Occasional jyofes. Ill 



Eupliorbia and tlien took to flight, circling about overhead 

 for some time. I found that the Euphorbia contained about six 

 nests of this species, in one of which IcouUl, from above, clearly 

 make out about four green eggs. Later on, I found some 

 more nests on a Euphorbia on the left of the kopje, just out 

 of sight from where the photograph was taken. This nesting- 

 site is a novel one for the Black-necked Heron, and should 

 interest ornithologists, 'fhe Euphorbise are, of course, well 

 protected by thorny branches, and about 15 feet high, so 

 that it would have been a difficult matter to get at the nests; 

 in addition, this part of the kopje seemed also to be shunned 

 by the native herd-boys, probably on account of the matted 

 overgrowth of bushes and cacti, which would be an ideal 

 spot for poisonous snakes. The kopje itself is also typical 

 of those found in the vicinity of Pietersburg, and usually the 

 only places where sheltering vegetation is to be found. I 

 have to thank Mr. C. Swierstra for the photograph. 



Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, AuSTIN ROBERTS. 



February 3rd, 1915, 



6. To tlie Hon. Secretary, S.A.O.U., Pretoria. 



For the last week or ten days a pair of Cossypha cajfra 

 have been in attendance on a young Cuculus solitarius in the 

 vicinity of my office. 



The call of the young bird resembles that of a young 

 C. caffra so closely that, until I saw it, I was under the 

 impression it was the natural offspring of the Robins. 



Could you, or any of your readers, tell me whether this is 

 the natural call-note of the young Cuckoo, or is it part of the 

 " game of deception " to imitate the note of the young of its 

 foster-parents ? J. C. J. Knobel. 



Tokai, P.O. Retreat, 

 December 3rd, 1914. 



[The usual call of the adult C. solitarius is a loud " Piet- 

 myn-vrouw,^' whence its Dutch name. The call-notes of 

 young birds often vary considerably. — Edd.] 



