248 Mr. J. H. Guvuey's List of a Collection of Birds 



fly on to the lower partj and gradually hop upwards till they gain 

 the top ; they can fly but a very short distance at a time, and are 

 easily caught if chased out into the open grass, though they lie 

 very close, and it requires a good dog to find them ; if disturbed, 

 they immediately fly to the thickest cover at hand, and commence 

 running like the Rails. They feed on grasshoppers, caterpillars, 

 and other insects. 



45. Zanclostomus ^eneus (Vieill.). Bronze Cuckoo. 



The eye in this species is a beautiful dark red. It is rather 

 a rare bird, and frequents the dense bush, where it creeps about 

 like the Colies. Its habits resemble those of Centropus super- 

 ciliosus, but it is not so active. It feeds on locusts and large 

 grasshoppers. 



46. ToTANUs GLAREOLA (Linn.). Wood Sandpiper. 

 [Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.— J. H. G.] 



47. Scopus umbretta (Gm.). Umbrette. 



Eye very dark; legs black. Spread all over the country, 

 biit not numerous, and always seen singly. They frequent the 

 streams of the interior, and the rivers and lakes near the coast : 

 they are not very shy. 



48. Geronticus hagedash (Sparrm.). Cafi'er Ibis. 



Mr. Ayres states that he is unacquainted with the habits of 

 this Ibis. 



49. CicoNiA LEUCOCEPHALA (Tcmm,). Violet Stork. 



Eye dark brown ; bill black, red towards the tip ; legs black. 

 Freqvients the bays and swamps along the coast (occasionally 

 coming inland). As the tide recedes, they wade into the water 

 after crabs and small shell-fish, of which (especially the first) 

 their food principally consists. They are gregarious, and not so 

 shy and cunning as most of the Waders ; the flesh is coarse, and 

 not good eating. The stomach of the specimen sent contained a 

 large quantity of the shells of small crabs, a few small shell-fish, 

 and a very few fish-bones. 



50. Ardea ciNEREA (Linn.). Common British Heron. 

 [Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.— J. H. G.] 



