232 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 



and more eccentric flight than most of the Pipits and alight 

 very suddenly. 



BuDYTEs FLAVA (Linn.). Blue-headed AVagtail. 



April 17, 1882. These Wagtails have lately left us, dis- 

 appearing gradually after having been unusually plentiful 

 this season ; they are particularly fond of accompanying 

 sheep, picking up the insects disturbed by their feeding, and 

 often alighting on their backs, where they seem to be quite 

 at home^ the sheep, apparently, not taking the slightest notice 

 of them. 



Laniarius atrococcineus, Burch. Crimson-breasted. Bush- 

 Shrike. 



Although this Shrike, according to my experience, is ex- 

 ceedingly shy and difficult to shoot, still one may often get 

 very close to it amongst the dense thorny thickets which it 

 loves. The loud note, a short chuck-chuck, which it frequently 

 utters, may sometimes be heard half a mile away ; and the 

 bird, very usually, on an enemy's approach, quietly glides 

 out low on the opposite side of some thorny bit of jungle 

 and away to the next patch ; this is repeated till a regular 

 round is taken, and the bird and the hunter start again from 

 the first bit of bush and repeat the round without even a 

 snap-shot beiiig obtained. 



Francolinus subtorquatus. Smith. Coqui Francolin. 



Chick, half-grown, shot 8th December. This was one of 

 a brood which got up almost like a bevy of Quails, for which 

 I mistook them when I fired, as they were nearly as strong 

 on the wing. 



CuRSORius CHALCOPTERUS, Tcmm. Bronze-winged Courser. 



This is a very scarce Plover with us, but I found six or 

 eight, some of them birds of the year, amongst thorn-scrub 

 on Mr. Dunnes farm near Potchefstroom ; they are quick on 

 the wing, and are over the trees and out of shot in a 

 twinkling. 



Glareola NORDMANNi, Finsch. Nordmann's Pratincole. 

 Notwithstanding the almost total disappearance of locusts 



