Birds in the Cradock and Tarkasiad Districts 181 



Otis caerulescens (Blue Bustard). — Common in both districts. 

 As soon as the breeding season is over it congregates in 

 small flocks of five to six individuals. I have recorded it 

 nesting in October and December. 



Otis afra (Black Bustard). — This is a common species in both 

 districts. This bird does not congregate in flocks, but will 

 always be found in pairs. The only record I have of its 

 nest is February. 



Anihropoides paradisea (Stanley Crane). — This beautiful bird 

 is very common in both districts. It is found in flocks of 

 anything from 20 to 300 and does a good deal of damage 

 to ripening grain, particularly wheat, of which it seems to 

 be very fond. I have seen a large field of wheat com- 

 pletely destroyed by these birds, every head of grain having 

 been stripped off. It nests on the ground in the months of 

 November and December. 



Ful'ica cristata (Red-knobbed Coot). — I have only once come 

 across this Coot; that was at Mortimer in the Cradock 

 District. It was nesting on a dam there in the month of 

 November. 



Tiirnix lepurana (Kurrichane Button Quail). — This species 

 occurs sparingly in the Cradock district where I have ob- 

 tained several specimens in the month of September. 



Turnix hotientotta (Hottentot Button Quail). — I have only ob- 

 served this species in the Cradock district, but as far as my 

 observations go it is nowhere common. I took a nest con- 

 taining 4 eggs in a lucerne land at Halesowen, but imfor- 

 tunately have no record of the date. 



Pteroclurus namaquus (Namaqua Sandgrouse). — This species is 

 very common in certain localities in both districts, being found 

 in fairly large flocks. It lays two to three eggs in a slight 

 hollow on the ground, sometimes lining the hollow with bits 

 of stick and grass in the months of Sept., Oct., Nov. It is 

 however an irregular nester as this year 1920 I took a good 

 many clutches in May and July. 



