290 Mr, Ayres on Birds of 



found an egg which was laid on the bare ground, without the 

 slightest pretence to a nest. 



[The bird and egg above mentioned were sent by Mr. Ayres 

 to Mr. Tristram. The bird (a female) agrees with the figure of 

 the male in Sir A. Smithes ' Illustrations of the Zoology of 

 South Africa^ {Aves, pi. 100), except that it wants the white 

 on the tail which occurs in the male bird. Mr. Tristram 

 informs me that " the egg is of a rich cream-colour, with faint 

 fawn-coloured cloudings all over it.^^ — J. H. G.] 



12. (L. 83.) HiRUNDO SEMiRUFA, Sundev. Rufous-breasted 

 Swallow. 



These Swallows appear in Potchefstroom in September, in 

 the spring of the year, and continue throughout the summer. 

 They appear to be somewhat solitary in habits during their stay, 

 and are decidedly scarce. Their flight is comparatively heavy. 



The irides are dusky, bill black, tarsi and feet dusky. 



13. Halcyon damarensis, Strickl. Damara Kingfisher. 

 Obtained in the district of the river Limpopo, but shot in 



the bush many miles from water. 



[The specimen sent agrees with examples from Damara Land 

 of the larger race of Halcyon chelicuti (Stanley) described by 

 Strickland (Contr. Orn. 1852, pp. 153, 154) as distinct^.— 

 J. H. G.] 



14. (L. 101.) Halycon albiventris (Scop.). Brown- 

 hooded Kingfisher. 



Occurs in the district of the river Limpopo, but is scarce. 



15. (L. 110.) Ceryle rudis (Linn.). Black-and- White 

 Kingfisher. 



I found a few of these in the same district. 



16. (L. 109.) Ceryle maxima (Pall.). Great African King- 

 fisher. 



I met with a few of this species in the Mareco district. 



17. (L. 169.) Drymceca flavicans (Vieill.). Citrin-Dry- 

 moeca. 



This delicate little bird is common about the hedgerows in 

 * [Cy. sM^^m^pp. 277, 278.— Ed.] 



