the Birds of Humansdorp. 123 



Sand-Plover {Charadrius vartus). — Very common alono; 

 the coast. I found one nest in November, among a lot of 

 loose stones and rocks, on the beach at Jetil'reys Bay. The 

 nest was a sh'ght depression in tlie ^and, :ind contained two 

 greyish-brown eggs, spotted and bk)tc']i('d with (Jark brown. 



Black-backed Gull (Larus dominiaanis) . — Vcrvcommon 

 on the seashore, especially at fisheries, where they act as 

 scavengers, eating the offal from the fish. They lay two 

 browiiish-o-rev eo-os blotched with brown on the sand, nsnallv 

 beside a log, or boulder, or a bu?h. The young ones are 

 very easily reared and tamed. 



Breeding season (September to March. 



Hammerhead {Scopus umhretta). — Very common along 

 the rivers, water-furrows, antl vleis. It builds on krantzes 

 and in the forks of high trees, usually over water. About 

 two years ago I found a nest on the top of a high rock 

 about five miles away from any water. The nest is a large 

 dome-shaped structure of sticks, mealie-stalks, hoop-iron, 

 bits of tin, bones, rags, and almost any kind of rubbish; it 

 measures from two to three or four feet in diameter, it is 

 plastered with mud on the inside. 



Breeding season October to February. 



It lays from three to four dirty-white eggs. 



JCgyptian Goose {Chenalopex cegyptiacns). — This bird has 

 entirely disappeared from the district; it has not been re- 

 corded here for the last eight years. Formerly it bred 

 regularly along the Gamtoos River. • It builds a saucer- 

 shaped nest of coarse grass on a ledge in a high cliff and in 

 long grass near water. 



Breeding season September to January. 



It la^'s from hve to nine white eggs. 



Yellow-billed Duck [Anas undulatd). — Very common 

 on the open rivers and vleis. It builds a nest of rushes, 

 grass, and aquatic weeds, usually in the rushes or reeds 

 growing in or along the side of the water, but I have found 



