Birds in the Cradock and Tarkastad Districts 187 



of an outbuilding or a hole in a stone wall laying 4 to 6 



dark grey coloured eggs. The usual nesting season is Sept. 



and October. 

 Caprimulgus rujigena (Rufous-cheeked Nightjar). — This species 



is common in both districts, 

 Apus melba africanus (White-bellied Swift) . — This fine Swift is 



found in good numbers in both districts during the summer 



months. 

 Apus caffer (African white-rumped Swift). — This is a conunon 



bird in both districts. It nests in December. It often uses 



the nest of the Rock Martin driving away the rightful 



owners. I find this bird invariably relines the nest with 



feathers before using it. 



R.iparia paludicola (South African Sandmartin). — This species 

 is common in both districts. 



Hiparia fuligula (Rock Martin). — This bird is found through- 

 out both districts remaining with us all the year round. It 

 builds its cup-shaped nest of mud against a house, a krantz; 

 or in a hollow in the river bank. By way of experiment I 

 took six clutches of eggs from one nest, but the birds never 

 deserted it, within a fortnight of losing their eggs another 

 clutch of three would be laid. Before using the nest again, 

 the birds invariably added a fresh lining of feathers and a 

 half inch rim of mud. The eighteen eggs were so much 

 alike that had they been mixed up it would have been very 

 difficult to sort them into clutches again. As soon as the 

 next nesting season arrived the birds returned to the same 

 nest which had become quite a formidable affair. I have 

 records of nests in August, September, October, November 

 and December. 



Hirundo dimidiata (Pearl-breasted Swallow). — This little 

 Swallow is found in both districts but is much more plenti- 

 ful in the Cradock district. In the Tarkastad district it 

 appears to be a rare bird. It builds a small cup-shaped 

 nest of mud lined with feathers against a building or cliff. 



