334 Mr. E. Symonds on Birds 



when the meahes are getting ripe, but I have never seen 

 them at any other season ; they are about as numerous as 

 the Quails, and both species afford very good sport, but 

 require a good dog to fiad them, as they lie very close. 



53. CuRsoRius RUFUs, Gould. BurchelFs Courser. 

 This Courser is very common here. 



[Mr. Symonds did not send a specimen of this species. — 

 J. H. G.] 



54. CuRsoRius BiciNCTus, Tcmm. South-African Double- 

 banded Courser. 



This species is also very common ; I have found the remains 

 of ants in the stomach. 



55. tEgialitis TRicoLLARis (Vicill.) . Three-collared 

 Sand Plover. 



These little birds are very numerous here, especially near 

 water. On 25th October, 1885, I found a nest just on the 

 side of the road, whilst driving, by noticing a Plover 

 twisting round and scratching with great rapidity. My boy 

 told me that it had a nest, but although I got out of the cart 

 at once and kept my eye on the spot, it was some time before 

 I really saw the nest, if a slight depression in the bare ground 

 can be so called, though I was staring hard at it all the time. 

 The two eggs which it contained were completely covered with 

 dried droppings, little stones, sand, &c., which I had to 

 remove beiore I could see them. I conclude the old bird 

 was concealing the eggs by covering them with .dry dung 

 &c., and that this was the reason of the vigorous scratching. 



56. PoRPHYRio sMARAGDONOTUs, Tcmm. Grccn-backcd 

 Porphyrio. 



I think these birds are more plentiful than is generally 

 supposed in the large grass-pans in the high veldt, but they 

 are not easily seen, and if seen are difficult to get unless 

 killed on the spot ; they lie close and seem to creep away, 

 never to be seen again. 



57. BoTAURUS STELLARis. Common Bittern. 



The specimen sent is the first I have seen in this district. 



