588 j\]r. A. 13. Pereival on Birds 



them for safety during the flood. In many of tlie bushes 

 there were some small snakes and lizards. Most of these 

 reptiles had been taken off by the various birds of prey that 

 were at hand. I shot two of the Cuckoos, but found them 

 useless, as they were in very poor plumage. 



39. Ceuthmochares austkalis Sharpe ; Shelley, Ibis, 

 1897, p. 545. 



I saw several of these birds in the very thick bush, and 

 obtained two or three specimens. 



40. Tachornis parvus (Licht.) ; Hartert, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. xvi. p. 463 (1892). 



Very common. They roost in the leaves of the borassus 

 pahn. 



41. MicROPUs CAFFER (Liclit.) ; Hartcrt, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. xvi. p. 450 (1892). 



Very few seen. 



42. Caprimulgus fossii Hartl. ; Shelley, Ibis, 1897, 

 p. 543. 



a. ? ad. Ruo River, August 1898. 



This small Nightjar was not widely spread over the district, 

 as I only saw it or heard it at one place, and there I 

 could put up six or eight in a hundred yards when walking 

 through the rough grass and stones. I looked carefully for 

 eggs, but never could find any, although the bird seemed to 

 be in breeding- condition. 



43. CosMETORNis VEXiLLARius (Gould) ; Shcllcy, Ibis, 

 1894, p. 4. 



Numerous among the foot hills of British Central Africa, 

 usually on rocky ground. Males are often found in small 

 flocks of five or six, females always singly. The male bird 

 is easily recognised when flying, even without the long 

 feathers, by the white bar across the wing. 



44. Melittophagus alrifrons (Cab. & Heine) : Shelley, 

 Ibis, 1894, p. 5. 



Common over the whole district. It breeds in colonies 

 along with Merops natalensis, but later ; while it does not 



