THE IBIS. 



TENTH SERIES. 



Vol. III. No. 2. APRIL 1915. 



X. — Notes on the Ornithology of the Maiopo District^ 

 Southerti Rhodesia. By L.Beresford MouritZjM.B.O.U., 

 M.S.A.O.U. 



The Matopo * District is situated to the south-east of 

 Bulawayo and, roughly speaking, is bordered on the east 

 by the Umzingwani Eiver, and on the west by the Shashani 

 River and the Bulilima-Mangwe District. To the south 

 side lies Gwanda, whilst to the north the watershed of the 

 Zambesi-Limpopo system forms the most convenient de- 

 marcation. The hills proper cover a tract of about 3000 

 square miles, and are of a biotite-granite formation, with 

 raicrocline, as the dominating felspar, surrounded by schists, 

 and with dolerite and other intrusions in places. 



Almost unique in their topography, the Matopos are 

 difficult to describe in a few words, but are frequently 

 likened to a turbulent sea of hills. The surroundinsr veld 

 is mostly covered with timber or bush, but there are also 

 extensive open grasslands and subsidiary groups of kopjes ; 

 whilst on the north side particularly, the rounded rock- 

 less hills {" amaqaqa '') are a feature of the landscape. 

 The altitude of Mt. Silozi (one of the larger peaks) is 

 roughly 4900 feet — the valley below being 4200 — whilst 



* Variously spelt Matobo, Matoppo, and Madobo. 

 SER. X. VOL. in. o 



