78 Mr. L. E. Taylor on the 



555. Gyps kolbii. (Kolbe's Vulture.) 



Kolbe's Vulture is common here. It has often been 

 stated, and is popularly believed, that no Vulture will feed 

 on animals killed by lightning; but I have seen 200 birds 

 of this species and 20 Otogyps auricularis (Black Vulture) 

 feeding at one time on the carcases of a flock of 42 sheep 

 which were killed by lightning close to Irene station in the 

 summer of 1903. 



558. Otogyps auricularis. (Black Vulture.) 

 The only occasion on which I have seen the Black Vulture 

 here was on that referred to in my remarks on the preceding 

 species. The twenty then seen was, I believe, an unusually 

 large number for this species, of which not more than six or 

 seven are usually seen together. 



563. Serpentarius secretarius. (Secretary Bird.) 

 The Secretary Bird is not uncommon here ; a pair may be 

 seen on almost every farm. The farmers usually destroy the 

 eggs when found, as they consider the birds destroy the 

 young of game-birds. 



578. Ciconia alba. (White Stork.) 



Some White Storks were seen flying near here on the 

 14th December, 1905. I saw a flock of several hundred on 

 the veld near Kaalfontein, not far from Pretoria, a few days 

 previously. 



584. Scopus umbretta. (Hammerkop.) 



The Hammerkop is a common bird, and there are five or 

 ■six of their massive nests to be seen built in willow trees in 

 the neighbouring plantation. 



587. Ardea melanocephala. (Black-headed Heron.) 

 The Black-headed Heron was seen here once by Mr. 



Shortridge. 



588. Ardea purpurea. (Purple Heron.) 



On one or two occasions I have seen Herons here which 

 were of this species. 



