124 Mr. B. A. Mastersori on 



a nest in long grass on a hillock about three miles away 

 from water. 



Breeding season May to February. 



It lays from five to nine greenish-white eggs. I have 

 heard of a nest being found with eleven eggs, but cannot 

 vouch for the truth of the statement. 



Bed-billed Teal {Anas erythorh/ncha). — An occasional 

 visitor. In 1895 we had very heavy and continuous rain, 

 and all the vleis were full of water ; that season they bred 

 here. I saw several broods of ducklings, but could not find 

 any nests ; the biggest brood I saw was five, in the month 

 of September. 



S.A. Pochard {Nyroca capensis). — An occasional visitor. 

 It bred hei'e the same season as the Bed-billed Teal. The 

 ducklings appeared from September to November. I could 

 not find any nests. 



Moorhen [GalUmtla cWoropus). — Common in certain 

 parts of the district. It builds on the water among the 

 rushes a nest of rushes and aquatic weeds. 



Breeding season September to January. 



It lays from four to seven greyish-brown eggs marked 

 with brown spots. 



Bed-knobbed Coot or Bleshoen (Fulica cristata). — Very 

 common on most of the open rivers and vleis. Its habits 

 are exactly the same as the Moorhen; but in this bird 

 the forehead is a pure white, instead of red, and its eggs 

 are slightly larger. 



Cape Dabchick (Little Grebe) [Colymhus capensis). — 

 Common on the rivers and vleis. It builds a nest of aquatic 

 weeds, floating on the water at the inner edge of the rushes 

 or reeds growing in the water. 



Breeding season July to March. 



It lays from five to nine dirty-white eggs. 



Hadadah Ibis (^Theristicus hagedasJi). — Common in some 

 j.>arts of the district. During the winter they fly about in 



