2G3 Mr. W. L. Sdatcr on Birds collected 



As a rule, tliis species inliabits somewhat lower elevations 

 than does M. capensis, and is partial to country that is more 

 or less bushed ; it is often found at the edges of and in the 

 native lands. In flight and call it resembles il/. Cf//v»e»^/5. It 

 breeds in the summer season, and 1 have seen nests in Zulu- 

 land, all of which, however, were plundered by Crows before 

 the full clutch of eggs had been laid. 



A nest taken near Bcira on the 9th of November, 190G, was 

 composed of dry grass and lined wath fine rootlets ; it was 

 })laccd in a slight hollow at the foot of a small ant-heap among 

 some rough grass. It contained three eggs, which were the full 

 clutch, and the two old birds were shot. The curious thing 

 about this nest was that the old birds built the nest about the 

 third week in October and then deserted it, disappearing 

 entirely from the locality, so that when 1 examined the nest 

 about the end of the month it was wet and sodden and no 

 birds were to be seen. 



On tlie 9tli of November following, happening to be passing 

 over that piece of ground, I, out of pure curiosity, walked 

 over to look at the place, and to my astonishment the female 

 flew off the nest. Except perhaps for the very wet w'eather, 

 I am unable to explain why the nest was deserted for so 

 long, and then finally taken possession of. 



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

 dark horn-brown, lower slaty; legs and toes darkish brown.] 



137. MaCRONYX AMELIJi. 



2j. Umfolosi Station, June, July, Aug. (5). 



[" Ncongia" of Zulus. 



This pretty Long-Claw was only found in the flats around 

 Umfolosi Station, Zulularul, where it was not plentiful and 

 frequented the dry vleis filled with longish grass. It 

 appeared singly, and had to be shot on ihe wing, as it was 

 impossible to see it in the grass. The flight is low and fairly 

 straight, and the call is like that of the other Long-Claws, 

 but clearer and sharper. 



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

 horn-brown, lower pale horn-coloured ; legs and toes palish 

 horn-coloured.] 



