Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornitholofjy. 209 



found their eggs, three in number, laid on the bare ground 

 amongst the grass, without the sHghtest appearance of a nest, at 

 no great distance from the water. 



The size of the egg is Ijf inch by 1t%; the ground-colour 

 dusky-tawny marked with lines and blotches of umber, espe- 

 cially towards the base of the egg, where these marks form an 

 encircling zone. 



49, (L. 536.) Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. Double-banded 

 Sand-Grouse. 



Male : — Total length IQi inches, bill \^ ; iris dusky, feet 

 yellowish. 



Next to P. gutturalis, this is the most plentiful of the Sand- 

 Grouse found near the Limpopo. 



The greater number of those we saw there in June were in 

 flocks, but some few had paired and were breeding. The eggs, 

 three or four in number, are laid on the bare ground amongst 

 the short grass, and the hen bii'd will almost allow herself to be 

 trodden on before she will rise. 



The size of the egg is 1^^ inch by |f ; ground-colour 

 brownish-pink, spotted and blotched all over, but more parti- 

 cularly at the thicker end, with a lighter tint of the same colour. 



53. (L. 551.) CuRSORius rufus, Gould. Burcbell's Courser. 



This species is common about Potchefstroom, in flocks, in 

 winter. 



[I cannot concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. Layard in 

 'The Ibis^ for 1869, p. 375, that this species is identical with 

 C. senegalensis, Licht. ; the latter is a somewhat smaller bird, 

 with much less white on the secondary feathers of the wing, and 

 with no grey on the occiput. — J. H. G.] 



57. (L. 574.) Anthropoides stanleyanus, Vigors. Stan- 

 ley Crane. 



Ma/e:— Total length 47 inches, bill 4|, tarsus 10|, wing 

 23; iris dusky, bill, tarsi, and feet black. 



These Cranes are not at all uncommon in this country. In 

 the summer months they are generally seen in pairs, stalking 

 about the open flats in search of insects ; in winter they con- 

 gregate in certain localities and live sociably together. One 



SER. III. VOL. I, u 



