the Birds of Plnlipstoii-n. 15 



drella sclateri capensis by Ogilvie-Grrant, The original series 

 was sent to the S. African Museum, Cape Town, and four 

 more specimens, collected more recently, have been acquired 

 by the Transvaal Museum. Two or three other species of 

 Lark were seen, but not identified. 



Three species of Pipit were recorded, namely, Tawny 

 Pipit {Anthus rxifulus raalteni), Davies' Pipit {A. daciesi) 

 and Large Yellow- tufted Pipit (A. crenatus). The first is 

 common, the second rare, and the third is not uncommon on 

 the hills. 



Wagtails. — The Pied Wagtail {MotacUIa vidua) is found 

 along the Orange River, and the Common Wagtail (J/, ca- 

 pensis) is abundant everywhere. 



The Giant Kingfisher (Cf^-^^/^ maxima) was seen only once, 

 though doubtless this biid, as well as the Pied (C. rudis) and 

 the Malachite Kingfishers {Cori/thornis cijanostigma)^ would 

 be found alontj the river. The Giant Kinofisher can swallow 

 fish of an astonishing size. At Barkly West I saw a yellow 

 fish, 7 inches in length, taken from the stomach of one of 

 these birds. The head of the fish had been battered to 

 pieces, but the body was intact. 



The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater {Dicrocercus Idnindineiis) is 

 a very rare bird in these parts. It was recorded only once 

 from a farm on the boundary between Philipstown and 

 Hanover districts. The European Bee-eater [Merops a])iaster) 

 is very abundant all through the summer months. It breeds 

 in the district, and is an unwelcome visitor to farmers who 

 keep bees. Specimens collected at Barkly West were found 

 to have fed exclusively on dragon-fiies. 



Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (^CaprimuJgus rvfigend). — This 

 bird is a summer visitor and is fairly common. I believe it 

 driniis while on the wing — at any rate, I have occasionally 

 seen one, while skimming over a sheet of water in the evening, 

 drop down for an instant on to the surface. 



The S.A. Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is rather a rare bird 

 in these parts. 



The Didric Cuckoo {Chrysococcyx cupreus) is a migratory 

 species, arriving generally in October and leaving again 



