742 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Mr. J. Verreaux tells us that he obtained it on the Orange River at 
Zee-koe Vley, at the base of the Muisenberg, between Cape Town 
and Simons 'Town.* 
Mr. Ayres has procured it once on the Monocusi River in Natal, 
but in the Transvaal he says it is scarce, and also very shy and 
difficult to approach. “ They frequent swamps, generally in pairs, 
and on being disturbed circle up to a great height in the air, and 
then go right away to some other favourite marsh.” On the Zambesi 
Sir John Kirk found it rather common, but a shy bird, difficult to 
approach. Senor Anchieta has met with it at Huilla, in Benguela, 
and at Humbe on the Cunene River, whence he has sent numerous 
examples. 
General colour, very dark brown, resplendent with iridescent- 
green, purple, and bronze reflections; shoulders deep ruddy brown, 
as are also the neck and under parts; the cheeks and chin mottled 
with white. In some specimens the neck and under parts are not 
ruddy, and the former is mottled all the way down. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. vi, pls. 71, 72. 
717. Pxaratma TeNurRostris, Temm. Slender-billed Spoon-bill. 
The only specimen we have seen was in the Grahamstown Museum, 
shot at the Kariega, fourteen miles west of the Kowie. Mr.J. Verreaux 
assures us that in his time it was common at the Berg River, 
Verloren Vley, &c. At Verloren Vley it used yearly to breed, but we 
think that it has now forsaken these localities. Mr. Ayres procured 
it im Natal. He observes: ‘The stomachs of these birds were 
crammed with shrimps. Of their habits I know but little: they are 
gregarious, and are frequently to be found with the White Ibis and 
other waders. They are extremely shy, and I have not had an 
opportunity of seeing them feed. They generally fly in lines or 
form the letter V.””. The following note is given by Majors Butler 
and Feilden and Captain Reid: “ First seen by Butler, a single 
* Tt is singular to notice the change that has taken place in the ornithology 
of the country since Mr. Verreaux collected in it at the beginning of the 
century. We found on going over our catalogue together that many species 
common in his time had utterly disappeared, while on the other hand species 
unknown to him as inhabitants of the Cape, are now abundant even in the 
neighbourhood of Cape Town. This occurs among the marine species as well 
as the land birds —F. LZ. L 
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