450 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



Mr. Distant is a well-known worker, and in the birds, of 

 which frequent mention is made. Mr. Distant succeeded in 

 procuring examples of nearly one hundred species, of M'hich 

 a list is given in the Appendix. 



Our author's greatest acquisition in this class Avas a spe- 

 cimen of Wahlberg's Eagle, obtained just outside Pretoria, 

 M here Elanus ccenileus could also usually be seen, and several 

 species of Kestrel were abundant. As regards other birds 

 met with in the same district, Mr. Distant writes as 

 follows : — 



" Some species very common in the wooded districts of 

 Waterberg and Zoutpansberg are occasionally seen in the 

 district of Pretoria, such as the Grey Plantain-eater 

 [Schizorhis concolor) and the Yellow-billed Hornbill i^LopJio- 

 ceros leucomelas) , examples of both of which were observed 

 and obtained. Another bird not at all rare around Pretoria is 

 the Golden Cuckoo {Chnjsococcijx cuprens) ; in the stomach 

 of one I found small Coleoptera, in that of another specimen 

 small Orthoptera. Peters' Glossy Starling {Lamprocolius 

 si/cobius) and the Cape Glossy Starling {Aitiijdriis murio) are 

 very abundant in wooded rocky spots, and give a colour to 

 the scene ; while after the rains the Common Sprcos (Spreo 

 biculor) assemble in flocks upon the veld and devour the 

 small Orthoptera there existing in great plenty. 



" Wherever wet places and high reeds are found, the Long- 

 tailed Widow-bird {Chera progne) may usually be observed 

 pursuing its laborious and difficult flight, heavily handicapjjed 

 by its seasonally-developed tail, and is a good instance of 

 sexual selection exercised at the expense of protection. 



" Among the tamest of birds may be mentioned the Cape 

 Long-claw {Macronyx capensis), which can frequently be 

 killed when driving by a slash of the whip wielded by an 

 expert Kafir, as a specimen in my collection was thus 

 obtained. But this bird is not usually found around the 

 outskirts of the town, as is that most friendly of visitors, the 

 Cape Wagtail {Motacilla capensis), many of which fall a 

 prey to small Dutch boys armed with that hideous instrument, 

 the * catapult.' " 



