50 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species of Birds 



such lagoons as will not rise sufficiently to flood the nest^ ex- 

 cept in the case of a very unusual fall of rain. 



307. Rhynchaspis capensis, Smith. South-African Sho- 

 veller. 



Female. Iris dark hazel ; bill ashy, but yellowish underneath ; 

 tarsi and feet brownish yellow. 



This species is found in the Transvaal as well as in Natal. 

 I have not noticed it on the coast lagoons, and know nothing of 

 its habits. 



Mr. Ayres has also sent the following notes relating to spe- 

 cies which have been included in my previous lists of Natal 

 Birds :— 



Bubo lacteus (Temm.). Sultan Owl. (Ibis, 1862, p. 284; 

 No. 187 b. Ibis, 1863, p. 321.) 



This splendid Owl was shot in the interior by Mr. Phillips in 

 the month of June. He found it perched on a nest of the So- 

 ciable Weaver-birds*, some five feet in diameter, and at first 

 sight mistook it for a large tiger-cat. Mr. Phillips informs me 

 that, when freshly killed, this Owl weighed fourteen pounds. 



Cypselus cafer, Licht. White-rumped Swift. (No. 249, 

 Ibis, 1865, p. 264.) 



I find these Swifts very numerous in the Transvaal — much 

 more so than in Natal. In the town of Potchefstroom a pair 

 have taken possession of a deserted swallows^ nest in the church ; 

 and another pair have located themselves in a similar manner in 

 another part of the town; but whether this is their usual method 

 of finding suitable places to breed in I cannot say f. 



Petrocincla rupestris (Vieill.). South-African Rock- 

 thrush. (No. 79, Ibis, 1860, p. 209.) 



Male. Irides dusky ; bill black ; gape and mouth yellow ; 

 tarsi and feet dusky. Stomach contained insects and berries. 

 This specimen and two others were together. I did not see 

 them settle on rocks or stones, but they alighted on trees and 

 fed on the nectar of the blossom of a species of aloe. I found 



* [Qu. Philetcerus socius? — J. H. G.] 

 t [Vide Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 51.— Ed.] 



