314 Mr. T. Ayreis on the Ornitkoloyy of Transvaal. 



the end of March^ scarcely one, either old or young, was to 

 be seen, and if by accident one was observed, it was silent 

 and slunk away, making as little sign as possible. 



CoccvsTES sERRATUS (Sparrm.) . Crested Black Cuckoo. 



Female, shot 25th October. 



This species is exceedingly scarce about Potchefstroom. 



Pycnonotus layardi, (rurn. Layard's Bulbul. 

 Male and female, Rustenburg, 26th and 27tli November, 

 1882. 



Nest and eggs taken. 



AcRocEPHALUs B^TiCATUs (Vicill.) . Lcsscr South-Afrlcan 

 Reed-Warbler. 



Shot amongst reeds near Potchefstroom, 14th September, 

 1884. 



This, I believe, is about the time when the earliest of these 

 migrants appear. 



Stenostira scita (VieilL). Fairy Flycatcher. 



Male, Potchefstroom, 8th August. 



This species is a very early visitor to the Transvaal, ap- 

 pearing about this time, which is the end of our winter and 

 still very cold. These tiny birds are restless in the extreme, 

 and I suppose they manage to keep themselves warm by 

 constant motion. 



Urolestes melanoleucus fJard. & Selby). South-African 

 Long-tailed Shrike. 



This Shrike is not uncommon amongst the mimosa bush 

 in some parts of the Potchefstroom district, but is more 

 frequently found in the warmer bush-veldt districts. 



Hyphanturgus OLivACEUS (Hahu) . Olive -and-yellow 

 Weaver-bird. 



In the summer of 1884 these Weaver-birds were much 

 more plentiful than usual in our neighbourhood; but this 

 year they are unusually scarce, for which there is no apparent 

 reason. 



