230 Mr. T. A} res un the Ornitholoc/y of Transvaal. 



mained on the ground for a week or more, covering the grass- 

 seeds on Avhich many small kinds of birds feed ; and this, 

 with the nnusual cokl, killed a marvellous number of them, 

 and also many large birds, ])esides a great number of ante- 

 lopes and other animals. 



In the winter season flocks of this species, and also of 

 P. oryx and of Quelea sanguinirostris, come for miles up the 

 river from their favourite patches of reeds in the swamps where 

 they roost, to feed on the minute grass-seeds in the old 

 cultivated ground about Potchefstroom, returning in large 

 flights to the same swamps in the evening. Although the 

 diff'erent s[)ecies feed together, often also in company with 

 flocks of Passer arcuatus, so closely that they may be killed 

 by the same shot, yet, in going to their feeding-grounds and 

 in returning to their roosting-places, the birds of each s2)ecics 

 keep by themselves in separate flocks, notwithstanding their 

 habit of mingling whilst feeding. 



Passer diffusus, Smith. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow. 



These Sparrows are found sparsely in the town of Potclit^f- 

 stroom, and appear to breed in the same localities and to 

 make much the same kind of untidy nest as P. arcuatus and 

 our English Sparrow. Last season a pair of them took 

 possession of an old Swallow^s nest, but were driven away by 

 P. arcuatus. 



Petronia petronella (Licht.). South-African Ruck- 

 Sparrow. 



This species affects the wooded and warm country where 

 rocks abound. 



Fringillaria capensis (Linn.). Cape Bunting. 



This is by no means a plentiful bird in Transvaal, as far as 

 I am acquainted with it. 



[This species was recorded in Mr. Ayres^s previous lists 

 of Transvaal birds under its synonym of F. vittata; and in 

 'The Ibis' for 1878, p. 297, the English name of " Ro<k- 

 Bunting" was assigned to it, which, in Mr. Sharpe's edition 

 of Mr. Layard's work, is applied to F. tahajnsi. — J. H. G.J 



