E<jii-Collecti)uj in the Buslivehl. 25 



parents compelled to leave them in order to search for food 

 for the voracious parasite. 



The African Hoopoe {Upupa africana) was sometimes seen 

 in more open parts of the pan. It breeds in August and 

 September at the Fountains, Pretoria, as a rule making use 

 of a hollow antheap for a nest. Four or five eggs appear 

 to be the normal clutch. 



Rufous - cheeked Nightjar [Caprimulgus rvjiyena). — 

 Numbers were to be seen in the twilight flitting about or 

 settling on the bare ground or roads. This species breeds in 

 the vicinity of Pretoria in October. Its eggs, normally two 

 in number, are cream-coloured, thickly clouded with purplish 

 slate overlaid with patches of brownish pink, and measure 

 about 27 X 20 mm. 



Pearl -breasted Swallow (^Hirundo dim'nilafa). — This 

 Swallovv was sometimes seen flitting about over the water in 

 the gulley, and young ones were seen with the parents about 

 Christmas time in 1909 ; but though I searched diligently, 

 I failed to find their nest. 



The White-throated {Hirundo albigvlaris) and European 

 Swallows (rvsiica) were seen in fair numbers in the vicinity 

 of water. 



Smaller Stripe - breasted Swallovv (IHrumlo jnwlhi). — 

 This species was very common and is a resident. Eggs were 

 taken during the early part of December, and a young 

 one was shot as it was flying about the same time. It 

 builds under overhanging rocks and under the disused salt 

 refining pan. 



Ped-breasted Swallow {H'lriindo semiriifa). — This species 

 is also a resident. It always builds after the heavy rains in 

 December. A pair builds regularly every year in the 

 ceiling of Mr. Bernard's dining-room and has always been 

 left undisturbed. The eggs are white and measure, in one 

 clutch 19-3-20 X 14-9-1G-2, and in another 21-1-22-5 x 14-5- 

 14'8 mm. 



