Mr. H. Seebohin on the Birds of Natal i^c. 343 



( Coturnix communis) certainly does breed in South Africa ; 

 but this bird is a partial resident in Natal and the Cape 

 Colony, its numbers being probably increased by migratory 

 but non-breeding birds in spring. There is no reason to 

 suppose that the breeding-area of its distribution is discon- 

 tinuous, and, in the absence of any evidence to the con- 

 trary, it is fair to assume that it breeds throughout Africa, 

 as the Heron, several species of Egret, the Black-winged 

 Stilt, and the Avocet are known to do. It is possible that 

 there may be species of birds breeding both in Europe and 

 in South Africa, but wintering only in Central Africa ; in 

 which case we should find the curious anomaly of a species 

 of bird found all the year round in Tropical Africa, but not 

 breeding there, half the individuals being absent from 

 March to September, in order to breed in the northern 

 hemisphere, and the other half being absent from September 

 to March, in order to breed in the southern hemisphere ; 

 but before such a theory could be accepted it must be 

 supported by facts which are not open to suspicion. 



The winters in South Africa are very much milder than 

 those of England, they approach much nearer in climate to 

 those of the Riviera ; snow is almost unknown, but in many 

 places the nights are cold, and as in South Europe, so in 

 Natal, many birds, for the most part insect-feeding species, 

 leave in autumn for warmer climes. Amongst these, several 

 species of Swallow {Hirundo albiyularis, H. semirufa, H. 

 cucullata), most of the Cuckoos, and some of the Warblers 

 are conspicuous examples. 



It is rather remarkable that the delicate-looking Sun- 

 birds, which vie with the Humming-birds in the brilliancy 

 and metallic lustre of their plumage, are able to brave the 

 winters of Natal without migrating. Cotyle paludicola, the 

 representative of our Sand Martin, and Cotyle cincta, the 

 representative of the South-European Rock Martin, must 

 also be included amongst the residents. 



There is in the British Islands a great deal of local wander- 

 ing amongst birds, and in Natal this internal migration is 

 even more conspicuous. The climate of South Africa varies 



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