GENERAL NOTES 265 



of the genus Crcmastogaster were assiduously herding as 

 if directing their movements, sometimes stroking them 

 with their antennae, or even seizing them gentjy by a 

 leg. The insects were in considerable numbers on the 

 young growing shoots of a bush shrub of which, however, 

 I do not know the name. My second and more valuable 

 observation (as I am able to identify the insect affected), 

 was at AYinkle Spruit on the 27th of December 1918 and 

 subsequent occasions. 



On the upper stems and shoots of a large leaved bush 

 plant great numbers of Pedalioii delalandei^ Fairm. 

 (Membracidse), both young and mature, were feeding on 

 the sap of the plant. These were attended by swarms 

 of a small red ant (Cremastogaster sp.) and their be- 

 haviour was precisely of the same nature as that ob- 

 served by Mr. Bell Marley in reference to OxyrachiH 

 tarandus, Fabr. I noticed, however, that the mature 

 insects kept apart and were not seemingly molested. The 

 young insects of this species bear upon the prothorax a 

 somewhat loosely fitting raised shield, culminating in a 

 sharp pointed spine, projecting forwards. There is no 

 posterior projection to the process as in the adults. The 

 mature insect is figured and described in Distant's 

 '' Insecta Transvaalensia," page 212. 



It appears likely from the above and other records 

 that there may be a considerable number of Homoptera 

 utilized by the ants as milch cows, as well as the Aphides 



C. N. Barker. 

 Durban, Natal. 



Ornithological. 



For the past fortnight I have been enjoying 

 myself amongst the birds at Walfish Bay, which 

 is a perfect Paradise for a lover of sea and shore 

 birds. Flamingoes of both species are here in thousands, 

 and ali sorts of sandpipers, gulls, terns, etc. I hope to 

 write a full account of the birds I have met with here 

 later or, but in the meantime I should like to place on 



