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



When I picked up this specimen I thought it Avas a young 

 one; but on examining the ovary and ducts I came to the 

 conclusion that it was an old hen moulting. 



I think I haA'C stated before that these Cuckoos do not 

 remain here during our winter months, June, J^ly, and 

 August. 



[On comparing an adult male shot by Mr. Ayres on 2nd 

 of December with an adult female which he obtained on 9th 

 February, the only differences which I observe between them 

 are the following : viz., the male has on the head a small 

 white wedge-shaped patch, with its apex reaching to the base 

 of the bill, and extending backwards to the centre of the 

 crown ; this is absent in the female ; the white portions of 

 the median wing-coverts extend only to the outer web of the 

 feather in the male, but to both webs in the female ; the 

 breast, which is an almost pure Avhite in the male, is decidedly 

 tinged with fulvous in the female ; the eyelids are noted 

 by Mr. Ayres as '' crimson " in the male specimen, and as 

 '' dusky "' in the female. 



The female bird recorded above as shot by Mr. Ayres on 

 the 14th of February, has a more coppery tinge on the upper 

 surface than the female just referred to as killed on the 9th 

 of February, which I attribute to its being a somewhat 

 younger bird, this coppery hue being conspicuous in still 

 younger specimens, which retain a portion of the partially 

 rufous immature dress {conf. Ibis, 1878, pp. 407, 408). — 

 J. H. G.] 



323. CoccYSTESGLANnARius(Linn.). Great Spotted Cuckoo. 



Male adult. This was a solitary bird, shot 18th of Jan- 

 uary, amongst low mimosa bush, about fifteen miles from 

 Potchefstroom ; this species is very scarce indeed in these 

 parts. 



Dendropicus fulviscapus. 111. Cardinal Woodpecker. 



No. 1, c^, Rustenburg, July 8tli. Irides brownish lake- 

 red ; bill dusky horn-colour, under mandible ashy ; tarsi and 

 feet pale greenish ash. 



No. 2, ? , Rustenburg, July 9th. Irides dark lake-red ; 

 bill dusky ash-colour; tarsi and feet as in No. 1. 



