Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 291 



is much more easily approached, especially at the first attempt ; 

 but it requires a hard rap to bring it down. I always found 

 it solitary. I was told that the Rollers become more plentiful 

 towards our summer months. 



HiRUNDO DiMiDiATA, Suud. Pcarly-breastcd Swallow. 



Sex uncertain, Rustenburg, May 29th. 



Female, Rustenburg, July 29th. 



In both the above, irides dusky ; bill, tarsi, and feet black. 



During our winter these birds are common about Rusten- 

 burg ; they seem for the most part to keep in pairs, and one 

 may often see two of them sitting side by side on the dead twig 

 of some tree. They are most unsatisfactory birds to skin ; for 

 they are generally so fearfully fat and oily that manipulation 

 causes the oil to run all over the feathers, and the skin turns 

 out a greasy mass which one tears to pieces in disgust. 



CoTYLE ruLiGULA (Licht.) . Brown Martin. 



Male, Rustenburg, August 7th. Irides dusky ; bill nearly 

 black ; tarsi and feet dusky. 



This species is also tolerably common in the Rustenburg 

 district, much more so than at Potchefstroom. 



Alcedo semitorquata. Swains. Half-collared Kingfisher. 



Male, Rustenburg, July 4th. Irides dusky umber; bill 

 black ; tarsi and feet light red. 



According to my experience this Kingfisher is decidedly a 

 scarce species throughout the Transvaal ; the specimen sent 

 is the only one that I saw during three months in the Rus- 

 tenburg district. 



CoRYTHORNis cRisTATA (Linn.). Malachitc-crcsted King- 

 fisher. 



This species is much scarcer in the Rustenburg district 

 than it is about Potchefstroom. 



Ceryle MAXIMA (Pall.). Great African Kingfisher. 



Female, Rustenburg, July 4th. Irides dusky umber ; bill 

 black ; tarsi and feet dusky. 



This is a very scarce bird in the Rustenburg district ; the 

 specimen sent is the only one that I saw there. 



