364 Mr. T. E. Buckley on Birds observed 



CORACIAS CAUDATA, V. 



c? . Transvaal, July 7th 1873. 



Beak black ; legs yellow ; iris dark hazel. 



First observed a few days north of Pretoria, and found far 

 up in the Matabili country. This species is extremely shy, 

 and it was difficult to procure specimens. Just before the 

 breeding-season they fly high up in the air, rolling about from 

 side to side, and uttering a harsh note all the time, settling 

 afterwards on the very top of the nearest high tree. In the 

 Matabili country this is a royal bird, and no one except the 

 king is allowed to wear its feathers. 



CORYTHORNIS CYANOSTIGMA (Riipp.) . 



$ . Transvaal, June ]9th, 1873. 



Beak and legs red ; iris dark hazel. 



Common throughout Natal and the Transvaal, frequenting 

 pools and streams, but always singly -, when wounded they 

 swim fairly well. 



Ceryle rudis (L.). 



6 . Natal, June 1st, 1873. 



Beak black ; legs black ; iris dark hazel. 



This bird is pretty common in Natal, but much more so 

 on the Limpopo, in the north of the Transvaal, where I found 

 its nest in a hole of the bank, but as the ground was hard, I 

 was unable to get the eggs. Its absence from the Matabili 

 country is accounted for by the rivers being mostly sand- 

 rivers in the part of the country I visited. When hunting, 

 it hovers over the water with a quick action of the wings. 

 Its cry is shrill and often repeated. 



Halcyon albiventris (Scop.) . 



Beak and legs red ; iris dark hazel. 



Very common along the rivers north of Pretoria, though 

 seen to wander some distance from water. This species was 

 breeding along the banks of the Limpopo in November ; and 

 my driver brought me in three eggs which he had dug out of 

 a bank, having caught the old bird on her nest. Judging 

 from the mud on the bills of those I shot, they must pick up 

 their food from the ground as well as off, trees. 



