Bird-Notes from South Africa. 34-7 



Grits nigricollis Prjev. Black-necked Crane. 

 Dresser, Man. Pakearct. B. p. 718. 



Two eggs, which were taken on the 12th of June, 1905. 

 The bird was not sent, but it was identified by Capt. Steen. 

 These eggs are olive-grey, with pale reddish-brown shell- 

 blotches and darker surface-markings, one heingmore boldly 

 blotched than the other ; they measure 3*80 by 2 - 40 and 

 401 by 2'38 inches respectively. They resemble some 

 varieties of eggs of Grus communis. 



(They were found in a hollow on an island near the edge of 

 Bhan-tso, and there was practically no nest. Tibetan name 

 Tung-du.) 



XXI. — Bird-Notes from South Africa. 

 By A. H. Evans. 



The activity of South-African ornithologists, as witnessed 

 by recent papers in various journals, and especially by the 

 "Birds" of ' The Fauna of South Africa' by Messrs. Stark and 

 Sclater, is so pronounced at the present time that mere lists 

 of species from particular localities will soon become super- 

 fluous, and, moreover, are chiefly the province of resident 

 observers ; but it may interest the readers of f The Ibis ' to 

 hear of the birds noticed during the visit of the British Asso- 

 ciation to South Africa in August and September 1905, as 

 the narrative will shew what forms are likely to be met with 

 during a winter-journey through the vast area extending 

 from Cape Town to the Zambesi and also the varied 

 character of the districts which they are there found to 

 inhabit. Rare or local species alw r ays require special search, 

 and this was seldom possible in the restricted time at my 

 disposal, but advantage was taken of every opportunity that 

 presented itself of examining the country in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the towns visited. 



During the outward voyage of the ' Saxon ' comparatively 

 few birds were noticed, as we only touched at Madeira, and 

 the weather was too fine for wanderers to seek refuge on ship- 



