260 Mr. \V. L. Sclater on Birds collected 



the wliite tips to the tail-feathers being very conspicuous. 

 The call is a clear whistle, but not so loud as that of 

 C. capeiisis; and like that species the bird Avill often call from 

 the top of a low bush or clump of heather. 



The soft parts are: — Iridcs greyish hazel; bill, upper 

 mandible dusky horn-coloui'ed, lower more or less livid ; 

 legs and toes whitish brown.] 



135. Macronyx capensis. 



CC. Knysna, ApL (2) ; Plettenbcrg Bay, Feb., Men. (5). 



[ " Kalkoeuje " of Colonists. 



The Cape Long-Claw was only found in the Knysna ; its 

 place was taken in all the Eastern and Northern localities 

 visited by the following species. It inhabits open grassy 

 hill-sides, and is found l)oth singly and in pairs. It is a great 

 runner, and is fond of perching on the tops of ant-heaps and 

 clods of earth. When flushed it rises with rapid beats of the 

 wings and flies fairly straight, seldom, however, going far, 

 and descendiug abruptly and sharply to the ground. The 

 call, which is usually uttered when flying, and also when 

 just rising, is a series of loud mewing whistles which might 

 be described as " Ziu/' '^Ziu." 



I have found several nests, Avhich always contained newly 

 hatched young. They are cup-shaped, composed of grass, 

 and placed on the ground under the shelter of an ant-heap or 

 large tuft of grass. 



Wlien breeding the adults are particularly tame, approach- 

 ing within a few yards of the intruder. The food is 

 principally of insects, varied with grass and other seeds. 



The soft parts are : — Irides hazel ; bill, upper mandible 

 dark horn-brown, lower dark slate-coloured; legs and toes 

 palish horn-coloured.] 



Machonyx capensis colletti. 



Schou, Ornith. Monatsber. xvi. 1908, p. 119 (Zululand). 



Z. Sibudeni, Oct., Nov., Dec. (11); Umfolosi Station, 

 July (3); Tv. Wakkerstroom, Mch., Apl. (5); Zuurbron, 

 May (1); Woodbush, Nov. (5) ; Turfloop, Mch. (2). 



The Orange-throated Long-Claws of Natal, Zululand, 



