4 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



numerous, for in this arid region water is of the first im- 

 portance to many species, though, as might be expected, 

 tliere are many kinds that do not need it and are to be found 

 far away from the gullies. Even the species to which 

 water is not essential are often to be found near the gullies, 

 and it is only when one is anxious to secure the eggs of those 

 species which are to be found nesting in the tall gnarled 

 trees of the sandy higher ground, that one need go far from 

 the water-supply. Where human habitations are to be 

 found water is invariably obtained from a "fontein"' {i. e. 

 an excavation in some moist locality near the gullies), that 

 in the pools being quite undrinkable. Even the water 

 from the " fonteins " is not of the best, and the fastidious 

 would have to be hard pressed to drink it without boiling 

 and adding tea or coffee to disguise the colour. The best 

 season for egg-collecting in this region is during the months 

 of October, November, and December, as it is then that the 

 majority of small birds are to be found nesting. Many 

 species, however, nest at other times, and others again breed 

 throuo-hout the year. As this account is more particularly 

 concerned with some special trips made for the purpose of 

 getting eggs of some of the little-known species found 

 breeding during the above-mentioned months, I shall have 

 to confine this narrative to what was then noted, Indeed, 

 there is still much to be learnt, as the eggs of the larger 

 birds of prey, which nest in the tall gnarled trees in the 

 barren and wilder parts of the district, were already hatched 

 in most cases, and it was not worth while making a search for 

 them ; such birds as Francolins and Korhaan I was unnble 

 to learn anything about, and I also hunted in vain for the 

 eo'gs of a number of smaller birds. Besides the birds found 

 in the bush veld itself, several sjtccies are to bo met with in 

 the oixm veld en route. Some of these deserve mention, and 

 I shall therefore deal with tlie subject as it occurs to one 

 when making an excursion. 



The road to Zout()an leads through Wonderboom Poort, 

 past the Government Bacteriological Laboratory and the 

 Pyramid hills into an open stretch of country. Our first 



