122 Mr. B. A. Masterson on 



Grey Heron {Ardea clnerea). — Very common. It builds 

 a nest of sticks, rnslies, nnd straw, usually placed on a ledge 

 on the face of a cliff or kranrz, and sometiaies ou the tops of 

 high trees, such as Euphorbias. 



Breeding season September to December. 



The eggs are of a pale bine colour. 



"White-backed Heron {Nydicorax leuconotus). — I have 

 only seen one on the banks of the Klein River at Hankey. 

 I shot it and presented it to the Port Elizabeth Museum. 



Cape Thick-knee {G^dlcnemus capensis). — Very common. 

 I have counted eleven in one flock during the winter, but 

 they separate in the breeding season, and are then only 

 found in pairs. They lay in a depression on the bare 

 ground. 



Breeding season October to February. 



They lay two greyish-brown eggs, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown. 



Water Thick-knee (G^dicnemus vermicidatus). — Common 

 along certain rivers. It has a peculiar, plaintive, whistling 

 call, quite distinct from that of the Cape Thick-knee. Its 

 nest is a slight depression in the giound near a river or vlei. 



Breeding season October to February. 



It lays two greyish-brown eggs, spotted and blotched with 

 dark brown. 



Crowned Lapwikci {SteplianUiyx coroncUvs). — Very com- 

 mon. I have counted seventeen in one flock during the 

 winter; in the laying season they separate into pairs. The 

 nest is a slight depression in the ground, surrounded by 

 sticks, dry grass-roots, and })ieces of dry cow and horse 

 dung. 



Breeding season Septem.ber to March. 



It lays three greyish-brown eggs, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown. 



Three-banded Plover [Charadrius tricollaris). — Very 

 common in some parts of the district along the rivers and 

 vleis. I have not found anv nests. 



