14 Migratorii Birds of the Buffalo B'lvev Basin. 



the impression that they had captured a Kinofislier. Un- 

 fortunately they missed the opportunity of: noting the foster- 

 parents, a point which still remains in obscurity. 



My latest date for the Didric {Chri/sococci/x cuprcus) is 

 December 27th, on which day the bird was calling near King- 

 williamstown. 



Birds of Prpi/. 



The Egyptian Kite (Milrns (njiiptins) remained with ns 

 until February 10th. Its numbers were about tlic same as in 

 previous years; one day, January 5th, I had a fine sight of 

 eleven of these birds in the air at the same time. The South 

 African Harrier (Circus ra?iirorus) tarried with us till 

 February 10th. And the third of our common migrant birds 

 of prey — Naumann's Kestrel (CerrJmeis ))aumaniii) — haunted 

 the trees in Kingwilliamstown till llu^ liitter half of March. 

 Mr. Arthur Weir reports that ho saw them then roosting in 

 two gum-trees at the old cemetery. 



Other Migrants, 



We have in the Willow-Wren an example of a migrant 

 whose arrival in this country generally escapes notice. 

 Owing to its small and unobtrusive colouring, as well as to 

 its silence on arrival in this land, it does not readily attract 

 notice at that season. But in February it begins to tune 

 up, by way of preparation for leaving this land ; and during 

 ISIarch the AVillow-Wren is in full song in South Africa. 

 This year this si)ecies turned up as usual in March, beside 

 the Mission-house at Piric, and sang beside the house till 

 March 2lttli. After his montlTs practice at song in this 

 land it is no wonder that ho is in perf<'ct song when he 

 readies the woods of Scotland in Aj)ril. 



Two species of migratory Sandpipers were detected in 

 the Ijuflalo Basin this year. One of these, the Common 

 San<lpip«-r (7>/h//o/Wc5 hi/poJeucos) oi Europe, was haunting 

 the BulVido in Kingwilliamstown on February KUh. And 

 the otii<'r, tbc Wood Sandpiper ( Tetanus glareola), came 

 under ob.sorvation three times — one was shot early in the 



