THE JOURNAL 



OF THE 



SODTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



Vol. VIII. DECEMBER 1913. No. 2. 



X. — Random Notes on South African Ornithology. 



By C. G. Davies, M.B.O.U. 



I HAVE written the following random notes on various 



ornithological matters in the hope that they may be of some 



interest. 



In the volume of ' The Ibis ' for 1911, and the first part 

 for January 1912, Mr. W. L. Sclater has given a most 

 interesting account of the largo collections of birds made by 

 Mr. Claude Grant in various parts of South Africa. These 

 articles should be studied by ornithologists in this country 

 as several new species and subspecies are described. I have, 

 unfortunately, only got the last part by me now, but should 

 like to make a few comments on one or two of the species 

 mentioned in that part. 



Cerchneis naumanni. Lesser Kestrel. 



Mr. Sclater notes that two immature males are assuming 

 the blue head by a feather change and by abrasion of the 

 edges of the feathers, not by a moult. I have shot 

 numbers of these birds in all stages of change^ and without 

 exception they were all getting the blue head by a moxdt^ 

 not by a change in the colour of the featlier.s — the new blue 

 feathers being sprinkled about amongst the old feathers, which 

 were very much faded and worn. T might mention, however, 



VOL. VIII. 7 



