176 H.W.James 



In the last ten years farming along the banks of these two rivers 

 has made rapid strides, especially with regard to irrigation; several 

 large irrigation schemes have materialised, resulting in extensive 

 areas being brought under cultivation. The effect of this has been 

 that many species are steadily on the increase; others, formerly 

 unknown have been attracted by the plentiful food supply and arc 

 gradually extending their range. Most noticeable of the new 

 species Sporopipes squamifrons (A. Sm.) and P^Tomelana taha 

 (A. Sm.). 



Formerly S. squamifrons did not extend further south than 

 northern Cape Colony. It has gradually come southwards and 

 now extends as far south as Witmoss, which lies 32 miles due 

 south of Cradock. P. taha was not found in Cape Colony until 

 a few years ago, but in the last six years has been fairly common 

 in the Cradock district also extending as far south as Witmoss. 



On the farm Halesowen, belonging to Mr. Hilton-Barber, and 

 situated 8 miles south of Cradock I identified 1 34 species of birds 

 and found the nests of 97. 



For the last three years I have been living on a farm in the 

 Tarkastad district. This farm lies almost due east of Cradock 

 and is just over the boundary, our fence being the actual boundary 

 of the two districts. As conditions prevailing there are exactly 

 similar to those of the Cradock district I have included the obser- 

 vations made there in this paper. Running through the farm is an 

 irrigation furrow, cut for practically the whole of its length, out 

 of solid rock. The material excavated has been thrown out on 

 either side of the furrow, forming two very substantial banks. 

 Along the edge of the furrow, on either side, a path has been left 

 and on this all kinds of small bushes and grass have sprung up. In 

 this growth and amongst the stones of the banks I have found a 

 good many nests of the following species, Alario alario (L), 

 Fr'mgillaria impetuana (A. Sm.), Motacilla capensis (L), 

 Emarg'mata slnuata (Sund.), Phoenicurus familiaris (Steph.), 

 Saxicola monticola (Vieill.), Calerida crassirosiris (Vieill.), 

 of these species A. alario, F. impetuana, M. capensis, C. crassi- 

 rostris build open nests in exposed positions, the others nests 



