from the Colony of Natal. 331 



difFerent times on a small stream about ten miles from the coast ; 

 their stomachs were crammed with locusts, grasshoppers, and 

 other insects. 



On being disturbed, they fly but a few yards, and then alight 

 again. 



[The differences between this species and its near ally, Ardetta 

 jninuta, which also occurs at Natal, are well defined in Dr. Hart- 

 laub's work on the Ornithology of Madagascar, p. 75. — J. H. G.] 



217. Crex pratensis (Bechst.). Corn-Crake. 



Male and female. Iris light greyish brown ; bill pale, darker 

 on the ridge ; tarsi and feet dusky pale ; nostrils linear. 



These birds are scarce on the coast, but become more plentiful 

 inland. They are only found here during the summer months. 

 Having been once flushed, it is a difficult matter to put them up 

 a second time out of the long grass; for, besides running with 

 great swiftness, they have a curious method of evading the dogs 

 by leaping with closed wings and compressed feathers over the 

 long grass some three or four yards, and then, running a short 

 distance, they leap again. The scent being thus broken, they 

 generally evade the most keen-scented dogs ; and so quickly are 

 these strange leaps made, that it is only by mere chance that 

 the birds are seen. 



The flesh of these birds is exceedingly delicate. Their food 

 consists almost entirely of insects. Their flight is weak, and 

 seldom sustained for more than fifty yards. 



[The Corn-Crakes sent by Mr. Ayres appear to be identical 

 with English specimens. — J. H. G.] 



The following additional notes have been communicated to 

 me by Mr. Ayres respecting two of the species previously 

 enumerated. 



Spizaetus coronatus (Linn.). Crowned Eagle. 



I very nearly shot a fine specimen of Spizaetus coronatus a 

 short time since. Early one morning it made a dash at one of 

 my hen Turkeys, and very nearly succeeded in catching it ; but 

 the Turkey saw the Eagle just in time to slip from under him, 

 and got away with the loss only of the whole of the tail and 

 the greater portion of the rump-feathers, which remained in the 



