Occasional ^^otes. 109 



VII. — Occasional Ji^otes. 



1. Hearty congratulations to Mr. C. G. Davies, M.B.O.U., 

 on his promotion from Sergeant 1st S.A.M.R. to Lieutenant 

 3rJ S.A.M.R. — a promotion, we feel sure, ho well deserved. 



Mr. Davies, we believe, is as good a soldier as he is 

 naturalist and artist. An interesting letter from his pen 

 is printed herein. 



2. Curious Form of Blue-breasted Waxbill. 



Last week I procured, between a lot of ordinary Blue- 

 breasted Waxbills ( Uvcejinthus angolensis), an example with 

 red cheeks or " ear-coverts," similar to those of U. bengalus, 

 but nothing like so large as those of the northern species. 

 The bird, unfortunately, died, and upon dissection proved to 

 be a male. F. E. 0. Moers. 



De Kroou, P.O. Brits. Transvaal, 

 August -ith, 1915. 



3. The following letter was written to the Editors from 

 Usikos^ G.S.W.A., under date June 13th, 1915: — 



" As one approaches this place, the country improves in 

 appearance — a good deal of bush and more mountainous 

 in character — and is of great interest to a naturalist. 



" We are camped here in a dry sandy bed, with numbers 

 of fine shady trees (camel thorns) about, and bird-life is 

 common and all new to me. Big game is numerous, and 

 the burghers have been having a good time amongst kudu, 

 gemsbuck, zebra, &c. 



"Near Walvis Bay I first saw the Yellow-nosed Albatross, 

 and sea-birds of all kinds were common. The only land- 

 bird I saw was Coi'vus scapulatus, but I picked up the 

 remains of a Button-Quail, w'hich must have lost its way. 



" At this place I noted the Black Crow, Bulbuls, Sparrows, 



