no Mr. C. H. Taylor on JJ'wih 



On November 29fch, in the Amersfoort district, a fully- 

 fledged young one (now in the Pretoria Zoological Gardens) 

 was taken by a Kaffir from a nest, containing two birds, 

 placed in a willow-tree overhanging a small spruit. Previous 

 to this the same nest had been robbed of three eggs. 



I did not see the nest myself. 



613. *Sarcidiornis melanonota. (Knob-billed Duck.) 



Rare. A few stragglers seen flying over, probably on 

 their way to the more suitable " pan " districts of Lake 

 Crissie. 



In the Amersfoort district (S.E. Transvaal) they are resi- 

 dent, and breed regularly during the months of November 

 and December, making a nest in the long grass, usually at 

 the side of a vlei or near a pan. In one instance on the farm 

 Eolfontein they used to nest amongst the stones on a low- 

 lying kopje, but of recent years have been too much dis- 

 turbed in this locality, and apparently no longer breed there. 

 They are very destructive to lands freshly sown with mealies 

 or oats, rooting up the grain and doing much damage. A 

 few months ago, in the Ermelo district, four of these Ducks 

 were caught in traps put into a patch of forage for this 

 2")urpose. I have seen them in great numbers on the Que 

 Que river in Matabeleland, where they are migratory, arriv- 

 ing in September and staying all through the rainy season. 

 In Rhodesia I have noticed them flying in small parties 

 often at a great heig'nt, but this is probably when they are 

 migrating or changing their feeding-ground. 



I am told that when they change their plumage in the 

 spring they lose nearly all their feathers at once, and when 

 in this state, being unable to fly, are frequently caught. 



620. *Anas sparsa. (Black Duck.) 



Fairly common. These birds seem to prefer the smaller 

 rivers, where there is more cover, and where they are less 

 likely to be seen than in the larger ones. 



I have shot but not preserved them. 



