Ml</nitor>/ Jiirds at Komatipoorf. 19 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. 



Fig. L Heliospiza nooinece, Gunning,* 



2. Ayapornif! iiu/rif/eins, W. L, Sclater, 



IV. — Observations on Mhjratorij Birds at Komatijworf. By 

 Major J. Stevenson Hamilton, Snpt, Sabi Game Reserves. 



During February, 1908, large numbers of Hobbies were 

 reported in tbe country between tbe Letaba and Limpopo ; 

 tbey were hawking the flying ants. Tiie ranger shot one to 

 make sure, but did not report whether they were Falco suhhuteo 

 or cuvieri ; they only remained about a week, and the same 

 ranger says he never before saw any in the three years ho 

 liad been in that locality. 



The same informant reports that large numbers of Storks, 

 both ahdhnii and alha, were seen during the same month. 



I myself saw large numbers of the latter collecting on the 

 Lebombo, close to the Komati River, on February 15th. As 

 previous to that date I had repeatedly seen them during the 

 summer, and as since that date I have seen none, nor can 

 hear of any others having been observed, I am of the opinion 

 that they left very soon after 15tli February. From the 2nd 

 until the 20th February moderately strong S.E winds blew. 

 This agrees wit'i i\Iajor Fraser's observations above mentioned, 

 as he records that the birds were coming in fast about the 

 middle of February. 



I saw two Saddle-Bills {E. senegalensis) on the Sabi on 

 March 14, and Major Fraser saw two on the Itendi (a 

 tributary of the Letaba) on 28th February. 



Merops 7iuUcoides (Carmine-throated Bee-eater). — These 

 birds w^ere seen by me in pairs throughout the sunnner on the 

 Sabi. 



The last time I saw any was on, I think, February 10th, or 

 possibly a few days earlier. I noticed them first in tho 

 early part of November. 



* See 'Journal S. A. 0. U.' vol. iii. Xo. 2 (December 1907). 



