ARDE1DJE. 313 



spring, called " Jackal sfontein," takes its rise. Of course, in consequence, 

 there are a few wild almond and other trees, and the place is a little 

 oasis amid the barren mountains. It is a farourite resort of wild 

 animals, hyaenas, leopards, jackals, &c., and here J&r. -Jackson has 

 constructed one of his most successful hysena-traps. On the ledges of 

 the rocks in this secluded spot a colony of Hammerkops have built 

 for years. Some of the nests are quite inaccessible, while others can 

 be reached with a little trouble. I counted six or eight within fifty 

 yards, all exhibiting the same form and structure, and some of them 

 containing at least a large cart-load of sticks. Mr. Jackson told me 

 they occupied the same nest year after year, and added to it or repaired 

 it as required. About some that I visited, I found brass and bone 

 buttons, bits of crockery, bleached bones, &c. Mr. Jackson said if a 

 " Tottie " lost his knife or tinder-box on the farm, or within some 

 miles of the place, he made a point of examining the Hammerkops' 

 nests, and frequently with success ; the birds, like the " Bowerbird " of 

 Australia, embellishing their dwellings with any glittering or bright- 

 coloured thing they can pick up. 



In the Karroo, between Worcester and Eobertson, I saw a nest 

 placed on the ground on the side of a trifling rise : it was at least three 

 yards in length, by one and a half across, with a small entrance hole 

 at one end. 



Genus PLATALEA, Linn. 



Bill lengthened, straight, thin, much depressed, and 

 broadly dilated at the tip, which is spoon-shaped, with a 

 lateral groove commencing on the forehead, extending and 

 somewhat parallel with the edge to the tip, which is slightly 

 bent downwards ; the nostrils basal, and placed in the groove, 

 with the opening oval, and partly closed by a membraue ; 

 wings long, the second quill the longest ; tail short ; tarsi 

 longer tban the middle toe, rather slender, and covered by 

 reticulated scales ; toes long, with the anterior toes much 

 united at their base by a membrane, which extends along the 

 sides of the toes to the tip, the hind toe long, rather elevated, 

 and only partly resting on the ground ; tlie claws short, 

 scarcely curved, and obtuse. 



594. Platalea TenuirOStriS, Temminck; Man. 

 d'Orni., Ed. 1816, P. GUI ; P. Nudi/rons, Cuv. ; P. 

 Chlororhynchos, Drap. ; P. Nivea, Burch. ; G. Tel- 

 fairii, Vig., Pro. Zool. Soc., 1831, p. 41. 



GENERAL colour, white ; the shafts of the larger wing- 

 feathers, and the tips of the first four or five, being dark- 

 brown ; fore part of head bare, and of a bright vermilion ; 

 the bill very narrow, but expanding at the tip into a broad 

 spoon. Length, 33"; wing, 15J" ; tail, 4|". 



Procured at Natal by Mr Ayres. The only specimens which have 

 fallen under my notice were brought from the Great Lake by Mr. 

 Chapman, where he states they are very commoa. 



