Occasional Notes. 217 



publislied in 1879, Russ could not refer to living examples 

 imported into Europe, and said that the species did not figure 

 in the list of animals in the London Zoological Gardens. 

 At least two other editions have been issued since then, and 

 in neither does the name appear ; but a single example of 

 the closely allied Alecto Weaver Bird (^Textor alecto) was 

 received in 1865." 



('2C)) Pigmy Falcon (PoUolderax torquatus). — We append 

 a photograph (Plate X.) of a stuffed specimen of this 

 uncommon little Hawk. It was taken on the nest on the 

 15th October, 1905, near Wolmaransstad, Transvaal, by 

 Mr. Austin Roberts, and by him presented to the Transvaal 

 Museum. 



(27) Precocity of the Sparrow. — A nest of the Cape 

 Sparrow (^Passer melaiuirus) situated in a rose-bush in the 

 garden of Dr. Mehliss (Resident Physician of the Lazaretto) 

 will take some beating as to locality. It is placed in the 

 bush about three feet from the ground, quite close to the 

 entrance-steps of the house, and the birds are busy building 

 it now. Whether they will rear their brood in that exposed 

 and lowly position remains to be seen. Although Sparrows' 

 nests in porches, under eaves, &c., are common, they are 

 generally placed fairly high above the ground, but this 

 particular nest can be got at by a dog, let alone cats, and is 

 passed hundreds of times a day. — Max Coch. 



Rietfontein Lazaretto, 

 6th August, 1907. 



(2^) Issue of Journal. — In accordance with the decision 

 arrived at by the Editorial Committee, an attempt will be 

 made to issue a tri-annual Journal in future. Members have 

 complained — with justice — that a six-monthly interval be- 

 tween the numbers does not bind them sufficiently together. 

 We therefore propose to lessen this interval by two months, 

 and issue in January, May, and September, and in so doing 



VOL. III. 15 



