640 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
of the Transvaal to the Matabele country, where it is a bush-loving 
species. It breeds about October or November, and lays either one 
or two eggs, Mr. Ayres writes :—‘ I met with these Bustards, but 
not plentifully, throughout the Marico bush; they appear to be 
solitary in their habits, lie close, and rise very silently. In the 
evening they utter a melancholy note, ‘goo, goo,’ often and slowly 
repeated. When I first heard this note, I thought it must be that 
of some Owl; but on cautiously approaching, up flew a fine cock 
Bustard, the skin of which I now send. My brother and I came 
across a few of these birds on the Eland’s River, in the Rustenburg 
district. They appear to be scarce and local, frequenting low 
thorns and other pretty thick cover.” During Mr. Jameson’s 
expedition to the Mashoona country, Mr. Ayres states that they 
were not uncommon from Rustenburg to the Umyuli River. “On 
the 14th of November a nest of these birds was found at Matje 
Umschlope in the Matabele. The eggs, two in number, were laid on 
the ground, and partially hidden by a tuft of grass, and were very 
much incubated. They were much pointed, resembling in shape 
Plover’s eggs. In colouring they were greyish creamy-white, much 
spotted and blotched with dark colour. One measured 2°25 inches 
by 1°5 inches; the other 2” by 1°5’.” 
Mr. Andersson observes:—“I have met with this species pretty 
frequently in Great Namaqua Land, and also, but less frequently, in 
Southern Damara Land, to the north of which, I believe, it does 
not extend. It is usually found on open ground, thinly covered with 
dwarf bush.” 
Mr. Monteiro says that it is common in the littoral region of 
Angola, but it has not occurred to Senor Anchieta. 
Top of head, neck, and upper part of chest, blueish-ash, darkest 
on the head ; ground colour of back, deep rufous, mottled with deep 
brown and black; the prevailing marking on this part is of a 
rufous colour, V-shaped, with a black centre; chin and sides of head 
dirty white ; head crested; crest deep ferruginous; under parts all 
black. Length, 17”; wing, 11"; tail, 7’. The female wants the 
crest on the head, and is otherwise less brightly coloured. “ Iris 
dusky, tawny brown ; bill yellowish ash, the culmen dusky ; tarsi and 
feet nearly white” (Ayres). 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 4. 
