298 Mr. Ayres on Birds of 



aromatic smell ; and when the birds have freely fed on them 

 they appear to be thoroughly scented. 



Iris dusky-brown, bill light bluish horn-colour, feet dusky. 



49. (L. 536.) Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. Double-banded 

 Sand-Grouse. 



This species occurs near the river Limpopo. 



50. (L. 540.) EupoDOTis cristata (Scop.). Kori Bustard. 

 This splendid bird is not uncommon in the Trans-Vaal, living 



principally amongst the scattered mimosa bush ; it is exceedingly 

 fond of the gum which exudes from the mimosa, and which 

 much resembles gum arable, on which account it has received 

 from the Dutch inhabitants the name of " Gum-Paauw." 



I never saw more than three of these birds together, and they 

 are generally found singly, though sometimes in pairs. The 

 flesh of this species is too coarse and oily to be good eating. 



Two fine eggs of this Bustard were brought me by a CafFre, 

 from whose description I identified them. He stated that no 

 nest whatever was formed, but the eggs laid on the bare open 

 ground on a stony ridge. 



The specimen sent I take to be a young hen, as it only 

 weighed fifteen pounds, and I aui told that the male bird fre- 

 quently attains the weight of from thirty to forty pounds. The 

 irides in this specimen were light tawny-brown; the upper 

 mandible dusky, except the side edges, which, with the under 

 mandible, were dingy white, which was also the colour of the 

 thighs, tarsi, and feet. The stomach of this bird was crammed 

 with locusts. 



[Mr. Tristram, to whom the eggs mentioned by Mr. Ayres 

 were sent, describes them to me as "the most magnificent of 

 eggs, very nearly as large as Cranes^, and more pointed than 

 those of other Bustards, rich red all over, with richer blotches 

 thickly over the whole surface.^' — J. H. G.] 



51. (L. 545.) EupoDOTis senegalensis (Vieill.) Senegal 

 Bustard. 



This Bustard lays two eggs, which I am told arc generally 

 placed in the open country under shelter of some high tufts of 



