Kutea from JVdfdI. ',u] 



The three species known liere are the African Pied 

 [Motacilla vidua), the Grey-backed {Af. lonf/icaiala), and the 

 Cape Wagtail {M. capensis), uW of which belong to the group 

 known as the Pied Wagtails, 



The nesting-habits of the first and last-named species are 

 fully described in Stark's ' Fauna of South Africa/ Birds, 

 vol. i., but the eggs of the Grey-backed {M. lont/icauda) 

 so far appear to be unknown to collectors, and have not been 

 previously recorded. These notes, therefore, may be of 

 interest to the oologist. 



My discovery of the young in previous years gave me 

 some idea as to the date when to expect the nesting, and 

 consequently in Se])tember last (1'.104) I carefully watched 

 a pair of these delicate and graceful birds flitting about the 

 shady nooks of the Palmeit River, actively engaged in 

 searching for the larva? of dragon-flies or other insect life 

 and warbling beautifully. 



At last, after a very lengthy search, patience was rewarded, 

 the nest being found cai'efully hidden in a nook on the over- 

 hanging rock of a precipice, with a deep pool of water a few 

 feet below, close to where they had nested the previous year. 



It was somewhat bulky, roughly constructed outwardly of 

 dead leaves, grass, and other materials gathered from the 

 water's edge, but inwardly a snugly-built cup-shaped hollow 

 was lined with fibrous tissues. When visiting the nest on 

 the 22nd September last it contained two freshly-laid eggs. 



On the 15th October the same pair of birds had again 

 nested within a few yards of the same spot and had laid 

 three eggs which were then slightly incubated. I presume, 

 therefore, the clutch consists of three eggs. 



The eggs measure |§ X /^ "^ch, and, although of the 

 usual AVagtail-shape, are distinguishable from the other Pied 

 species by the lighter ground-colour, which is grey, freckled 

 with brown irregular markings at the obtuse end, some of 

 the eggs having a dark hair streak circling the crown. 



2. Halcyon chelicuti. (Striped Kingfisher.) 



Several pairs of these birds were noticed by me at the 



Vlil,, II. o 



