by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 21 



A fairly common species on most of the lagoons and large 

 rivers, but a difficult l)ird to obtain. It appears to be usually- 

 solitary, although several may be seen on the same piece 

 of water. It is commonly observed sitting upright on some 

 snag or rock, sunniug itself with the wings outspread, as do 

 the Cormorants.] 



578. CicoxiA cicoxiA. 

 [No example secured.] 



[I have only once noticed this species, when I saw several 

 feeding on the low-lying ground close to the town of 

 AYakkerstroom in February 1904, but they were quite un- 

 approachable, and at the time I had no rifle with me.] 



579. CicoxiA XIGRA. 



Tv. Klein Letaba, Aug. (1). 



[I have occasionally observed this species on some of the 

 rivers to the northwards, always in winter time. It wa3 

 found to be excessively wary, flying up and pitching on the 

 tops of tall trees on the first alarm, in which position it was 

 unapproachable. The only specimen secured was brought 

 down by a long shot with a rifle.] 



581. Scopus tmbretta. 



CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1); Z. Umfolosi Station, 

 Sept. (1) ; Ngoye Hills, Oct. (1) ; Tv. ^'akkerstroom, Mch., 

 Apl. (3) ; Klein Letaba, July, Aug. (3) ; P. Tete, Sept. 

 (3 and 4 nestlings). 



One egg from Tete taken with the nestlings on Sept. 22. 



[" Hammer-kop" of the Colonists. ^'Gaundo" of the 

 jNIachangaan. "Dwy-dwy " of the Xhlangaan. " Sikiva" of 

 the Zambesi region. 



This is one of the commonest birds in South Africa ; there 

 is not a spot that holds water where a pair of these birds 

 may not be seen. It feeds principally on tadpoles, frogs, 

 toads, and occasionally small fishes. I have many times 

 watched it feeding, and noticed the clever Avay in which it 

 pushes the feet step by step under the water, the beak being 

 ready poised to strike at the small fry driven out. I have 

 never seen this bird in water deeper than up to the knees. 

 A great number of nests M^ere observed, but until I reached 



