Mr. E. L. Layard on South- African Ornithology. 77 



1858. Both the species are in the South-African Museum ; 

 and I do not see how they can be confounded. I do not think 

 that A, stre'pera is found here. 



680. Stercorarius catarrhactes. I lately sent the Zoo- 

 logical Society two living examples of the southern Great Skua, 

 and I am anxiously waiting to know if it turns out the same as 

 the northern bird, or whether, like Cypselus gutturalis and C. 

 barhatus, our birds are sufficiently distinct to constitute a 

 new " species.^'' 



694. PoDiCA MOSAMBICANA. A Specimen, probably a female, 

 of this rare bird has been sent for my inspection by the Curator 

 of the Albany Museum. It was found dead one frosty morn- 

 ing on a deep pool of the Kareiga River, in the Eastern Pro- 

 vince. Mr. E. Atherstone says they are still to be found on 

 the Kleinmond River, further to the eastward. I at once re- 

 cognized it as the bird at which I have twice shot. 



696. Plotus capensis. At the Berg River I visited a 

 " rookery " of these birds. It consisted of about thirty nests 

 — thick dense masses of sticks, and weeds resting on them, 

 placed among the branches of some African willow^s, which 

 in the breeding-season are surrounded by water, but are dry at 

 other times. The eggs are much prized as very delicate food. 



730. Graculus africanus has been shot by Mr. F. Barber 

 near Gi-aham's Town. 



Ere I close, let me thank Mr. Gurney for his valuable "Notes" 

 on my ' Birds of South Africa.^ His corrections and sugges- 

 tions have been thankfully received, and recorded for a second 

 edition, should such be called for. If I ever attempt it, I trust 

 I shall have an opportunity of personally testing the correct- 

 ness of my synonymy and identification, by visiting the con- 

 tinental museums, wherein are stowed the collections of other 

 workers in South Africa, and of consulting the zoological works 

 in the rich libraries of Europe. Few people are aware of the 

 disadvantages under which I laboured in this far-off land, in 

 want of books of reference, without collections to refer to, with 

 no friend at hand to consult. 1 never, to quote my own pre- 

 face, " put forth this Catalogue as complete ; . ... it is a move 



