182 H.W.James 



Scopus umbretta (Hammerhead). — This bird is found in both 

 districts wherever there is water. Its huge nest is placed 

 on a krantz or the river bank and is made use of for several 

 years. It breeds in the months of August and September. 

 In spite of the fact that it lays 6 to 7 eggs it never seems 

 to increase in numbers and is nowhere plentiful. I watched 

 one feeding in some liquid mud at the edge of a dam. It 

 waded in to the mud and moved one foot rapidly which 

 caused frogs and insects to jump out to be instantly snapped, 

 up by the waiting bird. 



Ciconia ciconia (White Stork). — This migrant visits Cradock 

 almost every year, but I have not yet observed it in the 

 Tarkastad district. It comes in large flocks doing a great 

 deal of good in the lucerne lands by devouring caterpillars 

 and other harmful insects. 



Ardea goliath (Goliath Heron). — I have seen one specimen only 

 of this heron. It was feeding in the dam near our house, 

 district Tarkastad. That was in January 1919. It re- 

 mained here two days and then disappeared to reappear for 

 one day in November of the same year. 



Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron). — This bird is plentiful in both 

 districts. At Halesowen it nests in prickly pear bushes grow- 

 ing high up on a krantz. In other parts of the district it nests 

 in tall poplar trees. I have recorded it nesting in August 

 and September. 



Herodias brach^rh^ncha (Yellow-billed Egret). — In November 



1919 I came across a single specimen of this Egret feeding 



in the Vlekpoort River, Tarkastad district. It remained 



there for some weeks. This is the only specimen of this 



genus I have observed in either district. 



Columba phaeonota (Rock Pigeon). — This pigeon is exceedingly 

 common in both districts. I have recorded nests taken in 

 September, January and April. 



Turiur senegalensis (Laughing Dove). — This is another very com- 

 mon species in both districts. Nests have come under my ob 

 servation in Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. and April. 



