282 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornitholoyy of Transvaal. 



This species breeds at this season. A few days since a nest 

 was found in a thorn tree^ about eight miles from Potchef- 

 stroom, containing one egg, much incubated. 



282. TiNNUNCuLus CENCHRis (Naum.). European Lesser 

 Kestrel. 



Male, shot 27th December, from a flight of about fifty 

 birds. 



[In immature plumage, but with a few adult feathers 

 appearing on the mantle, throat, and upper breast. — J. H. G.] 



Chicquera ruficolus (Swains.). African Rufous-necked 

 Falcon. 



Male, shot 29th May. Total length 12f inches. 



Female, shot 29th May ; the mate of the above. Total 

 length 13| inches, 



283. Melierax nicer (Bonn. & VieilL). African Black 

 HaAvk. 



Male, shot 31st Juiy. 



This bird was given to me by my friend Mr. Rex, who shot 

 it amongst some mimosa trees on the banks of the Vaal 

 river, some four-and-twenty miles from Potchefstroom. It 

 is an exceedingly scarce species in this country. 



,The following description was taken by me four days after 

 the bird was killed : — Total length 13 inches, bill |, tarsus 

 2|, wing 7§, tail 6. Irides apparently bright-red hazel ; bill 

 black ; gape, basal portion of bill, and cere bright dark orange- 

 red ; tarsi and feet bright brick-red, dashed with dusky 

 brown on the upper surfaces ; claws black. 



[This specimen appears to me to be an adult but not very 

 old male ; the number of pale transverse bars on the middle 

 rectrices is four. — J. H. G.] 



Female, shot near Potchefstroom on the 19th of August by 

 my brother, who noted down the following description at 

 the time : — It was a solitary bird, and was found amongst 

 low mimosa trees. Total length 14^ inches, tarsus 2, wing 

 8|, tail 7. Bill black, with the base red ; tarsi and feet 

 black, with the under surfaces orange-red ; irides brown. 

 [This, I think, is evidently a younger bird than the pre- 



