406 Mr. T. Ay res on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 



culosa in my last comnmnication (Ibis, 1877, p. 45). I ob- 

 tained specimens in the Chupat valley, and saw it occasionally 

 in the valleys of the Sengel and Sengelen. 



Iris reddish brown; upper mandible wood-brown; under 

 mandible, legs, and feet pale slate-colour. 



*Calodromas elegans. 



Resident. Seen constantly throughout our journey ; and 

 we found the eggs excellent eating. 



This species is increasing at Chupat Avith the increased 

 cultivation of the ground. 



^Rhea darwini. 



Resident. Observed almost daily throughout our journey. 

 It commences to lay in September ; and though I have heard 

 of thirty-seven eggs being found in one nest, twenty-seven 

 is the largest number I have seen. The nest is a large hollow 

 scraped in the ground^ slightly lined with grass. The young 

 run as soon as hatched ; and the male bird will feign lameness 

 to draw one away from the nest. The Indians say the eggs 

 take six weeks to hatch. In the summer, Avhen the lagoons 

 in the camp become dried up, many visit the river Chupat 

 to drink, and then fall an easy prey to the colonists^ dogs. 

 These, however, mostly consist of birds of the year. At 

 this season both old and young occasionally come to the 

 river. 



XXX. — Additional Notes on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 

 By Thomas Ayres. Communicated by John Henry 

 Gtjuney. 



[Continned from p. 301.] 



[The following notes unfortunately did not reach me in time 

 to be incorporated with those which recently appeared in 

 ' The Ibis, vide anteu, p. 281 .—J. H. G.] 



304. Cypselus caffer, Licht. African White-rumped 

 Swift. 



Male, shot at Potchef stroom 1 1th December. Irides dusky ; 

 bill black ; tarsi and feet pale dusky. 



