Occasional Notes. 65 



Transvaal : " I noticed yesterday an almost white " Black 

 Piet" bird — I am referring to the little Black Bird, larger 

 than a Sparrow, always found on anthills, which feeds on 

 ants, has white wings, and breeds in holes." 



[The bird is undoubtedly the Ant-eating Chat. — Edd.] 



2. Spotted Crake in Basutoland. — Miss M. E. Barrett 

 of Leribe sent me a skin of an example of the Spotted Crake 

 {Ortygometra j)orzaiui), which she picked up dead. It must 

 be rare here. J. P. Murray. 



Maseru, Basntoland. 



3. Records from Port Elizabeth and District. — 



White-backed Heron {Nycticorax leuconota). We have 

 received two examples of this Heron from Hankey. 



Wood Ibis [P seudotantalus ibis). A specimen of this 

 pretty bird was shot on the banks of the Zwartkops River, 

 close to the town. This bird is a very rare visitor here. 



Honey Buzzard {Pernis apivoms'). A specimen of this 

 rare bird was shot at Walmer, a suburb of this town, in the 

 beginning of February. This is a record. There is no doubt 

 of the identity. F. W. Fitzsimons, Directoi . 



Public Museum, 



Port Elizabeth. 



4. Honey Buzzard in Pretoria. — At midday to-day my 

 landlady's fowls were heard making a great commotion, and 

 a moment afterwards the native servant came in to tell us 

 that there was a large bird in a tree in the garden. I went 

 out with the collector's gun and a charge of No. 10 to 

 frighten it away. To my surprise the bird dropped dead 

 with the discharge, and I was still more surprised to find 

 that it was a young specimen of that rare visitor the Honey 

 Buzzard [Pernis apivorus). According to Sclater only six 

 specimens have been recorded from South Africa. 



vol. IX. 5 



