lUO Mr. A. C. ]hiiv^\\cv—(Jr/iil/t:)Io(/}r(/l 



snails^ and so forth, tlie total weight being estimated at 

 25 tons. When, moreover, the contents of the bulky crops 

 of the young are also considered, the amount will be greatly 

 increased. Of course, as the grasshoppers or locusts grow 

 larger, a smaller number becomes necessary. Like the 

 caterpillars, these insects are a well-known scourge, and 

 devour huge quantities of green food ; the freshwater snails 

 also are frequently the hosts of the liver-fluke. 



XVII. — Ornithological Notes from the Transvaal. 

 By Alwin C. Haagner. 



I HAVE now the pleasure of offering to the readers of 'The 

 Ibis ' a few additional notes on the birds of this part of the 

 Colony of Transvaal. * 



1. Pyromelana oryx. (Orange Bishop-bird.) 



The nest of this species is woven of strips of the leaves 

 of reeds and grasses, and is lined with the flowering heads 

 of the latter. It is suspended between two reeds (sometimes 

 three) growing in the vicinity of water or in damp places. 

 When such fail the nest is placed among the rank Meeds so 

 abundant in many spots. On one occasion I found it on a 

 wild plum-tree. The shape of the nest is oval, with the 

 aperture at the side near the top. Eggs three or four in 

 number, and of a beautiful blue-green colour. When blown 

 they often shew a lovely pure light-blue tint. Axis j^' to |", 

 diam. V'. 



In the year 1898 I did not find a single nest containing 

 more than thi-ee eggs. This may perhaps be accounted for by 

 the scarcity of food, but I think that it is the usual number. 

 Building commenced in September and October in 1897. 

 In 1898, probably owing to the length and severity of the 

 winter, the birds only began late in November. In 1899 

 they started in October, as also in this year (1900). 



These birds congregate in large flocks among the reeds 

 and cultivated lands, doing much damage to the latter. 



* [For prcviuus uotc.«, sec 'Ibis," 1 ',)(.) 1, p. l-l— ]'".1M).] 



