Mr. J. Hancock on the Red-necked Goatsucker. 39 



01 less throughout the day, and are active in their habits, appa- 

 rently having constant feuds with each other, and chasing one 

 another about on the wing. If disturbed, they always fly to cover, 

 unless very close to it. 



Thalassornis leuconotus (Smith). Fasciated Duck. 



Male and female. Iris dark brown ; bill black and slate- 

 coloured, mottled j under mandible yellowish ; tarsi and feet very 

 dark brown. The males are rather larger than the females. 

 They frequent the lagoons and marshes at the mouths of the 

 Natal rivers, and appear to feed principally on the seeds of water- 

 plants, which there abound. They are very expert divers, and 

 although their wings are short and small, they fly swiftly and 

 well, rising without difficulty from the water. If not too sud- 

 denly disturbed, they invariably dive to cover. 



During the summer months they are gregarious, pairing off" 

 in the early winter. In August the young birds are to be seen, 

 newly hatched, swimming actively about, escorted by their 

 parents, the male bird taking equal care of the family (which 

 generally consists of from four to eight) with the female. 



VIII. — Notice on the occurrence of the Red-necked Goatsucker 

 (Caprimulgus ruficollis) in England. By John Hancock. 



So far back as the 6th of October, 1856, I obtained a fresh- 

 killed specimen of this rare European Goatsucker of Mr. Pape, 

 a game-dealer of this town. It had been shot the previous day 

 at Killingworth, near Newcastle. I was unable to determine the 

 sex from dissection, but I think it is most probably a male, as 

 the first primaries have each a spot upon their inner webs, and 

 the first two spots are white. 



I have delayed until now making this announcement ; for I 

 found, on comparison, that the bird in question differed slightly 

 from a Hungarian specimen in my collection, and I was conse- 

 quently anxious to see others before doing so. I have now had 

 an opportunity of referring to a specimen in the British Mu- 

 seum, and find that it quite agrees with my bird. I have there- 

 fore no longer any hesitation in stating that it is the true C. rufi- 

 collis of authors, and I have much pleasure in adding this fine 



