tTie Birds of PhiUpstown. 11 



mate. It may, o£ conrsej be suggested that the evidence is 

 not conclusive and that this was an entirely new pair, but I 

 hardly think this likely and, in my own mind, I am con- 

 vinced that such was not the case. Here is another instance. 

 There were a few pairs of Vaal Knorhaan on another farm. 

 One pair could always be found in the neighbourhood of a 

 low stony ridge. I shot one of this pair — the other escaped 

 — and a few days later heard from the farmer that the 

 survivor had picked up another mate. I subsequently shot 

 both these, male and female, and within a fortnight another 

 pair had taken their place. I am glad to say that, having 

 secured all the specimens that were required, these were left 

 in peace. 



Dikkop (^CEd'icnemvs capensis). — This is a common bird 

 and can alwavs be heard calling on bright moonlioht nights. 

 During the day they lie hidden amongst bushes, and some- 

 times as many as 20 can be flushed from one spot. 



The Crowned Lapwing (^Steplianil>y.x coronatus) is fairly 

 common^ while BurchelFs Courser (^Cursorh/s riifus) and the 

 Two-bauded Courser (Rhinoptilus africanus) are plentiful. 



The Caspian Plover [ui^gialitis asiaticus) was recorded 

 and Kittlitz's Sand-Plover (A. pecuarid) several times. The 

 Three-banded Plover (A. tricollaris) is, of course, a per- 

 manent resident. Its nest, consisting of a few pebbles 

 scraped together, is generally situated on more or less bare 

 ground not far from water. It is easily found. 



Crowned Guinea-fowl (^Numida coronata) exist in fair 

 numbers in the neighbourhood of the Orange River. 



Small coveys of Greywing Partridge {Francolinus afri- 

 canus) are evenly distributed and Red\Ying [F. levaillanli) 

 sparingly. The former are generally to be found on rocky 

 ground, while the latter, which are scarcer, keep to the flats. 

 The stomach of a Greywing was found to contain^ besides 

 insects of several kinds and vegetable matter, 30 young 

 toads. 



Quail {Coturnix africana) are occasionally put up either 

 singly or in pairs. I do not think they ever appear in 

 anything like large numbers. 



