from Wolmaraihisfad, Tiunsvaal. 13 



Tlie iicsfc was nijide by laying a foundjition of sticks across 

 the highest and firmest part o£ the tree with coarse grass 

 thrown over them. On the top of this again finer grass and 

 dr}^ husks of bulbs were thickly strewn, and in the centre a 

 depression wns formed for the eggs. The whole nest measured 

 about 2 feet G inches across, and was surrounded by feathers 

 from the parent birds. 



On visiting the place again on the 30th July, I found that 

 they had relined the previous year's nest situated on a neigh- 

 bouring tree and had laid two more eggs. The old l)irds wei-e 

 nowhere to be seen, so the eggs were left untouched. Agtiiu 

 visiting the nest six days later, the eggs were more closely 

 examined, as the old birds were not about, and found to be 

 slightly addled. 



9. Elanus c^ruleus. (Black-shouldered Kite.) 



I was very much surprised on the 28th May to find two 

 fresh eggs of this bird, as I had found a nest just six months 

 previous at Potchefstroom, containing four eggs much incu- 

 bated. Apparently they lay twice a year. 



10. Otogyps auricularis. (Black Vulture.) 



A pair of these Vultures built their nest this year on the 

 top of a tall straight-stemmed mimosa thorn situated on the 

 outskirts of a belt of thorn trees miles away from any farm- 

 houses. The tree was matted with thorns nearly the whole 

 way up, and very difficult to scale on that account; it had 

 been used before, as part of an old nest was sticking halfway 

 up. The nest was large, measuring about four feet across at 

 least, and was lined with grass, the edges being protected by 

 twigs of the wild asparagus. A fresh egg was taken on the 

 17tli June. 



11. PsEUDOGYPS AFRiCANUS. (AtVican White-backed 

 Vulture.) 



The nest of tliis species is distinctly different from that of 

 0. auricularis. A nest also discovered on the 17th -lune was 

 built on the top of a tall scniggling " kameel doom," about 

 30 feet from the ground. It was composed of grass throunji- 

 out, and only measured about twenty inches across. The eog 



