102 Mr. C. G. Davies on the Wddfoid and 



2. One egg : no date. Same locality and collection. 



The eggs differ in shape and size. No. 1 is oval with 

 little taper, but No. 2 tapers very considerably. 



Texture rough, slightly pitted and with some nodules ; 

 surface dull. 



Colour. Pure white. 



Sizes. 76-5 X 62-5; 80-0x5a-5 mm. 



XII. — Some JS^otes on the Wild/owl and Water-Birds of 

 Matatiete, East Griqualand. By C. G. Davies, C. M. 

 Riflemen. 



The following birds, with the excc})tions noted, were collected 

 during the period from July 1898 to October 1899. My 

 thanks are due to Dr. J. E. Duerden, of the Albany Museum, 

 Grahamstown, for furnishing me with information re certain 

 birds sent to the Museum by Mr. Gould, of Matatiele, and 

 also for kindly forwarding me specimens of others for 

 examination. 



Matatiele is situated on the high veld, about 35 miles from 

 the town of Kokstad, and about 20 miles from the Drakens- 

 burg Range and the Basutoland border. To the east of the 

 village the country is fairly flat, these flats being intersected 

 by low rocky ridges, at the bases of which lie a series of vleis 

 which have for years been a favourite haunt of Wildfowl, but 

 which for some reason are unfortunately gradually becoming- 

 dried up, and I hear at the present time contain few fowl 

 compared with past years. 



1. CiCONiA NIGRA. Black Stork. 



Rare. A beautiful adult male was shot by a friend of 

 mine; its crop was crammed with tadpoles in all stages of 

 growth. 



2. FSEUDOTANTALUS IBIS. Wood Ibis. 



Very rare. Mr. Gould, of Matatiele, obtained a specimen 

 of this species. I have no particulars as to sex, &c., as this 



