Egg-CoUectiiKj in the Buslireld. 37 



V. Serena, is parasitic. Many years ago my brother shot a 

 young one which was being fed by a pair of Cisticola tinniens; 

 and Mr. Noome informs me that the type and co-type of 

 Ileliospiza noomel (which are the young of this species) were 

 shot whilst being fed by some Warblers. I shot a young 

 one in January in the grass out in the open veld, where 

 there were only Grass- Warblers of the open veld-frequenting 

 species — liarks and Long-tailed Whydahs — about. I would 

 not venture to assert that this species is certainly parasitic, 

 but the subject is worthy of investigation. It is a very shy 

 and mysterious bird, and one seldom has an opportunity of 

 observing it closely. It is usually found consorting with 

 Finches. 



Yellow-breasted Bunting (JEmberiza Jlavlventris) . — A nest 

 wiili two much incubated eggs was found on the 12tli 

 November ; but as I was on the way out collecting, I left 

 them in the nest, and on my return found that they had 

 disap[)eared. The nest was an open shallow structure com- 

 posed of grass-stems and placed in an open thorn-bush at a 

 height of five feet from the ground. 



Rock-Bunting (^Fnngillaria taha2nsi). — The Rock-Bunting 

 is very common on the stony ridge on the border of the 

 bushveld and at the pan. In two nests, with two and three 

 fresh eggs respectively, taken at Pretoria on 10th January, 

 the eggs are dull white thickly crowded with brownish-red 

 speckles, and measure 16*8-19'3 x 12-3-12'8 mm. The nests 

 are open shallow structures composed of roots and hair, 

 placed in some open situation amongst the rocks, usually on. 

 the ground where the grass is short. 



Antlius spec. ? — A large species related to leucoph'7/s and 

 nichulsoni was frequently seen in open ground near the pan ; 

 but a specimen obtained could not be identified as it was 

 moulting. 



Large Short-tailed Pipit [Anthus eaffer). — This species is 

 common in the bushveld and the foot of the Magaliesberg. 

 It is shy and quiet, and often settles on trees when alarmed. 



