68 Mr. F. Thomsen on 



swallowing. The voetgangers are taken up whole and in 

 larger quantities, evidently because they are softer and with- 

 out wings and stout hind legs. 



The Hadadah Ibis. (Hagedashia hagednsh?) 

 Not very long ago I was walking down one of the long 

 bushy creeks leading to the Barberton Bailway. I was in a 

 hurry and had to catch the train, and did not look about 

 much. All at once T was startled by a peculiar cry: "Hah, 

 Hah ! " a flutter of wings followed, and close in front of me 

 rose two dark birds from the river-ljank. They settled in a 

 big tree and gave me time to have a good look at them, re- 

 peating the weird call several times ; when I came nearer 

 they flew up and alighted on some rocks close at hand. I 

 could see some twigs and grass sticking out over the ledge — 

 they were busy building their nest and I had disturbed them. 

 I recognized the birds as the Hadadah Ibis (^Hagedashki 

 liage.dash). 



This incident brought back to my mind some pleasant days 

 I had spent in company with a friend several years ago on 

 the Eastern Springbok Flats after springbok. It was in 

 March (the shooting-season opened earlier then); there were 

 large swarms of red voetgangers about, and the " White " 

 and " White-bellied Storks " were busy. Late in the after- 

 noon, when we returned, I heard the same weird cry. A 

 large flock of Hadadah arose on the wing right in front of us 

 and dropped on some thorn-trees. They were feeding on little 

 voetgangers when we disturbed them. On that occasion, in 

 the dim evening light with the red glow of the setting sun on 

 their bodies, the birds looked much browner than they really 

 were. I have seen these birds — there must have been several 

 hundreds of them — and also other flocks several years later, 

 stalking about in their peculiar fashion, moving the body 

 right and left and bringing the head down every time, 

 devouring voetgangers. 



The Hadadah is dark greenish on the back and wings, the 

 underparts are grey, the beak is long and bent downwards. 

 The legs are short, and the beak and feet are greenish grey; 



