District of Matatlele, East Gritjualand. 21) 



They nre common in lliis district and do a considerable 

 amount of damage to the farmers' crops ; not only do they 

 knock down and ti'ample a quantity of the growing wheat, 

 but even when it is stacked on the lands they pull about and 

 strip the shetives. When flying they utter a curious clucking 

 whistle, and when wounded and attacked by a dog hiss and 

 strike with their wings. The young are often caught b}' 

 natives and brought in for sale ; I have three at present 

 running at large about the camp. They will cross with the 

 Muscovy Duck, but the eggs invariably prove unfertile. 



[In Sclater's description of P. niger no mention is made 

 of white on the head and wing, yet Mr. Davies says his birds 

 have wliite feathers on the face and white wing-patches. 

 Besides, ni(/er was described from the north and not from Cape 

 Colony. From my own experience in general I should say the 

 very old males have the most white on them. The Transvaal 

 Zoological Gardens got twelve Spur-wings in July 1910, 

 and when they arrived I would have certainly taken them 

 for P. niger had not several had white patches or freckling 

 on the face, wdiile others had more or less conspicuous white 

 wing-patches. After eleven months in the Gardens they are 

 beginning to get whiter and whiter, and all hope of their being 

 nif/er has vanished. Furthermore, Sclater's description says 

 that the wattles are not so well-developed as the average 

 yamhends ; another possible proof that his birds were young 

 ones. — A. H.] 



22. Casarca cana (Gm.), S. African Sheldrake. 

 Scarce — visiting the district in small numbers at irrejiular 



intervals. 



23. Aeenaria interpres (L.). Turnstone. 



Rare. I have only seen a single specimen killed in the 

 district. 



24. Glareola melanoptera, Nordm. Black-winged 

 Pratincole. 



An irregular visitor. None were seen last year (1910). 



