150 Mr. T. Ayres un Trans-Vaal Ornitholoytj. 



74. (L. 66.) ScELosTRix capensis (Smith). South-African 

 Grass Owl. 



These Owls inhabit the long rushes in the swamps surround- 

 ing Potchefstroom, but are not plentiful; their flight is noise- 

 less. 



75. (L. 115.) Melittophagus pusillus (Miill.). Rufous- 

 winged Bee-eater. 



This species is pretty common along the Limpopo, generally 

 in pairs, but sometimes in small companies. 



76. (L. 116.) Melittophagus bullockoides (Smith). 

 White-fronted Bee-eater. 



These Bee-eaters I have found in flights on the banks 

 of rivers, generally alighting on the tops of bushes and trees, 

 or on any bare exposed twig ; their notes are harsh and 

 short. 



77. (126.) CiNNYRis bifasciata (Shaw). Bifasciated Sun- 

 bird. 



Total length 5^ inches, bill 1, tarsus -|-|, wing 2|, tail 2. 



This lovely little bird I first shot at some distance from the 

 river Limpopo, during the month of July. I found several 

 feeding amongst some Aloes, but they were very shy and difficult 

 to obtain. Flowers being at that season exceedingly scarce, they 

 frequently hunted for small insects amongst the dry seed -tops 

 of the high grass, hovering round the stem as a Humming-bird 

 would do, and thus remaining stationary, but darting away 

 immediately on my approach, so that I found it difficult to get 

 within forty or fifty yards of them. 



78. (L. 127.) Nectarinia famosa (Linn.). Malachite 

 Sun-bird. 



These Sun-birds are exceedingly scarce about Potchefstroom ; 

 but a few of them frequent the neighbouring hills and open 

 country. 



79. (L. 154.) Drymceca affinis. Smith. Allied Drymoeca. 

 This species frequents weeds, high grass, and low bush, and 



is generally distributed over the country. 



