viii PREFACE. 



For the facts regarding general distribution of the birds and the 

 colour and dimensions of their eggs, I am in most cases indebted to 

 Mr. W. L. Sclater's valuable work on the Fauna of South Africa, but 

 a certain amount of information was also obtained from Layard and 

 Sharpe's Birds of South Africa. 



To Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant my thanks are also due for notes on 

 various species, and for kindly looking over some of my proofs. 



I should also like to express my thanks to Mr. H. F. Witherby 

 for his practical help on many occasions. 



B.R.H. 



