iS MR. A- A, LANE 



tected the tiny patch recently disturbed and in which 

 they were buried. They were of a greenish-drab ground 

 colour, thickly speckled all over with blackish dots or 

 streaks. The length was 1.24 inches, and the diameter 

 0.88 inches. 



The Thickknee iOcdicneniiis capensis) is a resident 

 and, judging from their flute-like calls frequently lieard 

 at night, are much more numerous than one might sup- 

 pose, as they are comparatively seldom seen, concealing 

 themselves by day in bush or thicket but becoming very 

 active and clamorous after sundown. From what I have 

 observed thej' have probably a wide range of diet, incluf 

 ing mealies and grain, but any toll they may take in this 

 way is more than counteracted by a considerable insect 

 bill of fare, which they doubtless prefer. 



The Black-winged Pracincole {(ilareola inrhinoptera) 

 known here as the '^ locust bird " occurs periodically in 

 flocks. During the daj- it spends most of the time on 

 the ground, and destroys large quantities of caterpillars 

 and their larvae. After sundown they are to be seen 

 actively hawking on the wing in wide circles, when their 

 long Avings, forked tails, general dark colour, and mode 

 of flight, reminds one very mucli of petrels. Though an 

 inch shorter in length than the " Kievietje " their span 

 of wings in flight is about the same. They may be dis- 

 tinguished, by the general isabelline brown, or mouse 

 coloured tint of the upper plumage; white throat and 

 rump, and black wings. They usually appear irregularly 

 in large flocks, whicli apparently (]uickly exhaust the 

 food resourses of the locality, and move on in search of 

 pastures new. 



Two kinds of coursers are found on our veld, the most 

 numerous being of a reddish Inie al)()ve, ])robably 

 Cursorius nifus, but the Two-banded (\)urser (Rhinop- 

 tUiis (ffrirniius) is fairly plentiful, at all events during 

 tlie siimnH^i-. On Kith October, 1917, I found a single 

 half batched egg on a piece of bare shingly veld, where it 

 might have been mistaken for one of the surroundinqr 



