lllar  and  j)resented  by 
him  to  the  Museum.  It  has  only  j)reviuusly  bc^on  recorded 
from  Ondongn,  Damaraland,  where  it  was  obtained  by 
Andersson,  and  PJast  London,  whence  tiie  Cape  Town 
Museum  possesses  a  specimen. 


Birds  in  the  Durban  Museum.  3 

9.  Nycticorax  lfatconotus  (Wagl.).  White-backed 
Night-Heron. 

There  are  several  examples  of  this  species  in  the  Durl)an 
Museum,  all  o£  which  were  obtained  in  Durban  Bay,  where 
it  is  not  uncomnon  at  times.  There  appear  to  bo  only  two 
previous  records  of  it  from  South  Africa. 

10.  Otogyps  AURiciTLARis  (Daud.).     Black  Vulture. 

An  example  of  the  Black  Vulture  obtained  in  Zululund  by 
Mr.  C.  J.  Crofts  in  1903  is  pressrved  in  the  Museum. 

11.  Falco  cuvieri  (A,  Smith).     African  Hobby. 

A  female  shot  on  the  Berea,  Durban,  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Millar 
on  30th  August,  1905,  is  in  the  collection.  There  are  only  two 
previous  records  from  South  Africa,  viz.  :  the  type  obtained 
by  Sir  Andrew  Smith  on  the  Kei  River  in  Eastern  Cape 
Colony,  and  a  young  specimen  from  near  Durban  in  the 
South  iVfiican  Museum,  Cape  Town. 

12.  ScoTOPELiA  PELi  (Tcmm.)  (Bp.).  Pel's  Fishing- 
Owl. 

A  female  shot  on  the  Pongola  Hiver,  Zululand,  in  August 
1908,  by  Mr.  Frank  Fynuey,  is  now  in  the  Museum.  There 
have  only  been  two  previous  records  of  this  Owl  in  South 
Africa,  as  far  as  I  am  aware. 

13.  Halcyon  chelicuti  (Stanley)-     Striped  Kingfisher. 
An  example  from  the   right   bank  of   tho   Lower  Tug(da 

Hiver  is  the  first  instance  of  tho  occurrence  of  this  King- 
fisher in  Natal,  although  it  has  several  times  been  secured  in 
Zululand. 

14.  Hemipteryx  minuta.  Gunning.  Little  Pinc-Pinc 
Warbler. 

The  Museum  possesses  a  pair  of  this  sj^ecies  and  nest, 
which  were  obtained  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Durban  in 
1909  by  Mr.  H.  M.  Millar.  They  agree  very  well  with 
Dr.  (lunning's  deserij)ti()n. 

1!^ 


4  Rev.  llobert  Godfrey  on  the 

15.  AcROCEPHALUS  PALUSTius  (Beclist.).    Mui'sli-Warbler. 

The  only  records  o£  the  Marsh- Warbler  in  South  Africa 
are  those  of  Shelley  (near  Durban  in  1874:)  and  Boyd 
Alexander  from  (Zambezi  River).  Mr.  H.  M.  Millar  shot  a 
male  near  Durban  in  April  1910  and  presented  it  to  the 
Museum. 

IG.  Ehemomela  scOTors  (Sund.).  Dusky-faced  Bush- 
Warbler. 

There  is  a  pair  of  this  rare  "Warbler  in  the  Durban  Museum. 
They  were  shot  near  Durban  by  Mr.  H.  M.  Millar. 


II. — Sotes  on  the  Mi[/rator>/  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  River  Basin. 
By  the  Rev.  Robert  Godfrey. 

T. — Our  Summer  Migrants,  1910. 

The  object  in  writing  this  article  is  to  endeavour  to  rouse 
a  little  more  enthusiasm  amongst  Members  and  others  in  the 
interesting  subject  of  migration.  Meagre  as  may  be  the 
amount  of  information  here  compiled,  it  is  enough  to  show 
how  much  can  be  done  by  our  local  observers,  were  a 
systematic  attempt  to  write  down  on  the  spot  all  observations 
that  are  made,  and  to  communicate  these  to  some  central 
bureau,  such  as  the  Migration  C^ommittee  of  the  S.  A.  0.  U. 

Sicifts. 

The  White-bellied  Swift  {Apu.s  melha  afriranus)  was  seen 
at  Lovedale  on  August  10th,  and  was  Ijelieved  to  have  newly 
arrived  from  its  winter-haunts  in  Central  Africa.  But 
Mr.  John  Wood  writes  to  say  ho  has  seen  this  Swift  about 
East  London  in  every  month  of  the  year,  and  he  raises  the 
question  regarding  its  status  as  a  migrant.  Some,  he  says, 
can  migrate  only  partially.  It  is  hoped  to  ])rov(.'  soon 
whether  it  is  in  the  Buffalo  Basin  all  the  year  round  or  not. 

With  regard  to  the  Black  Swift  (Apus  harhatus)  similar 
information  is  required.     Hcv.  d,  Henderson  Soga  forwarded 


Miyratot'ij  Birds  of  the  Dujj'alo  liicer  Basin.  5 

the  wing  of  one  shot  on  September  2(]th,  with  the  remark 
that  he  had  seen  the  bird  about  a  week  before  also.  On  the 
last  day  of  September  the  species  was  veryconnnon  atNtaba 
Kandoda,  noisily  squealino-  over  the  Debe  Flats. 

No  note  of    interest    has    been    received  on  the   White- 
rumjjed  Swift  {Apus  caffer). 


Swallows. 

The  White-throated  Swallow  {Hirundo  alhiyidaris)  was 
the  harbinger  of  our  migrant  Swallows,  appearing  on 
August  28th  at  Kingwilliamstown,  and  being  found  alone 
for  some  time  thereafter.  Near  Kingwilliamstown  it  is  not 
a  connnon  species,  although  it  no  doubt  nests  on  some 
buildings  near  the  town.  On  October  3rd  one  of  these  birds 
was  flying  about  inside  a  school  at  Tyusha,  quite  regardless 
of  children  and  teacher. 

The  local  South  African  Cliff-Swallow  [Petvochelidon 
spilodera)  appeared  at  its  old  haunts  early  in  September. 
Mr.  W.  J.  A.  Moir,  of  Blythswood,  reports  that  they  were 
first  noticed  there  on  the  afternoon  of  the  3rd,  but  that  they 
were  not  back  in  all  their  strength  till  the  5th.  At 
Emgwali  these  birds  were  noticed  at  their  old  nests  by 
Miss  Douglas  on  the  10th.  In  addition  to  the  colonies  at 
these  two  institutions,  there  are  others  at  Stutterheim  and 
at  Nqamakwe,  and  any  information  as  to  the  year  when 
this  species  first  appeared  in  any  of  these  four  localities 
would  be  most  welcome. 

The  first  record  this  season  of  the  Large  Stripe-breasted 
Swallow  (^Ilirundo  cucullata)  is  Sej)tember  22nd,  when  five 
birds  were  seen  at  the  Buffalo  Bridge,  Kingwilliamstown. 
This  record  is  one  day  later  than  last  year.  On  September 
26th  two  birds  were  seen  at  Pirie.  At  the  latter  place  the 
birds  began  building  in  their  old  site  under  the  arch  of  a 
window  inside  a  church.  The  main  portion  of  last  year's 
nest  had  fallen,  leaving  only  the  funnel  entrance  intact. 
As  we  saw  the  new  nest  growing  in  the  old  spot,  we  waited 
with  interest  to  see  if  the  l)uilders  would  fit  the  nest  to  the 


6  Rev.  Robert  Godfrey  on  the 

old  funnel.  They  worked  on  till  they  reached  the  funnel, 
and  then  gave  a  twist  to  the  right,  finishing  off  with  a  new 
funnel  placed  at  right  angles  to  the  old  one. 

The  only  record  received  o£  the  J^esser  Stripe-breasted 
Swallow  (IJit'iindo  puella)  is  from  Elliotdale,  where,  on 
September  2()th,  Rev.  J.  H.  Soga  saw  a  few  of  these  birds 
mingling  with  Rock-Martins  {liijxiria  jKlKjida)  and  Black 
Swifts  i^Aims  harhatus). 

Information  regarding  the  movements  of  the  European 
Swallow  (7//?"»/irfo  ?"»5^/ca)  is  very  much  desired.  These  birds 
are  now  to  be  met  with  flying  everywhere  over  the  veld,  but 
few  definite  records  of  their  first  appearance  in  the  district 
seem  to  be  obtainable.  On  November  Gth,  and  again  on 
November  8th,  I  saw  birds  which  I  took  to  be  European 
Swallows,  but  I  was  not  satisfied  of  the  correct  identification 
till  the  10th. 

The  most  interesting  of  the  Swallow  records  is  that 
relating  to  the  Pearl-breasted  species  (//.  dimid'uita).  On 
November  l(Jth,  a  little  to  the  west  of  our  district  proper,  I 
noticed  two  young  Swallows  sitting  together  on  a  bare  twig 
of  a  tall  tree,  and  waiting  })atiently  for  the  arrival  of  the 
food-bringer.  From  the  time  that  elapsed  between  suc- 
cessive visits,  I  think  only  one  ])arent  was  feeding 
them,  the  other  may  have  been  brooding  the  second 
time.  The  adult  bird  in  feeding  the  young  generally 
hovered  beside  them  for  a  moment  only  and  was  off  again, 
sometimes,  however,  it  would  settle  on  the  tree,  and  on  one 
such  occasion  it  gave  me  a  specially  good  view  of  it.  Tho 
bird  WIS  wholly  bbu^  above,  with  no  red  on  the  forehead  ; 
there  was  no  Idack  bar  of  any  kind  on  the  under  surface. 
In  the  case  of  the  young  I  occasionally  caught  a  giimpse  of 
a  narrow  hut  distinct  white  bar  on  the  winir. 

Storks. 

A  ]i:iir  ol  W  liite  Storks  (("icou'ia  clconla)  were  seen  on  (ho 
Debe  Flats  on  .rum;  2()th.  1  had  occasion  to  pass  the  same 
])lacc  on  duly  2ith  and  I  saw  one  of  them  still  at  tho 
old  spot.     1   am   thus   strengthened  in  my  conviction  that 


Migratorij  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  River  Basin.  7 

occasional}'  this  bird  remains  with  ns  all  winter.  The 
summer  invasion  of  White  Storks  began  in  November.  At 
Pirie  tliej  were  first  seen  on  the  12th,  and  very  soon 
afterwards  they  were  very  common  all  over  the  district.  On 
the  28th,  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  of  these  birds  were 
counted  at  sunset  at  their  roosting-haiints  in  the  forest.  The 
present  season  promises  to  be  a  great  Stork  year  ;  and  readers 
are  again  reminded  to  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  individual 
Storks  bearing  rings  on  their  legs. 

The  Black  Stork  (Ciconia  nigra)  was  seen  at  its  old  haunt 
near  Pirie  on  September  29th  and  the  two  following  days. 
As  in  190'J,  so  again  this  year  only  one  pair  of  these  binls 
were  observed.  Except  in  colour  the  Black  Stork  is  the 
exact  counterpart  of  its  v/liite  relation,  its  mode  of  flight  and 
the  arrangement  of  its  limbs  in  flight  being  exactly  similar. 
In  the  Black  Stork  the  head,  neck,  upper  breast,  and  upper 
surface  are  black,  while  the  body  and  the  axillary  feathers 
are  white.  Storks  carry  their  long  legs  straight  out  behind 
them  in  flight,  and  keep  their  long  neck  at  full  stretch 
forward.  This  arrangement  is  a  matter  of  convenience,  as 
it  presents  the  least  possible  opposition  to  the  air  ;  but  that 
it  is  not  a  matter  of  urgent  necessity  is  shown  by  the  bird 
altering  this  disposition  of  its  limbs  in  flight  on  occasion. 
I  have  watched  a  Black  Stork  while  high  iu  the  air  lower 
its  head,  and  at  the  same  time  bring  forward  one  of  its  feet 
to  meet  the  lowered  head  and  deliberately  claw  its  bill  with 
its  foot,  while  it  continued  its  course  through  the  air. 

Cuchoos. 

Of  the  eight  species  of  the  migratory  Cuckoos  found  in 
the  district,  the  best  known  in  the  Red-chested  (Juckoo 
(Cucuhis  soUtarius).  This  is  a  very  shy  bird,  generally 
defying  the  efforts  of  an  observer  to  detect  him  ;  but,  as  ho 
is  exceedingly  noisy,  he  cannot  long  remain  undiscovered  in 
any  locality.  He  never  tires  of  uttering  his  bold  triple  cry, 
but  ho  gives  no  offence  to  either  bilingualists  or  trilingualists, 
as  he  is  perfectly  understood  in  all  three  South  African 
lanffuages! 


S  Rev.  lioLert  Godfrey  on  the 

To  the  Dutchman  lie  continually  cries  "  Piet  myn  vroiiw," 
to  the  Kaftir  he  s:ivs  "  Pezu  kom  kono,"  and  to  the  En<rlish- 
man  he  speaks  in  tlio  l)orro\ved  dialect  of  a  North  American 
Nightjar,  repeatedly  reiterating  "'Whip  poor  Will."  Not 
content  hv  })roelaiining  his  j)rcsence  hy  daVj  he  sometimes 
calls  long  after  the  sun  has  set,  or,  ])ut  it  otherwise  (as 
ciicumstances  sometimes  demand  it  should  be  done),  long 
Lefore  the  sun  has  risen.  1  have  notes  of  its  calling  at 
10  P.M.  and  at  2  a.m.  The  earliest  record  for  the  Red-chested 
Cuckoo  this  season  is  given  by  Donald  Henderson,  who  heard 
the  bird  at  Lovedale  on  October  9th,  one  day  later  than  the 
earliest  record  of  1909.  At  Pirie  it  was  heard  by  Miss  Carrie 
Ross  on  October  22nd.  My  own  earliest  record  this  year  was 
on  October  28tli  at  Ainabele. 

The  Bhick-crested  C'uckoo  {Clamator  se^'i'afiis)  arrives 
about  the  same  time  as  the  Red-chested  Cuckoo  and  is  found 
commonly  in  our  district  in  scrubby  country.  Like  the 
Red-chested  Cuckoo  (Cticvhis  soUtarhts)  it  is  a  very  ncisy 
species,  but  it  does  not  defy  observation  as  the  latter  bird 
does.  The  Black-crested  Cuckoo  {Clamator  serratus)  is 
wholly  black,  with  a  wdiite  bar  across  the  wing  which  shows 
up  conspicuously  in  flight,  ]\Ir.  IMoir,  of  Blythswood,  noticed 
it  there  before  October  Gth  ;  I  heard  it  for  the  lirst  time  this 
season  at  Toleni  on  October  30th. 

The  Black  Cuckoo  {Cucuhis  clamosiis)  is  a  much  rarer 
species  in  our  area  than  either  of  the  preceding,  though  it, 
too,  possesses  a  powerful  voice  which  prevents  it  frcnd)eing 
overlooked  in  any  of  its  haunts.  T  have  met  with  the  bird 
at  Pirie,  but  in  my  wimderings  during  the  present  summer 
1  liave  twice  been  on  its  track.  As  yet,  however,  I  am  not 
in  a  position  to  sjx^ak  definitely  about  it.  Tliis  sj)ecies  was 
lieard  near  Komgha  on  N()vend)er  ath  l)y  Wddniaii,  but  it 
was  in  these  parts  some  time  before  that  tiale,  calling 
unheeded  and  unknown. 

The  three  Green  ('Uckoos  haxc  arrived  un<)bser\('d  this 
year.  Prom  the  middle  of  September  1  ke})t  listening  lor 
the  Emerald  Cuckoo's  [Mctallocorri/.r  smara(jdinciis)  call, 
"  Pretty  Georgey,"  but  I  did  not  hear  it  until  November  14th, 


Migralorij  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  River  Basin.  9 

which  is  long  after  the  date  of  his  arrivaL  Tlie  Emerald 
Cuckoo  j)refers  the  thick  bush,  but  is  also  found  in  some  of 
the  kloofs  :  during  the  past  season  I  heard  it  in  the  kloof 
below  Healdtown  Institution.  First  records  of  the  Didric 
and  of  Klaas'  CUickoo  are  also  among  the  dates  wanted  for 
the  present  season. 

Birds  of  Preii. 

Of  our  migratory  Birds  of  Prey  the  species  most  easily 
recognised  is  the  Egy[)tian  Kite  (^Milviis(VQi/ptius).  It  can  be 
distinguished  at  a  glance  from  all  other  local  Birds  of  Prey 
by  it  forked  tail,  which  is  evident  when  the  tail  is  spread. 
The  wings  also  are  of  a  distinct  type,  being  long  and  sickle- 
shaped.  The  Egyptian  Kite  arrived  this  year  at  Pirie  on 
September  23rd  ;  it  occurs  commonly  along  the  base  of  the 
mountains,  and  will  remain  with  us  until  the  latter  half  of 
February. 

Amuch  smaller  Bird  of  Prey,  Naumann's Kestrel  {Ccrclineis 
naumanni),  is  visiting  us  again  this  year,  as  the  C*urator  of 
the  Kingwilliauistown  Museum  informs  me.  Naumann's 
Kestrel  is  much  lighter  in  colour  than  our  common  resident 
species,  and  its  habit  of  associating  in  conipanies  will  lead 
those  who  are  observing  our  migrants  to  suspect  its  presence. 
The  birds  haunt  the  veld  during  the  day,  catching  grass- 
hoppers and  other  insects  on  which  they  feed,  and  at  dusk 
they  retire  to  the  tall  trees  in  Kingwilliamstown  to  roost. 
As  many  as  thirty  birds  may  be  found  roosting  together. 

A  third  Bird  of  Prey  seems,  from  my  observations,  to  bo 
a  summer  visitor.  This  is  the  South  African  Harrier 
(Circus  raniro7'iis).  But  it  may  be  that  this  Harrier  is  only 
a  local  migrant,  and  that  it  does  not  retire  very  far  from 
our  neighbourhood  during  the  winter  months.  Durino-  the 
summer  this  bird  is  one  of  the  most  familiar  objects  of  the 
scenery  in  the  open  veld  adjoining  the  mountains.  It  is 
generally  seen  sitting  on  a  termite  heap  or  on  the  ground, 
waiting  the  near  approach  of  a  horseman  Ijcfore  it  moves. 
Sometimes  it  sits  on  a  mimosa  bush,  and  lately  one  of 
these  birds  allowed  me  to  ride  under  the  tree  on  which  it 


10  Rev.  Robert  Godfrey  on  the 

was  perched  before  it  inovcd.  From  Septenibor  lo  tlio 
beoinninor  of  March  is  the  j)eriod  of  its  stay  with  us,  but 
during  the  present  summer  the  first  birds  were  seen  on 
August  4  th. 

Other  Migrants. 

Tlie  South  African  Harrier  (Circus  ranivorus)  has  been 
referred  to  as  a  doubtful  migrant.  Two  other  birds  must 
be  pLaced  in  the  same  category,  the  South  African  Hoopoe 
{UfKpa  africana)  and  the  Paradise  Flycatcher  {Tchitrea 
perspiciUata).  My  notes  on  both  of  these  species  lead  me  to 
conclude  that  they  are  certainly  migrants  in  the  Pirie 
district,  but  continued  observation  is  required  to  settle  the 
])oint.  The  Hoopoe  arrives  in  August,  preferring  the 
mimosa  country  and  the  sides  of  the  scrub-clad  rivers.  It 
was  observed  this  year  on  August  31st,  at  Keiskama  Hoek, 
but  two  years  ago  it  was  seen  on  the  Grahamstown  road, 
near  Kingwilliamstown,  on  August  1st.  I  have  no  satis- 
factory dates  of  its  departure.  The  Paradise  Flycatcher, 
characterized  by  its  long  chestnut  tail,  is  found  in  this 
district  from  October  to  April.  During  the  present  season 
it  was  first  met  with  at  Pirie  on  October  17th. 

II. — The  Autumn  Migration  of  1911. 

Swifts. 

Both  the  Black  Swift  {Apus  harhatus)  and  the  White- 
bellied  Swift  [Jjnis  nielha  africamis)  were  seen  for  the  last 
time  this  season  at  Kei  Road  on  May  15th  ;  but  readers  will 
remember  that  careful  look-out  is  to  ha  kept  for  these  two 
species  during  the  current  winter,  so  that  their  presence  or 
absence  in  midwinter  in  Bufi'alo  I'asin  may  be  definitely 
cstaldished.  All  observers  are  requested  to  attend  to  this 
matter  and  to  record  any  winter  appearances  of  these  birds. 

Swallows. 
As  usual,  tbc  Swallows  have  the  greatest  interest  attaching 
to   them.     During  tlie   past   season   the   Eur()j)ean    Swallow 


M'ujratorij  Birds  of  the  Daffulo  River  Basin.  11 

{Ilirumlo  riistica)  was  present  in  large  numbers  in  this 
district.  On  February  7th  I  counted  27G  of  these  birds  on 
the  telegraph-wires  near  Green  River.  The  birds  tarried 
till  A{)ril,  the  last  being  seen  at  Pirie  on  April  11th.  Having 
had  occasion  however,  to  visit  the  Zoutpansberg  in  tlie  latter 
part  of  April,  I  found  the  European  Swallow  still  loitering 
al)0ut  Pietersburg  up  to  the  27th  of  that  month,  and  near 
Groot  ISpelonken  I  heard  one  singing  its  full  song  in  the  air 
on  April  25th. 

The  AVhite-throated  Swallow  [Ilirundo  alhi<jularis)  was 
last  seen  frequenting  a  rocky  })ait  of  the  Buffalo  on 
February  15th.  This  is  by  no  means  the  limit  of  the  bird's 
stay,  and  the  entry  is  made  here  simjdy  to  evoke  further 
details  from  other  observers. 

I  happened  to  be  out  of  the  district  at  the  time  when  the 
Larger  Stripe-breasted  Swallow  [Hirundo  cucullata)  normally 
takes  its  departure,  but  I  noticed  the  species  still  loitering  in 
the  Zoutpansberg  up  to  May  10th  ;  and  to  my  great  surprise  I 
met  with  a  small  party  of  these  birds  at  Jafta's,  near  King- 
williamstown,  on  the  last  day  of  May.  This  is  one  of  those 
erratic  movements  in  migration  forming  one  of  the  problems 
still  to  be  solved. 

In  connection  with  the  Larger  Stripe-breasted  Swallow  a 
very  interesting  point  came  under  observation  during  the 
past  season.  A  pair  of  birds  built  their  nest  under  the  zinc 
roof  of  an  outhouse  in  Pirie,  and  liad  already  proceeded  far 
with  the  incubation  of  their  eggs,  when,  on  February  4th.  a 
terrific  hailstorm,  with  stones  larger  than  turkey  eggs,  swept 
over  Pirie.  The  stones  battering  on  the  roof  dislodged  the 
nest,  and  revealed  to  our  gaze  a  round  egg  larger  than  those 
of  the  Swallow  amoniist  which  it  had  lain.  The  e<"<>- 
evidently  belonged  to  a  })arasitic  bird,  and,  when  opened,  was 
found  to  contain  a  well-formed  embryo  with  Zyoodactvlous 
feet.  This  proved  that  the  egg  was  thej)roduce  eitiierof  the 
Cuckoo  or  a  Honey-Guide.  No  one  had  noticed  any  bird 
belonging  to  these  grou})S  near  the  nest,  and  we  could  not 
therefore  with  certainty  identify  it  ;  but  we  had  a  strong- 
presumption  that  it  had  been  deposited  by  a  Lesser  Honey- 


12  Rev.  Robert  Godfrey  on  </(<? 

Guide  {Indicator  minor),  and  at  any  rate  we  received  a 
valuable  hint  to  fix  attention  more  carefully  on  Swallows' 
nests  in  future. 

Some  details  reoanlint^  the  South  African  Cliff-Swallow 
(^Petrochtlidon  spilodeni)  in  our  district  have  l)een  o-athered 
since  the  previous  note  on  minrants  was  written.  Miss 
Engelhof  informs  me  that  the  Emgwali  colony  has  occupied 
its  present  quarters  since  the  summer  of  l.S9()-7,  and  that  it 
may  have  been  in  occupation  even  earlier.  The  missionaries 
at  BIythswood  fix  the  date  of  first  occupation  there  between 
1900  and  1902,  and  Dr.  Struthers  says  they  arrived  at 
Nqamakwe  in  1902.  Information  is  still  wanted  regarding 
the  Stutterheim  and  the  Blaney  colonies.  At  the  latter 
place  a  few  birds  survived  the  war  of  extermination  waged 
against  them  last  year,  and  attem{)ted  to  build  nests  and  rear 
young  this  year.  Two  jierfect  nests  were  seen  at  the  old 
spot  on  Ajtril  l<Sth,  so  that  probably  two  broods  at  least  were 
reared,  but  no  birds  were  about  on  that  date.  This  species 
was  last  seen  at  Emgwali  on  25th  March  ;  and  at  Nqamakwe, 
where  the  birds  reared  two  broods,  on  2nd  May. 

The  Black  Saw-wing  Swallow  {L*i^alidoprocne  holomehvna) 
was  noticed  at  Pirie  on  the  evening  of  February  19th.  Details 
are  greatly  desired  regarding  the  distribution  and  the  length 
of  stay  in  the  district  of  this  species. 

Storls. 

Tho  V^^hiie  Storks  {('icon/a  ciconi(i)  have  been  as  })lentiful 
this  year  as  last,  and  have  roosted  about  in  large  numbers 
about  the  forests  and  in  the  mimosa-scrub.  On  the  cvem'nf; 
of  12th  January,  185  Storks  passed  overhead  in  15  minutes, 
in  a  steady  drawn-out  stream,  making  for  their  roosting- 
trees,  and  30  more  were  seen  further  on,  roosting  in  a  |)atch 
of  mimosa.  The  numbers  rapidly  tliimicd  out  in  March,  and 
by  the  end  of  that  month  it  looked  as  if  all  IIk;  Stoiks  had 
already  departed  for  the  North.  Jn  the  Zouljiansl^erg,  how- 
ever, straggh'rs  were  seen  u])  to  May  Oth.  To  my  surprise 
a  pair   was  reported   from  Tai'eni,   near  Kingwilliamstown, 


Migrator;!  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  River  Basin.  13 

on  May  24tli  ;  next  day,  five  were  seen  near  the  Green  River  ; 
and  most  surprising  of  all,  over  80  were  counted  between 
Debe  and  Pirie  on  June  lltli.  This  latter  occurrence 
indicates  another  erratic  movement  which  requires  explana- 
tion. The  only  explanation  that  suggests  itself  is  that  these 
birds  are  not  perfectly  adult  (although  they  do  not  show 
signs  of  immaturity),  and  therefore  are  not  yet  driven  by 
their  over-mastering  instinct  to  seek  the  land  of  their  birth. 
For,  as  is  well  known,  immature  birds  are  not,  as  a  rule, 
found  in  the  company  of  the  adults  at  the  nesting-haunts. 
Here  is  another  call  to  local  naturalists  to  note  where  and 
when  White  Storks  (Ciconia  ciconia)  are  seen  in  this  region 
in  mid-winter. 

Although  a  number  of  Storks  were  killed  or  disabled  by 
the  hailstorm  already  referred  to,  no  marked  bird  seems  to 
have  been  detected  as  yet  in  this  district. 

An  innnature  Black  Stork  {Ciconia  nigra)  hung  about  on 
a  vlei  on  the  Amatola  Mountains  for  at  least  a  week  in 
January  ;  it  was  seen  on  the  5th  and  again  on  the  13th  at 
the  same  s[)ot. 

Cxcfcoos. 

Owing  to  the  shyness  of  the  Cuckoos  and  their  silence  in 
tlie  summer  and  autumn,  it  is  exceedingly  ditiicult  to  discover 
the  dates  on  which  the  Cuckoos  depart  from  our  district. 
The  Red-chested  Cuckoo  (Cuculus  solitarius),  or  Piet-myn- 
vrouw,  was  last  heard  at  Pirie  on  January  17th.  Two  months 
later,  however,  on  23rd  March,  an  immature  male  was  killed 
by  a  boy  as  it  flew  across  Pirie,  and  was  brought  to  me. 
This  latter  occurrence  seems  to  indicate  that  the  movements 
of  the  Red-chested  (Juckoo  here  are  similar  to  those  of  the 
European  Cuckoo  (Cucnlus  ca)ionis).  The  old  birds  depart 
amongst  the  earliest  of  our  autumn  migrants,  but  the  young 
tarry  several  weeks  behind  them  and  go  oft'  alone  as  autunm 
is  advancing. 

The  Emerald  C^uckoo  {MetalJococci/x  smarafiJineui)  was 
last  heard  on  January  11.  Some  small  Pirie  boys  obtained 
a  young  one  on  December  10,  and  brought  it  to  me  under 


14  Migratorii  Birds  of  the  Buffalo  B'lvev  Basin. 

the  impression  that  they  had  captured  a  Kinofislier.  Un- 
fortunately they  missed  the  opportunity  of:  noting  the  foster- 
parents,  a  point  which  still  remains  in  obscurity. 

My  latest  date  for  the  Didric  {Chri/sococci/x  cuprcus)  is 
December  27th,  on  which  day  the  bird  was  calling  near  King- 
williamstown. 

Birds  of  Prpi/. 

The  Egyptian  Kite  (Milrns  (njiiptins)  remained  with  ns 
until  February  10th.  Its  numbers  were  about  tlic  same  as  in 
previous  years;  one  day,  January  5th,  I  had  a  fine  sight  of 
eleven  of  these  birds  in  the  air  at  the  same  time.  The  South 
African  Harrier  (Circus  ra?iirorus)  tarried  with  us  till 
February  10th.  And  the  third  of  our  common  migrant  birds 
of  prey — Naumann's  Kestrel  (CerrJmeis  ))aumaniii) — haunted 
the  trees  in  Kingwilliamstown  till  llu^  liitter  half  of  March. 
Mr.  Arthur  Weir  reports  that  ho  saw  them  then  roosting  in 
two  gum-trees  at  the  old  cemetery. 

Other  Migrants, 

We  have  in  the  Willow-Wren  an  example  of  a  migrant 
whose  arrival  in  this  country  generally  escapes  notice. 
Owing  to  its  small  and  unobtrusive  colouring,  as  well  as  to 
its  silence  on  arrival  in  this  land,  it  does  not  readily  attract 
notice  at  that  season.  But  in  February  it  begins  to  tune 
up,  by  way  of  preparation  for  leaving  this  land  ;  and  during 
ISIarch  the  AVillow-Wren  is  in  full  song  in  South  Africa. 
This  year  this  si)ecies  turned  up  as  usual  in  March,  beside 
the  Mission-house  at  Piric,  and  sang  beside  the  house  till 
March  2lttli.  After  his  montlTs  practice  at  song  in  this 
land  it  is  no  wonder  that  ho  is  in  perf<'ct  song  when  he 
readies  the  woods  of  Scotland  in  Aj)ril. 

Two  species  of  migratory  Sandpipers  were  detected  in 
the  Ijuflalo  Basin  this  year.  One  of  these,  the  Common 
San<lpip«-r  (7>/h//o/Wc5  hi/poJeucos)  oi  Europe,  was  haunting 
the  BulVido  in  Kingwilliamstown  on  February  KUh.  And 
the  otii<'r,  tbc  Wood  Sandpiper  ( Tetanus  glareola),  came 
under  ob.sorvation  three  times — one  was  shot  early   in  the 


fBirds  collected  at  Blaauivherr/,  K.  Transvaal.  15 

season  liy  IMr.  John  Wood,  a  second  was  obtained  near  Pirie 
by  Mr.  Pym  on  February  23rd,  and  the  tliird  was  seen  l)y 
the  writer  at  a  piece  of  temporary  water  at  Tyersha  on 
April  10th. 

A  specimen  of  the  European  Roller  [Corac'ias  f^arrvlus), 
known  locally  as  the  Blue  Jay,  was  shot  at  Blythswood  by 
Mr.  Moir  on  December  22nd,  and  forwarded  to  me.  This 
species  was  again  met  on  the  Kino-williamstown  commonage 
by  Mr.  Arthur  Weir  on  March  19th. 

Of  birds  whose  status  as  migrants  has  not  yet  been  satis- 
factorily determined  in  the  district,  may  be  mentioned  the 
Red-backed  Shrike  (Lanins  colliirio),  the  South  African 
Hoopoe  (Upiipa  africana),  and  the  Paradise  Flycatcher 
{TcJntrea  perspiclUata).  Three  Red-l)acked  Shrikes  were 
frequenting  the  mimosa  near  the  Buffalo  Bridge  at  King- 
williamstown  on  February  15th  ;  this  is  the  latest  date  on 
which  I  have  met  with  the  species  locally,  but  during  my 
visit  to  Zoutpansberg  I  saw  a  female  in  Pietersburg  on 
April  20th.  The  South  African  Hoopoe  was  last  seen  at 
Kingwilliamstown  on  April  12th. 


ni. — Field-Notes  on  Birds  collected  at  Blaauwberg, 
N.  Transvaal.  By  F.  0.  Noome. 
I  HAD  for  a  long  time  felt  attracted  by  the  isolated  situation 
of  the  Blaauwberg,  and  felt  sure  from  what  I  had  observed 
in  other  parts  of  the  Northern  Transvaal  Districts  that  a 
large  number  of  European  migratory  as  well  as  interesting 
S.  African  resident  birds  would  be  found  there  ;  but  it  was 
not  until  February  last  that  I  was  able  to  undertake  the  tiij). 
Tiie  results  fully  bore  out  my  expectations  and  are  worth 
recording. 

Leaving  Pietersburg  by  wagonette  on  February  8th,  the 
first  day  was  spent  in  travelling  over  flat,  bare,  uninteresting 
veld,  until  the  Hout  River  was  reached,  where  a  halt  was 
made  for  the  night.  I  found  hundreds  of  AVhitc-bollied 
Storks  {Ahdimia  abdinii)  and  Pied  Crows  {Corriis  scapulafiis) 
at   this  place,  roosting   in   some  syringa-trees    near   an  o\d 


10  Mr.  F.  0.  Noome  on  Birds 

homestead.  A  few  hundred  yards  away  was  a  solitary  thorn- 
tree  in  which  five  African  Rooks  (^Ileterocorax  capensls)  liad 
taken  up  their  quarters  for  the  nitiht,  evidently  not  caring  to 
mix  with  the  Pied  species,  for  as  I  startled  the  latter  from 
the  syringa-trees  they  Hew  to  the  thorn-tree  and  drove  away 
the  former,  who  seemed  to  he  afraid  of  them.  Next  day  we 
completed  our  journey,  getting  into  the  ordinary  "  bushveld" 
type  of  country  after  crossing  the  Hout  River,  and  stretching 
continuously  right  up  to  the  Blaauwherg.  A  few  solitary 
White  Storks  {Ciconia  clcon.la)  were  noticed  here  and  there 
searching  for  grasshoppers,  but  nothing  else  worth  noting 
was  seen. 

A  fortnight  was  spent  at  Blaauwberg,  during  which  I 
found  the  intense  heat  and  drought  very  trying  ;  water  was 
so  scarce  that  there  was  barely  sufficient  for  cooking 
purposes,  and  the  mules  had  to  be  sent  to  the  Brak  River, 
a  distance  of  about  three  miles  from  camp,  where  a  few 
stagnant  pools  of  water  were  still  to  be  found.  I  think  that 
birds  luid  to  fly  to  these  pools  in  the  Brak  River  for  water, 
as  the  only  other  i)]aces  where  they  could  drink  were  a  long 
way  from  the  place  where  I  found  them  to  be  most  numerous. 

Blaauwberg  is  a  mountain  forming  part  of  a  series  of 
ranges  lying  about  midway  between  Pietersburg  and  the 
Limpopo  River,  and  about  70  miles  N.W.  from  the  former. 
It  rises  to  a  height  of  GOOO  feet  or  more  above  the  sea-level, 
bare  of  vegetation,  the  top  a  mass  of  hard  rocks  and  often 
hidden  in  clouds  of  n\i>f  ;  below  tlie  rocks  is  a  ]ilateau  covered 
with  dense  forest,  and  leading  down  from  the  plateau  are 
numerous  kloofs  also  thickly  wooded,  whil<»  Ihe  ridges  separat- 
ing the  kloofs  and  tln^  base  of  tlu^  bill  were  only  sparingly 
chtthed  with  irca^.  The  kloofs  are  ihained  by  watercourses, 
which  were  dry  at  the  time  of  my  visit  on  account  of  the  severe 
drought,  ami  af  tlirii-  bases,  where  they  opened  out  into  the 
fl.its  below,  were  long  stretches  of  tall,  dens(dy  foliaged 
niimosa-thorti,  wild  (ig,  and  "nianda"  trees  ;  the  two  latter 
kinds  were  iti  f'liiit,  and.  no  doul)t,  the  reason  why  1  found 
so  many  birds  in  the  vicinity.  It  was  amongst  these  trees 
that  I  did  tiie  greater  part  of  my  collecting. 


coUeded  at  Blaamchercf,  N.  Tranacanl.  17 

Si/h'ia  7iisoria,  recorded  from  S.  Africa  for  tlie  first  time 
in  tlie  'Annals  of  the  Tnins^vaal  Museum,'  July  1911, 1  found 
warbling  and  singing  in  hundreds  at  all  times  of  the  day  ; 
hut  securing  specimens  was  not  so  easy  as  one  would  havo 
expected  considering  their  numbers,  as  they  took  refuge  in 
the  densest  foliaged  trees,  singing  for  a  time,  and  sometimes 
hopping  about,  but  not  showing  themselves,  and  I  had  to 
wait  long  and  patiently  before  I  could  get  a  shot  at  them. 
After  a  few  days' experience  of  them,  I  learnt  that  they  were 
tamest  and  most  easily  secured  during  the  early  mornings, 
and  I  was  then  able  to  secure  quite  a  number  of  specimens. 
Only  one  of  these  proved  to  be  a  hen,  the  rest  being  either 
adult  or  young  cocks.  I  think  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that 
these  interesting  migrants  make  this  [)lace  a  regular  winter 
resort,  as,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  no  collectors  have  visited  it 
before.  All  the  specimens  secured  were  in  good  winter 
plumage  and  fat,  and  the  profusion  of  insect  life  attracted  Ijy 
the  wild  fruit,  the  wild  fiuit  itself,  and  the  altitude  of  the 
region  seemed  to  suit  them.  I  am  also  curious  to  know  if 
all  individuals  migrate  to  Europe,  as  I  do  not  think  that  the 
climate  of  Blaauwberg  in  winter  would  be  too  severe  for 
them,  and  also  when  they  migrate  northwards. 

I  also  secured  three  specimens  of  the  Icterine  Warbler 
(^Hypolais  h/jpolais)  and  two  (rarden -Warblers  (S/jIria 
simplex),  the  only  ones  I  saw  ;  but  they  may  have  been 
more  plentiful  tli;;n  a]»peared  to  be  the  case,  as  they  kept 
very  much  to  the  dense  foliage,  where  it  was  impossible  to 
distinguish  one  species  from  another.  The  song  of  these 
three  species  seemed  to  me  to  be  very  similar.  I  did  not  see 
any  S//lria  s//Ivi((,  a  female  specimen  of  which,  collected  by 
me  at  Wunderboom,  Pretoria,  on  April  Nth,  1911,  was 
exhibited  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  S.  A.O.U.,  191 1,  and 
I  do  not  think  that  it  is  found  at  Blaauwberg.  While  on 
the  subject  of  this  species  I  may  as  well  record  what  I  noted 
of  it  at  the  time  :  I  was  walking  through  a  lucerne-field  and 
flushed  two  of  th<'m,  both  taking  refuge  in  a  thick  (juince- 
hedgo.  One  I  badly  wounded  and  it  struggled  awav  through 
the  hedge,  but  not  knowing  that   it   was   one   of  these   rare 

VOL.  VIII.  2 


18  Mr.  F.  0.  Noome  on  Birds 

niiprrant?,  I  did  not  follow  it.  Shortly  afterwards,  farther 
down  the  field,  I  noticed  another,  which  I  managed  to  secure. 
Finding  out  then  wliat  it  was,  I  returned  to  where  1  had 
last  seen  the  other,  but  searched  in  vain.  The  specimen 
secured  was  very  fat  and  in  good  plumage. 

The  following   migrants    were   also   observed  at  Blaauw- 
berg  : — 

Efrypti.in  Kite  {Mi/ri(s  fei/ijptius). 
Lesser  Kestrel  (Cerc/incis  iiaumanni). 
European  Bee-eater  (Meroj)s  apinder). 
European  Swallow  {Ilinmdo  rustica). 
IJed-backed  Shrike  [Lanitis  collurio). 

Strong  winds  were  continuously  blowing  from  the  N.E. 
Strano-e  to  sav,  not  a  single  Cuckoo  or  European   Roller 
was  noticed. 

In  some  parts   of  the  stretch  of  mimosa  thorn-trees  were 

dense  patches  of  scrub,  and  amongt  other  birds  found  there 

I  collected   a   series  of    skins    of    Camaroptera   griseovirlUs 

sundevalli.     The  first  two   specimens  I  shot  were  an  adul^ 

and  immature  female,  and  which  I  took  to  be  of  the  subspecies 

{C.  g.   noomei)  described    in  the  'Annals  of  the   Transvaal 

Museum/  July  1911.     After  having  dissected  them  I  noticed 

that  the  immature  specimen   had  the   ])ase  of   the  mandible 

horn-yellow,  while  the  entire  beak  of  the  adult   was  black. 

This  aroused  mv  curiosity,  and  I  spent  several  unsuccessful 

davs  in  trying  In  procure  more  sjiccimens,  as   they   ke]»t  to 

the    very  dense  and    tangled    scrub,  in  which   it  was   most 

difficult  to  get  a  sight  of  them,  and   when  I   did   so,  more 

often  than   not  they   were  too  close.     Seeing  several   herd- 

bovs  in  charge  of  goats,  the  idea  struck  me  of  sending  tlicm 

in  with  their  goats  to  fiush  the  birds,  and  by  doing  this  I 

was  able  to  get  a  few  more  specimens,  some  of  which  were 

too  much  knocked  about  to  be  preserved.     The  birds  when 

disturbed  by   the   goats  flew   into    the   largest   trees,   rising 

higher    and     higher    as    their    alarm    increased,    until    they 

reached    the    topmost    braiu-hes,    where    I    could    see    them 

outlined  against   the  sky.     The  cackling  note,  which  T  also 

licard  them  utter  when  they  could  not  have   be<'n  alarmed, 


collected  at  .Blaainvhen/,  _N.  Traitsruid.  19 

sounds  soniethino-  like  "  ke   kelirk/'  and  while   uttering  it 

they   point  iheir  wings  downwards  at  a  slant  and  slightly 

elevate  their  tails.     They  also  utter  a  note  like  that  of  a  kid, 

as  described  of  other  niemhers  of  the  genus.     I  was  not  ahle 

to  find  out  whether  both  sexes  have  the  same  call-notes.    Two 

out  of  the  three  specimens   obtained   by  driving  the  scrub 

with  goats  were  similar  to  the  first  two  collected  on  this  trip, 

but   the  third  was   quite   different,  and   I   must   say  I  was 

l)U7.zled  for  some  time,  as  T  did  not  think  it  possible  that  two 

distinct  species  would  be  found  in  the  same  limited  area.    On 

sexing  them,  however,  1  found  that  the  two  were   femnles, 

and  the  third  differently  coloured  one  an  adult  male,  and  I 

came  to  the  conclusion  that  they  must  all  be  of  the  same 

species. 

Mr.  Austin  Roberts  and   I  have  carefully  compared  the 

types  of   C.  fjf.  nooDiei  collected  in  the   Waterberg  District 

w  ith  those  from  Blaauwberg,  a  single  specimen  from  Dakn, 

Bechuanaland   Protectorate,   and   another    from    C.   Wilde's 

collection  with  no  locality  indicated,  and  have  come  to  the 

conclusion    that   they  are   all    C.  g.  sunderaUi,  the  juvenile 

plumage  being  that  described  as  C.  g.  noomei.     The  specimen 

from  Daka  is  an  adult,  and  was  correctly  labelled  as  C.  g. 

sundevallL    Since  my  return  from  Blaauwberg,  Mr.  Carinus, 

of  the  Native  Affairs  Department  at  that  place,  has  kindly 

sent    me  four  more  specimens,  and  the  Transvaal  Museum 

collection    is    now    represented    b)'    fourteen    skins,    clearly 

showing  the  different  phases  of  plumage.     I  am  still  doiii)t- 

ful,  however,  as  to  whether  they  retain  the  same  })lumage  all 

the  year  round,  as  in  one  of  the  females  I  collected,  which  is 

obviously  fully  adult,  the  feathers  of  tlu^  throat  are  moulting 

from  grey  to  buftish.     The  youngest  s})ecimen  in  the  seiit's  is 

the   immature   s[)ecimen   mentioned    as    one    of   the    fir>t    I 

collected  at  Blaauwl)erg  ;  it  is  mueh  wai'mer  buftish  coloured 

below,  yellowish  grey  on  the  uj)per  surface  like  the  ^Vaterberg 

specimens,  and  has  the  lower  niJindible  and  gape  yellow.      In 

th<(   adults   the   back   and    top   of    he:id    are    ashy    grey,   the 

throat,  breast,  and  sides  slightly   ])aler  ashy  grey,  only  the 

niifldle  of  the  lower  breast  and  abtlomen  huffish  white,  and 

0* 


20  Birds  coUei'led  at  Dlaauwhcrg,  N.   Transvaal. 

the  entire  beak  is  black.  In  those  in  intermediate  ])luuiage, 
of  which  the  types  of  C.  p.  noomei  are  examples,  the  back 
and  to[)  of  head  are  more  or  less  yellowish  <>"r<'V,  the  Avhole 
of  the  under  surface  and  sides  of  face  bufhsh  white,  ]>al<'st 
on  the  throat  and  abdomen,  and  there  is  always  a  whitish 
mark  at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible, 

I    also    collected    specimens    of    the   following  species  of 
bii'ds  : — 

Cape  Fniit-rigeon  {Vinnr/o  delalandei). 

Chanting'  Goshawk  (Mclierax  canorus). 

Yellow-fronted  Barbet  {Barbntida  e.rtoni), 

]iiown-hooded  Kingfisher  (Hnlci/on  alhirentris). 

Carmine-breasted  Bee-eater  {Mcrops  nuhicoides). 

Seiniitar-biiled  Hoopoe  [lihinojioutm^tm  r;/miomeln.i). 

Spotted  Flycatcher  {Mitscicripa  (/risola). 

Black  Cuckoo-8hrik(>  {Campephaga  ?jif/ra). 

Three-streaked  Bush  Shrike  {Pomatorhipichus  australis). 

Yellow-fronted  Bush  Shrike  {Chlorophomncs  sufp/iureopectus  shiiHis). 

Crimson-breasted  Bush  Shrike  {Laniarim  (drococcincus). 

Bed-backed  Shrike  {L(tnius  cullurio). 

I\Ielba  Finch  (Pi/fi/ia  mMa). 

Jameson's  Waxbill  {Laf/onastida  rubrk-cda). 

Tree  Pipit  (Anthus  trivialis). 

Tit  Babbler  (Parisonia  subctcruleum). 

Smith's  Crass  ^^'arbler  {Cistiada  chiniann). 

Barred  ^^'ren  Warbler  {Cahummastesfaseiohdiis). 

Fleck's  Crombec  (Si/h-icf(ti  flrchi). 

l^rown-throated  Bush  Warbler  (Ereinnmela  usticoIUs). 

White-shouldered  Bobin-Chat  {Cossypha  huvipntlis). 

White-browed  Ground  Robin  {Erythropyyia  leucophrys). 

T  left  Blaauwberg  on  February  22nd.  and  returned  to 
Pietersburg  by  a  ditt'erent  road  to  that  by  which  1  had  gone 
on  the  forward  journpy.  AV'hile  driving  up  a  long  gentle 
slope  in  the  bushveld  between  Blaauwberg  and  Hout  River, 
my  attention  was  drawn  to  an  enormous  ntuuber  of  White 
Storks  [Ciconia  cicouia)  in  the  air  some  distance  ahead.  As 
1  trot  nearer  I  could  make  them  out  more  clearly  and  found 
that  they  were  gyrating  upwards  in  the  shape  of  a  huge 
funnel,  the  base,  so  far  as  I  could  make  out,  beginning  just 
above  the  tree  tops  and  widening  out  to  a  huge  circular  ring, 
which  wa.i  abll()^t  hot  to  sight  in  the  haze  some  thousands  of 


Oil  a  Sew  Flycatcher.  21 

feet  above  the  earth  j  the  funiiel-shapeJ  fonnatioii  must  have 
been  composed  of  tons  o£  thousands  of  Storks,  all  circling 
round  and  gradually  rising  higher  and  higher.  As  I  got 
nearer  I  made  out  several  more  of  these  formations,  one 
evidently  not  being  large  enough  to  accommodate  them  all. 
After  they  had  remained  in  the  air  for  some  time  they 
gradually  floated  down  to  the  earth  again  and  settled  amongst 
the  scattered  trees  on  the  slope,  up  which  I  was  driving, 
some  distance  from  the  road,  and  I  was  able  to  get  a  good 
view  of  them.  When  I  had  driven  some  distance  beyond 
them  they  rose  again  in  the  same  funnel-shaped  formations, 
and  were  still  <xvratino;  when  last  I  saw  them  throui>h  the 
heavy  iiaze.  The  haze  was  due  to  the  intense  heat,  the  time 
being  about  midday.  I  did  not  see  any  AVhite-l)elIied  Storks 
on  the  way  back,  and  as  I  was  travelling  by  a  different 
road,  do  not  know  whether  they  had  left  the  place  where  I 
had  seen  them  a  fortnight  before.  On  my  return  to  Pretoria 
I  paid  a  special  visit  to  some  lucerne-fields  at  Wonderboom 
and  Onderstepoort,  where  they  were  nearly  always  to  be 
seen  during  the  summer  months,  as  I  wished  to  see  whether 
they  had  left  or  not.  Not  a  single  specimen  was  to  be  seen  ; 
but  about  a  week  later  I  noticed  three  at  Elofsdal,  which 
seemed  to  be  immature,  their  legs  being  covered  with  a 
white  chalky  substance.  The  probable  reason  for  this  early 
migration  was  the  dryness  of  the  season  and  the  cold  winds 
which  had  been  Ijlowing  during  January  and  February 

IV. —  Descvij)tion  of  a  New  Fli/cafcJter. 
By  ArsTTN  Kobeuts. 

Tarsiger  stellatts  transvaalensis,  subsp.  nov. 

Differs  from  7\  stellatus  ti/pica,  of  Knysna,  Grahamstown, 
and  Port  St.  Johns,  in  having  the  outer  margin  of  the 
bastard -wing  feathers  very  much  paler,  almost  white,  and  in 
being  somewhat  larger.  Types  from  Woodbush,  Transvaal, 
ex  coll.  F.  Vaughan-Kirby,  January  1008.  (Leng.  1.5S  & 
140  mm.  ;  iris  reddish  brown,  bill  black,  legs  and  feet  pale 
dusky  yellow.— F.  V.-K.)  Wing  87  »!c  82-8:5  nun.  ;  tail  65  & 
58  ;  tarsus  25  ;  culmen  1.'3. 


22  My.  A.  Roberts  on  1^1  rds  In 


V. — JVotes  on  a  Collection  of  Binh  in  the  Transvaal  Museum 
from  Boror,  Portuguese  East  Africa. — Part  II.  By  Austin 
Roberts. 

BucORVUS  CAFER  (ScL).     R.  802.     Resident. 

The  Gronnd  Hornbill  was  met  with  in  Jill  parts  of  the 
prazo,  but  no  specimens  were  preserved.  Its  loud  boomino- 
notes  were  always  the  first  sure  signs  of  daAvn,  and  could 
then  be  heard  on  all  sides,  often  at  considerable  distances. 

Bycanistes  cristatus,  Riip}).     R.  805.     August. 

A  few  pairs  were  seen  at  Ngamwe  consorting  with  a  large 
number  of  7i.  hnccinator  ;  they  were  readily  distinguished 
from  that  species  in  flight  by  their  entirely  black  wings. 

Bycanistes  buccinator  (Tenun.).  R.  809.  (2  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  outer  ring  very  pale  brown,  inner  ring  mahogany  ; 
B.  black,  base  grey  ;  L.  grey,  the  scales  black  ;  bare  skin  of 
face  pinkish,  paler  below  and  bchintl  the  eyes.  Leng.  59G— 
GOO  ;  W.  2.50-2t;7  ;  Tl.  ll>l-20r>  ;  Ts.  32-35  ;  C.  113-125. 

This  species  was  observed  in  all  ])arts  of  the  prazo,  some- 
times in  flocks  of  a  dozen  or  moi(^  usually  feeding  on  wild 
figs.  In  calling  io  (!ach  other  their  notes  are  a  harsh,  nasal, 
"■  nhaa,  idiaa,  ha  ha  ha  "  ;  at  other  tinu\s  when  feeding  or  in 
close  company  ihcy  utter  a  (juict  guttui'al  croak.  The  mate 
of  one  of  the  specimens  secured  remained  for  two  or  three 
days  in  the  neighbourhood,  mournfully  calling  for  its  late 
companion. 

Loi'iiocERos  melanoleucus  (A.  Lcht.).  1M»14.  (I  lAL, 
1  F.)      H<'si(h-n<. 

I.  outer  ring  yelhjwish,  inner  ring  golden  y(dlow  ;  B.  dull 
red;  L.  black.  J.eng.  352  k  4'.»4  ;  W.  212  &  222  ;  Tl.  230 
&  193  ;  Ts.  30  &  29  ;  C.  100  &  83. 

The  Crowned  Ilornbill  was  found  in  all  parts  of  the  prazo, 
but  never  in  lai'ge  jtarties  ;  it  was  sometimes  seen  feeding  on 
wild  figs  in   company  with    the   preceding  species.     A  cock 


the  Transvaal  Museum /roin  Boror.  23 

was  seen  at  Buruma  continually  passing  to  and  fro  near  my 
camp,  but  be  was  too  sly  to  disclose  tbe  wbereabouts  of  bis 
nest,  invariably  flying  oft"  in  a  circle  or  far  away  over  tbe 
forest  out  of  siubt  wlieu  be  found  bis  movements  watcbed. 

LoPHOCEROS  NEUMANNi,  Rchw.    11.817.    (IF.)    Resident. 

I.  liazel;  B.  creamy  yellow,  varied  in  parts  witli  dark 
brown,  tbe  tip  and  tomia  ligbt  reddisb  brown;  L.  asby 
brown.     Long.  470  ;  W.  213  ;  Tl.  1D4  ;  Ts.  28  ;  C.  70. 

Tliis  s[)ccies  was  fairly  common  in  drier  parts  of  tbe  prazo, 
and  usually  found  in  small  scattered  parties  of  five  or  six,  tbe 
individuals  keeping  in  toucb  witb  eacb  otber  by  uttering  a 
mournful,  quavering,  wbistling  note.  Tbeir  favourite  food 
seemed  to  be  seeds  and  gum  extracted  from  tbe  pods  found 
bangino-  to  certain  trees.  A  nest  was  located  at  Namabieda 
about  1st  October,  but  on  cbo})ping  open  tbe  entrance  I 
found  tbat  eggs  bad  not  yet  been  laid,  and  tbe  ben  made  ber 
escape  up  tbe  lioUow  trunk.  I  bave  noticed  tbat  Hornbills 
of  tbis  genus  nearly  always  clioose  a  tree  witb  a  bollow 
trunk  extending  u[twaid.s  beyond  tbe  entrance, and  tbat  wben 
tbe  bird  finds  berself  in  danger  slie  immediately  scrambles 
up  out  of  sigbt :  tbis  is  no  doubt  tbe  result  of  experience,  tbe 
nests  being  so  often  robbed  by  natives.  At  Matiwe  tbe 
attention  of  one  of  my  native  servants  was  drawn  to  a  clicking 
sound  coming  from  a  crack  in  a  borizontal  brancli  of  a  tree 
overbanging  my  camp,  and  on  climbing  up  to  investigate,  be 
found  tbat  it  was  being  made  by  one  of  tbeso  birds  confined 
in  its  nest.  Tbe  old  bird  bad  moulted  all  ber  long  wing-  and 
tail-featbers,  cutting  an  absurd  figure,  and,  with  ber,  two 
newly  liatcbed  young  and  tbree  mucb  incubated  eggs  were 
taken  ;  I  tried  to  keep  tbe  first  alive,  but  sbe  disappeared 
during  tbe  first  nigbt,  eitber  liaving  beencanied  off  by  some 
wibl  animal  or  baving  been  stolen  from  tbe  box,  into  wbicli 
1  bad  put  ber,  Ijy  tb(!  natives,  wbom  I  bad  observed  casting 
longing  hungry  eyes  into  tbe  box.  Tbe  camp  bad  been 
pitched  mider  the  tree  for  several  days  before  the  nest  was 
discovered,  and  although  the  male  was  frcMpiently  observed  in 
the  ncigbouring  trees  he  was  never   once  seen  to  venture 


24  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Binls  in 

noar  tho  nosf,  witli  the  usual  caution  of  Honil)ills,  and  no 
doubt  this  was  the  cause  of  the  lien  betraying'  her  ])resence. 
The  eo-gs,  which  I  was  able  to  ])veserve,  are  of  very  rougli 
texture,  dirty  grey  in  colour,  the  pores  show'ing  up  white, 
and  measure  ;3i)-3-  3i)-l»  X  2'J-2*)-7. 

Halcyon  chklicuti  (Stanl.).  J\.  832.  (4  M.,  4  F.) 
liesident. 

I.  dusky  ;  B.  upjier  niand.  dark  brown,  lower  dull  red,  tip 
dark  brown ;  L.  anterior  brown,  posterior  orange.  Leng. 
17G-185  ;   W.  77-84  ;  Tl.  40-44  ;  C.  31-35. 

Wherever  the  forest  trees  were  large  and  free  from  inid(M-- 
growth  and  the  grass  comparatively  short,  these  interesting 
little  Kingfishers  were  to  be  found,  and  they  were  very 
common  at  Villa  Pereira.  Individuals  woidd  frequently 
perch  on  twigs  of  the  branches  overhanging  the  cam])  at 
that  place,  bobbing  their  heads  up  and  down,  darting  down 
to  the  ground  to  pick  up  some  insect  on  the  cleared  ground 
below,  and  occasionally  starting  a  quiet  churring  note,  wdiich 
might  be  likened  to  the  whirring  of  a  cuckoo-clock  just 
before  it  strikes,  suddenly  breaking  off  and  startling  one  with 
a  series  of  wild,  hysterical,  laughter-like  notes.  Others  in 
the  neighbourhood  would  often  join  in,  creating  an  efli'ect 
delightfully  in  keeping  with  the  wildness  of  the  surrounding 
forest.  Two  nests  were  found  at  Villa  Pereira  about  19th 
October,  one  with  four  newly-hatched  young  and  the  other 
with  five  much-incubated  eggs  :  both  nests  were  in  trees  and 
appeared  to  be  old  ones  made  by  Jjarbets  or  Woodpeckers. 
The  eggs  are  of  the  usual  Kingfisher  type  and  measure 
24-2-25  X  21-5-22. 

Halcyon  AM'.ivKNTKis  oruENTALis,  Pirs.  R.  833  a.  (I  M., 
1  F.)     Resi.lent. 

I.  light  brown  ;  I*,  dull  red,  tip  (l;ii-k  brown  ;  \i.  dull  I'cd. 
Leng.23G  &  223  ;  W.  105  Sc  '.»<;  ;  Tl.  71  ic  Gl  ;  Ts.  13  &  12 ; 
C.45. 

At  Villa  Pereira  ihis  Kinglisher  was  frecjuijutly  noticed 
perched  on  the  top  of  peaked  ant-hills  or  dead  tops  of  young 


the  Trans^caal  Mu.<eum  from  Borov.  25 

rnbl)Pr-trees  in  the  clearing,  dartino-  down  every  few  minutes 
to  pick  up  some  morsel  from  the  ground  and  then  usually 
flying  to  another  coign  of  vantage,  from  Avhich  it  would 
repeat  the  manoeuvre.  Elsewhere  it  was  not  often  met  with. 
Three  nests  were  found  in  the  hanks  of  streams,  two  durino- 
the  first  week  in  Octoher,  out  of  one  of  which  thre*;  fresh 
eggs  were  taken,  and  the  third  at  Mativve  a  month  later  with 
three  eggs  on  the  })oint  of  hatching.  The  three  eggs  taken 
at  Buruma  measure  25"8  X  23'tJ-24"5. 

Melittophagus  mekidioxalis,  Sharpe.  R.  8G1.  (1  F.) 
May-August. 

I.  dark  brown  (?)  ;  B.  k  L.  hlack.  Leng.  142  ;  ^\ .  78  ; 
Tl.  G3  ;  C.  27. 

Pairs  of  these  Bee-eaters  were  observed  in  most  clearinos, 
usually  perched  on  bare  twigs  of  fallen  trees,  fron;  which  thev 
darted  after  passing  insects  and  always  returned  to  the  sanui 
twig. 

DlCROCERCrS  HIRUNDINEUS  (Lclit.).  1{.  800.  (1  Y .) 
July-August. 

I.  vermilion  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  ashy  brown.  Leng.  21C)  : 
W.  IH)  ;  Tl.  93  ;  0.  34. 

Very  few  were  seen — as  far  as  I  can  remember,  a  pair  at 
Ngamwe  and  two  pairs  at  Buruma  ;  a  nest  was  also  tound  near 
Matiwe  in  the  baidc  of  a  river,  from  which  two  youn<»-  ones 
darted  out  when  I  dug  it  open  and  took  refugt;  in  the  trees 
but  not  having  a  shot-gun  handy  T  could  not  secure  them. 
The  parents  were  not  seen  in  the  vicinity.  Another  s]»ecimen 
was  })rocured  at  Ngamwe,  but  lost  on  the  joui-ney,  which 
struck  me  at  the  time  as  being  different  from  the  others  I 
had  seen,  but  I  may  have  been  mistaken.  The  followino- 
particulars  were  recorded  of  it: — "No.  255.  Ngamwe, 
25.7.08,  M.  I.  scarlet;  B.  black;  L.  slate.  Leng.  243  ; 
AV.  78  ;  C.  30.  Perched  on  twig  in  shade  of  large  tree  and 
hawking  flies." 

Urn-A  AKHICAXA,  Bechst.     R.  836.     Resident. 

The  Conunon  African  Hoopoe  was  seen  at  various  times, 


2(j  I\rr.  A.  Roberts  on  J^/nL^  in 

but  it  was  always  so  sliy  that  no  sj)ociinens  were  secnrod.  I 
found  a  nest  at  Naniabieda  on  2'2nd  September  by  observing 
a  cock  enter  and  leave  a  natural  hole  in  a  tree  situated  at 
about  -40  feet  from  the  ground,  and  on  examining  it  found 
that  it  contained  five  fresh  eggs  on  which  the  hen  was  sitting 
and  aj)parently  being  fed  by  her  mate.  These  eggs  are  of  a 
pale  greenish-grey  coloui-,  rough  in  texture,  and  measure 
25-0-27'2x  18-18-5. 

IllRlsOR  ERVTIIROKHYKCHI'S  BRKVIROSTRIS,  Gun.  &  JUAs. 
(1  M.,  1  F.)      Kesi.ient. 

These  two  s})ocinu'ns  are  tyjtes  of  a  new  subspecies  de- 
scribed in  the  'Annals  of  the  Transvaal  Museum,'  July  I'Jll. 
Its  main  characteristics  are  a  short,  almost  straight,  bill, 
deeper  and  shorter  than  in  ciridi.^,  from  which  it  may  also  be 
distinguished  by  having-  broad  white  ti[)S  to  the  primary- 
coverts  as  in  erf/fhi-orJii/iic/ius,  the  crown  and  throat  not  so 
clearly  glossed  with  blue,  the  back,  scapulars,  crop,  and 
breast  more  bronze-coloured,  and  the  tail  with  a  fiery  sheen 
of  bronze  on  the  central  feathers  and  exposed  parts  of  the 
others. 

This  red-billed  Hoopoe  was  very  connnon  in  open  forest 
amongst  tall  trees,  usually  in  parties  of  about  six,  and  in 
habits  did  not  differ  matci-ially  iVom  the  southern  races.  I 
found  a  nest  at  Matiwe  on  IU)th  October  in  a  natural  hole  in 
a  tree,  the  entrance  to  which  was  so  narrow  that  tlu;  bird 
could  only  just  scjueeze  through,  situated  not  more  than  six 
feet  from  the  ground  ;  live  inucli-incubated  eggs  taken  from 
it  are  of  a  pale  vciditcr-blue  colour  and  measure  21-2()  X 
lG-8-17. 

KUINOI'OMASTKS  CVANOJIELAS  SCIIAI.UWI,  jS'eiim.       1{.  .S'.K}  U. 

(1  M.,  1  juv.  iM.)      Kesident. 

I.  brown;  15.  .^  L.  bhiek.  I.ciig.  ;512-;-J20  ;  W.  Ill  11:5: 
Tl.  J 82-18.3  ;  C.  12-1.3. 

The  Northern  representative  of  our  Scimitar-billed  lioojioo 
was  often  observed  amongst  tall  trees,  in  pairs  and  sometimes 
in  small  parties;  in  habits  and  call-notes  it  docs  not  dillcr 
from  the  shorter-tailed  species. 


tJie  Tran^nud  MiK^eum  from  JJorov.  21 

CArRIMULGUS       PECTOIJALIS,      ( 'liv.  1{.      ISUi).  (1      M.) 

Resident. 

No  data  recorded.      AV.  105  ;  Tl.  130. 

1  have  l)asod  tlic  identification  of  this  specimen  on  two 
otliers  which  are  identical  witli  it,  one  from  the  Umhelinzi 
Kiver,  P.S.E.A.,  and  the  other  labelled  'SS.  Africa,"  from 
Ivy's  collection  and  probably  f^hot  at  Grahamstown.  The  col- 
lection in  the  Transvaal  Museum  contains  a  series  of  adult 
specimens  of  this  species  from  Grahamstown  and  Hector 
Sjjruit,  and  as  the  three  specimens  above  mentioned  agree 
with  them  in  measurements  and  in  all  respects  except  that 
they  are  more  rufous-coloured,  and  the  young  of  other  closely 
allied  species  are  similarly  distinguished,  I  can  come  to  no 
other  conclusion  than  that  they  are  the  young  of  pedoralis. 
They  are  much  too  dark  to  be  mistaken  for  fervidiis,  of  which 
there  are  two  specimens  in  the  collection  from  N.W. 
iihodesia. 

This  species  was  common  in  the  marsh  region,  but  farther 
in  wa-^  only  found  near  large  streams.  If  I  am  not  mistaken, 
it  is  this  species  MJiich  has  a  beautiful  clear  whistlino-  sonn-, 
which  may  be  described  as  two  clear  pipes  followed  by  a 
series  of  notes  running  down  the  scale.  When  lying  awuko 
at  night  the  song  of  this  bird  broke  the  silence  of  the  forest 
with  such  pleasing  effect  that  I  often  attempted  to  follow  it 
to  its  source,  but  invariably  without  success  ;  and  it  was  not 
until  I  gave  my  "  boys  "  instructions  to  try  to  show  nic  tho 
bird  that  some  time  afterwards,  at  Ngainwe,  one  of  them  was 
able  to  locate  it  and  led  me  to  a  Niglijar  perched  on  a  tree 
close  to  the  ground  ;  but  as  it  was  then  almost  dark,  I  could 
not  see  it  until  it  flew  away,  and  of  course  could  not  get  a 
shot  at  it.  Almost  immediately  afterwards  1  heard  it  calliu"' 
again  in  the  direction  it  had  flown,  but  owing  to  the  darkness 
1  gave  up  the  pursuit. 

At  Matiwe  on  the  3rd  November  I  found  a  solitarv  c^o' 
partly  incubated,  and  tried  subse(piently  to  shoot  the  bird, 
but  it  proved  to  be  too  shy  and  I  failed  to  secure  it.  It 
differs  considerably  froni  a  clutch  of  C.fo.^sei  botji  in  size 
ami  colour,  and  \<,  I  think,  referable  to  this  species.     It  is  of 


28  Mr.  A.  Roberts  oh  Bii-Jk  in 

a  salinon-pink  ground-colour,  covered  with  bold  blotches  of 
red-browu,  and  measures  28  X  21*3. 

CAnuMULGUS  FOSSEi,  [  Verr.]  Ilartl.  R.  012.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Resident. 

No  data  recorded.  (M.)  W.  150  ;  Tl.  120.  (F.)  W.  154  ; 
Tl.  107. 

This  species  was  very  common  and  met  with  in  all  parts  of 
the  prazo.  Its  churring  notes  were  most  annoying  at  night, 
lasting  sometimes  for  ten  minutes  without  cessation  and 
tem])ting  one  to  stop  the  racket  with  a  gunshot  charge.  A 
clutch  of  two  eoos  was  taken  at  Buruma  on  the  8th  October, 
laid  on  the  bare  ground;  they  are  creamy  white  faintly 
clouded  with  bi"Ownish  purple  and  reJ-brown,  one  specimen 
with  a  few  blood-coloured  spots  at  the  acute  end,  and  measure 
2(5*5  X  20  and  27'5  x  21-G  respectively. 

MaCRODIPTERYX  VEXILLARll'S  (J.  Gil.).  H.  OIG.  August, 
October,  and  November. 

No  specimens  were  secured,  l)ut  several  males  were 
observed  near  Matiwe  in  October  and  another  at  Muandama 
in  August,  and  I  found  an  egg  near  Guju  on  12th  November. 
I  made  an  attempt  to  get  the  parent  bird  in  tlie  last  instance 
liy  leaving  the  egg  and  returning  later  with  the  •410  shot- 
gun, but  wlien  once  she  had  been  flushed  from  lier  egg  she 
would  not  let  me  get  williin  range  and  in  the  end  I  bad  to 
return  and  take  it  without  bavin"-  secured  her.  Tins  eoo-  is 
of  a  general  salmon-pink  ground-colour,  clouded  with  ashy 
purple,  and  measures  32  X  21. 

TaCHVoUNIS  I'AltViS  .MYUCIIROI  s,   Hchw.  (?) .       U.  1>2'.'. 

The  Palm  Swift  was  very  common  near  the  coasi  and  at 
Villa  Pere'ra,  Itiit  (Htficult  to  shoot  on  the  wing.  At  the 
latter  place  large  numbers  were  fonnd  roosting  in  th(>  leaves 
of  a  very  tall  indigenous  palm,  and  a  discharge  amongst  the 
leaves  late  one  evening  brought  down  a  (|uantity  of  feathers, 
evidently  from  nests,  and  sev<'ral  bailly  moulting  specimens 
which  were  not  i)reservod. 


tlie  Transvaal  Museum  f)'0)n  Boror.  29 

Htrundo  puella,  Temm.     \\.  9()1 .     (2  M.,  2  F.)    Rosidcnt. 

T.  lioht  brown  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  138  (?)-170  ; 
W.  105-110;  Tl.  C.'K?)-«^. 

Laro('  nninbcrs  were  seen  daring  flip  winter  inontlis  ])erclioil 
on  the  bare  branches  of  large  trees  left  standing  in  clearings. 
A  number  o£  nests  in- various  stages  were  found  under  over- 
lianging  rocks  on  the  Kane  River  on  2nd  November,  one  of 
which  contained  two  fresh  white  eggs,  which  measure 
20  X  13"2.  In  this  case,  and  in  others  in  the  Transvaal,  the 
nests  were  all  built  with  the  entraiu'(^  facing  inwards  towards 
the  supporting  wall  and  not  outward  towards  the  obs(>rver,  as 
is  the  case  with  others  of  the  species  which  build  tubular- 
moutheil  nests. 

HiRUNDO  SMITHI,  Leach.    R.  959.    (2  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

T.  brown  ;  B.  &  h.  black.  Leng.  154  k  132  ;  AV.  110  k 
105;   Tl.  78  &  55. 

Tiiis  Swallow  is  a  smaller  edition  of  //.  (ilhif/nlaris,  having 
the  same  appearance  and  resembling  it  in  all  its  habits. 
Open  mud  nests  lined  with  feathers  were  observed  at  all  the 
European  settlements  and  at  Quelimane,  placed  under  the 
eaves  and  sometimes  in  the  rooms  of  houses  ;  one  nest  at 
Villa  Pereira  was  still  in  use  in  May  and  the  young  did  not 
leave  it  until  tlie  hitter  part  of  that  month,  and  a  puir  was 
seen  building  a  nest  under  the  eaves  of  a  native  hut  at 
Marunganya  on  the  23rd  Se[)teml)er.  An  addled  egg  was 
taken  from  a  nest  at  Mixixine  on  2(jtli  A])ril  ;  it  does  not 
differ  in  colour  from  that  of  alli'iyuhu'ls,  but  is  much  smaller, 
measuring  17"7x  1IV3, 

HiRUNDO  MONTEiRi,  Ilartl.     (1  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  grey-brown  ;  B.  &  h.  black.  Leng.  (F.)  203  ;  W.  112 
&  140  ;  Tl.  ^-2k  88. 

Montciro's  Swallow  was  nowliere  very  conunon,  but  was 
observed  in  most  parts  of  the  prazo  in  parties  of  four  or  Hve 
jx'rched  on  the  tops  of  very  tall  dead  trees  in  the  forest  A 
number  of  old  nests,  which  were,  I  think,  constructed  bv  this 
species,  were  found  in  a  hollow  horizontal  branch  of  a  tn.>o 
standing  in  the  clearinii  at  Villa  Pereira. 


30  Mr.  A.  "Roberts  o»  Birds  in 

BrADORNIS  PALLIDl'S  MURINTS,  Fiuscli  &  Havtl.  R.  980  a. 
(2  M.,  2  ¥.)     Eosident. 

I.  hrown  ;  B.  Sc  T..  black.  Long.  U7-155  ;  W.  80-00  ; 
Tl.  65-60;  Ts.  17-10  ;  C.  13-U. 

At  Villa  Pereira  this  Flycatcher  was  fairly  common,  having 
been  attracted  by  the  clearing  operations  which  were  being 
carried  on  ft)r  tlic  piii-pose  ot  replacing  coffee  with  rubber- 
tree*,  perching  on  some  conspicuous  twig  in  the  open  and 
keeping  a  look-out  for  insects  on  the  ground  below.  It  was 
hardly  ever  seen  in  other  pai'ts  of  the  prazo. 

Mel.enornls  ater  TRoncALis  (Cab.).  IX.  008  a.  {?>  M., 
IF.)     Resident. 

T.  dark  brown  (F.  light  brown).  Leng.  200  &  105  ; 
W.  101-103  &  96  ;  Tl.  85-01  &  83  ;  Ts.  20;  C.  U-15. 

Like  the  preceding  Flycatcher,  this  species  was  common 
at  Villa  Pereira,  but  less  so  elsewhere.  It  resen-ibles  the 
Drongo  Slirikes  in  its  manner  of  hawking  flies,  but  also 
I'retjuently  darts  to  the  ground  to  ])ick  up  insects.  On 
0th  tJctober  I  I'ound  a  nest  of  feathers  and  soft  material  in  a 
crevice  near  the  top  of  a  small  decayed  tree,  about  twel\(! 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  in  it  were  three  newly  hatched 
young. 

Alseonax  c.erulescexs  (llartl.).  R.  1015.  (2  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  grey-}>rown  ;  B.  max.  dark  ])rown,  niand.  horn  colour, 
tip  darker;  L.  brownish  slate.  Leng.  14:2-144  ;  W.  77-78  ; 
Tl.  60;  Ts.  16;  ('.  12. 

These  specimens  are  somewhat  wliiler  and  generally  paler 
than  others  from  Hector  Spruit  and  X.I*].  Transvaal. 

A  single  specimen  was  se<'n  ami  secured  <«t  Mpimba,  ])ar(ies 
of  six  or  seven  were  fre(pieiitly  observed  at  Ngamwe,  and  a 
nest  with  three  fr(  sh  eggs  was  tak<Mi  at  Rin-uma  on 
iSth  October.  The  eggs  have  a  cicam-eoloured  ground, 
cov<Ted  \\itli  minute  pale  grey  aii<l  yellowi-h  -  brown 
markinffs,  and  measure  18"7-10'(;x  Jl'l-ll'l  ;  and  the  nest 
was  a  neat,  cup-shaped  structure  of  moss  lined  with   fibres 


the  Tvdnsvaal  Museum  from  Boror.  31 

and  fine  roots  placed  in  the  fork  of  a  small,  smooth,  white- 
haiked  tree  at  a  height  of  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground. 

Smitiiornis  capensis  (A.  Sm,).  li.  1038.  (1  M.) 
Resident. 

I.  grey-brown  ;  B.  max.  black,  mand.  white  ;  L.  yellowish 
green.     Leng.  142  ;  W.  72  ;  Tl.  47  ;  Ts.  14  ;  C.  15. 

Attention  was  first  drawn  to  the  call  of  this  strange  Fly- 
catcher at  ]\Ipimba,  where  this  specimen  was  secured,  and  it 
was  not  uncommon.  Subsequently  I  heard  it  also  at  Villa 
Pereira.  It  was  observed  only  in  certain  dark  forest  where 
there  was  little  or  no  undergrowth. 

Hyliota  flavigastra  barboz.^,  Hartl.  R.  1010  a. 
(I  M.) 

(Data  lost.)      W.  04 ;  Tl.  42  ;  Ts.  17  ;  C.  11-5. 

This  specimen  was  secured  by  Kirby  at  Namaserengo. 

Batis  puella  soror,  Rchw.  R.  1053  a.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  pale  lemon-yellow;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  114  &  lOG  ; 
W.  57  &  53  ;  Tl.  39  &  37  ;  Ts.  16  &  15  ;  C.  12-5  &  12. 

]n  the  female  the  eyebrow  is  rufous  and  the  crown,  neck, 
and  upper  back  tinged  with  the  same  colour  ;  but  the  bands 
on  the  wing  are  white. 

These  Batis  Flycatchers  were  often  noticed  in  small  j).:rties 
actively  searching  the  leaves  of  tall  trees  in  open  forest, 
usually  in  company  with  other  small  l)irds. 

Platysteira  peltata,  Sund.  R.  1057.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Aug.  &  Nov. 

I.  dark  mauve,  with  a  white  ring  funning  an  iinier  circlet  ; 
B.  black  ;  L.  dark  slate  ;  eye-wattle  crimson-scarlet.  Lciio-, 
(F.)  129  ;  W.  65  ;  Tl.  53-54  ;  C.  17  &  14. 

The  male  was  shot  by  Kirby  at  Povarello  and  the  fciiialc 
by  myself  at  Ngamwe  amongst  some  thick  bush  on  Ww  b:iiik 
of  the  river.  I  also  saw  a  female  feeding  two  voung  in  some 
trees  in  a  village  midway  between  Villa  Pereira  and  Rara  on 
11th  November. 


32  Mr.  A.  Rol)erts  on  BlnL^  In 

TCHITREA  PERSriCILLATA  (>S\V.).     H.  1085.    (1  ad.,  1  juv.  M.) 

]\lay-Auo^. 

I.  dark  hrowii  (juv.  light  brown)  ;  B.,  L.,  &  eyelids  cobalt 
(juv.:  B.  dull  slate,  tip  dark  brown  ;  L.  dark  slato).  Leng. 
324  &  1G7  ;  W.  79  &  74  ;  Tl.  222  &  74;  C.  10. 

The  Paradise  Flycatcher  was  often  observed  aniono;st  tall 
trees  on  llic  banks  of  streams.  The  a<lult  male  was  shot  at 
Ngamwe  and  the  juvenile  at  A''illa  I'ereira. 

CouACiXA  PF.CToRALis  (Jard.  &  Selbv).  li.  1095.  (1  ad., 
2  juv.  M.,  1  F.)       Resident. 

I.  l)rown  ;  B.  &  L.  black  (juv.,  L.  dark  orey-brown). 
J.encr.  247-254  ;  W.  141-145  ;  Tl.  111-122  ;  Ts.  21-22  ; 
C.  20-21. 

These  (Cuckoo  Shi'ikes  are  very  quiet  and  consequently 
often  overlooked.  They  were  most  commonly  found  in  open 
forest  in  dry  situations.  A  pair  was  noticed  near  Namabieda 
onard<'dly  watcliing  the  movements  of  the  natives  and  myself 
jis  we  parsed  a  patch  of  small  trees  ;  but  though  we  searched 
carefully  we  could  not  locate  their  nest,  which  they  seemed 
to  be  anxious  about. 

ritloNol'S  TALACOMA,  A.  8m.  J{.  J  10?.  (L  M.,  ]  F.) 
Resident. 

1.  pale  lemon,  eyelids  darker  ;  B.  black ;  L.  orange. 
Leng.  (F.)  200  ;  W.  103-107  ;  Tl.  80-87  ;  Ts.  21-22  ; 
('.  18-19. 

Parties  of  six  or  more  were  frequently  met  with  as  they 
restlessly  flew  from  tree  to  tree,  carefully  searching  every 
crevice  in  the  l)aik  and  the  grass  at  the  foot  of  the  trees  and 
uttering  a  li;n-h  note  when  aiiiiincd. 

Sk.-AK'IM  S     RKTZII     TKICOLOIt,    (J.      \{.      (Jliiy.  I\.     1  1  1 5  C. 

(1  M.,  1  F.,  1  juv.  .M.;     H. -id.  lit. 

I.  bright  chrome-yellow  ;  15.  liiisnl  half  eiini^on-scarlet, 
apical  half  orange-chrome  ;  \j.  hright  orangc-elirume  ;  gape 
orange  ;  eyc-vvattle  crimson-scarlet. 


flie    Ti'KusvaaJ  Mv,<eu)n  from  Boror.  33 


White  on  oiiter 

t:iil-l'i'atlier% 

Dc 

).,  onler 

Long. 

\v. 

TI. 

inner  web. 

web. 

M 

...     218 

122 

95 

30 

38 

F 

...     207 

11(3 

^^ 

20 

2G 

Juv.  ... 

...       ? 

115 

92 

31 

46 

These  specimens  arc  smaller  than  al^out  a  dozen  from  the 
Transvaal  and  also  differ  slightly  in  the  adults  in  having 
narrow  white  tips  to  the  central  pair  o£  tail-feathers  and 
more  white  on  the  outermost,  and  in  the  black  of  the  head, 
neck,  and  throat  being  duller.  The  immature  specimen  is 
grey,  with  the  primaries,  tail-feathers,  belly,  and  under  tail- 
coverts  as  in  the  adults,  but  the  secondaries,  primary-coverts, 
and  bastard  wing  tipped  with  white,  the  first  primary  with  a 
white  band  across  the  inner  web  and  the  central  tail-feathers 
without  the  white  tips.  The  beak  also  differs  in  being  dark 
brown,  the  apex  yellowish  and  the  genys  orange. 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  very  similar  to  the  foregoing 
and  it  was  equally  common.  I  found  a  nest  ati  Buruma  on 
11th  October  containing  five  eggs  too  much  incubated  to  bo 
preserved.  The  nest  was  a  shallow  basin-shaped  structure  of 
roots,  cleverly  bound  together  and  plastered  outside  with 
cobwebs  so  as  to  exactly  match  the  white  bark  of  the  tree  in 
which  it  was  placed.  The  interior  was  so  small  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  conceive  how  the  young  would  have  found  room  in  it 
as  they  grew  up.  It  was  situated  on  a  horizontal  branch 
about  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  close  to  a  fork,  and  had  I 
not  seen  the  hen  get  up  from  it  I  should  certainly  not  have 
noticed  anything  unusual  in  the  a])pearance  of  the  branch. 
The  eggs  were  abstracted  by  tying  the  lid  of  a  small  tin  to 
the  end  of  a  long  stick  and  carefully  scooping  them  out,  as 
the  bough  was  not  strong  enough  to  bear  my  wiMght.  The 
eggs  were  of  a  [)alo  greenish  ground-colour  blotched  and 
spotted  with  slate,  pur[)le,  and  various  shades  of  brown,  and 
almost  round  in  slia[)e. 

NiLAUS   NKiFlITEMPORALlS,  Rchw.       W.  1122.       (1  M.,   1  F., 

1  juv.)     liesideut. 

M.  :  I.  red-brown  ;  15.  bhick,  base  lower  uiaiidiblc  hoi-ii  ; 
VOL.  viii.  3 


.34  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birdie  in 

L,  slate-Wue.  F.  :  I.  brown  ;  B.  max,  dark  Ijrown,  niand. 
Lorn-blae,  tip  dark  bi-own  ;  L.  ashy  slate.  Long.  145  & 
137-140  ;  W.  71-80  ;  Tl.  48-53  ;  Ts.  20-21  ;  C.  15-lG.- 

The  call  of  this  Shrike  was  heard  more  often  than  the  birds 
observed  ;  it  utters  one  ringing, note  lasting  for  some  three 
seconds,  and  seems  to  prefer  dry,  stunted,  open  forest  to  the 
larger  trees  found  in  moist  situations. 

POMATORHYNCHUS  AUSTRALIS  CONGENER,  Ilchw,     ]l.  1120  b. 

(1  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  purplish  brown  ;  B.  black,  base  lower  mand.  horn-colour  ; 
L.  pale  slate.  Leng.  IDO  &  182;  W.  73  &  70;  Tl.  81  &  80; 
Ts.  25  ;  C.  19  &  17. 

The  Zambesi  lied-wing  Shrike  was  common  throughout 
the  prazo  in  o})en  forest,  and  its  great  variety  of  notes  fre- 
quently led  mo  to  follow  them  thinking  that  they  were 
uttered  by  some  other  bird.  They  were  often  flushed  from 
the  grass,  and  then  always  took  refuge  in  the  branches  of 
fallen  trees,  if  these  were  near,  or  in  some  low  bush  ;  they 
were  sometimes  also  seen  creeping  about  amongst  climbing 
plants  growing  over  larger  trees. 

POMATORHYNCHUS  SENEGALUS  (Liuu.).   1\.  1127.   (1  M., 

1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  dark  brown  ;  B.  black;  L.  greenish  slate.  Leng.  215 
&  205;  W.  85  &  83;  Tl.  1)5  ?  &  93;  Ts.  30  &28;  C.  22  &  21. 

These  specimens,  as  well  as  one  from  Beira,  are  distinctly 
whiter  on  the  under  surface  and  ])righter  on  the  upper 
surface;  and  ear-coverts  than  about  thirty  specimens  in  the 
Transvaal  Museum  from  the  Northern  Transvaal  to  Knysna, 
and  also  slightly  smaller. 

This  line  Red-wing  Shrike  was  not  so  connnon  as  the  last, 
anil  preferrc'd  more  open  country  and  clearings.  It  utters  a 
loud,  clear  series  of  whistling  notes  runiiing  down  the  scale 
as  it  sails  on  cjuivering  wing  from  one  bush  to  another  with 
striking  effect.  A  sliallow  saucer-shaped  nest  with  two  fresh 
eggs  was  taken  at  Matiweon  IstNovemljer  ;  it  was  composed 
of  reddish-coloured  roots  v<'ry  firndy  bound  with  cobwebs  to 


the  Tran.^raal  Museum  from  Boror.  35 

some  stiff  twigs  hidden  ainoiifrst  somo  nowly  sprouted  leaves 
of  a  slender  tree.  The  ei>o;sare  white,  with  brick-red  blotches 
and  streaks,  intermingled  with  purplish  slate -coloured 
niarkinfifs,  and  measure  2^x  17"5. 

NiCATOR  GULAUis,  Fiusch  &  Hartl.  E,  1135.  (1  M.,  2  F.) 
June- July. 

I.  brownish  giey  ;  B.  dark  horn-bluo;  L.  slate-blue  ;  eye- 
lids lemon-yellow  ;  bare  skin  before  eye  greenish  ;  gapo 
yellow.  Leng.  233  &  201-200  ;  W.  107  k  1)1-'J5  ;  Tl.  lO'J 
k  88-02  ;  Ts.  30  &  25-2G  ;  C.  20  &  18-19. 

Kirby  obtained  one  o£  the  females  on  the  Munguzi  River, 
and  noted  that  it  was  seeking  insects  in  thick  scrub  antl 
very  lively  in  its  movements,  frequently  jerking  its  tail 
about  ;  its  stomach  contained  remains  o£  red  ants  and  elytra 
o£  insects.  I  saw  only  two  specimens,  one  at  ]\Ijninl)a  in 
dark  forest,  where  it  was  perched  on  a  twig,  often  boljbing 
its  head  np  and  down,  and  when  at  rest  holding  its  head 
drawn  down  between  its  shoulders,  evidently  a  characteristic 
attitude  judging  by  the  scarcity  of  feathers  on  the  hind-neck. 
The  second  specimen  flew  from  some  long  grass  on  the  river- 
bank  at  No-auiwe  and  took  refu;>e  in  a  small  bush. 

CllLOIlOPHONEUS      SULrHURKOPECTUS      SIMILIS      (A.      Sm.). 

R.  1165Z/.     (1  M.)     July. 

I.  chestnut;  13.  black  ;  L.  slate-blue.  Leng.  198  ;  W.  90; 
Tl.  91  ;  C.  10. 

This  Shrike  was  only  observed  creeping  about  in  the 
tangled  growth  of  creepers  and  thorns  at  M[)imba. 

LaNIARICS  MAJOR  MOSSAMMICUS,  Uchw.  \{.  1105.  (2  M., 
2  F.)       Resident. 

I.  dark  wine-retl  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  slate.  Leng.  223-225 
k  215  ;  W.  80-94  &  81-85  ;  Tl.  92-93  k  85-80  ;  Ts.  30  ; 
(!.  24-25  &  23. 

This  Shrike  was  very  common  at  Villa  Pereira  amongst 
scrub  in  old  chjarings,  and  on  account  of  its  shyness  V'.Wii 
the    nature    of    the   bush   it    frequents    some   dilHculty    was 

3* 


3G  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Binh  in 

encountered  in  getting  specimens.  Some  of  its  notes 
resemble  those  of  Drifoscopus  cuhJa,  while  the  duets  can 
hardly  be  distinguished  from  those  of  L.  rufjventris. 

Dryoscopus  CUBLA  HAMATUs,  Hartl.  K.  1178«.  (lad., 
2  juv.  F.)     Resident. 

Ad  :  I.  bright  orange  ;  B.  horn-blue,  brown  at  tip  ; 
L.  slate-colour.  Juv.  :  I.  greenidi  brown  ;  B.  max.  dark 
horn,  tomia  and  mand.  paler  ;  L.  slate.  Leng.  175  ; 
W.  77-10  ;  Tl.  G3-G5  ;  Ts.  20-21  ;  C.  18-19. 

rjommon  throughout  the  prazo.  A  nest  with  two  fresh 
eggs  was  taken  at  Buruma  on  21st  October  ;  it  was  an  open 
bow-shaped  structure  of  fine  roots  and  grass  firm!}'  bound 
tof^ether  with  cobwebs,  and  placed  in  the  fork  of  a  branch 
near  the  top  of  a  tree.  The  eggs  are  white,  thickly  speckled 
with  slate,  red,  and  red-brown,  converging  at  the  thick  end 
so  as  to  form  a  ring,  and  measure  21'1  x  1(;*3  and  21*J:  x  IG'2 
respectively. 

MaLACONOTUS  OLIVACEUS  STARKI  (W.  L.  Scl.).      R.  1187  h. 

(1  M.,  1  F.,  1  ?) 

I.  golden  yellow;  B.  l)lack  ;  L.  slate-grey.  Leng.  250- 
2G0  ;  W.  108-113  ;  TI.  101-108  ;  Ts.  33-34;  V.  28-29. 

Not  common  anywhere  and  noted  only  in  the  marsh 
region. 

I  once  heard  one  uttering  a  loud  linging  note  dining  the 
heat  of  the  day,  and  on  another  occasion  shot  one  at  dusk 
while  it  was  creeping  about  in  some  thick  scrub  near  the 
ground  and  uttering  a  single  soft  whistle  following  two 
sliar[)  clicks  of  the  Ix'ak. 

Lanius  collurio  (Linn.).     R.  1213.     (1  M.)     May. 

Oiilv  one  specimen  was  seen  and  securctl  ;  it  was  jx'rc^hed 
on  the  dead  top  of  a  rubber-tree  in  the  clearing  at  Villa 
Rcreira,  and  I  thiidc  that  it  had  been  delaye<l  in  its  north- 
ward migrat'on  by  its  strength  liaving  gixcii  out  on  account 
of  a  <|uantity  of  wireworms  wliich  wcie  found  occupying 
the  forehead  and  base  of  )»eak. 


the  Transcaal  Museum  from  Boror.  37 

DicRURUS  AFER  (A.  Liclit.).    R.  1232.    (1  M.)    ResidcMit. 

I.  red  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  228  ;  W.  126  ;  Tl.  Ill  ; 
Ts.  17  ;  C.  20. 

Tliis  siiecinieii  is  smaller  than  those  from  farther  soutli, 
as  are  also  the  eggs,  oE  which  I  took  a  clutch  of  three  at 
Buruma  on  21st  October  ;  the  nest  from  which  the  eggs 
were  taken  A\as  also  placed  in  a  different  situation,  in  the 
top  of  a  tree  and  not  on  a  projecting  branch  as  is  usually 
the  case.  The  eggs  are  pure  white  and  measure  23'2-21:  x 
17'3-17"7.  The  Drongo  was  common  throughout  the  prazo 
and  in  habits  did  not  differ  from  those  already  described  by 
other  writers. 

Oriolus  larvatus  rolleti,  Salvad.  E.  12-kZa.  (1  M., 
2  F.,  1  juv.  M.)     Besident. 

Ad.  :  I.  sc:irlet  ;  B.  brownish  pink  ;  L.  dark  slate.  Juv.  : 
I.  light  l)rown  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  slate.  Leng.  218-225  ; 
W.  132-133  ;  Tl.  81-87  ;  C.  21-5-25-5. 

The  Black-headed  Oriole  was  common  throughout  the 
prazo,  and  was  invariably  to  be  found  in  tall  tiees  on  the 
banks  of  streams  or  in  the  marshes. 

Oriolus  sp.     Sept.,  Nov. 

Pairs  of  a  species  of  Golden  C)riole  were  frequently 
observed  at  Namabieda  chasing  each  other  backwards  and 
forwards  amongst  the  topmost  branches  of  tall  trees,  but 
never  leaving  a  certain  limited  area,  and  wildly  calling  when 
excited.  A  specimen  was  secured  (but  unfortunately  stolen), 
of  which  the  following  particulars  were  recorded  : — No.  304. 
Namaljieda,  22.  ix.08,  M.  I.  crimson;  B.  pale  brown; 
L.  dark  slate-blue.     Leng.  210  ;  ^\ .  138  ;  C.  20. 

BUPHAGUS  ERVTHRORHYNCIIUS  (Stanl.).       K.   J  21'.). 

A  few  Oxpeckers  were  seen  occasionally,  but  not  while  in 
the  vicinity  of  game. 

CyiNNYRiciNCLUS  VEKREAi-xr,  ([Boc]  Fiiisch  k  Ihutl.). 
R.  12oD. 

The  only  specimen  preserved  was  subsequently  stolen.     Jt 


38  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birds  in 

arrived  in  tlie  prazo  durino-  my  stay  at  ^amabieda  and  was 
tberoafter  met  Avitb  in  otlior  districts.  At  Bnrnma  laro-e 
numbers  Avere  in  tlie  babit  of  focdino-  on  l)erries  in  tbe  trees 
overbanoincr  my  tent,  and  did  not  evince  any  alarm  at  tlie 
])resence  of  my  native  servants  so  lonfr  as  they  did  not  make 
a  noise,  but  directly  lend  talking  was  indulged  in  tbey 
disappeared  like  a  flasb  amongst  the  dense  foliage,  wliere 
tbey  were  not  very  easily  seen  in  spite  of  their  brilliant 
plumage.  At  times  tbey  would  come  sweeping  past  at  a 
terrific  pace,  suddenly  circling  and  settling  in  a  surprisingly 
short  distance  considering  the  speed  at  which  they  were 
travellino-. 

LaMPROCOLIUS      CHALYBiEUS      CHLOROI'TEKUS     (Sw.).  11. 

1266  6.     (1  M.,  1  F.,  1  juv.) 

I.  orange  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  205-208  ;  W.  113- 
120  ;  Tl.  70-75  ;  C.  17-18. 

The  juvenile  specimen,  shot  at  Villa  Pereira  on  lOih  May, 
is  just  beginning  to  assume  the  metallic  feathers  of  the 
adults. 

Large  numbers  of  these  Starlings  were  found  in  the 
clearing  at  Villa  Pereira,  but  elsewhere  they  were  not  so 
common,  only  a  few  pairs  or  solitary  individuals  being  found 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  native  villages.  Another  sjiecimcn 
was  also  shot  at  Muandania,  but  subsecjuentiv  missed  fiom 
the  collection.  They  were,  as  a  rule,  found  ])erching  on  the 
tops  of  tall  dead  trees,  and  appeared  to  live  upon  insects. 

Anaplectks  KUBincEi's  (Sund.).  P.  1320.  (-1  M.,  1  P.) 
Pesldent. 

I.  hazel  ;  B.  orange  ;  L.  purplish  pink.  Leng.  M-l-151  ; 
W.  78-81  ;  Tl.  4*1-53  ;  C.  U'>-]7. 

Males  in  winter  jlumage  are  brighter  on  the  head  and 
crop  than  females,  and  the  summer  ])liiniage  is  assumed  in 
Sejjtember,  aj)parently. 

Numerous  nests  were  found  in  all  parts  oi'  the  pi-a/.o,  but 
the  birds  were  not  always  seen  in  the  vi<-inity.  These  nests 
arc  wonderful  structures,  made  of  stiiV  twigs  firndy  woven 
together  and  fastened  to  the  ends  of  drooping  branches  by 


tJw  Transvaal  Museum  from  JJoror.  39 

means  of  strips  of  bark  from  the  same  twigs,  wbile  the 
interior,  especially  the  roof,  is  thickly  lined  with  broad 
green  leaves,  and  a  projecting  entrance  leads  up  to  the 
chamber  from  below  ;  the  nest  is  abnormally  large  for  the 
size  of  the  bird  compared  with  that  of  other  Weavers.  Two 
kinds  of  trees  difficult  to  climb  are  more  favoured  than 
others  by  these  birds,  the  one  having  smooth  slippery  bark 
and  the  other  a  trunk  studded  with  knobbed  thorns,  and  the 
ends  of  the  branches  to  which  the  nests  are  attached  are  so 
brittle  that  when  attem})ts  are  made  to  bend  them  to  get  at 
tlie  nests  they  invariably  break  off  and  the  eggs  are  broken 
by  the  jolt  or  fall.  Shells  of  eggs  I  saw  broken  in  this  way 
were  pale  blue,  sometimes  sparingly  spotted. 

Ploceus  stictifrons  (Fschr.  Rchw.).  R.  1328.  (3  M., 
1  F.)      Resident. 

I.  Indian  red  ;  B.  slate,  culmen  indigo  ;  L.  ])ale  flesh- 
pink.     Leng.  158-171  ;  W.  85-88  ;  Tl.  75-GO  ;  C.  19. 

In  the  marsh  region,  nests  of  this  species  were  often  seen, 
but  the  birds  themselves  were  shy  and  quiet  and  seldom  met 
with.  In  habits  and  voice  it  does  not  differ  from  the 
southern  species.  A  number  of  nests  were  examined  in 
October  and  November,  but  no  eggs  were  found,  and  the 
onlv  thing  of  note  I  found  in  them  was  a  tiny  chestnut- 
coloured  Bat,  which  is,  I  understand,  of  a  new  species. 

Ploceus  ocularius  crocatus  (Hartl.).  E.  1347.  (1  M., 
1  F.,  1  juv.)     Resident. 

I.  orange  ;  B.  black,  base  lower  mand.  hoiii  ;  L.  dark 
ashy  i)ink.  Leng.  15I.-101  ;  W.  72-71  ;  Ti.  53-59  ; 
C.  18-19. 

Owing  to  the  shy  and  quiet  habits  of  this  species  it  was 
not  often  noticed,  but  judging  by  the  number  of  nests  found 
at  different  times,  it  must  have  been  fairly  conmion  and 
widely  distributed  over  the  prazo.  Those  I  saw  were  always 
silently  searching  for  insects  in  thick  bush,  and  I  only  once 
heard  one  call  softly  to  its  mate.  A  nest  containing  three 
fresh  euiis  was  taken  at  Namabicda  on  2<sth   Sei)tenibcr  ;  it 


40  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birds  In 

■was  constructed  tlironoliout  of  compactly  woven  strips  of 
grass  ^Yitbo^t  a  vestige  of  lining,  and  Hxed  to  the  ends  of  a 
long  trailing  thorny  creeper  overhanging  a  pool  of  water. 
The  eggs  are  of  a  thin  green  ground-colour,  becoming  jialer 
at  the  acute  end,  spotted  with  slate-coloured  markings,  and 
measure  22-22-8 x  14-3-U-8. 

Two  oo'fTs  taken   from  another   nost  on   the  23rd  October 
differ  slightly  from  the  others  in   being  green,  spotted  with 
})Urplish  and  jjale  brownish  slate,  and  measuring  20*8-21  X 
14:*9.     I  did  not  see  the  bird   in  this  second  case,  and  cannot 
therefore  be  sure  of  the  identity. 

Ploceus  niguiceps,  Lay.     II.  13G1.     (2  F.)     Resident. 

T.  orange  ;  B.  black,  base  lower  mand.  horn  ;  L.  pale 
flesh-colour,  tinged  with  brown.  Leng.  157-159  ;  W.  78- 
7!)  ;  Tl.  43-45  ;  Ts.  20-21  ;  C.  19-20. 

One  of  these  was  shot  at  Villa  Pereira  on  25th  May  and 
seems  to  be  immature,  the  beak  being  lighter-coloured;  and 
the  other  was  shot  together  with  a  male  at  a  colony  of  nests 
at  Buruma  on  20th  October,  and  has  only  partly  assumed 
the  summer  dress,  many  white  feathers  mixing  with  the  pale 
yellow  ones  on  the  breast  and  fla)d\s.  T]ie  male  is  one  of 
those  which  were  subsecpiently  missed  from  the  collection, 
but  I  remember  that  it  had  also  only  jiartly  taken  on  the 
black  featliers  of  th(^  head  and  throat,  although  it  was 
assisting  in  the  nest-building  ;  the  following  particulars 
were  recorded  of  it  : — No.  319.  Buruma,  20.  x,  08,  M. 
I.  bright  orange  ;  J>.  entirely  black  ;  L.  dark  flesh-colour. 
Leng.  1(J7  ;  W.  85;  (I.  21.  These  measurements  agree 
witli  those  of  two  adults  and  one  young  male  from  Zind)iti, 
Beira. 

Large  colonies  of  nests  were  found  on  all  the  streams, 
lianging  to  the  ends  of  branches,  and  a  <|uantify  of  eggs 
were  taken  between  20th  October  and  Novendier.  Two 
distinct  tvpes  of  <'ggs  wei"e  always  found  in  the  j^aiiic  col()iU(  s, 
they  being  either  verditei'-blue  lightly  and  sjiaringly  spotted, 
or  pale  green  fhicklv  covered  with  minute  purpli.sh-slate  and 
lu-own-coldured    speckles^    ihc   eggs    in    the    same    ehitelu's, 


tlie  Transvaal  Museum  from  Boror.  41 

however,  always  identical,  and   the   measurements  o£    Loth 
types  being  the  same,  varying  from  223  x  15  to  2-4'3  x  15"5. 

Ploceus  xanthops  (Hartl.).  R.  1389.  (4  M.,  4  F.) 
llcsident. 

2  ad.  MM.  :  T.  orange  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  flesh-pink.  Leng. 
180-183  ;  W.  87  ;  Tl.  (59  ;  Ts.  25  ;  (J.  20-21. 

2  juv.  M.:  I.  }»ale  brown  ;  13.  Ijrown,  genys  horn  ;  L. 
light  brown.  Leng.  180-183  ;  AV.  89-90  ;  Tl.  G9-70  ; 
Ts.  22-23  ;  C.  19-5. 

4  F.  :  I.  straw-yellow  ;  B.  dark  brown,  genys  horn  ; 
L.  light  brown.  Leng.  173-175  ;  W.  82-85  ;  Tl.  G1-G7  ; 
Ts.  22-23  ;  0.  18-5-19-5. 

Adult  males  do  not  appear  to  change  their  plumage  in  the 
winter. 

Laroe  flocks  of  these  Weavers  were  seen  durino-  the 
w'inter  months  in  gardens  and  old  clearings,  busily  searching 
for  insects  in  the  trees  and  grass-seeds  in  the  gardens.  A 
small  colony  of  nests  was  found  on  the  18th  October  near 
Buruma  hanging  to  the  willowy  ends  of  a  small  tree  growing 
in  a  })ool  of  water  on  which  lotus  lilies  were  growing,  and  a 
clutch  of  three  fresh  white  eggs  was  taken  from  one  of 
them  :  these  e^ifis  measure  21"8-23*5x  IG'l. 

Plocfats  aureoflavus,  a.  Smith.  I{.  1391.  (1  ad., 
1  juv.  JM.)      July-August. 

I.  orange  (juv.  sandy  grey)  ;  B.  black  (juv.  horn-brown) ; 
L.  flesh-colour.  Leng.  152  ;  W.  77-78  ;  Tl.  48-53  ;  Ts.  20  ; 
C.  17. 

The  juvenile  specimen  has  the  lower  breast  and  abdominal 
region  pure  white,  and  the  rest  of  the  plumage  more  or  less 
olive-yellow  in  proportion  to  the  brightness  of  the  same  parts 
in  the  adult. 

This  s})ecies  was  only  observed  at  Ngamwe,  where  it  was 
not  uncommon  in  the  native  gardens  and  reed-beds. 

Ploceus  xantiiopteuus  (Finsch  &  Hartl.).  1{.  1395. 
(2  xM.,  1  F.)     April. 

MM.  :  I.  bright  brownish  red;  B.  black  ;  L.  fle<h-colour. 
Leng.  145-150:  W.  71-73;  Tl.  40;  Ts.  20-21;  ( '.  17. 
F.  :   W.  i;i;  Tl,  43;  Ts.  19  ;  C.  10. 


42  Mr.  A.  Eol)erts  on  Birds  in 

This  WeaA'or  ^vas  only  observed  at  Mixixine,  wliei'e  it  was 
not  uncommon  in  tlie  neiglibourhooJ  of  some  extensive  reed- 
beds. 

Amblyospiza  ALBiFROXS  (Vio.).     I\.  1400.     A})ril-June. 

Large  flocks  were  in  the  habit  of  roosting  in  tall  cane- 
grass  in  a  marsh  at  Villa  Pereira,  but  no  s})ecimens  were 
secured. 

QUELEA    SANGUINIROSTRIS    LATHAMI    (A.Sm.).       ]{.  IIO'J  A. 

(1  F.)     June. 

I.  light  l)rown  ;  B.  pink;  L.  flesh-colour.  Long.  117; 
^^\  M  ;  Tl.  at]  ;  Ts.  IG  ;  C.  13-5. 

Only  one  specimen  was  secured,  and  I  do  not  remember 
to  have  seen  any  others. 

QuELEA  ERYTIIKOPS  (Hartl.).     1{.  1410.     (1  F.)     July. 

I.  grey-brown  ;  B.  max.  brown,  mand.  horn  ;  L.  light 
brown.     Leng.  123;  W.  G2  ;  Tl.  30  ;  Ts.  IG  ;  C.  14. 

A  small  flock  was  found  searching  for  grass-seeds  in  a 
garden  at  Ngamwe  ;  I  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  it 
elsewhere. 

Pyromelana  flammiceps  (Sw.).  p.  1421.  (3  "SI.,  1  F.) 
Eesident. 

I.  umber  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  ]»ale  Ijiown  or  fle?<li-colour. 
(F.  :  B.  brown,  paler  on  lower  mandible.)  2  MM.  :  Leng. 
140-142  ;  W.  7G-77  ;  Tl.  43-44  ;  Ts.  20-21  ;  C.  17.  1  M.  : 
Leng.  12.5  ;  W.  73  ;  Tl.  44  ;  Ts.  20  ;  ('.  IG.  F.  :  Leng. 
125  ?  ;  W.  68  ;  Tl.  32  ;  Ts.  19  ;  C'.  IG.  The  last  was  sexcd 
as  a  juv.  M. 

These  were  all  collected  within  a  few  days  of  each  other 
in  May  and  are  in  full  breeding-plumage,  but  it  will  bo 
observed  tliat  one,  of  which  measurements  have  ])een  given 
se])arately,  is  somewhat  smaller,  and  in  addition  it  has  broad 
yellow  margins  to  all  but  the  two  oiilir  jiairs  of  lail-feathers, 
and  tlic  i>'il  of  tlio  forehead  is  not  sej)arated  from  the  base  of 
the  beak  by  a  fringe  of  black  feathers  as  is  tlic  case  with  the 
other  two. 

Kirby   found    this   Bisli(>[)    I>ird    l)i-cediiig  in   rank  cane- 


the    Transvaal  Museum  from  Boror.  43 

grass  and  took  a  clutch  of  throe  partly  incubated  eggs  on 
IHli  May.  The  nests  wore  similar  to  those  of  P.  ori.v,  as  are 
also  the  ooos,  which  measure  li'-i-l-l'O  X  18*7-10. 

EUPLECTES      XANTHOMELAS,    liiij)]).         R.     1428.         (2     ]\I.) 

Resident. 

I.  dark  brown  ;  B.  max.  black,  mand.  white.  L.  ashy 
brown.  Leng.  142-148  ;  W.  G7-70  ;  Tl.  53-55  ;  Ts.  18-19  ; 
C.  13-14. 

These  are  considerably  smaller  than  specimens  from  the 
N.  Transvaal  and  should  perhaps  be  referred  to  a  ditlerent 
subspecies. 

These  Bishop  Birds  were  not  uncommon  in  native  gardens, 
nsuallv  rising  when  disturbed  from  the  grass  to  the  top  of  a 
tree  close  at  hand.  A  nest  with  young  was  found  at  Villa 
Pereira  on  2t»th  May  ;  it  was  of  the  usual  type  constructed 
by  this  genus  and  placed  amongst  some  matted  weeds  and 
tall  grass  in  an  overgrown  clearing. 

Urobrachya  axillaris  (A.  Sm.).     R.  1429. 
A  few  males  were  noticed  flitting  over  the  rank  grass  in 
the  open  stretches  between  Mixixine  and  Malinguine. 

Spermestes  NiGRiCEPS,  Cass.     R.  1451.     (1  F.) 
I.  umber  ;     B.  horn-blue,   inclining  to   cobalt    in    })arts  ; 
L.   dark    brown.     Leng.    100  ;    W.  47  ;    TI.   34  ;    Ts.   11  ; 
C.  9-5. 

Nundjers  of  nests  were  to  be  seen  in  bushes  and  trees 
around  homesteads  in  the  marsh  region  generally  and  in 
Quelimane,  and  during  April  and  May  several  clutches  of 
from  four  to  six  efj-i^s  were  taken.  The  nests  were  lar<re 
structures  of  <>rass,  stiff  stems  converiiinff  over  and  hidiiii'- 
the  entrance,  and  the  interior  warmly  lined  with  fcatlicrs 
and  soft  feathery  grass-tops.  The  eggs  are  white  and 
measure  13-7-15'2  X  10-3-10-G. 

IIVPARGOS  NIYEOGlTTATrS  (Ptrs.).  R.  1455.  (2  i\I.) 
Resident. 

1.  light  bi-own  ;  B.  dark  cobalt  ;  L.  slate-brown  ;  eyelids 
cobalt.     Leng.  127  ;   W.  5t;  ;  Tl.  51  ;  Ts.  15;   ('.  13. 


44  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Biids  in 

This  boantiful  little  Finch  was  not  uncommon,  but  owing 
to  its  shyness  and  its  habit  of  frequentino-  only  the  dense 
tanoled  orowth  in  river-beds  it  was  not  olten  seen  and  some 
diuicultj  was  encountered  in  octtino;  specimens.  It  was  not 
observed  farther  inland  than  Villa  l*ercira  and  Muriela. 

Ttelia  AFiiA,  Gm.     R.  14G4.     (IF.)     May. 

T.  brioht  red  ;  B.  brown  above,  ])aler  below ;  L.  flesh- 
pink.     Leno-.  lU  ;  W.  01  ;  Tl.  3.S  :  Ts.  U  ;  ('.  11. 

The  only  one  noted  was  shot  amongst  some  rank  reeds 
and  erass  ffrowinsf  round  a  lariie  ant-heap  in  the  clearii)<!;  at 
Villa  Pereira. 

EsTRiLDA  ixcAXA,  Sund.     1{.  1508.     (1  F.)     Juuc. 

I.  brown  ;  B.  dark  IjIuc,  ti[)  and  tomia  dark  brown  ; 
L.  black.  Leng.  HI  ;  W.  4l5-5  ;  Tl.  (incomplete)  39  ;  Ts.  18  ; 
C.  9. 

This  specimen  is  smaller  and  paler  than  another  in  the 
collection  from  Durban  (April)  labelled  as  a  fenude,  of  which 
the  following  measurements  have  l)een  taken  : — Leng.  114; 
W.  51  ;  Tl.  45  ;  Ts.  13  ;  V.  8-5.  I  am  doubtful,  however, 
as  to  the  sexing  of  this  specimen  from  Natal,  otherwise  I 
would  consider  that  from  Boror  a  distinct  subspecies  ;  it  is 
liiditer  red  on  the  rump  than  that  from  Natal  and  cannot 
therefore  bo  referred  to  polio<ja,'<tr<(. 

A  male  and  a  juvenile  specimen  were  procured  at  the  same 
time  as  the  fcinah;  above  mentioned,  but  they  were  in  such 
bad  plumage  (the  runner  lia\  ing  lost  all  its  tail-feathers  and 
the  latter  being  only  partly  fledged)  that  1  did  not  attemj)t 
to  skin  them.  Both  adults  were  shot  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Liquari  River  at  Villa  Pereira,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
noticing  that  an  old  Weaver's  nest  looked  as  though  it  iiad 
been  relined,  I  i)ut  my  hand  up  to  it,  when  thr-.e  young 
ones  flew  out  and  took  refuge  in  the  thick  scrul)  on  the  bank  ; 
and  as  I  had  so  unfortunately  shot  both  [)arents  I  caught 
one  of  tliem  and  sul)sequently  put  it  into  a  bottle  of  s[)irits, 
which  was  afterwards  stolen  at  Lourenco  Marques.  I  saw 
another  adidt  specimen  for  a  few  days  later,  but,  as  it  also 


the  Transvaal  Museum  Jroni  Boror.  45 

appeared  to  bo  in  bad  plumage,  I  did  not  slioot  it,  tbinkiiig 
that  I  should  bo  able  to  secure  another  later  on. 

Lagonostica  brunneiceps  rendallt.  Hart.  T{.  15 IJ-. 
(1  M.)     Resident. 

I.  bright  red  ;  B.  dark  pink,  streaks  in  culmen,  tomia  and 
genys  brown  ;  L.  white.  Long.  98  ;  W.  48*5  ;  Tl.  35  ; 
Ts.  11  J  C.  l)-5. 

This  sj)ecinien  is  rather  brighter-coloured  than  those  from 
Hector  Spuit  and  the  crown  contrasts  sharply  with  the 
e^'ebrows. 

A  nest  of  this  species  was  found  in  May,  but  as  one  of 
the  eggs  was  very  much  larger  than  the  others  and  seemed 
to  be  that  of  Vidua  serena,  I  left  them  to  hatch  ;  but  on 
again  visiting  it,  I  found  that  the  nest  had  been  pulled  to 
pieces  and  the  eggs  destroyed.  It  was  a  small  oven- shaped 
alhiir  made  of  grass  lined  with  feathers,  with  a  wide  entrance 
at  the  side,  and  placed  in  a  small  tree  at  a  height  of  about 
five  feet  from  the  ground. 

Urj^.ginthus  angolensis  (L.).     R.  1529. 
The   Blue-breasted  Waxbill  was   fairly  common   at  Villa 
Pereira,  but  no  specimens  were  procured. 

Hypochera  funerea  (Tarrag.).     R.  1536. 

A  few  males  were  seen  occasionally  at  Villa  Pereira, 
flying  swiftly  past  over  the  clearings,  but  no  o})[)ortunity 
oftered  of  securing  a  specimen. 

Vidua  SERENA  (Linn.).     R.  1539.     (Ijuv.  M.)    Resident. 

T.  light  brown  ;  B.  pink  ;  L.  dark  brown.  Leng.  121  j 
W.  00;  Tl.  43;  Ts.  14;  C.  9  5. 

A  few  were  sometimes  seen  in  native  gardens. 

I  may  as  well  here  remark  that  since  writing  on  the 
subject  of  tho  breeding-habits  of  this  Widow  Bird  (ride 
vol.  iii.  no.  1,  p.  9)  I  have  found  a  fresh  orr;*^,  of  lh(»  same 
dimensions  and  colour  as  those  previously  mentioned,  in  the 
nest  and  with  a  hard-sot  egg  of  Coliuspasser  ardc/is;  this 
was  on  the  19th  March,  1908,  in  the  Darglo  District.  Xatal. 


4(3  Mr.  A.  Uobevfcs  on  I3inL-<  in 

In  April,  1911,  when  in  the  nciolibourhood  o£  Makapan's 
Caves  in  the  Northern  Transvaal,  I  noticed  a  3'0un<T  V.  serena 
accompanying  a  flock  of  Estrilda  astrild,  and  pointed  it  out 
to  the  Hon.  Paul  Methuon,  who  was  with  me  at  the  time  ; 
but  though  I  followed  it  for  some  distance,  I  eventuall}'  lost 
sight  of  it  and  gave  up  the  chase.  The  plumage  was  so 
different  from  that  of  the  Roodebekkies,  and  the  call  so 
distinct,  that  there  was  no  mistaking  the  identity.  As 
further  proof  of  what  I  have  written  in  this  connection,  an 
interesting  note  by  Mr.  Frank  Bolus,  in  October,  1909, 
number  of  this  Journal,  seems  to  indicate  that,  like  the 
('uckoo,  this  species  first  deposits  its  egg  on  the  ground  and 
then  carries  it  to  the  nest  of  some  other  bird. 

Steganura  paradisea  (Linn.).  R.  1542.  (2  M.) 
Resident. 

I.  brown  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  brown.  Leng.  301-305  ;  W.  81; 
Tl.  211-220  ;  Ts.  15-lG  ;  C.  10-5-12. 

These  AVidow  Birds  were  more  often  seen  basking  in  the 
sun  in  tli(!  mornings  tlian  at  any  other  time,  usually 
resorting  to  the  dead  to})S  of  trees  on  the  edge  of  the  clearing- 
facing  east  as  soon  as  the  sun  had  dispersed  the  morning 
mists,  and  a  short  time  afterwards  ihcy  would  rise  higher 
than  the  trees  and  disperse  in  all  directions. 

Petronia  siPERCiLiARis  BORORKNSis,  subsp.  nov.  R.  15G0. 
(1  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  brown  ;  B.  brown,  horn-whito  below  ;  L.  dark  slate. 
Leng.  ICO  ct  157  ;  W.  95  k  .S9  ;  Tl.  59  &  57  ;  Ts.  17-5  &  10; 

( '.  il  k  1 ;'.. 

Th(!S('  two  specimens  are  very  much  judcr  tlian  those 
fi-om  Union  territory,  especially  on  tlu;  uudci-  surface  of 
the  l>ody. 

The  Boror  Yellow-throated  Sparrow  was  common  at  Villa 
Pereira  and  the  neighbourhood  of  native  villages.  Its  call 
is  an  umiiusical  grating  chirp,  which  it  is  fond  of  uttering 
while  percliT'd  on  tin-  to[>  of  some  smtill  tree. 


the  Tnin.^raal  Museum  from  Boror.  47 

POLIOSPIZA    MENNELLI,    E.    C.    Cliubb.       E.  1584.       (1     ]\I., 

2  F.)     llesident. 

I.,  B.,  &  L.  light  brown.  Leno-.  131-132  ;  W.  81  k  78  ; 
Tl.  52-53;  Ts.  13  &  11;  C.  11. 

These  are  the  specimens  referred  in  tlie  'Check  List'  as 
PoUospiza  reicJiardi,  Rchw.,  but  they  are  obviously  not  of: 
that  species,  the  under  surface  being  much  whiter  than 
indicated  in  ( *apt.  Shelley's  'Birds  o£  Africa,'  vol.  iii. 
pi.  24.  tig.  2,  and  another  figure  in  the  "  Journal  fiir 
Ornithologie,"  1907,  pi.  i. 

Mennell's  Seed-eater  was  not  uncommon  at  Yilla  Pereira, 
where  it  w^as  often  observed  on  the  tops  of  trees,  calling 
very  much  like  P.  gularis. 

Serinus  icterus  madaraszi,  Rchw.  R.  1598  a.  (2  M.) 
Resident. 

I.  hazel  ;  B.  dark  brown  above,  paler  below  ;  L,  ashy 
lirown.  Leng.  103-105  ;  W.  G6-G7  ;  Tl.  39-41  ;  Ts.  13 ; 
('.  9-10. 

Large  parties  were  often  noticed  in  native  gardens,  and 
they  were  often  seen  in  cages  constructed  by  the  natives, 
who  were  in  the  habit  of  slinging  the  cages  by  means  of  a 
running  string  to  the  top  of  a  high  pole. 

Emheriza  ma.jor  (Cab.).     R.  1615.     (2  M.)     Resident. 

L  light  brown  ;  B.  max.  dark  brown,  base  paler,  mand. 
horn-colour,  tip  dark  brown  ;  L.  flesh-colour,  tinged  with 
bluish.  Leng.  102-170  ;  W.  70-80;  Tl.  C8-70  ;  Ts.  17-18  ; 
C.  14. 

This  Golden-breasted  Bunting  was  not  uncommon  in  open 
forest,  usually  tlying  from  the  grass  when  disturbed  to  the 
lower  branches  of  the  nearest  tree,  and  when  approached 
hiding  themselves  in  the  denser  foliage  higher  \\\^. 

Emberiza  flaviventuis,  Steph.  R.  Idld.  (1  F.) 
Sei)tember. 

I.  light  brown  ;  B.  max.  dark  brown,  mand.  horn-colour, 
tip  dark  brown  :  L.  dark  flesh-colour.  Leng.  157  ;  AV.  78; 
Tl.  ('.5  ;  Ts.  1<;  ;  C.  12. 


48  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  JJirds  in 

This  and  the  foregoing  species  were  thought  to  be  one 
and  the  same  and  no  })articnhir  note  was  made  of  it.  The 
specimen  secured  rose  from  the  ground  to  a  tree  in  the  samo 
manner  as  the  others. 

MoTACiLLA  VIDUA,  Sund.     R.  1G30.     (1  M.)     April. 

I.  umber;  B.  &  L.  bhick.  Leng.  210;  W.  95;  Tl.  OG  ; 
Ts.  24  ;  C.  IG. 

Tliis  specimen  was  one  of  four  found  frequenting  a  marshy 
piece  of  ground  on  the  edge  of  a  pool  of  water  in  the  open 
at  ViUa  Pereira.  Others  were  also  observed  on  open 
stretches  of  sand  in  the  river-bed. 

MoTACiLLA  LONGICAUDA,  Kiipp,     ]\.  lluVL     (1.)    Resident. 
(Data  lost.)     W.  77 ;  Tl.  92  ;  Ts.  20  ;  ('.  13. 
The    Long-tailed  Wagtail  was  not   uncommon  in  parts  of 
the    rivers   amongst    rocks,   but  very    shy    and    ditiicult    to 

ap[iro:ich. 

Macronyx  croseus  (Vieill).  R.  15G9.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  grey-brown  ;  B.  max.  diirk  l)rown,  maud,  horn-blue, 
tip  darker ;  L.  pale  brownisli  yellow\  Leng.  203-214  ; 
W.  98-101  :  TL  78-79;  Ts.  3.5  ;  \\  15-19. 

Not  uncommon  in  open  marsh-land.  It  always  took  to 
the  tops  of  the  nearest  trees  when  alarmed. 

PnYLLASTUKPnUS     FLAVIVENTRIS     OCCIDENTALIS     (Sharpc). 

R.  1758  A.     (2  M.)     Resident. 

L  d.ill  red;  r,.  dark  l)r()wn  ;  L.  slate.  Leng.  230-233  ; 
AV.  103;   Tl.  101;   Ts.  21;   V.  21-22. 

Not  maiiv  of  these  YeUow  Biilljuls  were  seen.  Three  or 
four  at  Mjiimlia  and  a  pair  at  Quelimano  were  found  eating 
small  berries,  and  another  pair  at  Ngamwe  seemed  to  bo 
sucking  nectar  from  some  red  aloe  flowers. 

l*nYi.LASTiu;riirs  caimonsis  siaiirltci's  (Kchw.).  R. 
1773 fl.     (2  M.,  1  !■'.)     IJcsident. 

I.  slate-brown ;     15.    ihiik    brown;     L.  slate-bhie.       Leng. 


the  7'runsvaal  Maseuiii  from  Boror  45^ 

203;  ^X.  85-88  k  78;  Tl.  ^r)-^)^  &  TO;  Ts.  23  &  21; 
C.  19-20  &  18. 

These  specimens  have  been  kimlly  identified  by  Dr. 
Reichenovv.  No  measurements  are  ^Ivcmi  in  his  descri{)tion 
of  the  subspecies,  but  it  would  seem  that  it  is  smaller  than 
the  typical  capensls. 

Family  parties  were  found  scratchino-  about  amono-.st 
leaves  on  the  ground  in  dense  l)ush  near  J\Ipiml)a,  and  when 
alarmed  set  up  a  cackle  and  nnule  off  further  into  the  scrub, 
where  it  was  difficult  to  follow  them. 

Phyllastrephus  cervixiyentris.  Shell.  11.1770.  (1  M., 
1  F.  ?)     Resident. 

I.  pearly  grey  ;  B.  brown,  gape  yellow  ;  L.  [)ale  flesh- 
colour.     Leng.  194-195  ;  W.  80  ;  Tl.  82  ;  Ts.  20  ;  C.  IG. 

These  specimens  were  shot  in  bamboo-jungle  at  A' ilia 
Pereira,  and  1  took  them  to  be  the  young  of  the  preceding- 
species  as  the  alarm-note  and  habits  were  similar,  and  I  was 
therefore  rather  surprised  to  find  that  they  were  distinct. 
One  of  these  specimens  has  some  light  brown  feathers  on  the 
nape,  which  seems  to  support  this,  and  both  are  undoubtedly 
immature,  judging  by  the  appearance  of  the  upper  and  under 
tail-coverts  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  young  of  P.  capeuKis 
does  not  vary  from  the  adults  to  such  a  great  extent  both  in 
regard  to  plumage  and  the  legs  and  feet,  and  I  (\o  not  doubt 
therefore  that  cerc'inii'entns  is  a  distinct  S[)ecies. 

Pycnonotus  layardi  pallidus,  subsp.  nov.  R.  1795. 
(2  M.)     Resident. 

I.  i)rown  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  197-201  ;  W.  94  ; 
Tl.  85-88;  Ts.  21  ;  C.  18. 

T  havf*  given  the^e  si)ecimens  a  subspecific  name  for  the 
following  points: — Generally  paler  than  typical  specimens 
from  Rustenburg  and  the  Transvaal,  more  yellow  on  the 
abdomen,  a  tinge  of  this  colour  exteiuling  up  the  centre  of 
the  breast,  the  brown  of  the  crop  shnr[)ly  defined  and  not 
extending  down  the  white  breast,  and  the  throat  lighter 
brown. 

Vol..  vni.  4 


50  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birds  In 

Blackcap  Bulbuls  were  very  common  where  oranfres  were 
grown.  A  nest  containing  three  eggs  was  found  on  22n(l 
October,  but  as  I  was  on  the  march,  and,  as  is  so  often  the 
case  when  anything  is  wanted  from  the  loads,  the  carrier  in 
charge  of  my  collecting  outfit  was  a  long  way  l^ehind,  in 
the  end  they  got  broken. 

Antiireptes  hypodilus,  Jard.  R.  183.3  a.  (1  ad.,  2  juv. 
MM.,  2  ad.  FF.)     Resident. 

I.  dark  brown  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  100-lOG  &  9G  ; 
W.  50-52  &  48  ;  Tl.  30-34  ;  C.  14-15  &  13-5. 

The  Transvaal  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  of 
this  species  from  Beira,  Hector  Spruit,  nnd  the  Umbellnzi 
River  near  Delagoa  Bay,  and  of  collaris  specimens  from 
Durban,  Port  St.  Johns,  and  Grahamstown  Districts. 

The  Northern  Collared  Sunbird  was  very  common  at 
Mpimba  and  Ngamwe,  resorting  to  a  flowering  Loranthus  at 
the  former  place  and  ITaUeria  lucida  at  the  latter. 

Anthreptes  longuemarii  nyass.e,  Neum.  R.  1837. 
(2  ad.,  2  juv.  MM.,  2  FF.)     Resident. 

T.  umber  ;  B.  dark  brown  ;  L.  black.  Leng.  136,  134,  & 
122-130  ;  W.  80,  72-73,  &  G4-69  ;  Tl.  55,  50-52,  &  41-45  ; 
C.  16-16-5x16-17  &  15. 

The  two  FF.  have  a  white  mark  below  the  eye.  Adult 
MM.  have  the  ear-coverts  grey-brown  and  juvenile  MM.  and 
FF.  brownish  grey.  One  of  the  juvenile  males  has  a  trace 
of  metal'ic  blue-green  on  the  rump  like  oriental'iK,  but  the 
others  do  not  show  it;  both  of  these  innnaturo  specimens 
still  retain  some  of  the  grey  feathers,  which  are  mixed  with 
the  new  metallic  ones.  The  metallic  sheen  is  distiiiclly  of  a 
different  shade  to  that  of  orientalis,  of  which  the  collection 
contains  a  single  adult  male  colh'cted  by  the  late  J.  v. 
0.  Marais,  proliably  in  Fast  Africa. 

T  did  not  see  these  Sunbirds  at  flowers,  l)ut  always  search- 
ing for  insects  in  the  leaves  of  trees,  often  in  company  with 
other  small  birds.    They  were  fairly  plentiful  at  Villa  Pereira 


the  Transvaal  Museum  from  Boror.  51 

amongst  broad-leaved  trees   in  open   forest,  and  they  were 
also  observed  in  similar  forest  farther  inland. 

Chalcomitra  olivacina,  Ptrs.  R.  1839.  (1  M.,  4  ?) 
July-August. 

I.  umber  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  124-132  ;  W.  55-00  ; 
Tl.  38-45  ;  C.  21-23. 

Large  numbers  of  these  Sunbirds  were  found  on  a  flowering 
Loranthus  at  Mpimba,  and  a  few  also  observed  on  flowers  of 
Halleria  lucida  at  Nganiwe. 

Chalcomitra  gutturalis  (Liun.).  R.  1804.  (3  ad., 
3  juv.  MM.,  2  FF.)     Resident. 

I.  dark  brown  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  132-137  &  127- 
132  ;  W.  69-75  &  08;  Tl.  44-51  &  43  ;  C.  14-16  &  13-14. 

This  species  was  common  wherever  certain  red  aloe  flowers 
were  to  be  found,  usually  in  dry  open  forest.  A  pair  was 
noticed  at  Villa  Pereira  continually  flying-  to  and  fro  from 
some  of  these  flowers  to  a  certain  part  of  the  forest,  in  May, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  they  had  a  nest  with  young. 

CiNNYRis  microrhynchus,  Shell.  R.  1876/.  (1  M.,  3  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  brown  (F.  grey-brown)  ;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  Ill  & 
103 ;  W.  56  &  51  TtI.  38  &  33  ;  C.  17  k  10. 

This  species  was  not  uncouiinon  throughout  the  prazo,  and 
was  most  partial  to  flowers  of  the  Jjoranthus.  A  number  of 
nests  were  found  during  October  and  early  November,  two 
of  which  contained  eggs;  they  were  attached  to  the  ends  of 
branches  of  small  trees,  eight  to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  were  made  of  woolly  fibres,  feathers,  lichen,  moss,  a  few 
stiff  grass-stems,  and  bits  of  leaves,  and  were  of  the  usual 
shape  constructed  by  Sunbirds.  In  a  clutch  of  two  fresh  eggs 
taken  at  Buruma  on  3rd  October  the  colour  is  of  a  uniform 
slate-grey,  and  measurements  arc  17-2  x  1 1'7  and  1  7-I)  x  1 1*5, 
while  in  another  clutch,  of  the  identitv  of  which  I  am  not 
quite  certaiti,  tlioy  measure  l(r3  X  ]  1  and  10  x  11*4  and  arc 
of  the  same  ground-colour  as  the  first  but  sj)ottcd  and 
streaked  with  black. 

4* 


52  Mr.  A.  Kohorts  on  Birds  in 

CiNNYRIS  SHELLEYI,  Alex.  li.  1878.  (2  ad.,  1  juv.  M.) 
Resident. 

Lumber;  B.  &  L.  black.  Leng.  1 1 2-1 2-i;  W.  01-02  ; 
Tl.  39-41 ;  0.  18-20. 

The  iniiiiature  specimen  has  not  yet  assumeil  all  the 
metallic  feathers  of  the  back  and  the  flanks  are  partly  grey  ;  it 
was  shot  on  7th  July  at  M})ind)a. 

Very  few  of  these  Sunbirds  were  noted  ;  in  most  cases  they 
were  found  perched  near  the  tops  of  trees  singing  and  acting 
in  a  lively  numner,  and  only  one  was  seen  at  i^owers  in 
company  with  C.  olicacina,  A.  coUaris,  and  C.  mi<:>'orlii/)tc/nis. 

PaRUS  TALLIDIVENTRIS  REVUMiE,  Shell.     R.  1020  rt.     (2  M., 

1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  hazel  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  dark  slate-colour.  Leng.  1-1 0-l")!  & 
145  ;  ^^\  81-84  &  78  ;  Tl.  G4-G8  &  GO  ;  Ts.  19  &  18  ; 
C.  11. 

The  Rcs'unia  Tit  was  found  in  small  parties  or  ])airs 
actively  creeping  about  the  brandies  of  tall  trees  in  search  of 
insects.  A  ])air  was  observed  prying  about  old  Woodpeckers' 
nests  at  Namabieda,  no  doubt  in  search  of  a  suital)lo 
nesting-site. 

Parisoma  I'LUMBEUM  (Hartl.).  R.  1929.  (1  M.)  July- 
October. 

I.  light  brown  ;    B.  black ;  L.  dark   slato.     Long.    142  ; 

^v.e^  -,  ti. gi  ;  Ts.  i7;  c.  125. 

This  specimen  is  paler  than  those  from  the  Transvaal  and 
adjacent  territory. 

Only  two  specimens  were  seen,  one  at  Ngamwe  and  the 
other  at  I'unima,  l)()th  in  thick  busji  on  the  l)anks  of  streams. 
Li  their  maimer  of  spreading  their  tails  and  jeiking  their 
bodies  from  side  to  side  they  reminded  me  wry  miieh  of 
Trochocerciis  cjanomelas. 

Anthoscopi'S  rohkrtsi,  Ilaagnor.     (2  F.)     Hesident. 

These  two  sjjecimcns  are  types  of  the  species  deseribcsd  by 
Haagner  in  the  '  Annals  of  the  Transvaal  ]\hiseum,'  August 
1909. 


the  Transvaal  Museum  from  Boror.  53 

Small  flocks  of  these  birds  were  frequently  seen  clinging 
to  the  leaves  as  they  searched  for  their  insect  food,  and  they 
seemed  to  be  always  restlessly  moving  onwards  from  tree  to 
tree.  They  were  often  seen  in  company  with  other  small 
birds  bent  on  the  same  quest. 

Melocichla  mentalis  ORiENTALis  (Sharpe).  R.  1951a. 
{2  M.)     Resident. 

I.  hazel  ;  B.  brown,  tomia  and  mand.  horn-blue  ;  L,  slate- 
blue.  Leng.  l'J3-212  ;  W.  7G  ;  Tl.  8G-91  ;  Ts.  27  ; 
C.  18-18-5. 

These   interesting    birds   were    found    only  amongst   tall 
matted  grass  in  open  glades,  and  seemed  only  to  show  them- 
selves when  the  sun  appeared  early  in  the  morning  or  during 
the  intervals  between  the  showers  on  rainy  days.     During 
the  dry  season  I  often  saw  quite  a  number  scattered  about  on 
the  tops  of  tall  grass-stems  just  after  sunrise  as  they  sunned 
themselves  and  loudly  warbled  to  each  other  ;  but  no  sooner 
were  attem[)ts  made  to  get  near  them   than  they  would  dive 
into  the  dense  grass  and  nothing  could  induce  them  to  rise. 
At  Ngamwe  I  was   once  attracted  by  hearing  a  wild  and 
musical  song  proceeding  from  the  depths  of  a  tangled  bed  of 
cane-grass,  and  carefully  creeping  in  I  was  able  to  watch  one 
of  these  birds  as  it  spread  its  tail,  and  showed  oft'  its  fine 
fluffy  plumage  and  danced  about  on  its  perch  while  it  sang 
away  with  all  its  power  ;  I  should  never  have  thought  this 
sluggish-looking  bird  capable  of  such  exuberance  of  spirits 
had  I  not  been  an  eye-witness,  for  its  general   appearance  is 
very    much     like    that    of     the    S.  African    Grass  Birds 
(Sj)hena'anis),  and  one  gets  accustomed  to  expecting  similar 
moods  in  birds  of  like  appearance. 

CiSTICOLA  NATALENSIS  (A.  Sm.).  R.  19G7.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Resident. 

(M.  data  lost.)  ¥.  :  I.  hazel  ;  B.  max.  brown,  mand. 
l)rownish  yellow  ;  L.  pale  brownish  pink.  Leng.  130  ;  \\ . 
71  k  59  ;  Tl.  GG  &  49  ;  Ts.  27  <fc  2-1  ;  0.  11-5  &  U. 

The  Natal  Grass-Warbler  was  not  unconnnon  in  the  ojien 


54  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birth  in 

grass-land  of  the  marsh  region,  and  its  harsh  chiekino-  note 
was  particuliirly  noticeable  during  our  journey  from  Mixixine 
to  Nhainacurra. 

CiSTICOLA    liUFICAPILLA    BORORENSIS^    STlbsp.    nOV.       (1  F.) 

Resident. 

(Data  lost.)     ^\.  -12  ;  Tl.  37  ;  Ts.  IG  ;  (\  10. 

This  subspecies  ditlVrs  from  tyjiical  birds  from  Ti-ansvaal, 
being  much  smaller  and  having  a  distinct  subterminal  smudge 
on  the  tail-feathers  ;  it  is  even  more  closely  related  C.  dodsoni, 
Sharpe,  than  C.  miielleri  of  Alexander  is  to  that  species,  both 
in  regard  to  size  and  the  tail-marks. 

The  habits  and  voice  of  this  tiny  bird  did  not  strike  me  as 
being  any  different  from  the  Transvaal  birds,  with  which  I 
am  well  acquainted,  and  particular  attention  was  therefore 
not  devoted  to  them  nor  more  than  this  one  specimen  ])re- 
served.  I  often  met  with  small  family  parties  in  the  o})en 
forest  close  to  my  camp  at  Villa  Pereira  ;  they  invariably 
flew  up  from  the  short  grass  under  the  trees  into  the  branches 
of  the  nearest  tree. 

CiSTICOLA  PisiLLA,  Gun.  k  Rl.ts.     (1  M.)     May. 

This  specimen  was  taken  as  the  male  type  of  the  species, 
which  was  described  in  the  'Annals  of  the  Transvaal  Museum,' 
July  1911.  It  is  distinguished  from  C.  rvfa  of  West 
Africa  by  the  first  primary  being  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  second. 

Nothing  w!is  noted  of  this  specimen  beyond  that  it  was 
collected  at  Villa  Pereira  on  2;")tli  May  and  was  moulting. 

CiSTICOLA  EUVTiiuors  (Jlartl.).  P.  2002.  (Ad.  M.  &  F. 
and  juv.  M.  k  Y.) 

I.  vellow  isli  grcv  ;  15.  max.  brown,  nmiid.  1ii>ni-c(il()iir ; 
I;,  flesh-eolour  ;  gape  yellow.  Lcng.  (juv.  M.)  IMiV:(F.) 
122-124  :  W.  o.'')-')*.)  &  4H-4:t  ;  Tl.  Til-ar)  k  45-4(;  ;  Ts.  23 
&20  ;  (".  11-1  ">  k  V.\. 

The  juvcnib'  male  is  the  specimen  mentioned  in  the 'Check 
List'  as  Cisticola  si/lria. 


the  Transvaal  MuseuDi  from  Jjoror.  55 

Tl)ese  Grass- Warblers  were  not  uncommon  in  open  forest 
near  Villa  Pereira  and  Mpimba.  They  were  usually  found 
in  small  ]:)arties  dilinently  searching  amongst  the  grass  and 
Lushes  for  insects,  and  seemed  to  prefer  those  parts  of  the 
forest  in  which  the  trees  were  tall  and  free  from  tanoled 
undergrowth. 

Heliolais  kirbyi,  Haagner.     (1  M.,  1  ?)     Resident. 

These  two  specimens  are  the  types  of  the  species. 

The  first  specimen  1  shot  while  perclied  in  an  orange-tree 
in  which  it  had  taken  refuge  on  being  disturbed  from  the 
grass,  and  the  second  was  one  of  a  small  party  found  searching 
amongst  small  bushes  and  grass  in  o[)en  forest  at  Mpimba. 
I  saw  several  more  on  different  occasions  at  the  last  place, 
but  did  not  secure  them.  Their  habits  and  appearance  much 
resembled  those  of  the  Wren-Warblers  (Prima) ;  but  their 
red  wings  served  to  distinguish  them  even  at  a  distance. 

Calamonastes  stierlingi,  Tlchw.  R.  2009.  (1  M.,  1  F.) 
Resident. 

I.  light  cinnamon ;  B.  black  (in  F.  toniia  and  genys 
whitish)  ;  L.  flesli-colour.  Leng.  132  &  123  ;  W.  61  &  54  ; 
Tl.  50  &  40  ;  Ts.  21  &  20  ;  C.  13-5  &  12. 

There  is  a  specimen  of  stierl'imji  from  Matoppos,  Rhodesia, 
which  does  not  differ  from  the  two  from  Boror,  and  it  does 
therefore  occur  south  of  the  Zambesi  River. 

Stierling's  Barred  Warbler  was  found  in  open  forest  amongst 
grass  and  small  bushes  growing  under  tall  trees.  It  was, 
as  a  rule,  seen  to  rise  from  the  grass  into  the  nearest  bush, 
from  which  it  could  watch  the  movements  of  the  intruder. 

CALAMOCICHLALEPTORHYNCHA(Uchw.).  R.  2013.  (1  M.) 
Resident. 

T.  light  brown ;  B.  max.  horn-brown,  mand,  brownish 
yellow,  apex  dusky ;  L.  light  slate-grey.  Leng.  139  ;  W.  G3; 
Tl.  50  ;  Ts.  25;  C.  14;  hind  claw  8'3. 

This  s[)ecimen  is  much  more  rusty  yellowish  than  the 
described  species;  but  I   lliiuk   it   is  probably  in   immature 


56  Mr.  A.  Eoberts  on  Birds  in 

])lamago,  as  in  all  other  niombors  of  this  g(Mins,  and  also  in 
Lusci/iiola,  the  young  are  more  nist-eoloured. 

Kirby  obtained  this  sjieeiiiKMi  at  jMuiicla  on  \'M\\  Jiin(»and 
notei  that  he  found  it  hopiting  about  near  tb.e  ground 
amongst  some  reeds.  I  think  that  this  is  the  same  species 
of  Avhieh  1  saw  a  good  many  at  Villa  Pereira  amongst  the 
beds  of  reeds  in  the  river  ;  but  they  were  shy,  and  the  oidy 
ones  I  could  have  shot  were  in  reeds  overhanging  ugly- 
looking  pools  into  which  I  should  not  have  cared  to  venture 
to  get  them  out. 

TlUxN-IA  MYSTACEA,  lUi].!..  I^  2040.  (1  M.,  1  F.  juv.) 
Ivcsident. 

Ad.  :  I.  yellowish  brown  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  biownish  flesh. 
Leng.  12G^;  W.  48;  Tl.  53  ;  Ts.  H» ;  C.12.  Juv.  F.  : 
I.  dark  slate  ;  1*.  max.  brown,  mand.  yellow,  apex  brown  ; 
L.  i)ale  flesh-colour  ;  gai)e  yellow.  Leng.  10*J  ;  ^V,  44  ; 
T1.51;   Ts.  18-5;   C.  11. 

The  Tawny-fianked  AVren-Warl)ler  was  common  throughout 
the  prazo  in  suitable  locaUtic^s.  At  Quelimaue  I  t'ouiul  it 
amongst  weeds  under  cocoanut-palms,  and  farther  iidaud 
usually  near  open  streams. 

ApALIS  NEGLECTA,  Alex.      1J.2081.      (2  M.)     Kesideut. 

I.  orange-brown  ;  B.  black ;  legs  })iidvisli  grey,  feet 
ochreous.  Leng.  114-11'J;  W.  40-51  ;  Tl.  45-48  ;  Ts.  18  ; 
C.  12-1:5. 

fSoine  douljt  still  a])})ears  to  exist  in  the  minds  of  ornitho- 
loo'ists  as  to  the  specilic  distinctness  of  A.  J/oristtr/a  and 
^\.  neylecta,  and  I  nuiy  here  explain  that  though  the  litcrat  iiic 
on  the  subject  is  not  <|uite  cU'ar,  the  two  species  are  (juite 
distinct,  the  males  of  thosi'  fotuid  in  Natal  and  the  eastern 
])arts  of  the  Cape  Provinc<'  ne\<T  lia\  ing  tiie  black  ciiot-lnind 
which  is  characleiistic  of  tiiose  found  from  Delagoa  Bay 
northwards.  In  descriijing  A.  neylecta  a  mistake  was  mad(s 
in  taking  a  fenuile  of  A.  Jlorisuya  as  the  type  female  of 
neijh'ria. 


the  Transvaal  Mnseuui  from  Doror.  57 

Tlie  Eastern  Black-breasted  Bush- Warbler  was  found  to 
be  fairly  connnon  at  Queliniane,  Mixixine,  and  Villa  Pereira, 
and  was  most  commonly  found  in  orange-trees.  Only  the 
males  were  noticed  to  have  black  chest-bands,  and  they  were 
always  found  either  in  })airs  or  small  j)arties  of  four  or  five 
actively  searching  for  insects  and  lestlessly  moving-  from  tree 
to  tree.  The  call  is  ii  harsh  charring  note,  something  like 
that  of  the  Batis  Flycatchers. 

Camaroptera  brachyura  bororensis,  Gun.  &  ]{bts. 
(1  M.)     August. 

This  specimen  is  the  ty])eof  the  subspecies  described  in  the 
'  Annals  of  the  Transvaal  ]\[useum/  July  1911.  It  difif'ers  from 
the  typical  southern  race  in  being  much  brighter  on  the  back 
and  Avings,  paler  on  the  flanks,  darker  on  the  breast,  less 
yellowish  on  the  crop,  and  the  tarsus  is  slightly  longer. 

I  only  met  with  this  bird  in  the  dense  scrub  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  at  Ngamwe.  Its  habits  and  voice  seemed  to  bo 
the  same  as  those  of  the  southern  race. 

Sylvietta  whytei  (Shell.)     (1  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  brownish  yellow  ;  B.  max.  brown,  mand.  light  horn- 
brown  ;  L.  yellowish  flesh-colour.  Leng.  95  &  8<S  ;  W.  h^} 
k  54  ;  Tl.  21  ;  Ts.  17  &  IG  ;  C.  12  &  11. 

The  female  specimen  has  the  sides  of  face,  ear-coverts, 
eyebrow,  and  entire  under  surface  rufous,  and  an  indistinct 
collar  on  the  hind-neck  |)ale  rufous  ;  it  agrees  with  the 
descrii)tion  of  S.  jacksoni,  but  is,  I  think,  the  female  of 
S.  ichytei.     The  male  is  much  paler. 

The  Nyassa  Crombec  was  first  met  with  at  Ngamwe,  and 
it  was  not  often  observed  until  the  latter  part  of  October  and 
early  November,  when  quite  a  number  of  nests  were  found, 
altliough  the  birds  themselves  were  not  often  seen  about  in 
their  vicinity.  Two  clutches,  of  two  eggs  eacdi,  were  taken 
at  Matiwe  :  in  one  the  eggs  are  speckled  witli  piirplisli, 
plate,  brown,  and  red, and  measure  17'()  X  11*7  and  Jd-ti  x  11*7; 
while  in  the  other,  of  which  one  of  the  eggs  was  subs('«piently 
broken  in  transit,  the  marks  are  very  much  largt.T.  the  single 


58  Mr.  A.  Roberts  on  Birds  'm 

eog  now  in  the  collection  nieasurino-  about  tlie  same  as  tlie 
other  two,  lG*<Sxll'5.  The  ne>ts  were  inaih'  oC  wliite  fibres 
and  grass- stems,  neatly  IjoiuuI  together  with  cobwebs  and 
ornamented  outside  with  bits  of  s{)iders'  egg-bags,  and 
suspended  to  the  ends  of  branches  under  the  shelter  of  some 
small  tree,  usuall}'  at  a  height  of  about  four  or  five  feet  from 
the  ground.  The  nest  closely  resembles  that  of  the  Sunbirds 
in  shape,  but  instead  of  the  entrance  being  at  the  side  under 
a  hood,  the  top  is  open  and  only  half  covers  the  nest,  the  sides 
looping  downwards  from  the  twigs  to  which  the  nest  is 
suspended  ant!  forming  a  neat  rim  in  front. 

Eremomela  scoTors,  Siind.  R.  2137  (2  M.,  2  F.)  Ai)ril- 
July. 

I.  creamy  white  ;  eyelids  brownish  pink  ;  B.  black  ;  L. 
brown,  feet  brownish  pink.  Leng.  100-115  ;  W.  55  & 
4G-4.S  ;  Tl.  44-48  ;  Ts.  17  ;  C.  10-5-11-5. 

These  Bush-Warblers  were  common  at  Villa  Pereira  and 
the  marsh  region  generally.  They  are  very  restless  birds, 
constantly  moving  from  tree  to  tree  in  search  of  insects, 
every  now  and  then  setting  up  a  noisy  chatter,  in  which  they 
all  join,  suddenly  sto})ping  to  go  on  with  their  restless 
searching. 

CRATEUOrUS  JARDINEI  KIRKI,  Sliarjic.  J{.  2174  a.  (1  M.) 
Resident. 

I.  scarlet  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  light  brown.  Leng.  228  ;  W.  DD; 
Tl.  '.•7;  Ts.  29  ;  C.  20. 

Kirk's  Bal)bler  was  not  uncommon  in  the  sernb  growing 
in  old  clearings.  Its  voice  and  habits  do  not  ditrer  from  the 
larger  southern  race.  I  found  a  nest  at  Namabieda  on  30th 
8e|)tember,  placed  in  the  tangled  bianehes  of  a  tree  which 
liad  fallen  to  the  ground  ;  but  I  was  too  early  for  eggs  and 
the  birds  deserted  the  nest  when  they  saw  me  inspect  it. 

TURDI:S  LIBONVANUS  TROPICALIS,  Rtrs.  ]{.  222!)  I>.  (4  M., 
3  F.)      Resident. 

I.  light  ijrown  ;  B.  orange  ;  L.  and  bare  skin  of  face  palo 


the  Transvaal  Museum  from  J3oror.  50 

yellowish.  Long.  228-231  &  2U-21G  ;  W.  107-113;  Tl. 
"«1)-'JG  ;  Ts.  28-32  ;  V.  ll)-22. 

These  specimens  are  all  uiuloubtedly  referable  to  the  siib- 
sjtec'ies  desc'rll)ed  by  Peters;  but  other  specimens  in  the 
collection  from  Beira,  while  agreeing  in  colour,  somewhat 
exceed  the  measurements  given  by  lieichenow  ;  specimens 
from  the  Eastern  Transvaal  again  are  smaller  than  those  from 
Beira,  but  in  colour  come  nearest  to  the  llustenburg 
specimens. 

As  can  be  seen  from  the  number  of  specimens  obtained, 
this  Thrush  was  fairly  common,  but,  like  all  its  African 
congeners,  very  shy  when  once  alarmed.  Most  of  the 
specimens  were  secured  while  they  were  searching  for  their 
food  in  open,  moist  ground  on  the  border  of  the  clearing  at 
Villa  Pereira  or  under  the  large  trees  where  there  was  little 
undergrowth.  Three  nests  with  eggs  were  found  during  the 
latter  part  of  September  and  October  near  Buruma — the  tirst 
situated  on  a  stump  surrounded  by  sprouting  twigs,  the 
second  in  the  fork  of  a  large  tree,  and  the  third  amongst  the 
leaves  of  a  ])arasitic  ])lant  ;  all  at  a  height  of  about  twelve 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  clutches  varied  both  in  shape 
and  colour,  some  being  almost  round,  others  elongated,  and 
the  spots  were  distributed  either  more  profuselvat  either  end 
or  evenly  over  the  whole  surface.  The  two  clutches  pre- 
served give  the  following  measurements  : — 30.  9.  08:  24  x  20, 
25-Gx2i),  and  23-7  X  19-4.  18.10.08:  27-1  x  18-8  and 
20-3x1 9. 

COSSVPHA  HEUGLINI,  Hartl.      P.  2339. 

The  wild  and  varied  notes  of  this  species  were  always  much 
in  evidence  near  tangled  patches  of  scrub  and  reeds  in  the 
river-beds  ;  and  though  I  tried  again  and  again  to  secure  a 
s])ecimen,  I  did  not  succeed  in  shooting  one  by  following  its 
song,  although  I  frequently  came  suddenly  on  it  as  it  was 
singing,  but  it  invariably  saw  me  just  as  I  was  in  the  act  of 
shooting  and  darted  away  in  a  flash.  I  shot  one  sj)ecimen 
quite  by  chance  one  evening  just  before  dark,  when  I  could 
not  see  what  I  was  tiring  at,  but  this  specimen,  together  with 


GO  Mr.  A.  rvo])ei-ts  on  Birds  in 

a  good  many  luore,  was  missing  from  the  collection  when  it 
"was  finally  un])acked.  The  following  j)articulars  were 
recorded: — "Xgainwe,  2;>.  7.  08,  M.  I.  umher,  B.  black, 
L.  pale  brownish  slate  ;   Leng.  198,  W.  0.'),  C.  14/' 

CiCHLADUSA  ARCUATA,  rtrs.    T{.  2347.    (IF.)    21th  Jimc. 

T.  cream-colour;  B.  black  ;  L.  slate-brown.  Leng.  l'J7  ; 
AV.  84  ;  Ti.  HI  ;  Ts.  23  ;  C.  15. 

I  only  saw  this  one  specimen  ;  it  was  actively  dancing 
a])Out  and  singing  a  liv(dy  song  at  dusk  amongst  the  leaves 
of  a  tall  palm-tree  growing  close  to  the  river  at  Villa  Pereira- 
'Ihis  top  of  the  ])ahn  was  a  favourite  roosting-place  for  a 
number  of  different  kinds  of  birds,  on  account  of  its  in- 
accessibility from  the  ground,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  this 
bird  was  also  in  the  habit  of  roosting  there. 

MOXTICOLA     ANGOLENSIS      NYASS-K,     HcllW.  Ii.     223G  a. 

(4  M.,  1  F.)     Resident. 

I.  grey-brown  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  ihirk  brown  (pahn*  in  F.). 
Leng.  183-185  &  170  ;  W.  DG-lOl  &  ?2  ;  Tl.  07-73  ; 
Ts.  23-20  ;  C.  20. 

These  Chats  were  never  seen  on  or  near  the  ground,  but 
always  high  up  in  trees,  usually  i)erched  on  bare  twigs  at 
.some  forty  or  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  clearings  or 
o])('n  forest.  The  call  i-eminded  me  very  much  of  thai  of 
'Jarsif/er  atellains.  Specimens  secured  at  Namal)ieda  appeared 
to  be  breeding,  but  I  did  not  succeed  in  finding  a  nest.  I 
met  with  them  in  all  parts  of  the  prazo,  but  they  were  not 
common  anywhere. 

Myrmkcocicfila  siir.LLKVi  (.Sharpe).  R.  2248.  (1  F.) 
Resident. 

T.  dark  brown  ;  B.  tt  L.  black.  Leng.  180  ;  AV.  'JO  ; 
Tl.  74  ;  Ts.  20  ;  V.  10. 

I  met  with  this  vivacious  and  interesting  (liat  only 
amongst  large  trees  in  dry  parts  of  the  interior,  first  in  a 
certain  patch  of  forest  some  eight  miles  north  of  Ngamwo 
and  subsequently  near  Muandama  and  Nama])ieda.  At  the 
last  place  a  jtair  were  seen  examining  logs  and  holes  in  trees 


tJie  Transvaal  Musemn  from  Boror.  '  61 

close  to  tlic  ground,  evidently  on  the  look-out  for  a  suitable 
nesting-site,  but  when  I  searched  for  the  nest  a  few  davs 
later  thej  took  alarm  and  left  the  neighbourhood.  They  are 
very  lively  birds,  delighting  to  show  ofif  their  handsome  black- 
and-white  plumage,  spreading  out  their  tails,  slightly- 
expanding  their  wings,  and  dancing  about  on  the  larger 
horizontal  branches  and  sometimes  clinging  to  the  trunks 
of  the  trees.  The  males  have  the  crown  white  and  the 
throat  l)lack,  while  in  the  females  this  is  reversed,  the 
crown  beins;  black  and  the  throat  white. 


ErYTHROPYGIA  QUADRIVIRGATA,  PicllW.  E.  2352.  (1  M.) 
Resident. 

T.  dusky  ;  B.  black  ;  L.  pale  flesh-colour.  Leng.  173  ; 
W.  7G  ;  Tl.  76  ;  Ts.  23  ;  C.  16. 

This  specimen  may  have  been  wrongly  sexed,  as  I  find 
that  three  males  from  Beira  are  larger,  measuring  :  AV.  <S1- 
«5,  TI.  78-80,  Ts.  25-27,  C.  16-17. 

I  found  this  species  only  in  the  drier  parts  of  the  i)razo. 
Near  Matiwe,  on  1st  November,  I  found  a  nest  with  two 
fresh  eggs,  which  got  broken  through  my  not  having  any- 
thing to  carry  them  in  ;  it  was  a  cup-shaped  structure  of 
grass  lined  with  fine  roots  and  placed  in  a  small  bii.,li, 
about  two  feet  from  the  ground,  and  hidden  by  some  fresh 
green  shoots  and  young  leaves. 

EKYTHROrVGIA  ZAMBESIANA,  Sliarpc.  }{.  2361.  (3  M.) 
Resident. 

I.  brown  ;  B.  max.  dark  brown,  nuuid.  horn-colour,  apex 
dark  brown  ;  L,  pale  flesh-pink.  Leng.  148-154  ;  W.  6!) ; 
Tl.  63-65;  Ts.  22;  C.  15. 

In  almost  every  patch  of  scrub  in  the  open  forest, 
particularly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Villa  Pereira  and 
Mpimba,  these  noisy  birds  were  to  be  found,  their  loud 
scolding  notes  often  lasting  until  dark,  starting  again  at 
dawn  and  continuing  at  intervals  throughout  the  day. 


('2  Correspondence. 


VI. —  Correspondence. 

The  Editors,  Journal  of  the  S.  A.  0.  U.,  Pretoria. 

Dear  Sirs, — In  registering  the  specimens  in  the  Transvaal 
Museum  collected  by  Mr.  Noome  at  Blaaiiwberg,  on  which 
an  article  appears  in  the  present  issue  o£  the  Journal,  I 
have  found  that  those  recorded  as  Si/lria  nisoria  have  been 
wrongly  identlHeil,  as  also  anoth(;r  specimen  recorded  in  the 
'  Annals  of  the  Transvaal  Museum  '  last  year.  I  am  advising 
you  at  once  in  order  to  prevent  further  misconcei)tion,  and 
I  hope  you  will  be  al)le  to  insert  this  in  the  next  issue  of  the 
Journal. 

The  mistake  arose  in  the  following  way: — The  specimen 
from  Venterskroon  was  not  sexed,  and  as  it  often  happens 
that  young  birds  are  difficult  to  make  out  on  dissection,  and 
marked  with  a  query,  as  in  this  case,  I  thought  it  not  un- 
likely that  this  was  a  young  bird.  I  did  not,  however,  come 
to  this  conclusion  until  after  I  had  failed  to  locate  the  speci- 
men in  Reichenow's  '  Die  Vrigel  Afrikas.'  In  that  work 
tlje  wing-measurements  of  Ilifpola'is  oVivctovinn  are  given  as 
80-8G  and  'S////"/a  nl.sorla  as  85-lM);  and  as  the  sj)eeini('ii 
before  me  exceeded  even  those  of  the  latter,  being  i>l5  mm., 
I  concluded  that  it  could  not  be  the  former  and  was  more 
likely  to  be  a  young  bird  of  the  latter  ;  but  being  in  doubt 
I  sent  the  specimen  to  Dr.  Ueichenow  for  contirmalion  of 
the  identity,  with  the  result  already  recorded.  At  that  time 
the  genus  flj/polais  was  not  represented  in  the  Museum  col- 
lection, hence  my  difficulty  ;  l)ut  recently  Mr.  Noome  has 
collected  three  specimens  of  IfijjioUiis  h_i//>o}(fls  in  i\\(\  Trans- 
vaal (two  at  Blaauwberg  and  one  in  l*r(>t<>iia  Hislrict).  and 
two  specimens  of  Si/lvia  )i'Ks<>riii  from  luminaiiia  lia\<'  Keen 
actpiired  by  the  ]\luseum  by  ex(rhange,  so  that  I  am  fully 
convinced  thes(!  specimens  from  Venterskroon  and  lilaauw- 
berf^  can  onlv  be  relVired  lo  I/i/jxilcis  oliretonnn,  and  not  to 


Correspondence.  63 

Si/Jvia  nhor'ia.     Thoy  are  somewhat  larger  than   those  pre- 
viously recorded,  measuring  as  follows  : — 

Locality,  Date.         Sex.  Wing.  Ist  Prim.  Tl.     Tar>!.     Culm. 

IJlaauwberg 10.2.12  M  89  11  70  22  10 

„                     11.2.12  M  85?  8  69  22  16 

„                     13. 2.  12  M  93  11  68  22  16 

„                     15.  2.  12  M  90  10  68  22  16 

„                           „  F  87  11  68  23  16 

„                     16.2.12  M  83?  11  68  22  16 

M  89?  10  71  22  lO-o 

,,                           „  M  90  11  72  22  16-5 

19.  2.  12  M  91  12  67  22  16 

„                  March  1912  M  89  10  67  22  17 

In  some  of  the  specimens  the  wing-feathers  are  moulting, 
and  these  are  indicated  by  queries.  It  will  be  noted  that 
the  first  primary  is  rudimentary,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  this  species  is  a  migrant,  especially  as  Mr.  Noome  writes 
that  their  habits  were  sedentary  at  Blaauwberg. 

Trusting  that  this  will  reach  you  in  time  for  insertion  in 
the  next  number  of  the  Journal, 

I  remain,  yours  truly, 

Austin  Roberts. 

Trausvaal  Musoum,  Pretoria, 
30.  4.  12. 

Quail  in  South  Africa. 
Dear  Mr.  IIaagner, — 

Can  you  confirm  the  view  expressed  on  i)age  222,  vol.  iv. 
o£  Sclater's  '  Birds,'  that  though  some  European  Quail  may 
reach  our  area  and  actually  interbreed  Avith  the  red-cheeked 
species  which  swarms  through  South  Africa  year  after  year, 
yet  there  is  at  least  a  subspecies  distinction  between  the 
two? 

If  Coturnix  a/ricana  does  not  occur  in  Europe,  tlien  where 
is  it  a  migrant  from  ? 

Yours  truly, 
i:ast  London,  Jxo.  Wool). 

6.6.  11. 


(14:  FAiihth  Annual  General  }Ji'eling. 

\\\. — Account  of  till'  K'lglitli  Anintal  (icncral  Meeting. 
TiiK    Eiolitb  Annual  General    Mectino-  of  the  S.  A.  0.  U. 

IT)  O 

Mas  held  in  the  Board  Room  oE  the  Transvaal  Museum  on 
25th  November,  1911,  at  3.45  p.m. 

Dr.  J.  W.  B.  Gunning,  President,  in  the  diair.  There 
were  also  present  :  Ivan  Ayres,  M,  L.  Gunnin<r,  ]j.  G.  R. 
Langford,  F.  0.  Noome,  Austin  Roberts,  and  Dr.  Theiler,  of 
Pretoria  ;  J.  P.  Murray,  of  Basutolaud  ;  E.  M.  Skea,  of 
Johannesburg  ;  F.  E.  0.  MJirs,  of  Brits  ;  and  the  Hon. 
Secretary. 

The  President  welcomed  the  Menilicrs  jn-csent,  and  gave  a 
short  rt'sumS  of  the  work  done  in  IS.  A.  Ornithology  during 
the  past  year.  He  also  touched  upon  the  losses  sustained 
])V  the  Union  through  deaths,  and  asked  those  present  to 
rise  from  their  seats  as  a  mark  of  resjx'ct  to  the  dejjai-ted 
i\leiid)ers  :  Messrs.  E.  H.  U.  Di'ajier,  of  Johannesburg  ;  Di".  J. 
B.  Greathead,  of  Norvals  Pont  :  Alfred  JMillar,  of  Durban  ; 
and  ('ajitain  G.  E.  Shelley,  of  London. 

Alter  the  minutes  of  the  Seventh  Annual  General  Meeting, 
h(dd  in  Gape  Town,  were  read  and  conlirmed.  the  subjeet  of 
AV.ill-piclures  of  some  important  S.  A.  Bii-ds  for  S.  A. 
Schools  was  discussed,  and  the  (*liaii-man  explained  the 
cause  of  the  delay  in  the  matter. 

The  Chairman  also  announced  that  on  the  subject  of  lli(» 
Protection  of  Birds  we  had  got  a  step  further,  inasmncli  that 
a  circular  liad  been  issued  to  all  Municipalities  in  the  Tians- 
vaal,  re(|U(^^ting  that  a  bye-law  be  added  p<resei'viiig  birds 
from  iiidi<ciMminate  capture  and  slaughter  by  the  schoolboy 
and  <)tli(M's. 

The  matter  of  a  new  ('onnniltee  foi-  I\Iigfalion  was  left  in 
the  liaiiil-  of  the  ConncMl.  The  Secretary's  and  Ti-easiu'er's 
reports  were  duly  read  and  passed.  These  will  be  found 
printed  at  ihe  end  of  this  aecouni. 

in  connection  with  the  rcpoi-t.  Dr.  (JiNKlNCJ  slated  thai  all 
Korhaan  ami  Paauw  had  be(Mi  declared  Royal  Game  for  tho 
next  five  years,  also  that  it  had  l)een  rei)ort(Ml  that  the  crops 
of  these  birds  contained  ItO  per  cent,  of  insects. 


Khjlith  Annual  General  Meethuj.  65 

Dr.  Theiler  reoretted  the  fallinfj  ofF  in  Momhersliip, 
and  siio-ae.sted  that  school  toachors  should  he  circuhirised. 
Mr.  Haaon^er  proposed  that  an  Associate  Memhership  he 
created  for  them  at  a  snhscription  of  half  a  guinea  and 
that  this  he  added  to  liuh's  3  and  15.  This  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

The  follo\vin<^  office-hearers  were  elected  :  — 

President Dr.  .1.  W.  B.  (iuNXiNG. 

I  1.  Dr.  J.  E.  DuKRDKX,  Ciipe  Province. 
7>.-P,../,/..^.....^-^l^-I^-C-C»i'BB,  Natal. 

/  •■).  C.  Mc(t.  Johnston,  Free  State. 
4.  C.  SwYNXERTON,  Rhodesiii. 

Fdito  -ial  Com  ^  ^^^'  ^-'-^^'•^^ORD,  who  retired  by  virtue  of  Rule  10, 

I      was  unanimously  re-elected. 

{Mr.  A.  K.  ITaagneu  was  once  more  re-elected 
to  the  Quai  oilice,  and  the  Chairman  requested 
Mr.  Ilaagner  to  retain  oflice  for  another  year. 

iMeiiihci-fs  of  Council. 

Cape  Province    Frank  A.  0.  Pym,  Kingwilliamstown. 

I'ran&vaal    Austin  Roberts,  Pretoria. 

Free  State Roland  Chambers,  Lindley. 

Natal  Dr.  J.  E.  Briscoe,  Charlestown. 

Basutolaud J.  P.  Murray,  Maseru. 

Rhodesia     James  L.  TIkward,  Sehikwe. 

Portuguese  S.E.  Africa     ....  P.  A.  Siieitarp,  ]5elra. 


^ew  Memhers.  —  The  following  new  Memhers  were 
elected  : — C.  E.  Gvdh,  M.  L.  Gunning,  while  Mr.  Ivan 
Ay  RES  was  re-elected. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chnii-nian  concluded  a  successful 
and  intcrcstino-  nnM'ting. 

Mr.  Austin  Roberts  exhihited  a  nuinhcr  of  new  species 
of  S.  A.  Birds  and  an  interesting  collection  of  hiids' eggs, 
collected  hy  him  recently  in  the  Bushveld,  and  I\lr.  MoRS  a 
packet  of  pieces  of  hroken  china  and  glass  ejected  hy  a 
Vulture. 

\(i|,.  VIII.  5 


G6  JC'h/Jitlt  Annual  General  Meeting. 

Secretary's  Report. 
Gentlemen, — 

The  last  Animal  Moetino;  was  held  in  Cape  Town 
daring  the  Pageant  week,  antl  although  many  jNIenihers  o£ 
the  Union  were  in  Town  at  the  time,  few  took  the  trouble 
to  attend  the  Meeting,  and  it  would,  therefore,  not  seem 
advisable  to  arranoe  meetings  to  coincide  with  such  aflfairs 
for  the  future. 

For  this  reason  we  are  holding  the  Meeting  at  the  Head- 
quarters  of  the  Society  this  year,  and  if  the  8.  A.  A.  A.  S. 
holds  its  annual  congress  at  a  suitable  centre  next  year, 
a  Meeting  in  conjunction  with  them  again  might  be 
considered. 

Members. — I  regret  to  state  that  the  past  year  has  been 
far  from  prosperous  or  successful,  as  will  be  seen  from  this 
Report.  We  have  lost  three  good  Members  by  death: 
E.  TT.  U.  Draper,  of  the  Govt.  Labs.,  Johannesburg  ;  A.  D. 
Millar,  of  Durban  (a  Vice-President  of  our  Union)  ;  and 
Dr.  Greathead,  of  Grahamstown.  The  former  was,  in  spite 
of  ill-health,  a  valuable  working  Member.  You  know  the 
record  of  Alfred  Millar,  while  Dr.  Greathead's  name  is 
known  to  some  of  you  as  a  genial  gentleman  and  keen 
sportsman  -  naturalist.  The  details  of  these  gentlemen's 
deaths  liave  been  notified  to  you  in  the  Journal.  Besides 
these  losses,  three  of  our  Members  have  resigned  and  two 
of  our  hanl-working  ^lembers — the  brothers  Taylor — have 
left  South  Africa,  so  that  we  can  look  to  them  in  vain  for  a 
continuation  of  their  interesting  j)apers.  Our  loss  is  another's 
gain,  and  we  li(i|ie  that  Mr.  Lioncd  Taylor  wiM  do  as  good 
work  in  Pritish  ('oluml)ia  as  he  has  done  here — he  carries 
with  him  the  good  wishes  of  the  S.  A.  ().  U. 

The  following  new  Members  arc*  nominated  for  election  : — 
M.  L.  Gunning,  proposer  Dr.  J,  W.  B.  Gunning,  seconihu- 
A.  Haaonkh  ;  C.  E.  Gydk,  proposer  P.  (\  H.  Laxgf()Ki>, 
seconder  A.  Haagner;  Ivan  Ayres,  to  be  re-elected  (election 
postdated  1911). 


Khjlith  Animal  General  Meeting.  67 

The  Meniborship  at  date,  after  deJuctiii<r  deaths,  resigna- 
tion, and  defaulters,  numbers  93  Ordinary  and  8  Honorary  — 
a  falling  off  of  over  2^)  on  the  figures  of  two  years  ago. 

Publications. — Two  numbers  of  the  Journal  were  issued 
during  1910,  forming  Vol.  VL,  with  81  pp.  letterpress, 
one  photographic  and  one  coloured  lithographic  plate  of 
eggs. 

Migration. — The  Third  Report,  consisting  for  the  most 
part  of  observations  made  during  1909  and  1910,  is  now  in 
the  press,  being  included  in  No.  2,  Vol.  VII.  In  order  to 
get  this  woriv  pushed  a  bit  during  the  coming  year,  I  would 
beg  that  a  new  Committee  for  the  purpose  be  elected,  as  my 
official  duties  are  now  too  heavy  to  warrant  my  continuing 
the  work  alone  and  unaided.  ^Several  Members  of  the  old 
Committee  are  now  al^sent  from  Pretoria. 

Obituary. — Besides  the  Members  of  the  Union  previously 
mentioned,  we  have  also  to  record  the  death  of  Capt.  G.  E. 
Shelley,  the  author  of  the  unfinished  but  somewhat  exhaus- 
tive '  Birds  of  Africa.' 

Office-Bearers. — Mr.  Langford,  on  the  completion  of  his 
term  of  office  on  the  Ed.  Com.,  retires  by  virtue  of  Rule  10, 
thus  creating  a  vacancy  on  the  Ed.  Com.  He  is,  however, 
eligible  for  reelection.  Owing  to  the  transference  of  Mr.  E. 
C.  Chubb  to  the  Durban  Museum  it  will  be  necessary  to 
elect  a  new  Member  of  Committee  for  Rhodesia,  and,  owinir 
to  Mr.  Taylor's  departure  for  Canada,  a  new  Member  for 
Transvaal. 

Agents. — The  stock  of  back  numbers  and  the  business  was 
transferred  from  R.  H.  Porter  to  Messrs.  Witherby  &  Co. 
at  the  beginning  of  this  year. 

A.  K.  Haaon'kr, 

Tvl,  Zoological  Gaideii.x,  rretoria,  JLm.  Si%\ 

June  1,  1911. 


C8  Orcas'ionaJ  JS^oies. 

SoiTH    AfIMCAX    OKNITlloLOCilsTs'    UnION. 

Statement  of  L\'cei/its  and  ExjiendUare  ll'lO. 

liilO.  £,     s.    d. 

.liui.  1.     To  Balance    58    5     5 

Dec.  3\.         ^Subscriptions 76  13     0 

Sales  of  Journal 10  12     9 

£  s.    (I. 

By  J'rinting  and  Publisliiiip-  Journal  ....           ....  76  1     0 

]*ostage  and  Stationery   , ....  2  510 

Commission  and  Bank  Charges ..,.  1  04 

Sundries  and  Indexes ....  11  0     0 

Cover  Account ....  0  1;5     0 

11.  II.  Porter     .M  0     0 

Bv  Balance  in  hand     , .  ,  .          ....  51  11     0 

£-145  11     -2    £145  11     2 


A.  K.  IIaagneu, 

JIoii.  Treasurer. 


Books  and  Accounts  examiiie'l  and  found  correct. 

AlSTlN    BoBEIJTS. 


A' IT  I. —  Orcti/ioual  jyofcs. 

1.  Nesting  of  S.  African  Bittern  {Jioi.uints  Ktclhtr'if; 
rapenaiii). — On  tlu;  12tli  inst.  wliile  out  Diick-sliootiiio-  on 
t^ome  pans  nciir  this  place,  I  round  two  iiosts  of  tliis  .species  ; 
they  were  witliin  20  yards  of  each  other,  in  a  shallow  grassy 
pan,  situated  in  clumps  of  grass  raised  ahout  a  foot  out  of 
the  water,  which  ^\■:ls  only  a  few  in(dK's  deep.  The  nests 
were  rather  flat  -tnictinw-,  cniiipo-ed  of  ih-y  grass,  ahout  a 
foot  in  ilianu'tfT  :  one  eonlained  three  eggs  and  a  young 
hird,  whieh  had  pr<»hal)ly  hatched  out  tliat  morning  ;  the 
latter  was  covered  with  long  down  of  a  \in()us  hrown  colour, 
the  legs  and  feet  pale  pink,  and  the  hill,  which  still  had  the 
egg-toofli  adiiering,  was  pinkish  yellow,  the  eyes  dark  hrown. 
Althou'di  so  voung  and  very  weak  this  little  fellow  was  \QYy 


ficrco,  and  ojiencd  its  beak  and  tried  to  attack  nie  ;  all  the 
other  eggs  were  very  hard-set  and  one  was  already  chipped. 
In  colour  the  eggs  were  olive-brown,  exactly  like  those  of 
the  European  Bittern  (B.  stellaris).  The  second  nest  con- 
tained four  eggs,  which  were  also  on  the  ])oint  ot"  hatching, 
so  that  four  appears  to  b(>  the  fall  clutch.  A  nest  found  last 
year,  containing  three  fresh  eggs  (now  in  the  Transvaal 
Museum),  was  situated  in  a  large  pan,  in  a  clump  of  rushes 
standing  in  about  three  feet  of  water;  but  was  otherwise 
similar  to  those  (l('scril)ed  above.  Close  to  tlie  two  Bitterns' 
nests  I  found  a  Marsh  Harrier's  (Circus  raniroru.s)  nest 
containing  two  eggs.  C.  G.  Davies^  Sgt.  C.M.K. 

Miitatiele,  East  Griqualaiicb 
22.  11.  11. 


2.    Great    Locust  Bird   {Cironia    alba). — On   the    20tli 

A]»ril  last  I  saw  a  single  AVhite  Stork  on   the  Bailey  Estate, 

near  Colesberg,  and  at  Berlin — nearly  30  miles  up  the  line 

from  here — there  has  been  a  solitary  bird  stalking  about  for 

quite  a  month   during  May  and  June    1911.     It  has  been 

noticed  to  fly  when  run  at  by  a  dog,  but  has  not  actually 

left  the  neighbourhood  of  that  village  these  last  four  weeks. 

Jno.  AVoud. 
East  London. 


3.  An  Albino  SrAJutow  ix  I'asutolaxd. — I  send  you 
herewith  a  female  bird  which  1  take  to  be  an  albino  variety 
of  the  Common  Cape  S{)arrow  (Passer  nielanuriis).  This 
bird  has  reared  a  brood  of  three  young  ones,  and  was  mated 
to  an  ordinary  cock  Cape  Sparrow.  She  was  accidentally 
killed.  The  young  ones  are  normal  birds.  The  albino  in 
question  is  of  a  dirty  white,  with  very  pale  brown  markings. 

J.  r.   MlRRAV. 
Ma.«eru, 

15.  4.  12. 


70  Short  yolices  of  Onniholotjuxd  PiihlicrJiomt. 

4.  DuiUNG  last  inontli  sportsmen  friends  of  mine,  who  can 
be  relied  upon,  told  me  th(\v  saw  Quail  in  fair  numbers  at 
Aliwal  North,  that  six  were  shot  in  the  JStutterheim  district, 
and  a  i>;ood  few  at  the  Chalumna  IJiver  mouth  near  here — 
all  during  last  month. 

Melanism  seems  of  such  frequent  oeeurrence  amongst  the 
Quail  down  this  way  that  it  is  becoming  the  practice  to  speak 
of  the  "  black"  as  distinct  from  the  common  species. 

The  large  Locust  Bird  seems  to  have  left  a  good  detach- 
ment behind  this  season.  Over  and  above  a  few  specimens 
here  and  there  throughout  Kaflraria  last  month,  no  less  than 
<S0  were  rejjorted  from  Debe  Nek  a  few  weeks  ago.  The 
('ommon  Curlew  is  also  on  our  tidal  rivers  just  now — but 
only  a  few. 

The  Speckled,  or  Hock,  Pigeon  has  invaded  oiu*  coast  bush 
in  its  tens  of  thousands  this  season:  said  to  Ije  due  to  severe 
cold  in  our  near  Ijack  country  and  also  owing  to  abundance 
of  berries  consequent  upon  late  rains.  Jnu.  Wood. 

Eai^t  London, 
4.  7.  11. 


IX. — Short  Notices  of  Ontifholof/lcal  ri(l>Hr((tioin^. 

].    'I'lie  Ihl.^,  duly  I'.tll,  October  11)11,   an.l  January  li)12. 

The  July  number  contains  Tart  2  of  IMr.  W.  L.  Sclater's 
account  of  the  birds  collected  by  Mr.  ("laude  Grant  during 
Iiis  "  Kudd  "  Zoological  Survey  of  South  Africa. 

A  new  species  of  Stonechat  is  described  under  the  name 
of  Pratincola  tonjuata  orienlalis,  from  the  Eastern  ( -ape 
Colonv,  Transvaal,  &c.,  also  a  new  race  of  C<)s.'<i//>h(i  eafra, 
(•;ill<'d  ii(tin(t(/in'ii,<is,  from  K  lipfoiitcin  in  Nania(|ii;ilaiid. 
This  bird  was  given  the  local  name  of  "  (ieelgat.""  1  have 
never  in  all  mv  journeyings  in  South  AlVica — north,  south, 
east,  or  west — heard  this  inajipiopiiatc  name  apiiHcd  to  (ho 
Kobin  (hat.  It  is  a  common  Jjoer  nam<'  f((r  the  lilack- 
cajiped  Bulbul  {Pi/rnonofns  hii/nn/i). 

Mr.  (j.  L.  Bates  gives  us  a  long  a(  ('(Mini   on   the   liirds  of 


SJiort  JVoth'e's  of'  Oniitholoylcal  Pahllcatioits.  71 

Southern  Cameroon,  illu.strated  by  a  well-coloured  plate 
oF  Lohotiis  oi-ioHnns,  and  another  ofc"  eggs  of  West  African 
birds. 

From  the  account  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting  we  see 
that  the  British  Ornithologists'  Union  now  numbers  419 
Ordinary,  3  Extraordinary,  9  Honorary,  4  Lady  Hononirv, 
10  Colonial,  and  19  Foreign  ]\hMnbers.  Mr.  J.  Lewis 
Bonhote,  M.A.,  was  electi^l  Secretary. 

In  the  OctolxM"  1911  number  Mr.  Bates  continues  his  paper 
on  the  Birds  of  Southern  Cameroon,  illustrated  bv  two  more 
lovely  ))lates  of  eggs.  Then  we  have  also  a  further  contri- 
bution to  the  Ornithology  of  Cyj)rus  by  our  one-time  Editor 
and  President,  Mr.  John  A.  Bucknill,  M.A. 

Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  (another  ex- President  of  our  Union) 
continues  his  account  of  Claude  Grant's  collections  in  South 
Africa.  Merops  supercUiosus  is  recorded  from  Masambeti  and 
Beira,  forming  an  addition  to  the  South  African  List. 

The  January  number  contains  the  4th  and  last  })art  of 
Mr.  Sclater's  articles  on  Claude  Grant's  collection.  Herein 
Vinculo  wakejiehli  is  recorded  from  Tambarara  and  Tete 
in  Portuguese  East  Africa,  while  Mr.  Sclater  njiholds 
Dr.  Reichenow's  separation  of  the  Green-  and  Blue-metallic- 
spotted  Doves. 

2.  T)le    Vor/elfaiina    des    MitteJafr'damsclien    SeeiK/ehiefes. 

By  Prof.  Dr.  Anton  Reichenow. 

This  is  an  account  of  a  collection  of  birds  made  in  the 
Lake  Regions  of  Central  Africa  by  His  PL'ghness  the  Duke 
Adolf  Friedrich  of  Mecklenburg.  A  bibliography  of  works 
and  papers  that  have  aj)peared  on  the  territory  since  1905 
is  given,  as  also  a  sketch-map  of  the  region  under  view. 

Many  new  forms  are  described,  five  of  which  are  illustrated 
in  two  coloured  plates. 

3.  A  List  of  Ih-itisli  Birds  shoxcing  at  a  glance  the  E.mct 

Status  of  each  Species.     Revised  to  August  1910  by 
W.  R.  Ogilvie  Grant. 

This  is  a  handy  little  puldication   sold  by  A\'itliei-b\-  \-  ( 'o. 


72  S/iort  ^Votices  of  OrnUlioIoij'ical  Pnhlu'ations, 

at  \s.  ()(/.  net,  and   may  l;o  used  either  for  reference  or  for 
labelling  s[)eeiniens. 

4.  Revista  Italiana  di  OrnitJtoloffla. 

We  have  received  a  specimen  copy  of  the  first  number  of 
this  new  (Italian)  Journal  of  Ornithology,  which  promises  to 
be  an  interesting  publication.  This  number  contains  several 
])a|)ei-s — none  of  much  interest  to  South  African  Ornitho- 
logists,— short  notes,  reviews,  &c.,  and  a  coloured  plate  of  u 
hybrid  Pheasant. 

0.    TJie    AquUa :     J\\'porf    of  the    T^oijul     I /inn/.    Bur.    of 
Ornithology.     \o\.  xviii.,  ]itll. 

This  number  contains,  amongst  other  a  it  ides,  the  ITtli 
Annual  Report  of  the  Royal  Hung.  Bur.  of  Ornithology  for 
lino.  Also  an  encpiiry  into  the  stomachs  and  pellets  of  Owls 
liy  II.  E.  (Jreschik.  One  instance  in  this  latter  seems  worth 
recf)rding  for  the  benefit  of  sceptics.  1'he  ))ellets  of  the  Forest 
Eared  Owl  (vl.s/o  ofis)  showed  the  following  result:  harmful 
animals  '.>7  ])er  cent.,  useful  2'^)  ])er  cent.,  of  no  account 
()*5  per  cent.  The  Barn  Owl  is  less  praiseworthv — the 
j)ercentage  of  harmful  to  useful  aninuds  being  iJT'ti  })er  cent, 
to  ?)'!  per  cent. 

The  Report  on  the  marking  of  birds  in  1 '.M  1 .  bv  Jakab 
Schenk,  is  of  especial  interest.  G4'J  AVhite  Storks  and  412 
( "hininey  Swallows  were  nuirked  during  the  yvav. 

G.  The  Ilome-IJfe  of  the  ().y>r{>i/.  Photographed  and 
Described  by  Clinton  d.  Abbott,  Assoc.A.O.U. 
Witherby  &  Co.,  London. 

This  is  tli<'  iird  of  the  series  of  "  l^ird-Iovers'  llonie-life," 
and.  like  its  prcMleeessors,  is  remarkal)le  for  tlu^  beaut ii'idly 
(•le;ii-  ;ind  interesting  j)hotographie  plates.  These  depict  the 
bird  in  miinv  phases  of  its  life-history.  The  book  is  sold  at 
b.v.  net.  for  clotli-boniid  eopie-,  and  lOy.  i'li/.  li.ilf-boniid 
leather,  ami  can  be  recommended  to  ;iii\-  bird-loNcr  or 
ornitlioloei.-t. 


Short  Notices  of  OrnitJiolocjical  Publications.  73 

7.  The  Game  Birds  of  South  Africa.  By  Major  BojJ 
Horsbrugh,  A.S.C.  IllusfcrateJ  with  Coloured  Plates 
by  Sergt.  C.  G.  Davies,  C.M.R.  Witlicrby  &  Co., 
London.     Price  21s.  per  Part. 

Part  I.  of  the  above  work  has  reached  us.  The  coloured 
plates  (16  in  number)  are  from  the  admirable  drawings  of 
Sergt.  Davies,  C.M.R.,  whose  work  is  now  well-known  to 
Members  of  the  Union.  We  have  been  favoured  with  a 
sight  of  the  original  drawings  and  only  wish  it  were  possible 
to  reproduce  them  in  all  their  beauty.  Messrs.  Witherby's 
plates,  however,  are  very  good  and  no  difficulty  should  be 
experienced  in  identifying  species  at  a  glance. 

The  backgrounds,  it  is  believed,  are  not  by  the  same  artist, 
and  we  must  be  allowed  to  say  that  in  some  instances  (notablj- 
that  of  the  Dikkop)  they  might  have  been  so  handled  as  to 
give  a  truer  idea  of  the  haunts  of  the  species  depictetl.  We 
are,  of  course,  well  aware  of  the  difficulty  of  exhibiting  birds 
— especially  game  birds — ^in  their  natural  surroundings  and 
at  the  same  time  bringing  out  the  colours  with  the  boldness 
required  in  a  work  of  this  nature. 

A  book  like  this  is  necessarily  somewhat  expensive  and 
purchasers  naturally  like  to  feel  tbat  the  letterpress  is  as 
complete  as  may  be.  In  this  regard  we  must  confess  to  a 
feeling  of  disappointment  at  the  brevity  of  some  of  the 
descriptive  matter. 

We  do  not  understand  why  Otis  riippeUi  has  been  omitted. 
It  should  have  been  incUuled  even  without  a  plate. 

This  much  being  said,  we  have  nothing  but  praise  for  a 
book  Avhich  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  South  African 
sportsman  and  lover  of  birds. 

We  look  forward  with  pleasurable  anticipation  to  the 
ensuing  parts. 

Part  I.  contains  plates  and  letterpress  of  the  following 
species  : — Otis  kori,  0.  ludwitji,  0.  caj'ra,  O.  arrnh'scens, 
0.  barrovii,  0.  vigorsi,  0.  melanogaster,  0.  ru/icrista,  0. 
afroides,  and  O.afra  ;  the  two  Dikkops  (G^dirncnius  nf/wnsis 

VOL.  VIII.  () 


74  Short  Kotii'es  of  Ornithological  FuJiIicationf. 

and  CE.  vermiculatus),  the  two  Snipe  (GaJIinago  media  and 
G.  niffripennis),  the  Painted  Snipe,  and  the  Coqui 
Francolin. 

8.  Messrs.  "Witherby  &  Co.  are  shortly  j)ublishing  '  A 
Hand-list  of  Britij^h  Birds,'  givino;  a  detailed  acconnt  of 
the  distribution  of  each  bird  in  the  British  Isles,  and  a 
general  acconnt  of  its  range  abroad,  together  with  details  of 
the  occurrences  of  rarities.  The  hand-list  is  the  joint  work 
of  Messrs.  E.  Hartert,  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain,  N.  F.  Ticehurst, 
and  H.  F.  AVitherbv. 


THE     JOURNAL 


OF   THE 


SODTH  AFRICAN  ORNITHOLOGISTS'  UNION. 


Vol.  VIII.  DECEMBER  1913.  No.  2. 


X. — Random  Notes  on  South  African  Ornithology. 

By  C.  G.  Davies,  M.B.O.U. 

I    HAVE    written    the    following   random    notes    on    various 

ornithological  matters  in  the  hope  that  they  may  be  of  some 

interest. 

In  the  volume  of  '  The  Ibis  '  for  1911,  and  the  first  part 
for  January  1912,  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  has  given  a  most 
interesting  account  of  the  largo  collections  of  birds  made  by 
Mr.  Claude  Grant  in  various  parts  of  South  Africa.  These 
articles  should  be  studied  by  ornithologists  in  this  country 
as  several  new  species  and  subspecies  are  described.  I  have, 
unfortunately,  only  got  the  last  part  by  me  now,  but  should 
like  to  make  a  few  comments  on  one  or  two  of  the  species 
mentioned  in  that  part. 

Cerchneis  naumanni.     Lesser  Kestrel. 

Mr.  Sclater  notes  that  two  immature  males  are  assuming 
the  blue  head  by  a  feather  change  and  by  abrasion  of  the 
edges  of  the  feathers,  not  by  a  moult.  I  have  shot 
numbers  of  these  birds  in  all  stages  of  change^  and  without 
exception  they  were  all  getting  the  blue  head  by  a  moxdt^ 
not  by  a  change  in  the  colour  of  the  featlier.s — the  new  blue 
feathers  being  sprinkled  about  amongst  the  old  feathers,  which 
were  very  much  faded  and  worn.    T  might  mention,  however, 

VOL.  VIII.  7 


76  Mr.  C.  G.  Davies — liandom  ^otcs  on 

that  a  specimen  lent  me  by  the  authorities  of  the  Transvaal 
Museum  had  already  got  the  blue  head,  with  the  exce]>tion 
of  a  strong  rufous  wash  on  the  crown  of  the  head.  Last 
year  I  shot  a  very  curious  example  which  had  just  completed 
its  moult,  and  differed  from  the  usual  form  of  adult  male  in 
having  the  blue  head  strongly  streaked  with  Ijlack,  as  in 
C.  ri(picola,  the  breast,  underparts,  and  under  wing-coverts 
strongly  spotted  with  dark  brown,  and  in  having  a  few  slate- 
grey  spots  on  the  scapulars  ;  it  also  had  rather  more  grey  on 
the  wing-coverts  than  the  average  adult  male.  Another 
remarkable  specimen  is  a  very  fine  adult  male  in  the  Trans- 
vaal Museum,  shot  in  the  Pretoria  district.  It  differs  from 
typical  specimens  in  having  the  whole  of  the  breast  and 
underparts  quite  uniform,  without  spots,  in  this  respect 
resembling  C.  peUnensis  of  Eastern  Asia  ;  it  is  also  a  very 
large  bird  with  a  wing-measurement  of  10  inches  as  against 
9  inches  in  average  males. 

CiRCAETUS  ciNEREUS.     Brown  Harrier-Eagle. 

Mr.  Sclatcr  separates  this  species,  which  has  hitherto  been 
considered  the  young  bird  of  the  black-breasted,  white-l)ellied 
bird  usually  known  under  the  above  name,  but  originally 
described  by  Sir  A.  Smith  as  C.  pectoralis,  and  gives  the 
following  reasons  for  this  decision,  viz.  : — 

(1)  Although    in   other    respects    the    two    birds    do    not 

differ  in  size,  the  bill  in  C. pectoralis  is  constantly  and 
markedly  smaller  than  in  C.  cinereus. 

(2)  That  there  seems  to  be  no  intermediate  form  between 

the  two. 

(3)  That    Mr.    C.    Grant    has    found     the    brown     birds 

(C.  cinereus)  ])reeding  in  this  plumag(\ 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  authorities  of  the  Transvaal 
Museum  I  have  good  specimens  of  both  these  ])ir(is  before 
me,  and  the  differences,  especially  in  the  size  of  Ihc  bill,  are 
very  striking,  even  without  measuring. 

I  would,  however,  remark  ihat  Mr.  Sclater  is  not  \\m  first 
naturalist  to  uphold  the  distinctness  of  these  two  birds.    Long 


South  African  Ormlhology.  11 

ago  such  well-known  ornithologists  as  lUippell,  Schlcgel, 
and  Von  Heuglin  gave  their  reasons  for  believing  the  two 
birds  to  be  distinct,  and  also  pointed  out  another  character — 
/.  e.,  that  in  C.  dnerei(s  the  tarsus  and  foot  were  longer  than 
in  C.  pectoraUs.  Another  point  is  that,  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge,  C.  ijectoralis  has  never  been  recorded  from  north 
of  the  Equator,  whereas  C.  cinereus  has  been  recorded  from 
far  to  the  north. 

There  appears  to  be  no  description  of  the  young  of  cither 
species  in  any  of  the  text-books  on  S.  African  birds.  The 
young  of  C.  cinereus  appears  to  be  still  undescribed — that  is, 
unless  they  are  exactly  like  the  adult  ;  but  good  descriptions 
of  the  young  and  immature  birds  of  C.  pectoraUs  will  bo 
found  in  'The  Ibis'  for  1878,  where  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney,  in 
the  course  of  a  series  of  articles  on  vol.  i.  of  the  '  British 
Museum  Catalogue  of  Birds,'  discusses  the  various  species 
of  the  genus  Circaetus.  Mr.  Gurney  thus  shortly  describes 
the  quite  young  bird : — "  Above  brown,  with  fulvous 
edging  to  the  feathers,  broadest  on  the  interscapular  feathers, 
narrowest  on  the  wing-coverts.  The  under  surface  (except 
the  throat)  is  decidedly  rufous  and  whole  coloured,  except 
the  tibial  and  abdominal  feathers,  where  the  feathers  have 
white  bases,  and  most  of  them  are  also  tipped  with  white. 
Tail  dark  brown,  crossed  with  five  somewhat  indistinct  bars 
of  darker  brown,  the  last  bar  subterminal,  and  followed  by  a 
narrow  whitish  tip." 

From  this  plumage  the  bird  appears  to  get  gradually 
whiter  below,  the  flanks  crossed  with  dark  brown  bars,  which 
ore  gradually  lost  as  the  bird  approaches  maturity,  at  the 
same  time  the  upper  breast  becomes  gradually  darker  until 
it  reaches  the  final  black  stage. 

In  one  of  the  later  numbers  of  the  '  Annals  o£  the  Trans- 
vaal Museum '  a  specimen  of  the  European  Harrier-Eagle 
(^Circaetus  galUcus)  is  recorded  from  the  Pretoria  district.  I 
have  this  specimen  now  before  me,  and,  although  agreeing 
fairly  well  with  descriptions  of  C.  gaUicu.%  I  think  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  it  is  really  only  an  immature  specimen  of 
C.  pectoraUs.  My  reasons  for  saying  so  arc  : — Firstly,  that,  to 

i 


78  Mr.  C.  G.  Davles — Ihouhm  N'otes  on 

the  best  of  my  knowledge^  C.  galliciishas  never  been  recorded 
from  south  of  the  Sahara.  Secondly,  that  MM.  Verreaux 
and  Des  Murs,  writing  on  the  genus  Circaetus  in  '  The  Ibis ' 
for  1862,  page  209,  while  treating  of  C.  gallicus,  say  :  "  One 
of  us  has  had  in  his  possession,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
young  specimens  of  C.  thoracicus  (pectoralis),  ^Yhich  have 
moulted  under  our  eyes,  and  which,  Avliile  altogether 
resembling  C.  (/alUctts,  have  finished,  two  years  later,  by 
assuming  the  plumage  of  C.  thoracicus  [pectoraUs)y 

Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney,  in  the  article  mentioned  above,  draws 
attention  to  the  above  remarks,  and  adds  : — "  The  most  perfect 
example  of  this  plumage  which  has  come  under  my  eyes  is 
exhibited  in  a  S.  African  specimen  preserved  in  the  Liver- 
pool Museum,  which  might  almost  pass  for  an  example  of 
C.  gallicus." 

PoDiCA  PETERSi.     Pctcrs's  Finfoot. 

Some  of  Mr.  Claude  Grant's  field-notes  on  this  bird  are  so 
much  at  variance  with  my  observations  that  I  think  a  few 
comments  are  necessar}'.  T  have  had  a  good  deal  of  ex- 
perience of  this  bird  in  E.  Pondoland,  where  it  is  not  un- 
common, and  where  I  must  have  seen  a  considerable  number, 
and  shot  at  least  a  dozen,  and  so  far  I  have  never  seen  one 
either  dive  or  fly,  and  yet  Mr.  Grant  says  that  it  does  both. 
I  will  take  the  subject  of  diving  first.  Near  my  camp  on  the 
Umtamvuna  River  there  was  a  large  deep  pool  surrounded 
with  reeds,  where  I  often  spent  an  afternooi\  sitting  on  the 
bank  fishing ;  this  pool  was  also  the  homo  of  a  Finfoot, 
which  I  saw  almost  daily,  and  as  it  was  by  no  moans  shy  I 
had  good  o})portunities  of  watching  its  habits.  It  often  swam 
about  quite  close  to  me,  feeding  on  insocts  in  the  water  and 
on  the  reeds,  and  T  once  saw  it  Jump  right  out  of  tlio 
water  to  reach  a  gra>shopj»or  sitting  on  a  reed-stem  overhead; 
it  did  not  swim  particularly  deep,  and  looked  much  like  a 
young  Muscovy  Duck  while  swimming  ;  but  1  never  once  saw 
this  bird  dive.  ]\rost  <living  birds  if  suddenly  surprised  will 
dive  ;  but  I  have  often  come  suddenly  onto  a  Finfoot  and 
it  has  injuiediately  swam  or  fla])pod  along  the  surface  of  the 


South  African  Ornitholo<j)j.  70 

water  into  the  nearest  cover.  Diving  birds,  and  even  those 
water-Lirds  that  do  not  habitually  dive,usually  diveif  wounded 
and  pursued.  I  have  even  seen  a  wounded  Common  Sand- 
piper {Tringa  liypoleucus)  dive  and  swim  under  water  ;  but 
I  have  chased  a  wounded  Finfoot  all  round  a  pool  without 
it  attempting  to  escape  by  diving.  Then  Mr.  Grant  describes 
the  flight  of  one  o£  these  birds  as  being  "  extremely  fast  and 
straight,  resembling  that  of  a  Teal,  but  more  rapid.  This 
individual  also  dived  straight  under  water  with  hardly  any 
slackening  of  speed."  As  I  said  before,  I  have  never  seen 
one  of  these  birds  fly,  unless  flapping  and  paddling  along 
the  surface  of  the  water  may  be  described  as  flying.  When 
pursued  in  a  boat  this  has  been  the  invariable  way  of  escape 
of  all  those  I  have  seen ;  after  flapping  along  for  a  short 
distance  they  always  dodged  into  cover  and  hid  until  routed 
out  again,  when  they  would  repeat  the  manoeuvre.  One 
would  think  that  if  they  could  fly  they  would  take  to  their 
wings  at  once. 

In  the  former  number  of  the  '  Annals  of  the  Transvaal 
Museum  '  referred  to,  a  new  Falcon  is  described  as  Falco 
liorshrufjld.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  whether  the 
two  so-called  "  type "  specimens  have  been  compared  with 
young  specimens  of  F.  ruficollis,  as  they  agree  very  well 
with  the  description  given  of  two  young  *  by  Mr.  Sclatcr 
in  the  'Fauna  of  S.  Africa  :  Birds,^  vol.  iii.,  and  still  better 
with  the  description  given  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  ('  Ibis,' 
1882,  p.  1G2),  who  says  : — "  In  F.  nijicoUis  the  young  bird 
has  the  plumage  throughout  of  a  darker  hue  than  the  adult  ; 
this  is  especially  the  case  on  the  crown  of  the  head,  whero 
the  rufous  tint  is  deeper  than  in  the  adult,  and,  in  addition, 
each  feather  has  a  somewhat  broad  black  shaft-mark  ;  all 
the  feathers  of  the  upper  part  of  the  mantle  are  more  or  less 
edged  with  rufous  brown,  this  edging  being  broadest  on  the 
lesser  wing-coverts  ;  the  transverse  bands  on  the  lower 
surface  are  less  regular  than  in  the  adult,  and  all  the  inter- 

*  [The  specimens  in  the  Transvaal  Museum  were  obtanied  at  tlio  nest, 
which  contained  young ;  presumably,  therefore,  they  are  adult  birds. 
— Edd.] 


80  Mr.  C.  G.  Davies — Eandom  Notes  on 

mediate  spaces  are  a  rich  fulvous,  instead  of  being  white  as 
in  the  old  bird.'' 

In  the  last  number  of  this  Journal,  ]\Ir.  E.  i).  Chubb 
contributes  an  interesting  article  on  the  rare  birds  in  the 
Durban  Museum.  Mr.  Chubb  seems,  however,  to  have 
overlooked  the  fact  that  I  have  already  recorded  some  of 
them  in  my  articles  on  the  birds  of  E.  Poiidoland  and 
Matatiele.  I  should  mention  the  following  three  sjx'cics  in 
particular,  viz. : — 

Dendrocygna  fdlva.     Whistling  Duck. 
I  have  recorded  a  specimen  from   Matatiele  ;    seen   by 
myself  and  others  shot  by  a  friend  near  the  same  jiiace. 

Nycticorax  leuconotus.     White-backed  Night  Heron. 
I  have  recorded  this  species  from  E.  Pondoland,  where  I 
shot  five  specimens  and  saw  others. 

AcROCEPHALUS  PALUSTRis.     Marsh  Warbler. 

I  have  recorded  this  species  both  from  E.  rondolaml  and 
Matatiele.  In  both  these  places  it  is  not  uncommon  in 
•suitable  localities.  Here  in  Matatiele  there  is  a  privet  hedge 
opposite  my  window  :  every  summer  this  is  the  home  of  one 
or  two  of  these  birds,  and  all  through  the  summer  they  sinr^ 
almost  continuously.  I  have  a  suspicion  that  this  bird 
sometimes  breeds  in  these  parts,  as  towards  the  end  of  last 
summer  one  of  these  birds  used  to  frequent  our  garden,  and 
I  used  to  see  it  daily,  often  quite  close,  and  it  was  always 
followed  by  another,  which,  judging  by  its  manner,  appeared 
to  be  a  young  bird,  as  it  continuously  uttered  a  weak  cry  and 
quivered  its  wings  after  the  maiinci-  of  young  birds  when- 
ever the  other  came  near  it,  and  I  often  saw  it  led  by  llio 
other. 

ClCONlA  CICONIA.       Wllitc  Stork. 

Jn  that  number  there  arc  also  several  notes  as  to  AViiito 
Storks  having  been  seen  in  various  parts  of  the  country 
(iuring  the  winter  months.  I  can  add  that  during  the  whole 
V  inter  of  1910  large  numbers  of  these  birds  were  observed 


South  African  Ornithology.  81 

in  this  district,  and  in  the  following  winters  of  1911  and 
l'J12  a  few  have  also  remained  about  the  district.  1  also 
know  of  a  single  Greenshank  which  has  spent  the  whole  of 
the  present  winter  on  a  pan  near  here. 

I   should    like    to    conclude    these    notes    with    a    protest 
against  what  seem  to  me  to  be  the  two  great  evils  of  modern 
Ornithology,    viz.,    the    constant    search    for    priority    in 
scientific  nomenclature  and  the  rage  for  creating  subspecies. 
It  would  seem  as  if,  now  that  the   birds  of  the  world  are 
becoming  so  well  known  and  new  species  getting  scarcer,  a 
certain  class  of  naturalists  must  turn  their   busy  brains  to 
something,  and  having  no  new  species  to  describe  and  name 
they  must  search  about  amongst  ancient  books  and  unearth 
long-buried  and  disused  scientific  names  that,  according  to 
them,  must  take  priority  over  names  that  have  been  familiar 
since  the  days  of  our   great  grandfathers,  to  the  no  small 
confusion    of    the    average    ornithologist.       This    is    well 
exemplified  in  a  recent  number  of  '  The  Ibis,^  where  such  old 
friends  aa  Strix  flammea  and  Anas  hosclias  have  had  their 
names  altered  beyond  recognition.     Luckily,  the  author  of 
the  article  in  question  has  added  the  more  familiar  names  in 
common  use.     With  regard  to  the  modern  rage  for  creating 
subspecies,  of  course  it  is  well  known  that  some  birds  have 
a  very  extensive  distribution,  and  naturally,  in  some  parts  of 
their  range,  they  are   subject  to  changes  of  plumage,  &c. 
By  all  means  let  these  be  named  if  the  differences  are  icell 
marked  ;  but  nowadays  the  smallest  difference  in  the  length 
of  a  bill,  toe,  wing,  or  slight  variation  of  colouring  seems  to 
be  an  excuse  for  the  bestowal  of  a  name.       Some  naturalists 
seem  to  consider  because  a  bird  occurs  in  some  small  island 
it  7nust  differ  from  the  same  species  on  the  mainland.   A  recent 
writer  on  the  ornithology  of  a  certain  island  has  even  gone  so 
far  as  to  differentiate  such  a  migratory  bird  as  the  Cuckoo 
(^Citcidus  canorus).     Is  this  bird  resident  on  this  small  island, 
or  does  it  shorten  its  visage  when  it  arrives  ?     Creators  of 
geographical  races  often  name  these  races  after  their  friends 
or  the  discoverer,  which  conveys  no  meaning  to  the  orch'nary 


82  Mr.  B.  C.  R.  Langford  on  the  South  African 

ornithologist;  it  would  be  far  better  to  name  them  after  the 
country,  province,  or  district  they  come  from.  Let  me 
express  a  Lope  that  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  the  Members 
of  this  Union  worry  themselves  about  these  matters 
(although  I  see  signs  of  it  already).  But,  as  very  little  has 
yet  been  recorded  of  the  habits  and  distribution  of  South 
African  birds,  I  would  suggest  that  every  Member  should 
contribute  to  the  Journal  a  list  of  all  the  birds  found  in  his 
district,  with  full  field-notes  on  habits,  nidification,  &c., 
from  his  own  personal  observation. 


XI. —  The  South  African  Lanner  Falcon  (Falco  biarmicns) 

and  its  Congeners.     By  B.  C  R.  Langford. 

(Plate.) 

The  typical  Lanner  {F.  lanarius  *),  of  which  F.  biarmicus 
is  the  South  African  representative,  may  be  said  to  have 
been  rediscovered  in  comparatively  recent  times. 

Though  well  known  to,  and  sufficiently  accurately 
described  by,  the  old  writers  on  Falconry,  it  was  lost  sight 
of  on  the  decline  of  that  art,  and  naturalists  either  denied  its 
existence  as  a  distinct  species  or  wrongly  attributed  the 
name  to  other  members  of  the  genus.  Thus,  the  Lanner  of 
Linuceus  and  Nilsson  is  the  Norway  Gerfalcon  (7".  gyrfalco). 
Briinnich  and  Mohr  under  the  name  of  Lanner  describe  the 
Merlin  [F.  a'salon).  Pennant's  Lanner  is  an  immature 
Peregrine,  whilst  the  young  Peregrine  figured  by  Buffon  is 
in  reality  a  young  Lanner. 

In  1829  M.  Feldegg  found  the  Lanner  (F.  lunaj'ius)  in 
Dalmatia,  and  it  was  considered  by  Natterer  to  bo  the 
/''.  peregrinoides  of  Temminck.  Scldegel,  on  examining 
Feldegg's  s{)ccimens,  perceived  Natterer's  error,  but 
believing  it  to  bo  a  new  species  named  it  feldef/r/il  f.  Jiuter, 
however,   when    preparing    his   magnificent    folio    work    on 

*  Lanarius" qwod  pliimas  multafl,  densasqiie  et  moUcs  in  luuiluiii  luiiic 
habet." 

t  Abh.  aus  dem  Gebiete  der  Zoologie,  etc.  labb.  ]0  &.  1  J. 


Journ.  S.  Afr.  Orn.  Union,  Vol.  VIII. 


[To  face  p.  82. 


Lanner  Falcon  and  its  Cvnfjeners.  83 

Falconry  *,  he  found  that  the  so-called  F./ehlerfr/ii  answered 
quite  well  to  Belon's  description  of  the  true  Lanner,  and 
reintroduced  it  therefore  to  science  under  its  right  name  t- 

F.  lanar'ms  is  a  native  of  Eastern  and  South-eastern 
Europe  and  North  Africa  ;  in  Egypt  it  is  found  breeding 
on  the  Great  Pyramid  +.  In  Central  and  North  (Antral 
Africa  its  place  appears  to  he  taken  by  F.  tanypterus  (the 
Alphanet  Lanner  of  the  old  writers),  and  in  South  Africa 
by  our  F.  hiarmicus.  How  far  these  two  latter  forms 
may  overlap  does  not  seem  to  have  been  accurately 
determined. 

The  Lanners  belong  to  the  group  of  "  Desert ''  Falcons 
[Genncva  of  Kaup),  which  differ  from  the  true  Falcons  in 
having  relatively  longer  wings  and  tails,  looser  and  softer 
plumage,  and  smaller  feet  and  beaks.  Insects,  reptiles,  and 
small  mammals  form  a  large  proportion  of  their  diet. 

In  the  adults  the  breast-markings  never  become  transverse, 
and  in  the  Lanners  consist  of  cordate  or  sagittiform  spots — in 
lanarhis  fairly  evenly  distributed  over  the  whole  under 
surface,  but  in  hiarnimis  confined  to  the  flanks  and  thighs. 
With  their  light  bodies  and  weak  plumage  they  cannot  fly 
well  in  a  high  wind. 

Photographs  of  a  male  Lanner  of  two  moults — i.  e.,  three 
years  old, — trained  by  the  writer,  accom[)any  this  article. 
The  following  are  the  })rincipal  dimensions  : — "Wing  \'l-^ 
inches, tail  G|-  inches,  total  length  1G|  inches.  The  wings  when 
closed  reach  almost  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  second 
primary  is  the  longest,  the  first  shorter  than  the  third. 
Middle  toe  If  inches;  greatest  length  of  foot  3f  inches. 
Legs,  feet,  cere,  and  eyelids  bright  yellow;  irides  dark  hazel. 
Weight  ly  oz.  The  tooth  on  the  upper  mandible  is 
prominent  and  acute  and  there  is  some  trace  of  a  festoon. 

Though  swift  of  flight  the  Lanner  is  by  no  means 
persevering,    and    for    held    work    is    far    inferior    to    the 

*  '  Traitd    de    Fiiuconnerie,'    par    II.    Schlcgel   et   A.    VtTster    van 
Wiilverhor.st.    Leiden  et  Diisscldorf,  1844-53.     Atlas  folio. 
t    Vide  '  Itevue  critique  des  Oiscaux  d'Europc,'  p.  12. 
I  C'f.  Gurney  and  Salvln. 


84  On  the  South  African  Lanner  Falcon. 

Perc^^rine.  It  is  lazy  and,  unless  sliarp  set,  will  not  stick  to 
difficult  quany.  I  have,  unfortunately,  had  little  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  this  bird  in  its  wild  state,  but  it  appears 
generally  to  content  itself  with  very  humble  quarry,  though 
it  is  a  great  enemy  to  Quail  and  will  follow  a  shooting-party 
with  great  boldness  if  unmolested,  as  Mr.  Davies  has  told  us, 
and  will  carry  off  birds  that  are  sprung  by  the  dogs  *.  An 
officer  of  some  experience  with  these  birds  tells  me  that  he 
has  a  poor  opinion  of  their  courage  and  that  he  has  known 
them,  when  trained,  to  check  in  midllight  at  locusts  or 
other  insects. 

Nevertheless,  it  was  formerly  in  some  repute  in  Europe, 
especially  in  France  and  Italy,  where  it  could  be  flown 
more  successfully  than  in  the  more  boisterous  weather  of 
Great  Britain  ;  thither,  however,  as  appears  from  old 
account  books,  it  was  imported  in  considerable  numbers.  I 
am,  of  course,  speaking  of  lanarius,  though  tani/pterus  was 
imported  into  Europe  from  North  Africa  too. 

The  male  was  formerly  called  a  Lanneret,  and  a|)poars  to 
have  shared  with  the  Merlin  and  Sparrow-Hawk  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  lady's  Hawk  f. 

The  stoop  of  the  Lanner  is  neither  so  forcible  nor  direct 
as  that  of  the  Peregrine,  and  in  my  experience  it  seems  to 
})refer  clutching  to  giving  a  knock-down  blow.  It  can 
follow  every  turn  and  twist  of  the  quarry,  and  a  pair  of 
them  were  seen  to  capture  a  Swallow  after  a  long  chase. 
Pro[)erly  handled  they  ought,  I  think,  to  make  good  IMover 
Hawks. 

In  Humbe,  according  to  Anchieta,  the  native  name  signifies 
"liare-killer,"  but  on  what  grounds  I  do  not  know.  Canon 
Tristram,  however,  tells  us  that  the  Arabs  train  their  Lanners 
[tanijpterus)  to  hares ;  the  Algerian  hare,  however,  is  a  puny 
quadrui)ed.  Lanners  have  been  known  to  stooj)  at  a  cat,  and 
Mr.  L.  E.  Taylor  shot  one  in  the  act  of  so  doing.     \\\  this 

*  Journal  of  the  Union,  July  1911,  p.  ;38. 

t  "  Lc3  dames/'  f-ays  llabeljiis,  "  inuntt/cs  sur  bullcs  hacquouues  .... 
portaient  chascune  ou  uu  t5pervier,  ou  un  luncnt,  ou  uii  iSnionllou." 


Wild  Birds  of  the  Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens.  85 

case  the  cat  was  a  white  one  and  could  not  have  been 
mistaken  for  a  hare  or  any  wild  mammal.  Probably  the 
Falcon  thought  that  the  cat  was  an  intruder  on  her  special 
rat  preserve. 

The  male  Lanner  described  above  at  one  time,  when  put 
on  the  wing  to  the  lure,  would  stoop  at  my  Irish  terrier  and 
either  make  him  lie  down  or  drive  him  off  the  ground.  In 
Basuto  folk-tales,  Mr.  Murray  tells  me,  the  Lanner  is  called 
"  Pakhui,"  or  the  Policeman. 

Though  in  Europe,  where  Peregrines  can  easily  be 
procured,  no  falconer  at  the  present  day  would  think 
Launers  worth  training,  out  here,  where  they  ought  to  bo 
easily  procured,  they  are  worth  a  trial  by  anyone  whose  tastes 
lie  that  way.  They  arc  easily  trained  and  become  very 
handy  and  even  affectionate. 

I  say  ought  to  be  easily  procured,  as  in  certain  districts 
they  are  fairly  common,  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  I  find  the 
greatest  difficulty  in  obtaining  them  ;  and  if  any  reader  of 
these  lines  will  put  me  in  the  way  of  getting  either  Lanners 
or  Peregrines  {F.  mino7'),  young  or  old,  newly  taken  and 
uninjured,  he  will  earn  my  lasting  gratitude. 


XII. —  The  Wild  Birds  of  the  Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens. 
By  Alwin  Haagner,  F.Z.S.,  Col.  Member  B.O.U.,  Hon. 
Mem.  Royal  Hung.  Bur.  of  Ornithology  (Superintendent 
Tvl.  Zool.  Gardens). 

During  the  last  couple  of  years  the  wild  bird-life  in  the  Zoo 
has  been  on  the  increase,  and  every  now  and  then  I  see  a 
bird  here  not  previously  noticed.  In  fact,  there  have  been 
one  or  two  birds  seen  here  which  are  rare  so  far  south,  and  I 
thought,  therefore,  that  if  a  list  was  compiled,  and  added  to 
occasionally,  it  might  bo  of  some  interest. 

1.  RuiNOrTiLUS   ciiALCOPTERUS    (Tennn.).     Bronze-wing 
Courser. 

I  saw  two  examples  of  this  (to  the  Central  Transvaal)  raro 


86  Mr.  A.  Haagner  on  the  Wild  Birds  of 

C^ourscr  on  the  northern  extension  of  the  Zoo  on  two  separate 
occasions.  The  first  one  I  saw  in  April  and  the  second  in 
June.  I  could  not  help  noticing  how  well  the  bird's  colour 
harmonised  with  the  half-dried  grass-tufts  and  stones  which 
surrounded  it,  and  how  it  cowered  in  a  half  crouchino: 
attitude  when  approached,  before  taking  wing.  A  specimen 
was  caught  in  a  I'retoria  garden  ami  brought  to  the  Zoo. 

2.  Charadrius     tricollaris,     Yieill.  Threc-bandeil 

Plover. 

One  or  two  may  be  seen  poking  about  the  banks  of  the 
Aapies  River  almost  any  day. 

'^.  ToTANUS  glareola  (L.).     Wood  Sandpiper. 

I  have  so  far  only  seen  one  of  these  birds  on  the  river. 

4.  Tringoides  iiyfoleucos  (L.).     Common  Sandj)iper. 
Several  of  these  seen  at  odd  times. 

f).  Ciconia  cicoNiA  (L.).     "White  Stork. 
Often  seen  flying  over  the  gardens.     One  flew  over  and 
circled  round  the  large  duck-i)0uds  on  the  4th  June. 

(1.  Scopus  umbretta,  Gm.     Hammerkop. 
An  occasional  visitor  to  the  river. 

7.  Aruetta  I'AYESi  (A^M-r.  llartl.).  Hed-ncckcd  Little 
Bittern. 

1  saw  what  I  feel  sure  was  an  example  of  this  species, 
standing  at  the  edge  of  the  water  in  front  of  u  bed  of  reeds 
and  rushes  in  the  river.  It  disappeared  into  the  thicket  as 
I  apjiroached,  and  did  not  reappear  althougli  I  waited  some 
considerable  time.  The  keeper  in  charge  of  the  Birds  tells 
mo  ho  saw  an  example  of  this  species  on  two  sej)arate 
occasions  near  the  same  spot  whei-e  1  had  seen  my  bird. 

5.  TruTUR  SENECALEXsis  (L.).     Laughing  Dove. 
Very  common  in  thf  ( Jardens,  wlici(\  it  breeds  freely. 


the  rretorla  Zooloyical  (Jardens.  87 

9.  TuRTUR  CAPicoLA  (Siind,).     Capo  Turtlc-Dove. 

Also  fairly  common  in  the  Gardens  at  times,  but  rather 
local  in  distribution  and  uncertain  as  to  time. 

10.  NuMiDA  CORONATA,  G.  R.  Gr.  Crowncd  Guinea- 
fowl. 

Often  invade  the  Gardens  from  Eloff's  Plantations. 
Last  year  wq  captui'ed  a  few  young  ones  only  a  couple  of 
days  old.  The  instinct  of  these  liny  creatures  is  worthy 
of  note.  We  would  wait  until  we  heard  the  young  ones 
calling  and  then  dash  up  to  the  spot  ;  unless  very  quick 
one  would  lose  sight  of  them  all,  the  warning  note  of  the  old 
birds  causing  the  little  ones  to  scatter  and  crouch  down 
amongst  the  shrubby  herbage  and  stones  of  the  hillside. 
The  only  way  was  to  stand  dead  still  for  some  minutes  until 
one  of  them  moved,  and  then  catch  it  quickly  with  the  hand. 
The  protective  coloration  of  the  little  ones  in  their  striped 
downy  covering  is  wonderful. 

11.  Kaupifalco  moxogrammica  (Temm.).  African 
Buzzard- Eagle. 

One  would  not  have  expected  this  species  to  occur  in  the 
Gardens,  but  one  of  the  keepers  winged  one  on  August  23rd, 
1912.  The  bird  recovered,  and  is  now  in  the  aviary  with 
another  of  its  species  from  Rhodesia. 

12.  AsTUR  POLYZONOIDES  (A.  Sm.).  Little  Banded  Gos- 
hawk. 

This  is  (piite  a  common  little  Hawk  in  the  Gardens,  and  I 
have  seen  as  many  as  three  of  them  together. 

13.  AcciPiTER  MINULLUS  (Daud.).    Little  Sparrow-IIawk. 
An    occasional    visitor.      A    pair    used    to    fre(|uent    the 

precincts  of  the  Squirrel   (jamp   and   carry  off  the  young 
guinea-pigs,  until  they  were  shot. 

14.  MiCRONiSUS  gabar  (Daud.).     Gabar  Goshawk. 

A  solitary  individual  haunted  the  neighbourhood  of  one  of 
the  camps  where  there  were  young  IVaibwl  for  sonu'  days. 


88  Mr.  A.  Ilaagner  on  the  Mild  Birds  of 

15.  Cerciineis  rupicola  (Daiul).  Soutli  ACriean 
Kestrel. 

A  solitary  individual  may  occasionally  be  seen  on  the 
rocky  ritlgo  beliind  the  Ostrich-breedino-  camp. 

16.  Chrysococcyx  cupreus  (Bodd.).     Golden  Cuckoo. 
A  regular  visitor    to  the   Gardens,   where  its   call   often 

heralds  the  advent  of  summer.  This  year  they  seem  to  be 
late,  as  I  have  not  heard  them  yet  (23/9/1912).  I  took 
a  young  one  out  of  a  Sparrow's  nest  last  year. 

17.  COLius  iNDicus,  Lath.     Red-faced  Coly. 

Sometimes  visits  the  northern  extension  in  flocks,  espe- 
cially when  the  wild  medlars  and  "  Stamvrugte "  are 
ripening. 

18.  Halcyon  albiventris  (Scop.).  Brown  Hooded 
Kingfisher. 

I  saw  a  pair  last  summer,  which  haunted  the  precincts  of 
the  duck-ponds  for  some  days. 

19.  Ceryle  RUDis  (L.).     Pied  Kingfisher. 

Single  examples  have  on  various  occasions  visited  the 
duck-ponds. 

20.  Merops  apiaster,  L.     European  Bee-eater. 

The  tall  trees  at  the  bottom  of  the  Gardens,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Aapics  River,  form  a  regular  roosting-place  for  this 
si)ecies,  where  their  shrill  cries  may  be  heard  every  evening 
at  sunset  during  the  summer  months. 

21.  Caprimulgus  rufigena,  a.  Sm.  Rufous -cheeked 
Nightjar. 

I  saw  a  Nightjar  on  several  occasions,  and  look  it  fo  be  of 
this  species. 

22.  Aprs  CAFFER  (Licht.).     Whlte-rumj)ed  Swift. 
Several  seen  crossing  the  terrain  at  odd  limes. 


the  Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens.  89 

23.  HiRUNDO  ALBiGULARis,  Stfickl.  Wluto  -  tliroatccl 
Swallow. 

Often  seen  sitting  on  the  fences.  I  saw  another  species, 
but  it  was  too  far  off  to  determine  with  certainty. 

24.  SiGELUS  siLENS  (Shaw).     Fiscal  Flycatcher. 

Very  common  in  the  Gardens,  and  breeding  in  the  privet 
and  macrocarpa  hedges. 

25.  MusciCAPA  GRisoLA,  L.     Spotted  Flycatcher. 

Very  common  during  April  of  last  year,  and  March  and 
April  of  this  year,  prior  to  its  immigration  home. 

26.  TcHiTREA  PLUMBEiCEPS  (RchAv.).  Lead-hcadcd  Fly- 
catcher. 

I  have  seen  a  number  of  these  beautiful  birds  in  the 
grounds  at  odd  times,  but  never  more  than  one  at  a  time. 
At  Irene  and  the  Fountains  near  Pretoria  they  are  quite 
common.  It  seems  as  if  both  this  and  the  commoner 
T.  perspicillata  inhabit  the  district. 

27.  Pelicinius  zeylonus  (L.).     Bidcbakiri  Bush  Shrike. 
One  heard  calling  in  a  macrocarpa  hedge  on  the   20th 

September,   1912.     I  saw   an  immature  bird  in   a   quince 
hedge  last  summer,  so  conclude  they  breed  in  the  grounds. 

28.  Ploceus  cabanisi,  Ptrs.     Masked  Weaver. 

A  colony  nested  in  a  couple  of  old  oak  trees  last  summer. 
It  seems  to  me  that  both  P.  velatus  and  the  present  species 
are  found  in  the  district,  but  the  subject  requires  working 
up. 

29.  Ploceus  auricapillus,  Sw.     Lesser  Masked  Weaver. 
Common  in  the  Gardens  in  summer  and  breeding.      They 

suspend  their  nests  to  the  twigs  of  the  silver  wattle,   and 
also  to  the  pendent  branches  of  the  weeping  willows. 

30.  Ploceus  capensis  olivaceus  (llahn).  Olive  Weaver 
Bird. 

Builds  in  the  willow  trees  overhanging  the  duck-ponds. 


1*0  Mr.  A.  Haa filler  on  the  Wild  Birds  oj 

31.  QUELEA   SANGUINIROSTRIS  LATIIAMl    (A.  Sill.).       Plllk- 

billed  Weaver. 

These  birds  enter  tbroiioh  the  meshes  of  the  hirge  flight 
aviaiy  in  hundreds,  and  take  up  their  abode  there  for  the 
winter  montlis. 

32.  Pyromelaxa  taha  (A.  Sm.).     Taha  Bishop  Bird. 

I  have  seen  a  few  of  these  at  various  times,  flitting  about 
ill  the  reed-beds  near  the  river. 

33.  PvROMELANA  ORiK  (L.).     Ked  Bishop  Bird. 

Very  common  in  the  summer  months  and  breeding  in  the 
reed-beds  of  the  Aapies  River. 

34.  CoLiusPASSER  ARDENS  (Bodd.).  Ked-coUurcd  Widow 
Bird. 

Breeding  in  the  reed-beds,  but  not  plentiful  like  the 
preceding  species. 

35.  Amadixa  fasciata  (Gm.).     Cut-throat  Weaver  Bird. 
I  saw  one  liopping  about  near  the  small  birds'  aviary  for 

some  davs  in  August  of  this  year,  and  thoufrht  it  was  an 
escaped  specimen  until  some  boys  brought  in  a  couple  of 
dozen  caught  with  bird-lime  at  Daspoort,  not  a  mile 
from  us. 

30.  Ortygospiza  polyzona  (Temm.).     Quail  Finch. 
I  saw  a  small  flock  of  these  tiny  birds  on  the  northern 
extension  of  the  Zoo  in  March  of  this  year. 

37.  Hypochera  funerea  (Tarrag.).  Black  Widow 
Finch. 

I  saw  a  solitjiry  individual  on  the  3rd  January  of  this 
year. 

38.  Passer  imelanurus  (St.  Miill.).     (!ape  Sjtarrow. 
Very  common  and  breeding  fr<'ely. 

^)0.  Frinoillaria  taiiai'Isi,  a.  Sm.     Jtock  IJunting. 
I  saw  a  ]»air  on  the  hill  iluring  the  month  of  February  last 
vcar. 


the  Pretoria  Zoological  Gardens.  91 

40.  MoTACiLLA  CATENSis,  L.     Cape  Wagtail. 

A  single  example  entered  the  large  flight  aviary  tbrough 
the  wire  netting  on  the  25th  June  this  year,  and  has  lived 
there  happily  ever  since.  The  bird  is  fairly  common  in  the 
Gardens  and  an  early  breeder,  A  nest  with  three  young 
ones  was  found  in  a  clump  o£  pampas  grass  in  September  of 
last  year. 

41.  Pycnonotus  latardi,  Gurn.     Blackcap  Bulbul. 
Visits  in  the  fruit  season. 

42.  ZosTEROPS  viRENS,  Suud.     White-eye. 
Common  at  times. 

43.  Chai^comitra  amethystina  (Shaw).  Black  Sun- 
bird. 

Common  in  the  Gardens,  especially  when  the  Erythvina 
trees  are  in  bloom.  I  took  tw^o  ticks  [Hyalomma  agyptiiim) 
from  the  forehead  and  throat  of  an  example  brought  in  for 
sale  from  the  bush  veld.  The  ticks  were  kindly  identified 
by  the  Gov.  Vet.  Research  Laboratories  of  Pretoria, 

44.  CiNNYRis  LEUCOGASTER,  Vieill.  White-breasted  Sun- 
bird. 

I  have  seen  several  of  these  pretty  little  Sunbirds  haunting 
the  grounds. 

45.  CiNNYRis  MARiQUENSis,  A.  Sm.  Bifasciated  Sun- 
bird. 

I  had  seen  only  a  solitary  individual  now  and  then  prior 
to  this  spring,  but  during  September  of  this  year  there  wor*^ 
dozens  in  the  grounds.  They  seem  very  partial  to  the  white 
flowers  of  an  acacia,  and  have  a  sweet  little  song,  not  unlike 
that  of  the  Mountain  Canary. 

46.  CiSTicoLA  TiNNiENS  (Lcht.).  CommoH  Grass  - 
Warbler. 

Fairly  common  along  the  river. 

VOL.  viii.  8 


92  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

47.  Prinia    mystacea,    Riipp.        Tawny -flanked    Wren 
Warbler. 

A  few  haunt  the  rocky  ridge  along  the  northern  extension. 

48.  Crateropus  jardinei,  A.  Sm.     Jardino's  Babbler. 
There  are  quite  a  number  of  these  birds  in  the  grounds 

now,  probably  attracted  there  by  those  in  captivity.  They 
must  breed  here  too,  as  I  saw  one  feeding  a  couple  of  young- 
birds,  apparently  just  flown,  one  day  last  summer.  They  are 
very  noisy  birds. 

49.  TuRDUS  cabanisi  (Bp.).     Cabanis's  Thrush. 
Resident  and  breeding  in  the  Gardens. 

50.  CossYRHA  caffra  (L.).     C'iipe  Robin  Chat. 
Common  and  breeding. 


XIII. — The  Value  of  Birds  to  Alan.     By  James  Buckland. 

[A  Paper  read  at  a  Meeting  of  the  British  Empire  Naturalists'  Asso- 
ciation, held  at  the  Hall  of  the  Roynl  Society  of  Arts,  John  Street, 
Adelphi,  December  1,  at  8  p.m.,  Walter  Crane,  Esq.,  R.W.S.,  in  the 

Chair.] 

The  Use  of  the  Birds  in  Nature. 

Man  has  become  the  dominant  power  on  the  earth.  He 
has  delegated  to  himself  the  right  to  adopt  a  utilitarian 
standard  ])y  which  he  measures  the  usefulness  or  dostruc- 
tiveness  of  all  other  forms  of  life.  All  animals  which 
injure  his  j)erson  or  his  property  he  classes  as  injurious. 
All  animals  that  contri])ute  to  the  increase  in  value  of  his 
property,  or  to  his  comfort,  he  considers  beneficial.  Beauty 
he  disregards,  devastating  the  wild  places  of  the  earth  in 
mere  wantonness  of  strength.  But  let  that  pass  for  the 
present.  To  take  him  from  his  own  standpoint,  is  he  not 
sometimes  in  error  ?  In  his  grasp  for  the  useful,  has  he 
not  overlooked  the  beneficent  power  of  the  bird  ? 

To  answer  this  question  wo  must  first  determine  wliat 
particular  functions  it  is  in  the  economy  of  Nature  that 
birds  alone  are  fitted  to  perform. 


tlie  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  93 

Vegetation  is  the  prime  requisite  for  the  perpetuity  of  all 
other  forms  of  life  upon  the  earth.  It  is  the  only  form  in 
organic  nature  that  does  not  war  u})on  other  forms.  The 
greatest  known  enemy  to  vegetation  is  insect  life  ;  while 
bird  life,  by  virtue  of  its  predominating  insect  diet,  wields 
a  most  important  balance  of  power  against  the  ravages  o£ 
this  the  chief  pest  of  vegetation. 

This  is  the  principal  mission  of  the  bird  in  preserving 
the  balance  of  Nature's  forces  ;  and  when  we  remember 
that  birds  are  distinguished  from  all  other  animals  by 
organs  of  perfect  flight,  when  we  remember  that  the  sense 
of  sight  in  birds  is  developed  to  a  degree  unparalleled 
in  the  animal  world,  when  we  remember  the  surpassing 
breathing-power  possessed  by  birds,  their  wonderful  mus- 
cular strength  and  activity,  the  high  temperature  ^nd  rapid 
circulation  of  their  blood,  and,  as  necessary  fuel  for  all 
these  fires,  their  extraordinary  capacity  for  assimilating 
food,  we  must  admit  that  these  marvellous  cr  'atures  are 
admirably  fitted  to  pursue  and  capture  their  nat  iral  prey, 
or,  by  making  earth-wide  sweeps  from  zone  to  zone,  to 
follow  the  seasonal  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide  of  ijisoct  life. 
We  must  admit  that  no  other  class  of  animals  could  fiU 
their  peculiar  place. 

Number  and  Repropuctiveness  of  Insects. 

That  you  may  see  how  essential  the  bird  is  as  a  part  of 
Nature's  great  plan  I  propose  making  brief  mention  of  the 
enormous  number  of  insect  species,  of  their  stupendous 
powers  of  reproduction,  and  of  their  insatiable  voracity. 

The  number  of  insect  species  is  greater  b^  far  than  that  of 
the  species  of  all  other  living  creatures  combined.  Over 
300,000  have  been  described,  and  it  is  considered  not 
improbable  that  twice  that  number  remain  to  be  described. 
Practically  all  living  animals,  as  well  as  most  plants, 
furnish  food  for  those  incomputable  hordes.  More  than 
this,  Kirby,  in  the  '  Introduction  to  Entomology,'  devotes 
no  less  than  five  entire  epistles  to  the  injuries  wo  sustain 

8* 


94  ^Ir.  J.  Buckland  on 

from  insects,  whilst  two  only  are  sufficient  to  describe  the 
benefits  they  yield. 

The  fecundity  of  certain  insect  forms  is  astounding,  the 
numbers  bred  reaching  such  prodigious  proportions  as  to  be 
almost  beyond  belief.  Riley  once  computed  that  the  hop 
aphis,  developing  thirteen  generations  in  a  single  year, 
would,  if  unchecked  to  the  end  of  the  twelfth  generation, 
have  multiplied  to  the  inconceivable  number  of  ten  sextillions 
of  individuals.  Noting  the  preceding,  Forbush  says  if  this 
brood  were  marshalled  in  line,  ten  to  the  inch,  it  would 
extend  to  a  point  so  sunk  in  the  profundity  of  space  that 
light  from  the  head  of  the  procession  travelling  at  the  rate  of 
184,000  miles  per  second  would  require  2500  years  in  which 
to  reach  the  earth. 

Kirkland  has  computed  that  one  pair  of  gipsy  moths, 
if  unchecked,  would  produce  enough  progeny  in  eight  years 
to  destroy  all  the  foliage  in  the  United  States. 

A  Canadian  entomologist  has  determined  that  a  single 
pair  of  Colorado  beetles,  without  check,  would  multiply  in 
one  season  to  60,000,000  units. 

The  filibusters  of  old,  who  carried  on  their  nefarious 
business  chiefly  within  tropical  areas,  declared  that  of  all 
dangers,  and  of  all  })ains,  they  dreaded  most  the  wounds  o£ 
insects.  No  surgical  instrument  ever  invented  by  man 
could  inspire  more  terror  than  the  implements  insects 
possess  for  piercing,  cutting,  dissecting,  and  rending.  These 
appliances,  which  are  used  to  do  battle  with  animal  and 
vegetable  life,  are  equalled  in  horror  only  by  the  furious 
ravenousness  of  the  insects. 

Indeed,  the  voracity  of  insect  life  is  as  astonishing  as  its 
power  of  reproduction.  ]\lany  caterpillars  consume  twice 
their  weight  of  leaves  per  day,  wliich  corresponds  to  a 
horse  eating  daily  a  ton  of  hay.  Forbush  says  that  a  certain 
flesh-feeding  larva  will  consumn  in  twenty-four  hours  200 
times  its  original  weight,  a  ]i:ir;illel  to  wliich,  in  the  lunnan 
race,  would  be  an  infant  consuming,  in  the  first  day  of  its 
existence,  1500  pounds  of  beef.  Trouvelot,  who  made  a 
special  study  of  the  subject,  affiims  that  the  food  taken  by 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  95 

a  single  silkworm  in  fifty-six  days  equals  in  weight 
86,000  times  its  original  weight  at  hatching.  What  a 
destruction  this  single  species  of  insect  could  make,  i£ 
only  a  one-hundredth  part  of  the  eggs  laid  came  to 
maturity  I 


Man  at  "War  with  Nature's  Laws. 

The  development  of  young  birds  is  so  rapid,  and  the 
demand  upon  the  vitality  of  older  ones  so  great,  that  an 
enormous  amount  o£  food  is  necessary  to  sustain  the  vital 
processes.  Digestion  is  exceedingly  rapid  in  birds,  and  they 
feed  for  the  most  part  throughout  the  day,  especially  when 
rearing  young.  The  number  of  insects  daily  passed  into  the 
insatiable  maws  of  the  nestlings  during  this  period  almost 
exceeds  belief. 

But  the  most  valuable  services  of  the  adult  bird  are 
rendered  when  it  is  feeding  in  winter  or  early  spring  ;  for 
then  it  destroys  countless  numbers  of  insects  in  the  embryo 
state,  and  thus  prevents  myriads  of  depredators  from  coming 
forth. 

Grave  and  far-reaching  results  invariably  follow  the  sup- 
pression of  this  perennial  regulative  influence  which  is 
exerted  by  birds  individually  everywhere  as  a  check  on 
insect  life. 

Some  years  ago  the  agriculturists  of  Hungary,  moved  to 
the  insane  step  by  ignorance  and  prejudice,  succeeded  in 
getting  the  Sparrow  doomed  to  destruction.  Within  five 
years  these  same  men  were  crying  frantically  for  the  bird 
to  be  given  back  to  them,  lest  they  should  perish  ;  and  it 
cost  the  Government  230,000  rix-dollars  to  re-instate  the 
outlaw.  So  the  Sparrow  was  brought  back,  and,  driving  out 
the  hordes  of  devastating  insects,  proved  the  salvation  of  the 
country. 

In  the  Island  of  Bourbon  once,  because  of  the  same 
ignorance  and  prejudice,  a  price  was  set  on  each  Martin's 
head.  The  birds  all  but  disappeared,  and  grasshoppers  took 
possession  of  the  island.     Then  the  edict  of  banishment  was 


90  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

hurriedly  revoked  and  the  exile  recalled.  And  fortnnatd 
indeed  was  it  for  the  Island  o"f  Bourbon  that  the  bird  waia 
not  beyond  recall. 

Daring  the  year  1861  the  harvests  of  France  gave  an 
unusually  poor  return,  and  a  Commission  was  appointed  at 
the  instance  of  the  Minister  of  Agriculture  to  investigate  the 
cause  of  the  deficiency.  By  this  Commission  the  deficiency 
was  attributed  to  the  ravages  of  insects  which  it  was  the 
function  of  certain  birds  to  check.  These  birds,  it  appeared, 
had  been  shot,  snared,  and  trapped  throughout  the  country  in 
such  numbers  that  but  little  repressive  influence  had  been 
exerted  upon  the  insects.  In  one  department  of  the  east  of 
France  the  value  of  the  wheat  destroyed  in  a  single  3'ear  was 
estimated  at  5,000,000  francs. 

For  some  years  prior  to  1877  vast  numbers  of  red-winged 
Blackbirds  were  poisoned  in  the  spring  and  autumn  round 
the  cornfields  of  Nebraska.  This  was  done  in  the  belief  that 
the  Blackbirds  were  damaging  the  crops,  especially  the  wheat* 
Great  numbers  of  Prairie  Chicken,  Quail,  Plover,  and  various 
other  insect-eating  species  were  destroyed  at  the  same  time 
by  eating  the  poisoned  grain.  Then  came  1877,  and  with  it 
Nemesis.  The  locusts  appeared  in  countless  numbers,  and 
Nebraska  mourned.     Hardly  a  field  of  grain  escaped. 

An  astounding  number  of  bird-skins  are  collected  annually 
for  hat  decorations  in  Russian  Siberia.  In  1895  the  ravages 
of  two  species  of  cut-worms  and  some  ten  species  of  locusts 
produced  a  famine  in  the  region  of  Ekaterinburg,  which  is  in 
Russian  Siberia*  The  local  Society  of  Natural  Sciences 
inquired  into  the  cause  which  had  permitted  such  a  numerous 
propagation  of  insect  pests,  and  reported  that  it  was  due  to 
+ho  almost  complete  destruction  of  birds,  most  of  which  had 
been  killed  and  sent  abroad  by  wagon-loads  for  millinery 
purposes. 

Though  I  could  give  a  hundred  cases  similar  to  the  fore- 
going, I  must  rely  on  the  few  1  have  cited  to  convince  you 
that  the  whole.sule  destruction  of  birds  is  Burely  followed  by 
disaster  to  man. 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  97 

Value  of  the  Bird  in  (Checking  Insect  Irkuptions. 

The  marvellous  powers  of  flight  and  perception  possessed 
by  birds  ably  fit  them  to  perform  the  office  of  a  swiftly- 
moving  aerial  army,  large  forces  of  which  can  be  massed  at 
any  given  point  to  correct  disturbances  caused  by  abnormal 
outbreaks  of  animal  or  vegetable  life. 

When  the  Mormons  first  settled  in  Utah  their  crops  were 
destroyed  utterly  by  myriads  of  black  crickets  that  streamed 
down  from  the  mountains.  Promising  fields  of  wheat  in  the 
morning  were  by  evening  as  bare  as  though  the  land  had  not 
been  sown.  The  first  year's  crop  having  been  destroyed,  the 
Mormons  had  sowed  seed  the  second  year,  and  again  the  crop 
promised  well.  But  again  the  crickets  appeared,  devouring 
every  blade  of  wheat,  and  the  followers  of  Joseph  Smith  were 
on  the  verge  of  starvation.  At  this  juncture  Franklin's  Gull 
came  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  and,  feeding  greedily  on  the 
crickets,  freed  the  fields  of  the  pest.  The  settlers  at  Salt 
Lake  regarded  the  advent  of  the  Gulls  as  a  heaven-sent 
miracle,  and  practically  canonised  the  birds.  Several  times 
afterwards  the  crops  of  the  Mormons  were  attacked  by  the 
crickets  and  were  saved  by  the  Gulls. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  colonization  of  New  Zealand 
swarms  of  caterpillars  infested  the  open  tussock-clad 
country.  When  the  white  man  began  to  cultivate  the 
land  this  caterpillar  disappeared  from  its  old  haunts  and 
attacked  the  English  grasses  and  cereal  crops,  increasing 
so  enormously  in  numbers  by  reason  of  a  more  favourable 
environment  that  they  quickly  became  a  blasting  plague. 
They  came  not  singly,  or  even  in  battalions,  but  in  mighty 
armies,  which  laid  waste  the  land.  I  have  seen  regiments  of 
this  invading  force  cover  the  pastures  in  such  numbers  as  to 
make  the  green  one  brown.  I  have  seen  them  march  out  of 
one  cornfield — having  stripped  every  stalk  bare — cross  the 
road  in  solid  phalanx  and  pass  into  another.  I  have  seen  big 
mobs  of  sheep  mustered  in  hot  haste  and  driven  backwards 
and  forwards  to  crush  the  atoms  with  their  hurrying  feet. 
I  have  seen  every  available  horse-roller  in  a  district  brought 


98  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

up  hurriedl}',  like  engines  to  a  fire,  and  dragged  to  and  fro 
over  the  crawling  masses  until  the  huge  cylinders  stuck  fast 
in  a  mire  of  crushed  insects.  I  have  seen  large  ditches  dug 
in  an  attempt  to  stop  the  invaders'  progress.  The  effort  was 
as  futile  as  that  of  a  child  who  builds  a  bank  of  sand  by  the 
sea,  thinking  it  will  stem  the  oncoming  tide.  Even  railway 
trains  were  brought  to  a  standstill,  the  wheels  of  the  engines 
being  unable  to  grip  the  rails  owing  to  the  countless  hordes 
of  caterpillars  which  were  crossing  the  line. 

In  time  it  became  abundantly  clear  that  if  this  disastrous 
condition  of  affairs  continued  it  would  bo  useless  to  attempt 
to  carry  on  agriculture  in  New  Zealand.  Realising  that  any 
attempt  which  they  might  make  to  rid  the  smitten  land  of 
the  plague  would  be  but  a  mockery,  the  farmers  turned  their 
eyes  longingly  to  the  natural  enemy  of  the  caterpillar — the 
bird.  But  the  native  birds — though  they  had  lived  in 
closest  companionship  with  the  Maoris — had  been  taught 
the  treachery  of  the  white  man  in  a  school  that  reeked  with 
blood,  and  those  that  had  not  been  killed  had  retreated  from 
the  vicinity  of  the  settlements,  visiting  the  insect-ridden 
fields  occasionally  only. 

Wherefore  insectivorous  birds  from  the  old  country  were 
introduced,  and  the  one  that  multiplied  most  rapidly  was  the 
Sparrow.  And  the  Sparrow  soon  cut  short  the  career  of  the 
caterpillars. 

I  have  said  that  birds,  because  of  their  unrivalled  powers 
of  locomotion,  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  suppressing  unusual 
outbreaks  of  vegetable  as  well  as  of  animal  life.  Here  is  an 
instance  of  this. 

That  formidable  imjiorted  weed,  the  variegated  Scutch 
thistle,  threatened  at  one  time  to  overrun  the  whole  of  New 
Zealand.  AVliero  it  had  once  fairly  established  itself  it 
seemed  well-nigh  impossible  to  eradicate  it  ;  and  it  was 
spreading  with  the  speed  of  scandal.  Much  time  and  money 
■were  spent  in  cutting  off  the  plants  close  to  the  ground,  and 
in  pouring  tur[)entine  upon  the  stumps.  But  the  wind- 
driven  clouds  of  thistle-down,  which  were  planting  the  weed 
far  and  wide,  grew  yearly  denser   and   more  frequent.     At 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  99 

length  the  fields  became  a  thickly-packed  growth  of  prickly 
plants,  which  nothing  could  face. 

The  Sparrows  took  to  eating  the  seed.  In  tens  of 
thousands  they  fed  on  it,  giving  it  the  preference  of  all 
other  hard  food,  and  the  weed  was  conquered. 

To-day,  in  New  Zealand,  the  Sparrow  is  looked  upon 
as  an  impudent  thief,  without  a  redeeming  feature  in  its 
character. 

No  one,  of  course,  can  say  what  would  happen  if  the 
Sparrow  was  dismissed  from  New  Zealand,  but  it  is  as 
certain  as  anything  in  this  world  can  be  that  the  Dominion 
would  be  again  overrun  with  caterpillars  and  thistles. 

As  it  is,  the  good  the  Sparrows  do  must  far  outweigh 
the  mischief  which  is  laid  to  their  charge.  This  state- 
ment receives  the  amplest  confirmation  in  the  bountiful 
harvests  with  which  New  Zealand  is  blessed.  Never 
were  the  Sparrows  more  numerous,  never  the  complaints 
against  them  more  bitter;  yet  the  yield  of  grain  is  without 
precedent. 

The  growling  of  the  New  Zealand  farmer  at  the  Sparrow, 
again,  justifies  Virgil's  complaint  of  the  "  miserly  husband- 
man." Miserly,  indeed,  and  blind.  Not  a  grain  will  he 
give  the  bird  which  has  laboured  unceasingly  for  eleven 
long  months  to  free  the  soil  from  grubs ;  but  whole  fields  of 
wheat  to  the  caterpillar  ! 

In  Australia  a  plague  of  grasshoppers  periodically  visits 
the  paddocks  to  devour  the  crops.  But  the  ruin  they  would 
otherwise  bring  on  the  farmer  is  checked  by  large  flocks  of 
Glossy  Ibises,  Spoonbills,  Cranes,  and  other  native  birds.  It 
has  been  computed  by  an  eminent  naturalist  that  a  flock  of 
200,000  of  these  saviours  will  consume  in  a  single  day 
25  tons  of  grasshop[)ers. 

It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  people  of  the  Commonwealth 
view  with  such  grave  apprehension  the  continual  slaughter 
of  native  birds,  for  their  loss  is  rendering  the  country  ever 
more  prono  to  the  plague  of  grasshoppers. 


100  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

The  Plumage  Bill. 

Here  I  intend  to  make  a  slight  digression.  Quite 
recently  the  Textile  Trade  Section  of  the  London  Chamber 
of  Commerce  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Melbourne 
Chamber  of  Commerce  a  book,  issued  for  the  purpose  of 
attempting  to  refute  certain  statements  made  to  the  detriment 
of  the  feather-dealers. 

In  its  reply  the  Melbourne  Chamber  of  Commerce  pointed 
out  that  the  work  performed  by  the  wild  birds  in  the 
Commonwealth  alone,  in  keeping  in  check  the  ravages  of 
myriads  of  noxious  insects,  was  worth  many  millions  of 
})ounds  sterling.  The  natural  enemies  of  insect  pests  were 
the  birds,  and  were  they  destroyed  Nature  would  become 
unbalanced  and  successful  agriculture  become  impossible. 
The  London  Chamber  of  Commerce  was  also  informed  that 
the  value  of  birds  in  life  was  infinitely  greater  to  the 
community  than  would  be  the  profit  accruing  from  the 
sale  of  their  feathers,  and  that,  therefore,  the  Melbourne 
Chamber  of  Commerce  was  unable  to  support  the  position 
taken  up  by  the  book  in  question. 

Yet  bird-skins  from  Australia,  every  one  of  them  illicitly 
exported,  are  regularly  trafficked  in  by  London  feather- 
dealers.  More  than  this,  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  and  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  ignorant 
of,  or  indifferent  to,  their  responsibilities  to  the  Empire,  are 
heedless  of  the  awful  calamity  their  neglect  is  fostering. 

The  Value  of  Birds  in  Forests. 

Birds  attain  their  greatest  usefulness  in  the  forests,  because 
the  conditions  there  closely  approach  the  ja-imeval. 

Forest  trees  have  their  natural  insect  foes,  to  which  they 
give  food  and  shelter  ;  and  these  insects  in  turn  have  their 
natural  enemies  among  the  birds,  to  which  the  tree  also 
gives  food  and  shelter.  Hence  it  follows  that  the  existence 
of  each  one  of  these  forms  of  life  is  dependent  upon  the 
existence  of  the  other.     Birds  are  not  only  essential  to  the 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  101 

Well-being  of  the  tree,  but  the  tree  is  necessary  to  the  life  o£ 
the  bird. 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  life  of  a  tree  in  connection 
with  the  insects  that  prey  upon  it.  At  the  very  beginning, 
before  the  seed  or  nut  has  germinated,  it  may  be  entered  by 
a  grub  which  destroys  it.  Should,  however,  the  seed  or  nut 
be  permitted  to  gfow,  the  roots  of  the  seedling  may  bo 
attacked  by  beetles.  Escaping  this  danger,  a  worm  lays  its 
eggs  in  the  cracks  of  the  bark.  On  hatching,  the  worm^  or 
borer,  perforates  a  hole  in  the  stem.  This  hole,  admitting 
water  from  every  passing  shower,  causes  a  decay  in  the 
wood  to  commence,  from  which  the  tree  may  never  recover. 
Other  borers  feed  upon  the  bark,  eating  the  soft  inner  layer 
and  the  sap.  The  twigs  are  affected  by  the  larva)  of  certain 
beetles,  which  act  as  girdlers,  sometimes  destroying  limbs 
over  an  inch  in  diameter.  Weevils  bore  under  the  bark  and 
into  the  pith,  making  excavations  in  which  the  eggs  are  laid. 
For  the  same  purpose  the  cicada  makes  a  terrible  wound, 
which  often  proves  fatal.  The  limbs  of  trees  arc  affected  by 
aphides,  which  puncture  them  and  feed  upon  their  juices, 
exhausting  the  sap.  Many  species  of  plant-lice  and  scale- 
insects  infest  trees,  doing  great  damage  ;  while  over  100 
different  species  of  gall-flies  are  parasitic  upon  them.  The 
buds  of  trees  are  entered  and  destroyed  by  the  larvae  of 
certain  moths,  while  the  leaves  are  devoured  by  caterpillarsi 
To  take  the  oak  as  an  example,  it  is  known  that  altogether 
over  500  species  of  insects  prey  upon  it.  Finally,  bo  it 
remembered  that  in  the  bark  and  the  underlying  tissues 
lie  the  vital  energies  of  a  tree. 

It  is  difficult  to  perceive  the  usefulness  of  these  insects 
which  feed  on  the  different  parts  of  the  tree,  though  they 
may,  perhaps,  when  in  normal  numbers,  exert  a  useful 
influence  by  a  healthful  and  necessary  pruning.  It  is 
certain,  however,  that  if  they  were  not  in  turn  preyed  upon 
by  birds,  they  would  so  increase  in  numbers,  that  the  tree 
could  not  survive  the  injuries  they  would  inflict. 

I  spent  the  formative  period  of  my  years  in,  or  in  close 
proximity  to,  primeval  forests,  and  going  often  to  Nature's 


102  Mr.  J.  Bucklaud  o/i 

mighty  school  to  learn  her  secrets  I  was  lastingly  impressed 
by  the  way  in  which  the  care  of  the  tree  is  kept  up 
throughout  the  changing  seasons  by  bird  life,  each  species 
exerting  its  peculiar  repressive  influence  upon  the  increase 
of  this  or  that  one  of  the  various  forms  which  insects 
assume. 

How  dependent  trees  are  on  birds  for  their  existence  may 
be  gathered  from  the  following  illustration,  instances  of 
which  1  have  often  seen  when  the  services  of  one  or  more  of 
their  natural  protectors  have  been  withdrawn.  As  many  of 
you  probably  know,  trees  breathe  through  their  leaves. 
Consequently,  if  the  buds  of  the  leaves  are  prevented  from 
developing,  or  are  eaten,  when  developed,  by  caterpillars, 
the  tree  is  weakened.  Many  coniferous  trees  will  die  if 
stripped  of  their  foliage  for  one  year.  Deciduous  trees,  if 
deprived  of  their  respiratory  organs  for  several  years  in 
succession  will  also  perish,  though  these  trees  linger  as  a 
rule  for  two,  or  even  three,  years  before  finally  succumbing. 

Nor  is  injury  to  its  breathing-organs  the  only  danger  to 
which  a  tree  afflicted  in  this  way  is  subjected.  The  tree,  being 
in  a  weakened  condition,  is  at  once  beset  by  beetles  and  other 
borers,  who,  multiplying  rapidly  under  such  favourable 
conditions,  tunnel  under  the  bark  until  all  the  vital  tissues 
of  the  poor  tree  are  wasted.  Thus  a  tree,  which  might  have 
recovered  from  the  injurj'  to  its  lungs,  falls  a  victim  to  the 
attacks  of  an  insidious  enemy  which  took  advantage  of  its 
feeble  state. 

Woodpeckers,  or  other  birds  of  similar  feeding-habits, 
would  have  flown  to  the  rescue  of  the  tree  and  possibly 
saved  its  life  ;  but  when  that  corrective  influence  is  missing 
the  tree  must  die. 

This  illustration  of  the  dependence  of  the  tree  on  the  bird, 
and  of  the  bird  on  the  tree,  is,  of  course,  but  one  of  a  long 
series  that  could  be  cited,  and  it  is  because  of  this  most 
delicate  adjustment  between  the  tree,  the  insect,  and  the 
bird  that  I  regard  as  })rofoundly  true  Frank  M.  Chapman's 
statement  "  that  it  can  be  clearly  demonstrated  that  if  we 
should  lose  our  birds  wo  should  also  lose  our  forests.'' 


the  Vahie  of  Birds  to  Man.  103 

I  stated  at  the  commencement  of  this  paper  that  man  had 
attained  to  a  predominance  over  the  wild  things  of  the  earth. 
I  was  wrong.  Tigers  man  may  be  able  to  subjugate,  but 
against  insects,  which  are  even  more  dangerous  to  human 
life  and  property  than  tigers,  he  is  powerless.  If,  in  his 
folly,  he  drove  out  the  bird,  thinking  himself  capable  of 
taking  its  place,  he  might  be  able  to  make  shift  with  his 
sprays  to  save  some  portion  at  least  of  his  orchards  and 
gardens  ;  but  of  what  avail  would  be  his  puny  efforts  to 
protect  from  the  ravening  maws  of  insects  the  forests  of 
South  America  and  Africa,  the  jungle  of  Asia,  or  the  bush 
of  Australia  ?  Should  he  not,  then,  protect  by  every  means 
in  his  power  every  one  of  the  forest  birds,  who,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  and  without  trouble  or  expense  to  him,  ordinarily 
accomplish,  on  his  behalf,  this  superhuman  task?  One 
would  think  so.  Yet  in  these  very  regions,  in  these  vast 
areas  of  valuable  timber,  every  trunk  of  which  man  will 
some  day  need,  there  are  being  killed  annually  millions  of 
the  feathered  guardians  of  the  tree,  and  killed,  too,  for  no 
worthier  purpose  than  that,  dead,  they  may  defame  a 
woman's  head. 

The  Value  of  the  Bird  in  the  Orchard. 

For  man's  purposes  the  work  of  the  bird  in  the  orchard  is 
not  so  thorough  as  that  done  by  them  in  the  forest.  Birds 
are  the  slaves  of  Nature,  and,  in  the  main,  Nature's 
endeavours  are  put  forth  only  to  produce  such  fruits  as  will 
ensure  the  perpetuity  of  each  species  of  tree.  AVith  man 
the  case  is  altogether  different.  His  main  object  is  not  the 
propagation  of  trees,  but  the  production  of  a  giant  goose- 
berry. Moreover,  by  introducing  arsenical  spraying,  tarred 
and  greased  bands,  and  other  devices  to  counteract  the  evil 
action  of  insects,  ho  has,  to  a  certain  extent,  taken  upon 
himself  the  office  of  the  bird.  In  this  he  is  wise,  for  it  must 
be  admitted  that  if  he  wishes  a  large  crop  of  fruit  he  must 
himself  prevent  the  inroads  of  those  insects  which  attack  the 
fruit  directly.     It  cannot  be  expected  of  the  bird  that  it  will 


104  Mr.  J.  Bucklaiid  on 

bceome  an  efficient  all}"  of  man  in  protecting  the  artificially 
produced  fruit  from  the  attacks  of  the  numerous  insects  that 
are  drawn  to  the  orchard  by  a  vastly  increased  quantity  of  fruit 
of  a  vastly  better  quality  than  the  natural  product. 

For  all  that,  fruit-growers  are  largely  indebted  to  the  bird 
for  a  great  part  of  their  annual  crop.  There  are  a  host  of 
tiny  creatures  that  are  not  affected  by  spraying.  These 
lilliputian  pests  are  the  plant  lice  and  their  allies,  bark  lice 
and  scale  insects.  Usually  their  presence  is  unnoticed  on 
account  of  their  diminutive  size  ;  but  they  suck  out  the 
juices  of  the  tree  and  are  exceedingly  harmful.  If  their 
multiplication  remained  unchecked,  the  ultimate  result  upon 
the  development  of  the  fruit,  if  not  upon  the  life  of  the  tree, 
would  be  very  great.  But  nothing,  however  small,  escapes 
the  prying  eyes  of  a  bird,  and  it  clears  the  trunk,  branches, 
and  twigs  of  the  tree  of  these  encumbrances. 

Birds  are  charged,  as  though  the  case  were  one  of  theft, 
with  feeding  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  on  the  fruit  which 
they  help  to  produce.  In  Nature,  such  services  as  the 
bird  renders  in  direct  protection  of  the  fruit  is  placed  to  its 
credit  and  it  receives  its  reward.  Does  man  expect  it,  for 
his  sake,  to  deviate  from  those  habits  which  it  has  con- 
tracted under  natural  conditions?  In  other  words,  does 
he  expect  the  bird  to  assist  him  in  producing  an  unnatural 
surplus  of  fruit  ? 

Call  the  bird  in  the  orchard  an  evil — if  you  will.  But  it 
is  a  necessary  evil,  and  the  fruit-grower  must  make  up  his 
mind  to  pay  the  bird  its  wages,  even  though  at  times  they 
may  seem  exorbitant. 

But  let  us  suppose  for  a  moment — though  the  supposition 
is  absurd — that  the  modern  fruit-grower  conld  do  Mithout 
the  services  of  the  bird.  Would  that  give  him  a  right  to 
slay  it?  Apart  altogether  from  the  agriculturist,  what  of  the 
millions  of  people  who,  as  an  increment  to  their  ordinary 
livelihood,  grow  fruit,  but  who  cannot  afford  either  the  time 
or  the  money  to  treat  their  trees  in  the  most  approved  and 
scientific  way  ? 

"What  would  happen  to  this  poorer  class  of  fruit-growers 


the  Valve  of  Birds  to  Man.  105 

if  they  were  deprived  o£  the  services  of  the  bird  is  best  seen 
in  what  happened  to  Frederick  the  Great.  This  worthy,  in 
a  fit  of  passion  because  a  flock  of  Sparrows  had  pecked  at 
some  of  his  cherries,  ordered  every  small  bird  that  could 
be  searched  out  to  bo  instantly  killed.  Within  two  years 
his  cherry-trees,  thouoh  bare  of  fruit,  were  weighed  down 
with  a  splendid  crop  of  insects. 

The  Services  of  the  Bird  in  the  Garden. 

The  garden  is  the  insect's  paradise.  It  fares  sumptuously 
every  day  on  the  most  succulent  of  vegetable  foods.  Every 
opportunity  is  thus  offered  for  its  increase.  The  greatest 
insect  ejiemy  of  the  gardener  is  a  small,  dull-coloured, 
hairless  caterpillar,  known  as  the  cut-worm,  which  is  the 
larva  of  a  Noctuid  moth.  This  chief  of  the  brigand  band  of 
garden  pests  usually  hides  during  the  day  beneath  matted 
grass,  or  under  the  loose  soil  along  the  rows  of  plants.  It 
comes  forth  at  dusk  to  feed.  The  bird  is  abroad  at  the  first 
peep  of  day,  and  it  finds  the  robber-v/orm  in  the  morning 
before  it  has  retreated  to  its  place  of  concealment. 

The  cut-worm,  by  the  way,  is  the  worm  which  is 
associated  with  the  early  bird  in  the  well-known  proverb. 

But  the  bird  has  to  come  stealthily  to  the  garden.  Its 
visits  are  regarded  by  man  with  more  than  suspicion,  and  it 
is  fortunate  if  it  escapes  with  its  life.  In  consequence,  it 
snaps  up  a  caterpillar  and  is  off  again,  leaving  thousands 
it  would  have  eaten,  if  unmolested,  to  run  riot  among  tho 
vegetables. 

Occasionally  a  bird  more  bold  than  its  fellows  will  visit 
the  garden  in  broad  daylight  to  dig  the  cut-worms  out  of 
their  hiding-places.  Nature  never  having  begrudged  it  tho 
reward  of  its  toil,  the  bird  takes  a  few  peas  before 
leaving. 

The  gardener  notices  the  damage  done  to  his  peas,  and 
next  morning  is  up  betimes.  He  sees  the  early  bird  running 
along  a  row  of  peas,  stopping  frequently  to  peck  at  some- 
thing.    There  is  a  loud  explosion,  followed  by  a  puff  of 


106  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

smoke.  The  smoke  slowly  drifts  away,  to  disclose  a  bird 
lying  dead. 

Caterpillars  are  not  gifted  with  a  voice.  If  they  were 
they  -would  scarce  forbear  to  cheer. 

The  bird  is  dead.  Mark  the  secinel.  One  fine  morning 
the  gardener  issues  proudly  forth  to  cut  his  mammoth 
cabbage — the  one  with  which  he  intends  to  put  to  utter 
confusion  all  other  competitors  at  the  local  fruit  and  flower 
show.  Alas  for  human  hopes  and  the  depredations  of 
caterpillars.     The  cabbage  is  riddled  like  a  colander. 

The  gardener,  when  he  shot  the  ])ird,  forgot,  if,  indeed,  he 
ever  knew,  that  the  ancient  law  forbade  a  muzzle  to  the  ox 
that  threshed  out  the  corn. 

Utility  of  Birds  in  the  Meadow. 

Each  season,  until  hay-making  commences,  the  grass  offers 
cover  and  shelter  for  the  nests  of  such  birds  as  breed  on  the 
ground.  The  fields  also  provide  food  for  birds,  and  for  the 
insects  on  which  birds  feed.  Thus  there  is  established  a 
natural  interrelation  and  interdependence  between  the  bird 
and  its  food  and  shelter — that  is  to  say,  the  insects  and  the 
grass.  This  simulates  the  condition  of  the  earth  before  man 
made  discord  in  the  grand  harmony  of  Nature's  laws. 

Where  the  birds  of  the  field  are  undisturbed  they  tend  to 
hold  the  grass  insects  in  check.  On  the  other  hand,  when 
the  numbers  of  birds  in  the  field  are,  for  any  reason, 
insufficient,  the  insects  increase. 

Hero  is  an  instance  of  this.  Some  years  ago  in  Bridge- 
water  Massachusetts,  a  great  battue  was  held  by  the 
ignorant  townspeople  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  and  so 
many  field  birds  were  killed  that  their  dead  bodies  were 
ploughed  into  the  land  for  manure.  The  following  summer 
whole  fields  of  grass  wither(!d  away  and  died.  This  was  due 
solely  to  the  fact  that  the  mnnber  of  field  birds  had  l)een 
reduced,  and,  in  conseriuenec,  the  i)ressure  which  Nature 
demands  the  field  birds  shall  exert  upon  the  field  insect  had 
been  released. 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  107 

Again,  at  one  time,  in  New  Zealand,  it  was  no  uncommon 
tiling  to  see  English  grass  wither  up  in  large  patches,  as 
though  scorched  by  fire.  This  was  due  to  the  work  of  a 
crane-flj  and  click-beetle,  the  Inrvse  of  both  of  which  were 
addicted  to  the  habit  of  eating  the  roots  of  the  grass,  just 
under  the  surface.  English  grass  was  then  comparatively 
limited  in  the  up-countrj^  districts,  and,  as  there  are  large 
tracts  of  land  in  New  Zealand  destitute  of  native  grasses,  the 
depredations  of  these  insects  became  a  serious  matter  to 
those  settlers  who  had  stock  to  feed,  and  who  were  relying  on 
the  English  grass  to  feed  them.  It  was  all  the  more  serious 
because  the  insects  were  without  any  natural  chock,  the 
native  birds  which  had  kept  their  numbers  down  before  the 
advent  of  the  white  man  having  been  scared  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  homesteads.  So  the  beetles  continued  to 
make  merry,  to  marry,  and  to  multiply.  In  a  corresponding 
ratio  the  grass  continued  to  fade,  to  wither,  and  to  die. 

Then  came  the  English  Starling  ;  and  so  voraciously  did  it 
feed  on  the  larvpe  that  soon  all  was  green  again. 

Without  birds,  provided  insects  were  present,  grass  could 
not  be  grown.  The  grub  of  a  single  species  of  beetle,  if 
unchecked,  could  destroy  all  the  grass  roots  of  our  meadows, 
or  any  one  of  the  several  species  of  cut-worms  might  be 
sufficient  to  destroy  all  the  verdure  above  ground. 

Hawks  and  Owls. 

The  injury  to  crops  and  grass  by  insects  is  not  the  only 
evil  that  threatens  man  as  a  sequence  to  the  destruction 
of  birds.  Rapacious  birds  hold  a  chief  place  among  the 
forces  which  are  appointed  to  hold  in  chock  small  rodents, 
which  breed  rapidly,  and,  unless  ko[)t  within  bounds,  are 
exceedingly  destructive.  Yet,  notwithst;uuling  the  unani- 
mous testimony  of  careful  students  of  birds  and  thoir  food 
habits,  to  the  effect  that  almost  all  Hawks  and  Owls  are 
beneficial,  a  wide-spread  prejudice  still  exists  against  them. 
Tliey  are  slain  as  relentlessly  as  if  they  were  enemies  instead 
of  friends  of  the  farmer. 

VOL.  viii.  y 


108  Mr.  J.  Buckliind  on 

The  destructive  habits  of  the  small  rodents,  which  are  the 
natural  prey  of  Hawks  and  Owls,  are  much  the  same  all  the 
world  round.  They  do  an  incalcula])le  amount  of  damage 
to  standing  corn,  to  corn  in  the  stook  or  when  stacked,  to 
grain,  to  root  crops  when  growing,  or  when  piled  on  the 
ground,  or  stored  in  pits,  to  orchards  and  forest  trees,  to  the 
roots  of  clover  and  other  grasses,  to  ground-growing  fruit, 
and  to  gardens,  both  flower  and  vegetable.  In  addition  to 
this  list  of  crimes,  certain  rodents  are  active  agents  in 
carrying  and  disseminating  the  germs  of  plague  and  other 
diseases. 

Here  in  Enoland — thouoh  on  account  of  their  small  size 
and  secretive  habits  they  are  often  undiscerned  by  man's 
dull  eyes — they  swarm  in  such  numbers  in  the  fields  and 
hedge-rows  that  the  damage  they  do  must  prove  a  steady 
drain  on  the  resources  of  the  farmer. 

The  number  of  small  rodents  eaten  b}--  the  rapacious 
birds  is  almost  as  remarkable  in  proportion  to  their  size  as 
is  the  number  of  insects  eaten  by  small  insectivorous  birds. 
During  the  summer  of  1890  a  pair  of  Barn-Owls  occupied  a 
tower  in  a  building  at  Washington.  After  their  ch'parture, 
there  were  found  in  the  regurgitated  pellets,  with  which  the 
floor  was  strewn,  454  skulls  of  small  rodents. 

The  young  of  Hawks  and  Owls  remain  a  lung  time  in  the 
nest,  and  require  a  great  quantity  of  food.  During  this 
period  the  resources  of  the  parents  must  be  taxed  exces- 
sively in  the  effort  to  satisfy  the  hunger  cravings  of  their 
()ffsi)rin<T,  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  if  some  individuals 
arc  forced  occasionally  to  snaj)  up  a  chicken.  But  what  is 
the  worth  of  the  chicken,  or  of  the  young  pheasant, 
occasionallv  taken  compared  with  the  hundreds  of  thousanils 
of  pounds'  worth  of  damage  that  is  wrouglit  in  the  orchards 
and  field  by  rodents  that  Hawks  and  Owls,  had  they  been 
spared,  would  have  fed  upon  for  the  maintenance  of  their 
species  ? 

At  one  time  the  destruction  of  bird  life  in  the  United 
►States  was  trulv  lamentable,     but  the  old  order  has  changed 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.  109 

—due  entirely  to  tlie  work  of  the  Biological  Survey  in  the 
interests  of  agriculture — and  to-day  the  farmer  is  only  too 
willing  to  admit  that  the  bird  is  his  best  friend. 

This  is  magnificent,  and  bygones  should  be  bygones  ;  but 
that  you  may  realise  the  value  oF  Hawks  and  Owls  to  man,  I 
am  obliged  to  rake  up  an  ugly  past. 

In  1885  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  Act, 
known  as  the  "Scalp  Act,''  which  provided  a  bounty  of  50 
cents  each  on  Hawks  and  Owls  killed  within  the  State  limits, 
and  a  fee  of  20  cents  to  the  notary  taking  the  affidavit.  As 
the  result  of  this  Act,  90,000  dollars  was  paid  in  bounties 
during  the  year  and  a  half  subsequent  to  the  passage  of  the 
Act.  But  the  vengeance  of  Nature's  laws  is  speedy  and 
never  fails.  An  irruption  of  small  rodents  followed,  and  did 
damage  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State  to  the  tune 
of  3,850,000  dollars.  And  even  these  figures,  enormous  as 
they  are,  do  not  represent  the  entire  loss.  Years  must 
elapse  before  the  balance  of  Nature,  which  was  destroyed, 
can  be  restored. 

In  Montana  the  destruction  of  Hawks  and  Owls  was  so 
complete  that  rodents,  freed  from  the  pressure  of  their 
natural  check,  became  as  one  of  the  plagues  of  the  Book  of 
Exodus.  Then  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  offering 
bounties  for  the  destruction  of  these  four-footed  pests. 
During  six  months  of  1887  such  large  sums  were  paid  out 
in  bounties  for  the  destruction  of  small  rodents — a  work 
that  the  Hawks  and  Owls  had  previously  done  free  of  charge — 
that  a  special  Session  of  the  Legislnture  was  called  to  repeal 
the  Act,  lest  it  should  bankrupt  the  State. 

In  1907,  Nevada  went  through  a  very  trying  experience 
with  mice,  while  Utah,  Wyoming,  (Jalifornia,  and  several 
States  further  east  have  all  had  occasion  to  bitterly  rue  the 
day  that  they  shot  their  Hawks  and  Owls. 

But  the  destruction  of  small  rodents  is  not  the  only 
function  of  rapacious  birds  in  the  economy  of  Nature. 
Several  species  are  voracious  insect  feeders.  Nor  is  this  all. 
It  is  well  known  that  when  small  insectivorous  birds  increase 

9* 


110  Mr.  J.  Biicklaud  on 

abnormally  in  numbers  they,  too,  become  a  pest.  Hawks 
and  Owls  materially  assist  those  other  agencies  of  Nature 
which  act  as  a  check  on  the  undue  increase  of  small  binls. 
If  rapacious  birds  were  rigorously  protected  in  this  country, 
we  should  have  fewer  complaiuts  of  the  daniage  done  by 
Sparrows. 

It  is  a  law  of  Nature  that  the  destroyer  is  also  the 
protector.  Birds  of  prey,  if  unmolested,  not  only  prevent 
the  over-production  of  small  birds,  but  they  also  confer  a 
salutary  benefit  on  each  species  on  which  they  prey  by 
checking  the  propagation  of  w^eakness  or  disease  by  killing 
off  the  sickly  and  most  unfit  individuals,  for  these  are  the 
most  easily  seen  and  the  most  readily  captured.  This  is 
particularly  true  of  game  fowl,  and  one  of  the  most  plausible 
hyj)otheses  explanatory  of  the  occasional  outbreaks  of 
disease  among  Grouse  has  been  the  removal  of  this 
corrective  by  ignorant  gamekeepers. 

Yet  it  is  my  belief  that  nothing  but  a  miracle  performed 
by  the  Lord  will  ever  make  these  men  see  the  error  of  their 
ways. 

Some  years  ago,  when  lying  in  the  sweet-smelling  heather 
on  a  mountain-side  in  Scotland,  I  pleaded  for  the  life  of  the 
Hawk  before  one  of  its  executioners.  The  gamekeeper 
listened  in  silence  until  my  somewhat  fervid  address  to  the 
jury,  so  to  speak,  was  concluded.  Then  he  said  :  "  Ye've  a 
cold  i'  the  luiid."  F  did  not  see  the  relevancy  of  this 
remark,  but  I  nodded  assent.  After  a  pause,  he  added  : 
"  Ah,  weel  ;  ye  canna  complain.  The  cold  aye  attacks  the 
weakest  i)lace  first.'' 

TiiH  Ec'oNOMrc  Valt'r  of  riiK  Wiiitk  TTkhon. 

The  destruction  of  the  \\'liit<'  llcroii  for  its  sca])idar 
])hunes — destruction  which  i>  marked  by  the  most  brutal 
savagerv — has  robberl  half  the  world  <•!"  a  liiiil  which  is  most 
useful  to  man.  Its  loss  to  India  and  to  (Jhina  is  most 
serious.  It  never  tonches  grain,  but  feeds  solely  near 
water    and     over     damp     ground,    the     bi('c(ling-places    of 


the  Value  of  Birds  to  ^Jan.  111 

innumerable  biitrachians,  small  crustaceans,  and  pestiferous 
insects,  all  of  which  directly  or  indirectly  injuriously  atf'eet 
croj)S  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  presence  of  the  White 
Heron  in  the  rice-fields,  for  instance,  is  distinctly  beneticial 
to  the  farmer,  and  rice  is  one  of  the  most  extensively  grown 
crops  of  India  and  of  China. 

Tiie  slaughter  of  this  bird  in  India  is  all  the  more  repre- 
liensible,  not  only  because  the  bird  is  protected  by  law,  but 
because  the  Hindus  arc  strongly  averse  to  the  taking  of 
animal  life,  on  religious  as  well  as  economic  grounds. 

In  no  country  in  the  world  do  insects  impose  a  heavier 
tax  on  the  agriculturist  than  in  India,  and  it  is  infamous  that 
the  British  Government  should  connive  at  the  illicit  ex])ort 
of  the  plumage  of  locally  protected  birds,  not  only  because 
the  very  species  that  are  relentlessly  and  clandestinely  slain 
for  their  plumage  are  those  that  are  most  destructive  to 
insects  and  other  field  and  orchard  pests,  but  because  they 
are  held  sacred  in  the  religious  belief  of  a  race  that  in 
conscientiousness  and  purity  of  mind  is  in  no  wise  inferior 
to  the  Semitic. 

I  say  this  because  Jews  are  the  principal  culprits  in  the 
matter  of  dealing  in  these  contraband  goods,  and  because 
there  comes  drifting  into  my  mind,  down  from  my  old 
Sunday-school  days,  the  recollection  of  being  told  that  Jews 
were  merciful  children  of  the  Merciful  ;  that  they  were  the 
first  in  the  world  to  preach  about  mercy  to  animals  ;  and 
that  in  their  Temple  there  were  no  other  images  exce})t  those 
of  birds. 

Turning  to  Australia  for  a  moment,  before  ilismissing  the 
question  of  the  destruction  of  the  Egret,  I  nuiy  mention  that 
the  slaughter  of  this  and  other  wadino-  birds  for  their 
plumage  is  causing  in  that  country  a  decline  in  its  fish 
resources.  As  these  birds  grow  fewer  in  numbers,  so  do  the 
crustaceans  that  destroy  the  fish-spawn  inci'ease  in  hosts. 

Value  of  Birds  to  Livestock. 

The  injury  done  to  domestic  animals  by  biting  and 
parasitic  insects  is  very   great.     Herds  of  cattle   are  often 


112  Mr.  J.  Bucklaiul  on 

stampeded  by  these  tormenting  creatures,  wliicli  carry 
disease  and  death  among  them.  Another  great  aftiietion  is 
the  warble,  which  is  a  small  tumour  produced  by  the  larva 
of  the  gadfly  on  the  backs  of  cattle,  and  the  constant 
irritation  of  which  causes  considerable  deijreciution  in  the 
value  of  hides,  besides  a  lessened  quantity  and  poorer  quality 
of  beef. 

Horses,  sheep,  and  other  farm  animals  are  subject  to  the 
attacks  of  similar  parasites  and  other  persecuting  insect 
foes. 

If  it  were  not  for  the  services  the  bird  renders  in  alighting 
on  animals  in  search  of  these  parasites,  or  in  catching  the 
flies  on  the  wing,  or  in  eating  them  in  their  embryo  state, 
man  would  be  unable  to  keep  his  livestock. 

More  than  this,  man  himself  would  be  unable  to  inhabit 
many  places  on  the  earth  which  he  now  cultivates,  or  where 
he  carries  on  other  lucrative  industries. 

For  every  fly-catching  or  parasite-eating  bird  of  the 
untold  thousands  that  are  now  allowed  to  be  killed.  Nature's 
fitdit  for  the  care  of  her  children  is  weakened  by  the  loss  of 
a  very  active  agent. 

Not  long  ago  Sir  Harry  Johnston  told  us  that  the  con- 
tinual destruction  of  certain  birds  in  Africa  for  their  plumage 
was  resulting  in  the  increase  of  the  venomous  tsetse-fly» 
whose  bite  carries  the  infection  of  that  dread  disease,  sleep- 
ing sickness. 

The  Bird  as  a  Weed  Destroyer. 

Uncjuestionably  weeds  serve  a  useful  purpose  in  Nature, 
but  that  par])03e  is  not  the  occuj)ation  of  cultivated  land. 
Without  check  tluty  would  speedily  elioke  all  ^rain  to 
death. 

Constant  use  of  harrows  and  hoes  will  do  much  on  larm 
lands  and  in  gardens  to  keep  down  weeds,  but  as  most  earth 
is  full  of  weed  seed,  which  retains  its  vitality  for  years,  the 
life  of  tli(!  tiller  of  the  soil  is  one  continuotis  struggle  against 
these  troublesome  plants.      In  thi^lialtle  the  bird   is  of  great 


the    I'alue  of  Birds  to  Man.  113 

assistance,  for  the  number  of  weed  seeds  eaten  by  birds  on 
cultivated  land  must  be  beyond  an}^  assignable  quantity. 

One  of  the  greatest  weed  destroyers  is  the  Quail.  It  is 
doubtful,  indeed,  if  the  Quail  is  not  more  useful  to  man  than 
any  other  bird.  It  is  very  nearly  wholly  beneficial.  During 
spring  and  summer  it  feeds  on  many  of  the  most  destructive 
of  insects,  and  in  autumn  and  winter  it  eats  an  enormous 
amount  of  seeds  of  many  harmful  weeds. 

The  report  of  the  United  States  Biological  Survey  says  : — 

"It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  in  the  States  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina  from  September  1  to  April  30  there 
were  four  Quail  to  each  square  mile  of  land.  The  crop  of 
each  bird  holds  half  an  ounce  of  seed  and  is  filled  twice  a 
day.  Since,  at  each  of  these  two  daily  meals  harmful  weed 
seeds  constitute  at  least  half  the  contents  of  the  crop,  a  half 
ounce  daily  is  consumed  by  each  bird.  On  this  basis,  the 
total  consumption  of  harmful  weed  seeds  by  Quail  from 
September  to  April  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  amounts 
to  1341  tons.  As  destructive  insects  form  about  one-third 
of  the  bird's  food  from  June  to  August,  Quail  consume 
341  tons  of  these  pests  in  these  States  within  those  two 
months." 

But  perhaps  the  most  valuable  service  that  Quail  render 
the  people  of  the  United  States  is  the  greedy  way  in  which 
— and  they  stand  almost  alone  among  birds  in  this  par- 
ticular taste — they  eat  the  evil-smelling  potato-bug  or,  as 
we  call  it,  the  Colorado  beetle. 

In  addition  to  this  inestimable  service  it  is  partially  due  to 
this  bird  that  that  pernicious  thing,  the  cotton  boll  w^eevil, 
has  not  swept  over  the  entire  cotton  belt  of  America, 
bringing  ruin  to  thousands  of  huuuin  beings  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic. 

As  I  am  speaking  of  the  Quail,  what  I  am  about  to  say 
may  not  seem,  for  the  moment,  pertinent — but  it  is. 

According  to  statistics  published  in  April  by  the  Govern- 
ment Biological  Survey  at  ^Vashington,  it  is  shown  that  the 
cost  of  living  last  year  in  the  United  States  was  raised  to 
cover  a  loss  of  one  billiuii   dollars   in    iigricullural   produce, 


114  Mr.  J.  Bucldand  077 

due  to  the  inroads  of  in?ects  and  rodents.  Or,  to  put  this 
clearer,  the  damage  done  by  these  pests  in  the  pa^t  year 
amounted  to  over  ten  dollars  per  head  tor  every  person  in 
the  United  States.  This  loss,  it  is  pointed  out  by  the 
Government  experts,  is  due  largely  to  the  lack  of  a  sufficient 
number  of  insect  and  rodent-eating  birds  to  keep  the  enemies 
of  the  crops  in  check.  This  means,  letting  our  thoughts 
range  beyond  the  United  States,  that  for  every  bird  killed 
that  can  be  classed  as  beneficial,  man  must  pay  in  increased 
costs  of  food  and  clothing. 

There  is  therefore — now  that  Great  Brilain  has  harnessed 
Old  Nile — a  plain  economic  reason  for  revolt  against  the 
present-day  practice  of  catching  Egy})tian  Quail  and  sliij'])ing 
them  by  hundreds  of  thousands  to  Europe  and  to  America. 

The  Bird  as  a  Scavenger. 

The  fishing  population  of  these  islands  has  declared  war  on 
the  Gulls,  and  is  demanding  the  withdrawal  of  certain  species 
from  the  list  of  protected  birds  on  account  of  the  damage 
they  are  alleged  to  do  to  the  fishing  industry.  People  who 
believe  fishermen's  tales  are  apt  to  be  duped  and  led  into 
repeated  errors.  The  Gull  is  a  surface  feeder.  It  may 
occasionally  levy  toll  on  useful  fish  when  they  are  indiscreet 
enough  to  come  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  but  to  say  that 
they  do  any  appreciable  injury  to  the  fishing  business  is 
absurd. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  presence  of  the  Gull  is  essential  to 
man's  health.  While  the  bird  fulfils  many  useful  minor 
offices — such  as  destroying  larva'  in  land  along  the  seaboard, 
and  in  eating  enemies  of  fish  that  are  exposed  during  low 
tide — its  chief  function  in  the  economy  of  nature  is  that  of 
scavenger  of  tlie  harl)ours  and  of  the  littoral,  just  as  Vultuies 
are  the  scavengers  of  the  mainland.  I  do  not  know  if  any 
of  you  have  been  in  the  East  or  in  ]\Iexico.  If  you  have  you 
will  know  that  "Vultures  are  protected  both  by  law  and  jiulilic 
sentiment  because  of  their  sanitary  services.  I'ut  to  return 
to  the  Gull.    The  wholesale  destruction  of  the  birds  for  their 


the  Value  of  B'lnh  to  Man.  115 

plumage  in  Yucatan  was  followed  by  a  great  increase  of 
liuuian  mortality  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast,  which 
mortality  was  irrefutably  due  to  the  loss  of  the  birds  that 
formerlj'  assisted  in  kee])ing  the  harbours  and  bays  free  from 
the  decaying  matter  which  the  sea  is  constantly  casting 
ashore. 

I  wonder  if  these  men  who  wish  the  Gull  destroyed  ever 
give  a  thought  to  what  would  happen  to  their  own  smelling 
villages  if  this  bird  was  not  present  to  eat  the  refuse  they 
throw  about  ?  Or,  again,  if  they  ever  reflect  on  that  feeling 
of  relief  they  experience  when,  in  thick  weather,  they  hear, 
through  the  fog,  the  clamour  of  these  feathered  bell-buoys, 
warning  them  that  they  are  ncaring  rock  or  bar. 

The  Bird  as  a  Guano  Producer. 

Now  that  I  am  on  the  subject  of  pelagic  birds,  I  will 
speak  of  their  value  as  guano  producers. 

Undoubtedly  the  present  enormous  trade  in  fertilisers 
owes  its  origin  to  the  bird,  for  the  fertilising  properties  of 
the  phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen  contained  in  fish  was  not 
recognised  until  guano — which  is  the  excrement  of  sea-birds 
mixed  with  fish — became  a,  stimulus  to  intensive  agriculture, 
and  furnished  a  source  of  revenue  to  civilised  nations. 

It  is  true  guano  has  depreciated  in  price  since  the  manu- 
facture of  fertilisers,  but  it  has  still  a  considerable  commercial 
value. 

Because  of  this,  and  because  their  slaughter  is  characterised 
by  practices  which  are  abominable  and  full  of  horror, 
tolerance  of  the  wholesale  destruction  of  sea-birds  on  their 
breeding-grounds  by  the  agents  of  feather-dealers  is  a  blot 
on  our  civilisation. 

Not  many  years  ago,  William  Alanson  Bryan,  United  States 
S})ecial  Inspector  of  Birds,  reported  that  on  several  islands 
in  the  North  Pacific — which  islands  are  the  property  of  the 
United  States,  and  legally  established  bird  reservations — he 
walked  waist-high  through  heaps  of  dead  x\lbatrosses.  Terns, 
and  Gulls,  the  feathers  of  which  had  been  strijtped  off  to  bo 
sold  as  hat-trinnnings,  and  the  bodies  thrown  aside  to  rot. 


116  Mr.  J.  Buckland  on 

On  other  islands  he  found  that  the  immense  colonies  of  birds 
which  hitherto  had  bred  there  had  been  wiped  absolutely 
out  of  existence. 

Last  year  a  gang  of  plumage  pirates  were  surprised  in 
their  dastardly  work  on  Laysan  Island,  which  is  in  the  same 
region,  and  which  is  famous  for  its  rich  deposits  of  guano. 
These  miscreants  had  already  clubbed  to  death  on  their 
nests,  or  when  feeding  their  young,  259,000  Albatrosses. 

Albatrosses  lay  but  one  egg,  and  as  they  can  be  killed 
with  profit  to  the  feather-dealer  only  when  massed  on  their 
breeding-grounds,  their  destruction,  at  this  appalling  rate, 
must  inevitably  mean  the  loss  to  the  United  IStates  of  its 
guano  suj)ply. 

It  is  my  opinion,  though  the  British  Government  is  not 
in  agreement  with  me  on  this  question,  that  every  agent 
that  conserves  the  natural  resources  of  the  present  millions, 
as  well  as  the  heritage  of  unborn  millions,  should  be  given 
every  measure  of  protection. 

Usefulness  of  the  Bird  to  Man  as  Food. 

So  far  I  have  considered  only  the  good  offices  the  bird 
voluntarily  takes  on  itself  in  the  service  of  man. 

1  will  now  proceed  to  show  how  invaluable  the  bird  is  to 
man,  under  certain  conditions,  as  a  food-supj)ly.  The  flesh- 
pots  of  the  world  have  been  already  acquired,  and  man  is 
now  reaching  out  for  less  favoured  regions  u])on  which  to 
domicile  his  increasing  millions.  This  action  of  his  produces 
the  pioneer,  who  must,  for  the  most  part,  live  on  the  wild 
l)roducts  of  forest,  mead,  river,  lake,  and  sea.  Now  let  us 
consider  how  a  scarcity  of  birds  will  allect  these  hardy 
forerunners  of  civilisation  who  drive  tlic  pl()ii;;li  in  tli(.'  trail 
of  the  axe.  The  sore  straits  to  which  they  will  i)c  put  will 
1)0  best  understood,  perhajis,  by  vi(!wing  the  results  of  the 
slaughter  of  the  Duck  in  North  America.  Not  morn  than 
fifty  years  ago  the  numljcr  of  these  birds  in  that  country 
was  beyond  conn)utation.  But  man  could  not  slay  them 
fast  enough  to  glut  his  blood-lust.     Sportsmen,  professional 


the  Value  ojBivds  to  Man.  117 

hunters^  and  agents  of  the  millinery  interest  smote  them 
by  the  million.  It  is  on  record  that  hundreds  o£  tons  of 
these  birds  were  killed  merely  for  their  green  wing-feathers, 
and  the  bodies  thrown  away. 

What  the  present-day  slaughter  of  birds  in  the  primitive 
places  of  the  earth  will  mean  to  the  pioneer  of  the  future 
is  foreshadowed  by  what  is  happening  in  Hudson  Bay  at 
the  present  time  on  account  of  the  blind  and  wanton 
destruction  of  the  Duck  in  North  America  in  days  gone  by. 

Ducks  are  now  becoming  so  scarce  along  the  west  coast 
of  Hudson  Bay,  where  there  are  no  moose,  caribou  are  few, 
and  the  fishing  is  poor,  that  the  people  living  there,  who 
have  always  depended  largely  on  the  Ducks  they  could  pack 
away  in  the  autumn,  find  it  difficult  to  get  food  enough  to 
carry  them  through  the  winter. 

I  have  not  touched  upon  the  aesthetic  side  of  the  question 
of  the  value  of  birds  to  man,  since  that  is  a  boundless 
realm,  sacred  to  sentiment,  art,  and  poetry — a  realm  of  which 
it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  treat  this  evening.  Even 
as  it  is — and  I  am  leaving  unmentioned  many  a  benefit 
that  birds  confer  on  man — I  have  already  put  too  great  a 
strain  on  your  patience. 

I  have  come  to  my  last  words  upon  my  subject.  Birds, 
unquestionably,  are  one  of  man's  greatest  possessions  ;  yet 
it  is  just  the  possession  on  which  he  sets  the  least  value. 
Wherever  there  are  birds  whose  feathers  are  suitable  to 
millinery,  there  will  the  plume-hunter  be  found,  dealing 
death  and  destruction.  Wherever  there  are  species  that 
have  been  harried  by  man  to  the  verge  of  extinction,  there 
will  be  the  collector  also,  anxious  to  obtain  the  last  linger- 
ing representative  of  a  race  before  his  rival  gets  a  chance 
to  do  so.  Wherever  there  are  birds  whose  eggs  are  valuable, 
there  the  egg-collector  hurries,  to  destroy  not  only  the 
embryo  life,  but  often  the  mature  life  as  well  by  killing 
the  bird  that  laid  the  egg  for  the  purpose  of  identification. 
Wherever  there  are  birds  that  are  considered  "  game,*'  there 
hastens  that   vandal  of  creation,  tliu  •' s^jortsnian ''  ol   means 


118  Occasional  Notes. 

and  leisure,  to  expend  upon  his  harmless  and  liel])less 
victims  his  barharons,  inherent  desire  to  kill  in  response  to 
instinctive  promptings. 

No  member  of  that  doomed  race  ever  flies  forth  in  the 
morning  with  any  certainty  that  it  will  return,  for  there  is 
always  the  man  with  the  gun  waging  war  against  it,  and  his 
instrument  of  destruction  annihilates  space  and  is  beyond 
the  power  of  escape. 

It  is  the  nature  of  infamies,  as  well  as  diseases,  whose 
progress  is  not  checked,  to  daily  grow  worse;  and  if  this 
wasteful  and  depraved  practice  of  killing  birds  wholesale  is 
not  checked  there  will  be  wrought  a  mischief,  a  universal 
disease,  more  far-reaching  than  words  can  express. 


XIV. —  Occasional  N^ofes. 

5.  Bird  Migration  in  South  Africa. —  In  accordance 
with  the  resolution  passed  at  the  last  Annual  General 
Meeting,  to  the  eftect  that  an  attemj)t  be  nuide  to  infuse  a 
little  more  interest  as  regards  Bird  Migration,  the  Council 
desire  the  Members  of  the  S.A.O.U. — and  others  willing — to 
undertake  a  few  simple  observations  during  each  year. 
We  a]){)eal  especially  to  the  school  teachers,  for  whom 
we  have  now  created  an  associate  membership  paying  a 
uominul  subscri{>tion  of  half  a  guinea  per  annum,  which 
covers  receipt  of  Journal,  Pcjpuhir  Bulletin,  and  any  other 
publication  which  might  be  issued.  The  Transvaal  Education 
Dept.  I'.ave  been  good  enough  to  have  a  series  of  wall-pictures 
priute<l  depicting  some  of  the  more  interesting  birds,  so  that 
identification  of  some  of  the  following  will  be  now  com- 
paratively easy. 

You  are  asked  to  look  out  for  the  arrival  and  deparlure  of 
any  or  all  of  tlx.-  undernoted  kinds  :  — 

1.  Eviioi'KAN  Ukk-kater  (McrojK  apifistd). 

2.  Ked-lkggki)  Ivk.strkl  ('J'.  vespertimiH). 

3.  European  .Swallow  {Ilirundo  rmlica). 

4.  Golden  OniOLE  {Oriylus yalhula). 

5.  Lesser  J^estrel  {'liiuiunciilus  nauiiiainii). 


Occasional  Xotes.  119 

6.  ErnoPEAN  Cuckoo  (C  canorua). 

7.  Grrenshank  {Totanus  littoreus). 

8.  White  Stork  or  Largk  Locust  Bird  {Cicnnia  rirotiia). 

9.  Black-winged  Pratincole  or  Little  Locust  Bird  {G/areola 

melanoptera). 

We  would  ask  all  observers  to  carefully  note  the  dafrs  of 
arrival  and  departure — i.  e.  the  first  and  last  dates  upon 
which  each  of  the  above  birds  were  last  seen — on  one  of  tho 
post-cards  enclosed  for  the  purpose,  and  ])ost  the  sauio.  If 
possible  also  note  the  force  and  direction  of  the  wind, 
i.e.  N,,  N.E.,  N.W.,  &c.,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  gentle, 
mediam,  strong  or  very  strong,  whichever  ol)tains  at  the 
time  the  bids  were  first  seen.  Any  other  ol)servations,  such 
as  "arrival  in  flocks'^  or  pairs,  would  be  of  interest. 

The  cards  could  either  be  posted  immediately  after  the 
arrival  of  each  species,  or  retained  and  posted  once  a  month. 
Unless  the  observer  is  a  regular  one,  the  former  course 
would  be  preferable. 

The  question  of  the  migratory  movements  of  birds — what 
governs  it,  whence  they  come,  where  they  go,  kc. — is  an 
all-absorbing  one,  so  we  would  exhort  all  Members  to  lend 
their  assistance,  or  if  they  find  that  they  cannot  m;inage  it 
themselves  they  might  induce  someone  else  to  undertake  the 
observations — as  the  local  schoolmaster  or  resident  minister, 
for  instance. 

Those  not  sure  of  the  identity  of  a  bird  can  sever  and 
forward  one  wing,  a  leg,  the  tail  and  the  beak,  which  will 
genernlly  suffice  to  distinguish  a  bird  with  some  degree  of 
certainty. 

The  resjwnse  to  this  Circular  when  first  issued  was  very 
poor,  and  wo  would  again  urge  upon  our  readers  the 
iuij)ortance  of  this  matter.  Jf  they  have  not  tho  time  to 
make  a  regular  habit  of  observing,  let  them  take  one  or  two 
birds — the  Euroj)ean  Swallow,  for  instance,  and  watch  for 
its  arrival.  Tiiis  bird  is  easily  recognisable  from  others  of 
its  kind  (with  one  exception)  by  its  small  size,  reddish  fore- 
head, cliiu,  and  tliroat.  The  only  species  it  can  easily  ho 
confused  with  is  the   Wln'te-throated  Swallow,  which  has  the 


120  SJiort  Notices  of  Ontithohu/iral  pKhUcatious. 

throat  wliite,  and  in  addition  the  sides  of  tlie  nock — these 
wliite  portions  heino;  very  conspicuous  even  wlien  the  bird  is 
on  the  wing.  The  South  Afri'^an  Swallows  are  laro;er  and 
have  a  reddish  rnnip  and  stri{)ed  underparts,  which  the 
European  Swallow  does  not  possess. 

Much  valuable  information  lias  of  late  years  been 
collected  in  S.  Africa  on  the  movements  of  the  White  Stork, 
and  many  birds  have  been  shot  or  picked  up  dead  with  an 
aluminium  ring  on  the  leg  bearing  a  No.  and  letters,  placed 
thereon  by  kindred  European  Societies.  Please  watch  for 
these,  and  any  found  should  be  forwarded  to  the  Transvaal 
Zoological  Gardens,  Pretoria,  with  all  data. 

We  sincerely  hope  that  a  genuine  effort  will  be  made  by 
our  Members  and  the  teachers  to  identify  themselves  more 
closely  with  the  work  of  the  Union,  and  render  what  assistance 
they  can. 

Note. — Copies  of  this  circular  and  a  supply  of  post-cards 
can  be  obtained  on  application  to  the  Hon.  Secretarv,  South 
African  Ornithologists'  Union,  Transvaal  Zoological  Gardens, 
Pretoria.  The  Secretary  will  also  be  pleased  to  receive 
applications  for  membership  at  all  times. 

Alavix  Haagxkr,  Sec.  S.A.O.U. 


XV. — Short  Notices  of  Ornithological  Piihlications. 

9.  1  he  <i(ime  Bir(h  ami  Waterfoicl  of  South  Africa.  By 
Major  B.  R.  llorsbrugh,  A.S.C.,  &c.  With  Coloured 
Plates  by  Sergt.  C.  G.  Davies,  C.M.R. 

A\  e  have  now  received  Part  IT.  of  this  lovelv  work  (see 
review  of  Part  I.  .fiipra  p.  7!^),  which  seems  an  improvement 
on  the  first  part  all  round.  The  species  dealt  with  ar(^  the 
Francolins — Crested,  Kirk's,  Grey-wing,  Cape  i{cd-wing, 
Orange  River,  Pjiittikofer's,  Sliclley's,  Red-billed,  Natal,  and 
Cape  ;  the  Red-necked  Francolins — Humboldt's,  Northern, 
Southern,  and  Swanison's;  the  <^'a[»e  and  Harlf'r|nin  and  Blue 
Quails;    ami    the    Kuirichuine    l>iitton-<,»naiI.       As    aheadv 


Shoyt  Xotices  of  Orni(holo<jicul  PuhUcations.  12L 

stated,  the  Avork  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  sportsman 
and  naturahst  in  the  sub-continent,  as  Mr.  Davies's  beautiful 
plates  render  the  species  easy  of  recognition.  Messrs. 
Witherby  &  Co.,  of  326  High  Holborn,  London,  who  are  the 
publishers,  deserve  every  credit  for  the  reproduction. 

10.  The  Journal  of  the  East  Africa  and  Uganda  Natural 
History  Society.     Vol.  ii.  No.  4. 

In  an  otherwise  interesting  number  of  this  pu1)lication  we 
find  only  two  short  ones  dealing  with  ornithological  subjects, 
viz.,  "  The  Flight  of  the  Marabou  Stork,"  by  F.  J.  Jackson 
(in  which  he  tells  us  that  the  Marabou  holds  its  legs  out 
behind  and  folds  up  the  neck  like  an  Heron,  with  this 
diffei'ence,  that  whereas  the  latter  carries  bill  ;iiid  legs 
horizontally  those  of  the  Marabou  are  depressed  and  pointing 
slightly  downwards).  Mr.  Woosnam  gives  new  localities  for 
Hubbard's  Francolin. 

11.  A  Hand-List  of  British  Birds.  By  Ernst  Hartert, 
F.  C.  R.  Jourdain,  N.  F.  Ticehurst,  and  H.  F. 
Witherby.  Demy  8vo.  Price  7^.  (uL  net. 
Witherby  &  Co.,  326  High  Holborn,  London,  W.C. 

A  work  which  gives  a  detailed  account  of  the  distribution 
of  each  species  in  the  British  Isles  and  a  general  account  of 
its  range  abroad,  with  details  of  the  occurrences  of  rare 
visitors.  The  nomenclature  is  revised  strictly  in  accordance 
with  the  International  Rules  of  Zoological  Nomenclature,  and 
trinomials  are  largely  employed.  Exact  references  to  the 
original  description  and  locality  are  given,  which  makes  the 
book  of  considerable  value.     An  index  is  provided. 

12.  The  Flight  of  Birds.  By  F.  W.  Headlcy.  With  16 
Plates  from  Photograjihs  and  jnany  Text  Diagrams. 
Crown  8vo.  5.s.  net.  London  :  Witherby  &  Co.,  32G 
High  Holborn,  W.C. 

This  book  is  a  simple  account  of  the  flight  of  birds.  Though 
an  ornithologist  iind  not  an  aviator,  the  author  kcejis  the 
aero])lane  in  view,  and  compares  and  contrasts  it  with  the 
bird. 


122  Short  Notices  of  Orn'itlioJnqkal  PuhVieaf'iom. 

13.    The  Binls   of  Africa.     Bj    Captain   G.    E.    Shelley. 

Vol.    V.    part    2.       Completed    and    edited    b}^    W. 

L.  Sclater,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.       Heniy   Sotheran  &  Co., 

43  Piccadilly,  W. 
Captain  Shelley  got  as  far  as  part  1  oE  yol.  y.  of  his 
now  well-known  work  on  South  African  Birds,  when  a 
stroke  oE  paralysis  rendered  hini  in  1906  unfit  for  further 
work.  He  died  on  29th  November,  1910,  but  shortly  before 
his  death  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  was  asked  by  Mvs.  Shelley  to 
undertake  the  completion  of  the  work.  Tiie  present  part 
was  accordingly  brought  up  to  date,  revised,  and  put 
through  the  press,  and  the  publishers  hope  to  see  the  work 
completed  with  another  four  or  five  volumes.  The  present 
part  deals  with  the  Section  Lanii,  comprising,  amongst 
some  l\fadagascar  genera  which  do  not  concern  us,  the 
Dicrurida3  or  Drongo  Shrikes,  the  C/ampophagidre  or  Cuckoo 
Shrikes,  and  the  Laniida3  or  True  Shrikes.  Amongst  the 
eight  l)eautiful  plates  by  Mr.  H.  Griinyold  we  have  figures 
of  y^lr.ator  chloris,  y.  (/alaris,  and  Enrocephalns  anqnitimens. 
There  are  again  some  changes  of  nomenclature,  our  Common 
Shrike  being  called  Fi.scus  coUaris,  the  genus  Lanins  being 
retained  for  the  "  ininor "  group  only.  The  Red-backed 
Shrike,  so  well-known  as  Lanins  coUurio,  is  called  Knneoc- 
tomis  collurio,  while  the  genus  PoviatorJii/nchus  (Ix^tter 
known  to  English  ornithologists  as  TelepJtoitus)  is  now  calhni 
Tschagra.  Mr.  Sclater  considers  Pomatorht/nchiis  of  Boie 
untenable,  because  it  was  evidently  a  misprint  or  a  correction 
of  Horsfield's  J^omatorhinus  given  to  the  Scimitar-bills  of 
the  Oriental  R(^gion.  The  genus  Pelicinius  is  discarded  in 
favour  of  Telojthorus  of  Swainson,  owing  to  the  type  of  the 
former  Ijeing  Lanins  barharus,  Linn.,  vvliich  makes  Pelicimus 
synonymous  with  T^aniarius.  Tt  will  be  a  fortunate  lliing 
for  ornithologists  when  scientific  names  liave  been  .set  I  led 
once  and  for  all  by  an  internationnl  congress. 

The  'Birds  of  Africa' should  bf  in  ihc  hands  of  every 
serious  student  of  African  Ornithology.  It  is  well  got  u]), 
clearly  printed,  and  exhaustive. 


NAME     INDEX. 


Abdimia  abdimi,  15. 
Accijnter  mimdlus,  87. 
Acrocephalus  palmtris,  4,  80. 
African  Buzzavd-Eagle,  87. 

Hobby,  3. 

Hoopoe,  25. 

Rook,  10. 

Alseonax  ccerulescens,  30. 
Amadina  fascinta,  90. 
Amblyospiza  albifrons,  42. 
Anaplectes  rubriceps,  38, 
Anas  boschas,  81. 

capensis,  1. 

Anthoscopus  rohcrtd,  52. 
Anthreptes  hypodilus,  50. 

longuemarii  ni/assce,  50. 

orientalis,  50. 

Anthus  trivialis,  20, 
Apalis  Jlorisuga,  56. 

neyhcta,  50. 

^;;!<A'  barbatus,  4,  0,  10. 

caffer,  5,  88. 

inelba  africamis,  4,  10. 

Ardetta  payesi,  86. 

^se'o  o^/s,  72. 

Astur  polyzonoides,  87. 


B. 

Babbler,  Jardino'.-,  92. 
viii..  VIII. 


Babbler,  Kirk's,  58, 

,  Tit,  20. 

Bakbakiri  Bush  Shrike,  89, 
Barbatula  extoni,  20. 
Barbet,  Yellow-tVonted,  20. 
Barn  Owl,  72. 
Barred  Wren  Warbler,  20. 
Baits  puella  noror,  31 . 
Bee-eater,  Cariniue-breasted,  20. 

,  European,  18,  88,  118. 

Bifasciated  Sunbird,  91. 
Bishop  Bird,  Red,  90. 

,  Taha,  90. 

Bittern,  Red-necked  Little,  86, 

,  South  African,  6f<. 

Black-capped  Bulbul,  70,  91. 

crested  Cuckoo,  8. 

Cuckoo,  8. 

Shrike,  20. 

headed  Oriole,  37. 

Saw-wing  Swallow,  12, 

Stork,  7,  13. 

Sunbird,  91. 

Swift,  4,  G,  10, 

Vulture,  3. 

Widow  Fincli,  90. 

winged  Pratincole,  119, 

Blue-breasted  Wa.vbill,  45. 

metallic-spotted  Dove,  71, 

Boror  Yellow-throated  Sparrow,  40, 
Botaurus  stellaris,  08,  09. 
BradoniiK  pa/lidi(s  inKrinus^  30. 
10 


124 


NAME    INDEX. 


Bronze-wing  Courser,  85.  I 

Brown  Harrier-Eagle,  76. 

hooded  Kiugtislier,  20,  88. 

throated  Bush  Warbler,  20. 

Jiucnrvus  cdfer,  22. 
Bulbul,  Black-capped,  70,  91. 
Bunting-,  Rock,  90. 
Buphagus  crythrorhynchus,  37. 
Bush-AVarbler,  Dusky-faced,  4. 

,  Eastern  Black-breasted, 

.57. 
Buzzard-Eagle,  African,  87. 
L'yccmisfes  buccinator,  22, 
cristatics,  22. 

c. 

Cabanis's  Thrush,  92. 
Cafamocic/ila  leptorJiyncha,  55. 
C'alavwnastesfasciolatus,  20. 

stierlingi,  55. 

Camnroj>tera    hrachyura   hororensis, 

57. 
yriseoviridis    nooinei,    18,    19, 

20. 

sttndevalli,  18,  19. 

Carupephuya  niyra,  20. 
Cape  Fruit- Pigeon,  20. 

Robin  Thrush,  92. 

Sparrow,  09,  90. 

Turtle-Dove,  87. 

AVagtail,  91, 

Wit^eon,  1. 

Caprimulyus  fervidus,  27. 

fossei,  27,  28. 

pecfrnvdis,  27. 

rufiycmt,  88. 

Carniino-breastcd  Bee-eater,  20. 

C'asnrcd  cann,  2. 

CWchneis      naumanni,    9,    14,     18, 

7.5. 

peJcinensis,  70, 

rupicola,  H\  88. 

Ciryle  rudis,  88. 


Chalcomitra  amethystina,  91. 

yutturalis,  51. 

olivacina,  51. 

Chanting  Goshawk,  20. 
Charadrius  fricol/itris,  8fi. 
Chat,  Whito-sliouldered  Robin-,  20. 
Chimney  Swallow,  72. 
C/ilorophoneus      sidphureopectus 

similis,  20,  35. 
Chrysococcy.v  cupreus,  14,  88. 
Cichhdiisn  arcmttn,  60. 
Ciconia  alba,  09. 
cico7iia,   6,  12,  13,  16,  20,  80, 

86,  119. 

niyra,  7,  13. 

Cinnyricinclus  verreari.vi,  37. 
Cinwjris  coUuris,  .50,  52. 

leucoyasier,  91. 

mariquensis,  91. 

microrlujnchus,  51,  52. 

olivacina,  52. 

sheUeyi,  52. 

Cir cactus  cinercus,  76,  77. 

(jaUiciis,  77,  78. 

pectoralis,  7(5,  77. 

thoracicus  (pectoralia),  78. 

Circus  ranivorus,  9,  10,  14,  69. 
Cisticula  chiniana,  20. 

dodsoni,  54. 

eryfJirops,  54. 

muclhri,  54. 

natalcnsis,  53. 

pusilla,  54. 

I'ufa,  54. 

ruficapilla  bororensis,  54. 

Sylvia,  54. 

tinnicns,  91, 

Claynatar  serratus,  8. 
Clill-Swallow,  South  African,  5,  12. 
Coliua  indictui,  88, 
CoUuspusser  ardcns,  45,  90. 
Coly,  Red-faced,  88. 
C'olyinbus  ciistatus,  1. 
Common  Cira.s.«!-Warbler,  91, 


NAME   INDEX. 


125 


Common  Sandpiper,  14,  79,  86. 
Coqui  Francoliu,  74. 
Coracids  yarrulus,  15. 
Curacina  pectoralis,  32. 
Corvus  scajndatus,  15. 
Cossypha  caffra,  92. 

namaquensis,  70. 

henglini,  59. 

humeralis,  20. 

Coturniv  africnna,  63. 
Courser,  Bronze-wing,  85. 
Crake,  Ilartlaub's,  2. 
Crateropiis  jardinei,  92. 

kirki,  58. 

Crested  Grebe,  1. 

Crimson-breasted  Busb  Shrike,  20. 
Crombec,  Fleck's,  20. 

Nyassa,  57. 

Crow,  Pied,  15. 
Crowned  Guinea-fowl,  87. 

Ilornbill,  22. 

Cuckoo,  Black,  8. 

, crested,  8. 

,  Emerald,  8,  13. 

,  European,  13,  119. 

,  Golden,  88. 

,  Red-chested,  7,  8,  13. 

.  -Shrike,  Black,  20. 

C'uculus  canorus,  13,  81,  119. 

clamosus,  8. 

solitarius,  7,  8,  13. 

Curlew,  70. 

Cut-throat  Weaver  Bird,  90. 


D. 


Dendroq/ffna  fulva,  1,  80. 

Dicfoeercus  hirundineus,  25. 

Dicrurus  afer,  37. 

Didric,  14. 

Dove,  Blue-metallic-spotted,  71. 

,  Cape  Turtle-,  87. 

,  Green-metallic-spotted,  71 

,  Laughinji',  Hfi. 


Dnjoscopus  ciilla,  36. 

hamatus,  36. 

Duck,  Whistling,  1,  80. 
Dusky-faced  Bush- Warbler,  4. 


E. 

Eagle,  African  Buzzard-,  87, 

,  Brown  Harrier-,  76, 

,  European  Harrier-,  77. 

Eastern   Black-breaeted  Bush- 
Warbler,  57. 
Egyptian  Kite,  9,  14,  18. 
Emberizajlaviventris,  47, 

major,  47, 

Emerald  Cuckoo,  8,  13. 
Enjieoctonus  coUurio,  122. 
Eremomda  scotops,  4,  58. 

usticollis,  20. 

Erythropijf/ia  Icucophrys,  20. 

quadriviryata,  61. 

zambesiana,  61. 

Estrildii  astrild,  46. 

incana,  44. 

polioyasfra,  44. 

Euplectes  xanthomelas,  43. 
Eurocephalus  anyuitimens,  122. 
European  Bee-eater,  18,  88,  118. 

Cuckoo,  13,  119, 

Harrier-Eagle,  77. 

Quail,  63. 

Roller,  15, 

Swallow,  6,  10,  18,  118. 

F. 

Falco  ccsalon,  82. 

biarmiaiSy  82,  83, 

cuvicri,  3, 

Mhmh  82,  8i. 

Vyrfako,  S-2. 

horsbruyhi,  79. 

lunar ius,  82,  83,  84. 

minor,  85. 

pcreyrinoides,  ^2 


12G 


NAME    INDEX. 


Faho  ru/icoUis,  79. 

tmiypterus,  83,  84. 

Falcon,  South  African  Lanner,  82. 
Finch,  Black  Widow,  90. 

,  Melba,  20. 

,  Quail,  90. 

Finfoot,  Peters's,  78. 
Fiscal  Flycatcher,  89. 
Fiscus  collaris,  122. 
Fisl;ii)g-Owl,  Pel's,  3. 
Fleck's  Crombec,  20. 
Flycatcher,  Fiscal,  89. 

,  Lead-headed,  89, 

,  Paradise,  10,  15,32. 

,  Spotted,  20,  89. 

Forest  Fared  Owl,  72. 
Francolin,  Coqiii,  74. 

,  Hubbard's,  121. 

Fnntjillaria  tuhaptsi,  90. 
Fruit-Pigeon,  Cape,  20. 


G. 

Gabar  Goshawk,  87. 
Gallinayo  media,  74. 

7iif/rij>ennis,  74. 

Garden-^^'arbler,  1 7. 
Genntea,  83. 
Gerfalcon,  Norway,  82. 
Glareola  melunopiera,  119. 
Golden  Cuckoo,  88. 

Oriole,  118. 

Goshawk,  Chanting-,  20. 

,  Gabar,  87. 

,  Litflo  IJanded,  87. 

Grass- Warbler,  Common,  91. 

,  Natal,  o3. 

Great  Locust  Bird,  GO,  70,  ll9. 
Grebe,  Crested,  1. 
(ireen  Sandpiper,  2. 

metallic-spotted  Hove,  71. 

Greenshank,  119. 
Ground  Ilombiil,  22. 
Guinea-fowl.  Crowned,  87. 


H. 


Halcyon  tilhiventris.  20,  88. 

oricntalis,  24. 

chelicuti,  3,  24. 

ITaninierkop,  80. 

Harrier,  Marsli,  09. 

— -,  South  African,  9,  10,  14. 

Fa<^le,  Brown,  70. 

,  European,  77. 

Hartlaub's  Crake,  2 

Hawk,  Little  Sparrow,  87. 

Hehhiis  Ixirhyi,  55. 

Ili'mipteryx  minnta,  3. 

Heron,    AVhite-backod     Night-,     3, 

80. 
Ilcieroeorax  cape7isis,  10. 
Hirundo     albiyuhtris,     5,      11,     29, 

89. 

cuniUata,  5,  IL 

diniidlutu,  6. 

monteiri,  29. 

puellu,  6,  29. 

rudica,  6,  11,  18,  118. 

mnithi,  29. 

Hobby,  African,  3. 
IIoney-Guide,  Lesser,  12. 
Hoopoe,  African,  25. 

,  Scimitar-billed,  20. 

,  South  African,  10,  15. 

Ilornbill,  Crowned,  22. 

,  Ground,  22. 

Hubbard's  Francolin,  121. 
Ihjdrohatcs  pelu(iictt»,  1 . 
Jlyliola  Jlaviijastra  burbuza,  31. 
Ilypargos  niveoyuttattts,  43. 
Ilypochera  fimcrpa,  45,  90. 
llypolaiK  hypoldin,  1 7,  02. 
olivctorum,  (\2. 


Tcfcrinc  Wnrblor,  17. 
Iiidicdtnr  minor,  12. 


NAME    INDEX. 


127 


Irrisor  erythrorhynchus,  26. 

brevirostris,  26. 

viridis,  26. 

J. 

Jameson's  Waxbill,  20. 
Jardiue's  Babbler,  92. 


Kaupifalco  jnonoyrammica,  87. 
Kestrel,  Lesser,  18,  7o,  118. 

,  Naiuuann's,  9,  14. 

,  Red-legged,  118. 

,  South  African,  88. 

Kingfisher,  Brown-hooded,  20, 

■ ,  Pied,  88. 

,  Striped,  .3. 

Kirk's  Babbler,  58. 
Kite,  Egyptian,  9,  14,  18. 


Lagonosticta  hrunnciceps  rcndaUt,  45. 

rubricata,  20. 

Lamjjrocolius  chalybcBuSf  38. 
Lnninrius,  122. 

atrococcineus,  20. 

major  mossambicus,  35. 

ru/ivenfris,  36. 

Lanius  harbarus,  122. 

collurio,  15,  18,  20,  30,  122. 

Large  Stripe-breasted   Swallow,    5, 

11. 
Laughing  Dove,  86. 
Lead-headed  Ilycatcher,  89. 
Lesser  Honey-Guide,  12. 

Kestrel,  18,75,  118. 

Masked  Weaver,  89. 

Stripe-breasted  Swallow,  6. 

Limnobcenus  murginalis,  2. 
Little  Banded  Goshawk,  87. 

Locust  Bird,  119. 

Pinc-Pinc  \\'arbler,  .'5. 


Little  Sparrow-ITawk,  87. 

Lobotus  oriolinus,  71. 

Locust  Bird,  Groat,  69,  70,  119. 

,  Little,  119. 

Long- tailed  Wagtail,  48. 
LojjJioceros  melanoleucus,  22. 

7iewnanni,  23. 

Lusciniola,  56. 

M. 

Macrodipteryx  vexiUarius,  28. 
Macronyx  croseus,  48. 
M(daco7iotus  olivaceus  starki,  36. 
Marabou  Stork,  121. 
Marsh  Harrier,  69. 

Warbler,  4,  80. 

Martin,  Piock-,  6. 
Masked  Weaver,  89. 
Melcenornis  ater  tropicalisy  30. 
Melba  Finch,  20. 
Melierax  canorus,  20. 
Melittophayus  vieridionalis,  25. 
Melocichln  mentulis  orientalis,  53. 
Mennell's  Seed-eater,  47. 
Merlin,  82. 
Merops  apiaster,  18,  88,  118. 

nubicoides,  20. 

stiperciliosus,  71. 

31etalloeocci/x  smaraydineus,  8,  l.j. 
Microiiisus  yabar,  87. 
Mili'ics  ceyyptim,  9,  14,  18. 
Monteiro's  Swallow,  29. 
Monticola  angolensis  nyassce,  60. 
Motacilla  capensis,  91. 

lotigicaiida,  48. 

vidua,  48. 

Muscicapa  yrisola,  20,  89. 
Myrmecocichla  shelleyi,  GO. 


N. 

Natal  Grass- Warbler,  53, 
Neumann's  Kestrel,  9,  14. 


128 


NAME   INDEX. 


H'icnior  chhris,  122. 

yularis,  35,  122. 

Niglit-Heron,  "White-backed,  3,  80. 
Nightjar,  Ixufous-cheeked,  83. 
Kilaus  i}i(/rite7npor(ilis,  33. 
Norway  Gerfalcon,  82. 
I^'ionida  coronata,  67. 
Nyassa  Crombec,  57. 
Kydicorax  leuconolus,  3,  80. 

O. 

(Edicnemus  eapensis,  73. 

vermiculatus,  74. 

Olive  Weaver  Bird,  89. 
Oriole,  Black-beaded,  37. 

,  Golden,  118. 

Oriolus  sp.,  37. 

galbula,  118. 

larvatus  roUeti,  37. 

Orti/fiospiza  poli/zomi,  90. 
Olis  afra,  73. 

afroides,  73. 

harrovii,  73. 

carulesccns,  73. 

caffra,  73. 

kori,  73. 

hulu-iyi,  73. 

vidanof/aster,  73. 

ruficrista,  73. 

jiippclli,  73. 

vifforsi,  73. 

Oioyyps  auriculaiis,  3. 
Owl,  Barn,  72. 

,  Forest  Eared,  72. 

,  rd's  Fishing-,  3. 

r. 

Tainted  Snipe,  74. 

Palm  Swift,  28. 

Paradise  Flycatcher,  10,  15,  32. 

Parisomn  phonbeum,  ryj. 

■ suljcccrulcmn,  20. 

ParttB  2>'dlidiie?itns  rcvuvuc,  52, 


Passer  nielanurus,  69,  90. 
Pearl-brea^sted  Swallow,  6. 
Pelidnim,  122. 

zeyloHHs,  89. 

Pel's  Fishing-Owl,  3. 
Peters "s  Finfoot,  78. 
Petrel,  Storm-,  1. 
Petrochelidon  spilodera,  5,  12. 
Petronia  siq)crciliaris  bororeiisis,  40. 
Phyllastrephus  capensis,  49. 

suahelicus,  48. 

cerviniventris,  49. 

fiaviveniris  occidcntalis,  48. 

Pied  Crow,  15. 

Kingfisher,  88. 

Pigeon,  Cape  Fruit-,  20. 

,  Speckled  or  Rock,  70. 

Pink-billed  Weaver,  89. 
Pipit,  Tree,  20. 
Plcdysteira  peltata,  31. 
Ploceus  aureoflavus,  41. 

auricapillus,  89. 

cabanisi,  89. 

capensis  olivacens,  89. 

niyriceps,  40. 

ocularius  crocatus,  39. 

sfictifrons,  39. 

velatus,  89. 

a'atithops,  41. 

xanthopterus,  41. 

Plover,  Three-handed,  80. 
Podica  petcrsi,  78. 
Poliospiza  yularis,  47. 

mennelli,  47. 

rcichardi,  47. 

Pomatorhinus,  122. 
PomatorliyncliHSj  122. 

uustrulis,  20. 

comjenevy  34. 

tcneyalus,  34. 

Pratincola  torquata  orient  alia,  70. 
Pratincole,  Black-winged,  119. 
Prinia,  55. 

niy.slacca,  50,  92. 

PnoH0])8  talacoma,  32. 


NAME  INDEX. 


X29 


rsali'l'pi'ocne  hohmelana,  12. 
rielia  af?-a,  44. 
Pycnonotus  layardi,  70,  91 . 

2)allidtis,  49. 

Pyroinelana  Jiammiceps,  42. 

orix,  90. 

taha,  90. 

Fytilia  vielba,  20. 

Q. 

Quail,  70. 

,  European,  G3. 

Finch,  90. 

Quelea  erythrops,  42. 

sanguinirostris  lathami,  42,  90. 


H. 


Red^backed  Shrike,  15,  18,  20. 

Bishop  Bird,  90. 

chested  Cuckoo,  7,  8, 13. 

coUared  Widow  Bird,  90. 

faced  Coly,  88. 

legged  Kestrel,  118. 

necked  Little  Bittern,  80. 

Revuma  Tit,  52. 
Mhinopomastus  cyanomelas,  20. 
schaloici,  26. 

RMnoptilus  chalcopterus,  85. 

Ixiparia  fuliyula,  G. 

Robin,  White-browed  Ground,  20. 

Chat,  Wliite-shouldered,  20, 

Rock  Bunting,  90. 

Martin,  6. 

or  Speckled  Pigeon,  70. 

Roller,  European,  15. 

Rook,  African,  16. 

Rufous-cheeked  Nightjar,  88. 


Sandj)iper,  Common,  14,  79,  8G. 
,  Green,  2. 


Sandpiper,  Terek,  2. 

,  Wood,  14,  8G. 

Scimitar-billed  Hoopoe,  20. 
Scopus  umbretta,  86. 
Scotopelia  pelt,  3. 
Seed-eater,  Mennell's,  47. 
Serinus  icterus  madaraszi,  47. 
Sheldrake,  South  African,  2. 
Shrike,  Bakbakiri  Bush,  89. 

,  Black  Cuckoo-,  20 

,  Crimson-breasted  Bush,  20, 

,  Red-backed,  lo,  18,  20. 

,  Three-streaked  Bush,  20. 

,  Yellow-fronted  Bush,  20. 

,  Zambesi  Red-wing,  34. 

Siyehis  silens,  89. 
Siymodus  retzii  tricolor,  32. 
Smithornis  capensis,  31. 
Smith's  Grass  Warbler,  20. 
Snipe,  Tainted,  74. 
South  African  Bittern,  68. 

. Cliff-Swallow,  5,  12. 

Harrier,  9,  10,  14. 

Hoopoe,  10,  15. 

Kestrel,  88. 

Banner  Falcon,  82. 

Sheldrake,  2, 

Sparrow,  Boror  Yellow-throated,  46, 

,  Cape,  69,  90. 

Hawk,  Little,  87. 

Speckled  or  Rock  Pigeon,  70. 
Sphenosacus,  53. 
Spotted  Flycatcher,  20,  89. 
Steyanura  paradisea,  4G. 
Stiorling  s  Barred  Warbler,  55. 
Stork,  Black,  7,  12,  13. 

,  Marabou,  121. 

,  White,  6,  13,  16,  20,  72,  80, 

80,  119. 

,  White-bellied,  15. 

Storm-Petrel,  1. 
Striped  Kingfisher,  3. 
SfrixJlatMuea,  81. 
Sunbird,  Bii'asciated,  91. 
,  Black,  91. 


180 


NAME  INDEX. 


Siinbird.  White-breasted,  91. 
Swallow,  Black  Saw-wiug,  12. 

,  C'liimiiey,  72. 

■ ,  European,  0,  10,  18,  118. 

,  Large  Stripe-breasted,  5,  11. 

,  Lesser  Stripe-breasted,  6. 

,  Monteiro's,  29. 

,  Pearl-breasted,  0. 

,  South  African  Cliff-,  5,  12. 

,  White-bellied,  4,  10. 

, runiped,  5,  88. 

, throated,  5,  11,  89. 

Swift,  Black,  4,  6,  10. 

,  Tulm,  28. 

Sylvia  nison'a,  17,  G2,  63. 

simplex,  17. 

si/lvifi,  17. 

Syloicttajlechi,  20. 

jacksotii,  57. 

wJn/tei,  57. 

T. 

Tachjornis  jyarvus  myochroKS,  28. 
Tabu  Bishop  Bird,  90. 
Tarsiyer  stellatus,  60. 

iransvaaleitsin,  21. 

typica,  21. 

Tawny-flanked    Wren-Warbler,   56, 

92. 
Tchitrea  2)erspicillatf(,  10,  15,  32,  89. 

plutnbeiceps,  89. 

Telephonits,  122. 
Telophorus,  122. 
Terek  Sand])iper,  2. 
Tcrchia  cinercn,  2. 
Three-banded  I'lovcr,  80. 

streaked  Bush  Shrike,  20. 

Thrush,  Cabnnis's,  92. 

,  Cape  liobin,  92. 

Tinnuncidus  nanmanni,  llH, 

venpeftintvi,  118. 

Tit  Babbler,  20. 

,  llevuma,  52. 

Tutanus  ylarcola,  1 4,  80. 


Totantis  littorens,  119. 

ochropuK,  2. 

Tree  Pipit,  20. 
Trinya  hypoleuciis,  79. 
Trinyoides  hypoli'iicoii,  14,  86. 
Trochocercus  cyanoiiielas,  52. 
Ttichayra,  122. 
Titrdus  cahanisi,  92. 

libo?>yanus  tropicaU)>,  58. 

Turtle-Dove,  Cape,  87. 
Turtur  ccipicohi,  87. 
seneyalensis,  86. 


U. 

Upj/pa  (ifricana,  10,  15,  25. 
Urayinthus  anyolenns,  45. 
Urobruchya  axillaris,  43. 


V. 

Vidua  i^erena,  45,  46. 
Vinayo  delalandei,  20. 

wakefu'ldi,  71. 

Vulture,  Black,  3. 


W. 

Wagtail,  Cape,  91. 

,  Long-tailed,  48. 

Warbler,  Barred  ^^'ren,  20. 

,  Brown-throatod  Bush,  20. 

,  Cnmnion  Grass-,  91. 

,  Dusky-faced  Bush-,  4. 

,  Eastern  Black-breasted  Bush-, 

57. 

,  Garden,  17. 

,  Icterine,  17. 

,  Little  Pinc-Pinc,  3. 

,  Marsh-,  4,  80. 

,  Natal  Gross-,  53. 

,  Smith's  (irnss-,  20. 

,  Stierling's  liarrod,  55. 

,  Tawny-flanked  ^\'rcn-,  56,  92. 


N'AMK  INDEX. 


X3X 


Waxbill,  Blue-breasted,  45. 

,  Jameson's,  20. 

AVeaver,  Cut-throat,  90. 

,  Lesser  Masked,  89. 

,  Masked,  89. 

,  Olive,  89. 

,  Piuk-billed,  90. 

Wiiistling  Duck,  1,  80. 
White-backed  Night-Heron,  3,  80. 

bellied  Stork,  15. 

Swift,  4,  10. 

breasted  Sunbird,  91. 

browed  Ground  Robin,  20. 

eye,  91. 

rumped  Swift,  5,  88. 

shouldered  Robin-Chat,  20. 

-  ^tork,  6,  12,  1.3,  16,  20,  72,  80. 
86,  119. 


White-throated  Swallow,  5,  11,  89. 

Widow  Bird,  Red-collared,  90. 

Willow-Wren,  14. 

Wood  Sandpiper,  14,  86. 

Wren- Warbler,  Tawny-iianked,  -CiG, 

92. 
Wren,  Willow-,  14. 


Y. 

Yellow-fronted  Barbet,  20. 
Bush  Shrike,  20. 


Zambesi  Red-wing-  Shrike,  34. 
Zosterops  viir/i-i,  i)l. 


PUlJflED  BY  'r.WLoU  .\ND  I'KANtlS,  ULI;  Lly.N   COLUT,  ll.Kl.T  STKKKT,   F.C. 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  1.  JUNE  1912.  Price  5s.  Od. 


THE     JOURNAL 

OF  THE 


CONTENTS. 

Page 

I.  On  some  Birds  in  the  Durbim  Museum.     Bj  E.  0.  Chubb,  Curator   1 

II.  Notes  on  tbe  Migratory  Birds  of  tlie  Buffalo  River  Basin.     By  the  Rev. 

JtoBERT  Godfrey t 

IJI.  Field-Notes  on  Birds  collected  at  Blaauwberg,  N.  Transvaal.     By  F.  O. 

NOOME    15 

IV.  Description  of  a  New  Flycatcher.     By  Austin  Roberts    21 

V.  Notes  on  a  Cf>llection  of  Birds  in  the  Transvaal  Museum  from  Boror, 

Portuguese  East  Africa. —  Part  II.     By  Austin  Robkkts  22 

VI.  Correspondence 62 

VIT.  Account  of  the  Eighth  Annual  General  Meeting  64 

VIII.  Occasional  Notes    ' 68 

IX.  Short  Notices  of  Ornithological  Publications 70 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE    UNION    IN    PRETORIA,   TRANSV.\.\L 

London  Aoknts: 

WITHERBY  &  CO.,  326  HIGH  HOLBORN,  W.C. 


GENERAL    NOTICES. 


\/       The  address  of  the  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer   of  the   \/ 
^^    Union  is  : — 

A.  Haagner,  Esq., 

Transvaal  Zoological  Gardens, 
Pretoria, 
Please  Note  !  Transvaal. 


Any  person  desirous  of  joining   the   Union  should  coin- 
ninnicate  with  the  Hon.  Secretary. 


The  Annual  Subscription  is  £1  Is.,  and  all  Menihoi-;  of 
the  Union  receive  a  free  copy  of  all  its  publications. 


The   Funds    of    the  Union    are   devoted    mainly   to    the 
publication  of  this  Journal. 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  for  1912  are  now  due  and  should  be  for- 
warded to  the  Hon.  Treasurer. 


Members  are  requested  to  be  good  enough  to  notify  to 
tiie  Hon.  Secretary  any  change  of  address,  so  that  prompt 
despatch  of  notices  and  publications  may  be  ensured. 

Bound  Volumes  of  the  dournal  can  be  purchased  at  ])r\rey 
mentioned  below  : — 

Vols.  1  &  2  fin  1  volume)...  18.s.  6</.,  })ost  8^/.  extra. 
Vols.  :^,  4,  &  f)  14.S'.  0^/.  each,     „    6^/.     ,. 

Vol.  c. U.S.  Or/.,    „  6,/.    .. 

2.^)%  discount  to  Members, 
(.'loth  covers  to   take  Vols.  J.  and  J  I.  in  <nir.  jtrice  l.v.  Q,l.. 
post-free  ;    other   Volumes   also   l.s-.   6d.   each.       ()bt.;iiiiabl<' 
from   the   Hon.    Secketakv.    or    from    WiTiiKKitv    A    Co., 
:i2t)  High  H('ll>orn.  London.  \V'.<'. 


EDITORIAL     NOTICES. 


The  Editors  invite  contributions  on  South  African  Orni- 
thology from  nil  students.  These  should,  if  possible,  be  type- 
written. 

Drawinii^s  (which,  for  the  purpose  of  ease  of  reproduction, 
should  be,  as  far  as  possible,  in  line  and  without  wash) 
■jind  j)hotographs  from  nature  will  be  gladly  welcomed. 
(Jriginal  MS8.,  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  literatin-(»  or  accounts  of  the 
Meetings  of  Associations  dealintj  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  tho 
Union  permit,  subject,  of  course,  to  there  being  sufficient 
matter  suitable  for  publication. 

Fifteen  copies  of  every  paper  published  in  the  Journal  will 
be  reserved  for  the  author  free  of  charge. 

The  Editors  will  be  pleased  to  answer,  to  the  best  of  their 
ability,  through  the  nuHlium  of  this  Journal,  any  questions 
relating  to  ornithological  matters,  and  to  identify  ornitho- 
logical specimens  submitted  to  them. 

In  cases  whfre  an  immediate  answer  is  required,  a  re[)ly 
will  1)0  forwarded  througjj  the  post  if  a  stamped  addressed 
envelope  is  enclosed  with  the  enquiry. 

The  Editors  respectfully  draw  attention  to  the  necessity 
for  support  to  the  Illustration  Fund,  and  invite  subscriptions 
thereto. 


THE  SOUTH  AFRICAN  ORNITHOLOGISTS'  UNION. 


PRESIDENT. 
J.  \V.  B.  GuN.vixG,  M.D.,  F.Z.S. 

(Director  Tran.svaal  ^Tu.'ipuiii  and  Zoological  Gai-dpiii^.  Pic-tmia.) 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

J.  E.  DuERDEN,  Ph.D.,  M.Sc. 
( Profe.s.sor  of  Zoology,  Rhodes  Univ.  College,  Omhamstown,  (.'X'.. 
and  Keeper  Zoologicfil  Department,  Albany  jMu.seunu) 

L.  PiRINGUEY,  D.Sc,  F.Z.S.,  (fee. 
(Director  S.A.  Museum,  Cape  Town.) 


HON.    SECRETARY    AND    TREASURER. 

AuviN  Haagxer,  F.Z.S.,  Col.]\r.B.().n. 

(Ti-ansvaal  Zoological  Gardens,  Pretoria,  Ti-ansvaal.) 


EDITORIAL    COMMITTEE. 
Dr.  J.  W.  B.  GiJNXiXG. 
B.  C.  R.  Langford. 
A.  K.  Haagner. 


MEMBERS    OF    COUNCIL. 
V.  A.  0.  PvM.     (Cape  Colony.) 
L.  E.  Taylor,  F.Z.S.     (Tninsvanl.) 
C.  McG.  JouxsTON.     (Grange  River  Colony.) 
Dr.  J.  E.  liRisroK.  "^I^^atal.) 
E.  C.  CnuBH,  F.Z.S.     (Rhodesia.) 
J.  P.  Murray.    (Ba«utoland.) 
P.  A.  Suepparu.     (Portuguese  S.E.  Africa.) 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  2.  DECEMBER  1912.  Price  7s.  Od. 


THE     JOURNAL 

OF  THE 

SOUTH  m  m  m  tholoc  sts'  i  oi 

1 

AGE 

75 

>2 

85 
02 

lis 

120 
123 

CONTENTS. 

f 

X.  Random   Notes   on   South    African   Ornithology.      By   0.   G.   Davies, 
M.B.O.U 

XI.  The  South  African  Lanner  Falcon  {Falno  hiarm/aia)  and  its  Congeners. 
By  B.  0.  R.  Langpord.     (Plate.) 

XII.  The   Wild    Birds    of    the   Pretoria   Zoolo<;ical   Gardens.      By   Alwin 
Haagser,  F.Z.S.,  Col.  Member  B.O.U.,  Hon.  Mem.  Rojal  Hung.  Bur. 
of  Ornithology  (Superintendent  Tvl   Zool  Gardens) 

XIII.  The  Value  of  Birds  to  Man.     By  James  Buckland 

XIV    Occasional  Notes   

XV.  Short  Notices  of  Ornithological  Publications 

Titlepage,  Preface,  Contents,  Roll  of  Members,  List  of  Papers, 
Subject-niattcCr  Index. 

PUBLISHED  BY 
THE   UNION   IN    PRETORIA,  TRANSVAAL. 

WITHERBY  &  CO.,  320  IllOn  IIOLBORN,  W.C. 

GENERAL     NOTICES. 


W       The  address  of  the  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer   of  the   \/ 
'^    Union  is  : — 

A.  HAAiiNKH,  Esq., 

Transvaal  Zoological  Gardens, 
Pretoria, 
Please  Note  !  Transvaal. 


Any  person  desirous  of  joining  the  Union  should  com- 
municate with  the  Hon.  Secretary. 


The  Annual  Subscription  is  £1  Is.,  and  all  Members  of 
the  Union  receive  a  free  copy  of  all  its  publications. 


•The  Funds    of    the  Union    are   devoted    mainly    to    the 
publication  of  this  Journal. 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  for  1912  are  now  due  and  should  be  for- 
warded to  the  Hon.  Treasurer. 


Members  are  requested  to  be  good  enough  to  notify  to 
the  Hon.  Secretary  any  change  of  address,  so  that  prompt 
despatch  of  notices  and  publications  may  be  ensured. 


Bound  Volumes  of  the  Journal  can  be  purchased  at  prices 
mentioned  below  : — 

Vols.  1  &  2  (in  1  volume)...  I85.  6d.,  post  8d.  extra. 

Vols.  3,  4,  &  5  14s.  Od.  each,     „    6^/.     „ 

Vol.  n     Us.  Od.,     „    6(/.     ,. 

25°/q  discount  to  Members. 
Cloth  covers  to  take  Vols.  I.  and  II.  »a  one,  price  Is.  6(^., 
post-free  ;    other  Volumes  also  Is.   6d.   ciicli.       Obfainable 
from   tbf   Hon.    Secuktauv.    or    from    A\'i  iiiKiiMV    A-    Co. 
?»2t)  Ili'di  llolborn.  London.  W.C. 


^     or    . 

0 

^  S':  1 

y3  ft 

IC     1, 

.-»      -' 

'^^    ro 

— » 

to 

0