Jjird.'^ of fJw J\rooiisfad J^l.'itricf. 45 



outside the nests, as is generally tbe case round Eagles' 

 nests. They are usually seen in pairs on the veld, and they 

 run some distance (with wings outspread), at a considerable 

 speed, before they start flying. 



553. Circus rani torus. (South African Harrier.) 

 I obtained a specimen of this Harrier in a vlei in this 

 district in 1892 ; it is not common, so far as I know, and 1 

 know little or nothing of its habits. Perhaps the droughts 

 of late years have made it scarce, as all our pans and vleis 

 have been dried up. 



Trichol.ema leucomelas. (Pied Barbet.) 

 I have been watching these birds for some weeks, and have 

 sent to the Transvaal Museum a branch of a tree (willow) 

 with the young birds. What is well marked is the different 

 attempts at starting a hole for the nest, apparently due to 

 their not finding a suitably soft enough place in the wood. 



Since then I have taken another nest in a large branch of 

 dead willow ; and as I had carefully watched the bird make 

 his nest — that is, pick it out with his beak, — and have since 

 taken the eggs and the old bird, it is sufficient proof that the 

 Barbets make their own nests in the old rotten wood of 

 a willow tree, and do not use the holes made bv other 

 species. The eggs (two in number) were pure white with a 

 pinkish tinge, perhaps due to the yolk of the egg : 7iot 

 rough, and with no spots or markings. As I had daily- 

 watched this nest, I think my remarks can be taken as 

 accurate. I am sending the branch of this tree, with the 

 eggs, to the Transvaal Museum. We have at least ten or 

 twelve more nests of the same bird in the neio-hbourhood, 

 but most of them inaccessible, and not to be distinouished 

 from T). cardinalis (Cardinal Woodpecker) unless the bird is 

 seen and watched. 



270. Prinia flavicans. (Black-chested Wren-Warbler.) 



I had a nest of this pretty little bird in my hedge in front 



of my verandah last year. I watched them building, with a 



lot of fine grass, a per})endicular oblong-shaped nest, with the 



