164 A NATURALIST IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



quenting rocky ground. The favourite food of Cerchneis 

 tinnunculoides appears to be orthopterous insects, and Ortlioptera 

 and Coleoptera were found in the stomach of Falco ruficollis. 

 For some facts relating to the Secretary-bird (Serpentarius 

 secretarius) see ante, p. 68. 



Some species very common in the wooded districts of Water- 

 berg and Zoutpansberg are occasionally seen in the district of 

 Pretoria, such as the Grey Plantain-eater (Schizorhis cgncolor) 

 and the Yellow-billed Hornbill (Lophoceros leucomelas), 

 examples of both of which were observed and obtained. 

 Another bird not at all rare around Pretoria is the Golden 

 Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) ; in the stomach of one I found 

 small Coleoptera, in that of another specimen small Ortlioptera. 

 Peters' Glossy Starling (Lamprocolius sycobius] and the Cape 

 Glossy Starling (Amydrus morio) are very abundant in wooded 

 rocky spots, and give a colour to the scene ; while after the 

 rains the Common Spreos (Spreo bicolor) assemble inflocks upon 

 the veld, and devour the small Orthoptera there existing in 

 great plenty. 



Wherever wet places and high reeds are found, the Long- 

 tailed Widow-bird (Chera progne) may usually be observed 

 pursuing its laborious and difficult flight, heavily handicapped 

 by its seasonally- developed tail, and is a good instance where 

 sexual selection is exercised at the expense of protection. 



Among the tamest of birds may be mentioned the Cape Long- 

 claw (Macronyx capensis), which can frequently be killed when 

 driving by a slash of the whip wielded by an expert Kafir, as a 

 specimen in my collection was thus obtained. But this bird is 

 not usually found around the outskirts of the town, as is that 

 most friendly of visitors, the Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis), 

 many of which fall a prey to small Dutch boys armed with that 

 hideous instrument, the ' ' catapult." 



I give a list * of my captures, which may be taken to give a 

 fair, but not exhaustive, estimate of the birds to be obtained 

 around the capital of the Transvaal; and in preparing the same 

 I must express my warmest thanks to Dr. 11. Bowdler Sharpe, 



* I have arranged this list according to the method pursued in Layard 

 and Sharpe's ' Birds of South Africa.' 



