8 Capt. J. C. Tnglc on Birds fvom 



IV. — Birds collected and observed in tlie Sahi District of the 

 Transvaal. Bj Captuiii J. C. Ingle, F.Z.S. 



The Sabi District is comprised of the country through 

 "which the Sabi Biver runs. The river rises in the Drakens- 

 berg Mountains, on the eastern slopes, about three hours' ride 

 from the town of Lydenburg. The first 20 miles or so of its 

 course is through rough hilly country much cut up by deep 

 kloofs, some of which are densely wooded. Lower down in 

 the foot-hills the country is still much broken, but the hills 

 and kloofs get smaller, until ultimately the river flows out 

 into and through the " bush-veld " proper and the Sabi 

 Game lieservej then through the Lebombo Mountains and 

 into the Portuguese Territory. 



Bird-life is often plentiful and varied, but my laclc of 

 knowledge of the local avifauna, as well as the want of 

 literature on the subject^ accounts for the smallness of this 

 list. 



Those species marked with an asterisk were collected by 

 me and sent to Mr. Haagner. 



Anas sparsa. (Black Duck.) — Common. 



Plectropterus gambensis. (S{)ur-wing Goose.) — Only 

 seen here during the wet season. 



*CuRSORius temmincki. (Lesser Courser.) — Barely seen 

 in this district. A small flock of ten, seen on the 4th 

 March, 1910, were the only ones I have met with during 

 many years of travelling and i-esiding in tlie Sabi. These 

 were feeding upon insects in a cattle kraal, and I obtained 

 two specimens, the stomachs of which contained insects. 

 Iris dark brown. 



*Stephanibyx coronatus. (Crowned Lapwing.) — This 

 bird is only seen here sparingly during the winter months 

 after the grass has been burnt, and then usually only in pairs. 

 Iris yellowish brown. Legs coral-red. This species is also 

 found throughout the Eastern Bushveld. I saw 'H /locks (for 

 the first time) in January 1912 on the farm Roodewal. 



