from the. Colony of Natal. 49 



This Bustard is found in the same localities as the preceding 

 species. 



Insects form the principal diet of all these three species of 

 Bustard ; but the first named feeds, I think, more upon roots 

 than the two last. 



\_h. specimen of this species is now living in the gardens of the 

 Zoological Society of London. — J. H. G.] 



304. Vanellus coronatus (Gmel.). Crowned Lapwing. 

 Female. Iris pale yellow ; the basal half of the bill bright 



crimson, the remainder black ; tarsi and feet bright pink. 



Insects form the diet of these Plovers, which very much re- 

 semble Vanellus melanopierus [Ibis, 1860, p. 217] in their habits 

 and appearance. They are not found in the coast districts; and 

 I first met with them under the Drankensberg. 



305. Chenalopex .egyptiacus (Linn.). Egyptian Goose. 

 Male and Female. Iris dark yellow ; bill pink, with tip, mar- 

 gins, and base black; tarsi and feet pink. 



Shot in February. The male weighed 5^ lbs., and the female 

 4 lbs. 



These Geese feed on the land early in the morning and to- 

 wards evening, and are fond of the seed-ears of grasses, which 

 are abundant at certain seasons. During flight they sometimes 

 utter a loud chattering note. They are mostly found in pairs, 

 but sometimes a whole flock may be met with. This species 

 also occurs in the Transvaal. 



306. Anas flavirostris. Smith. Yellow-billed Duck. 

 Male. Iris hazel ; bill bright yellow, but with the ridge and 



the basal half of the lower mandible black ; tarsi and feet dusky, 

 tinged with yellow. 



I found a pair of these birds in November in the upper part 

 of the ]\Iovi River, Natal ; and in the Transvaal they are toler- 

 ably plentiful, inhabiting the valleys there in some numbers. 

 They frequently lie so close in the rushes, where the water is 

 about knee-deep, as almost to allow themselves to be trodden 

 on. They build, amongst the high rushes, a substantial nest of 

 dry flags well elevated above the water, and generally choose 



N. S. VOL. IV. E 



