144 Eev. Robert Goilfrcy an 



a straggler not far from tlie Tsolo itself. On February 18, 

 in tlie Tsitsa valley, I noticed European Swallows resting on' 

 long grass. I cannot recall having previously observed this 

 trait in this species in South Africa, though I have observed 

 it by the side of a Scottish loch. 



The Black Swifts escaped notice altogether at the time of 

 their arrival, but were under careful observation towards 

 the end of the season. On May 9 a single bird was seen 

 crossing the col between the Tsitsa and the Ntywenka ; on 

 the 20th at midday a flock of twenty or so kept circling 

 about near the mission-house at Somerville for a considerable 

 time ; and, on the 26th, three were careering about between 

 the mission-house and Tsolo Mountain and finally disappeared 

 in the direction of Bele. 



In connection with the Cuckoos, greatest interest centred^ 

 as usual, round the Red-chested Cuckoo or Piet-mijn-vrouw. 

 News was brought to me at Lovedale^on September 8 that 

 one had been heard at Alice that day. Though this date 

 anticipates by several weeks the ordinary recognised date of 

 the bird's arrival in the Buffalo Basin, it is not without one 

 parallel record as far as Alice is concerned. Mrs. Green, of 

 Alice, has informed me that in 1913 she heard the bird 

 there on September 7. Judge of my delight and surprise 

 when two days later, in a ramble by the Tyumie, Mr. James 

 Chalmers and I heard Piet-mijn-vrouw call close beside us 

 three or four times, and yet, with all this evidence, I should 

 be glad to handle a specimen obtained in the first half of 

 September. At East London the species was not heard till 

 October 20. This Cuckoo remained in song at Somerville 

 till February 11. 



A Great Spotted Cuckoo, shot near Whittlesea on 

 October 27, was forwarded to me by Rev. D. B. Davies, of 

 Peddie. 



The only other Cuckoo claiming attention in the present 

 report is the Didric, which was heard singing repeatedly in 

 Tsolo village on March 8 and at Tsitsa Bridge on the follow- 

 ing day. 



