Birds of the Pretoria Bitsh Veld. 17 



5. Sarkidiornis melanotus. Knobbilled Duck. 



A number of these ducks were also breeJino- on the pools 

 at Haakdoornbult and eight joung ones were captured, four 

 of which were safely brought to the Zoo. Thej were, when 

 fully fledged, of a drab-brown colour above, the whole breast 

 and flanks being of a dirty white mottled with drabbish brown. 

 The wings were of a darker shade. The birds have now 

 (mid July) nearly attained their full size, and the wings, 

 especially the upper coverts, are becoming darker and darker 

 and the metallic blue and green sheen is also beo-inninor to 

 apj)ear. They must now be somewhere between three and 

 four months old. This is also a surprise to me — viz. to find 

 these birds breeding in the Central Transvaal. I thought 

 the most southerly breeding-grounds were Lake Ngami and 

 the Zambesi River. 



6. CuRSORius RUFUS. Rufous Courser. 



I saw two small flocks of these birds at Jericho and a pair 

 at Buffelsdraai. They are nothing like so common in the 

 Central Transvaal as they are on the Free State flats. 



7. Stephanibyx coronatus. (Crowned Lapwing). 

 This was a very common bird at Jericho, especially anion o- 



the scattered scrub round about the native town, and even on 

 the open spaces of the town itself, I only saw a few between 

 Jericho and Buffelsdraai. 



8. HoPLOPTERUS sPECiosus. Blacksmith Plover. 



A few were to be found on the pools at Haakdoornbult, 

 and Mr. Powell (our guide) captured a pair which are now 

 in the Pretoria Zoo. Their characteristic metallic "chink 

 chink" may now often be heard in the gardens. 



9. GEdicnemus capensis. Cape Thickknee, 



I never saw a single example at Jericho strano-e to sav, 

 and only a solitary individual at Buffelsdraai. 



10. Otis ruficrista. Red Crested Korhaan. 



This pretty Bustard was not uncommon in the thick bush 

 at Jericho, where its peculiar whistling ci-v was often heard. 



