GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



published in the Journal of the S. African Ornithological 

 Union for April, 1908, the following notes : — 



" I have found the Cape Widgeon (Teal) to be compara- 

 tively common at Van Wijk's Vlei, near Carnarvon, Cape 

 Colony, and also I have seen a good number on most of the 

 dams in the neighbourhood. 



" Van Wijk's Vlei is probably the largest permanent sheet 

 of water in Cape Colony, and certainly the largest in Great 

 Bushmanland. This year [1908] the dam is fairly full, but 

 not so fuU as to cover the islands, of which there are several. 

 The dam was built about 22 years ago, and in a couple of years 

 1,700 acres were submerged, which is rather less than its 

 present extent. In circuit it is about 10 miles round. The 

 islands are about 50 to 150 yards in diameter. 



" I have found three nests of the identity of which I am 

 certain. There are others which contain similar eggs, but 

 on which I have not seen the birds actually sitting. 



" The nests do not vary much. In two cases they were 

 placed under very thin and scanty bushes which did not conceal 

 them from view. The third was very well hidden under a 

 very thick bush. The first two nests were merely round holes 

 in the ground, obviously scraped by this or some other bird. 

 The holes were 9 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep. 

 The bottom was almost bare earth, the few feathers and scraps 

 of down that there were below looking as if they had got there 

 accidentally. When the bird is sitting the eggs are encircled 

 with a ring of down about 1| inches broad, which the bird 

 overlaps, and thus keeps the eggs warm. 



" Before leaving the nest the bird pulls the ring of down 

 over the eggs and makes a thick pad of it, thus leaving the 

 eggs protected from cold and rather difficult to find. If the 

 bird is put up off the nest she will leave the eggs uncovered ; 



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