158 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI 



It is not a common bird within our limits, but was 

 found breeding on Vogel Vlei, about fifty miles from Cape 

 Town, by Layard. 



The Cape Dabcljick (Columbus capensis) is the smallest 

 of the three, being only 10J inches in length, and has 

 neither a crest nor a ruff. 



It is common and general in distribution. It is a 

 wonderful diver, and is an active little bird in its proper 

 element, viz., water ; but is unable to walk on land, 

 having to drag itself along by the aid of its wings. It 

 was found breeding in large numbers at Ondonga (German 

 South-west Africa), by Andersson ; we took eggs near 

 Grahamstown. These were of a dirty cream colour, and 

 of a pyriform-ovate shape. 



