the Trans^caal Mu.<eum from Borov. 25 



rnbl)Pr-trees in the clearing, dartino- down every few minutes 

 to pick up some morsel from the ground and then usually 

 flying to another coign of vantage, from Avhich it would 

 repeat the manoeuvre. Elsewhere it was not often met with. 

 Three nests were found in the hanks of streams, two durino- 

 the first week in Octoher, out of one of which thre*; fresh 

 eggs were taken, and the third at Mativve a month later with 

 three eggs on the })oint of hatching. The three eggs taken 

 at Buruma measure 25"8 X 23'tJ-24"5. 



Melittophagus mekidioxalis, Sharpe. R. 8G1. (1 F.) 

 May-August. 



I. dark brown (?) ; B. k L. hlack. Leng. 142 ; ^\ . 78 ; 

 Tl. G3 ; C. 27. 



Pairs of these Bee-eaters were observed in most clearinos, 

 usually perched on bare twigs of fallen trees, fron; which thev 

 darted after passing insects and always returned to the sanui 

 twig. 



DlCROCERCrS HIRUNDINEUS (Lclit.). 1{. 800. (1 Y .) 

 July-August. 



I. vermilion ; B. black ; L. ashy brown. Leng. 21C) : 

 W. IH) ; Tl. 93 ; 0. 34. 



Very few were seen — as far as I can remember, a pair at 

 Ngamwe and two pairs at Buruma ; a nest was also tound near 

 Matiwe in the baidc of a river, from which two youn<»- ones 

 darted out when I dug it open and took refugt; in the trees 

 but not having a shot-gun handy T could not secure them. 

 The parents were not seen in the vicinity. Another s]»ecimen 

 was })rocured at Ngamwe, but lost on the joui-ney, which 

 struck me at the time as being different from the others I 

 had seen, but I may have been mistaken. The followino- 

 particulars were recorded of it: — "No. 255. Ngamwe, 

 25.7.08, M. I. scarlet; B. black; L. slate. Leng. 243 ; 

 AV. 78 ; C. 30. Perched on twig in shade of large tree and 

 hawking flies." 



Urn-A AKHICAXA, Bechst. R. 836. Resident. 



The Conunon African Hoopoe was seen at various times, 



