16 Lieut. H. A. P. Littledale on the 



many of the Flycatchers, which build their nests in trees and 

 cover the sides with lichen to conceal its real identity ; or the 

 Warblers, which build in grass-tufts, and construct their nests 

 of various grasses deftly woven and placed to appear as 

 inconspicuous as possible. 



II. — IVie JS^e sting and other Hahits of the Cape Widgeon 

 (Netlion capense). By Lieut. H. A. P. Littledale, 

 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 



(Plate III.) 

 I HAVE found the Cape Widgeon to be comparatively common 

 at Van Wijks Vlei, near Carnarvon, Cape Colony, and also 

 I have seen a good number on most of the dams in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Van Wijks Vlei is probably the largest permanent sheet of 

 water in Cape Colony and certainly the largest in Great 

 Bushman land. This year the dam is fairly full, but not so full 

 as to cover the islands, of which there are several. The dam 

 was built about 22 years ago and in a couple of years 1700 

 acres were submerged, which is rather less than its present 

 extent. In circuit it is about 10 miles round. The islands 

 are about 50 to 150 yards in diameter. 



1 have found three nests of the identity of which I am 

 certain. There are others which contain similar eggs but on 

 which I have not seen the birds actually sitting. 



The nests do not vary much. In two cases they were 

 placed under very thin and scanty bushes which did not 

 conceal them from view. The third was very well hidden 

 under a very thick bush. The first two nests were merely 

 round holes in the ground obviously scraped by this or some 

 other bird. The holes were 9 inches in diameter and 3 inches 

 deep. The bottom was almost bare earth, the few feathers 

 and scraps of down that there were below looking as if they 

 had got there accidentally. When the bird is sitting the 

 eggs are encircled with a ring of down about 1^ inches broad, 

 which the bird overlaps and thus keeps the eggs warm. 

 Before leaving the nest the bird pulls the ring of down over 



