350 Mr. A. H. Evans— Bird-Notes 



Rooibeckies (Estrilda astrilda) continually passed us in small 

 flocks, the Backbakiri (Laniarius gutturalis) and the Bulbul 

 (Pycnonotus capensis) crossed our path at intervals, and a 

 single individual of Tinnunculus rupicola was observed in a 

 low tree. 



The beautiful groups of Silver-trees (Leucodendron 

 argenteum) did not appear to attract many birds, but in the 

 avenues and gardens of Wynberg and Kenilwortb many 

 additional species were in evidence, such as Cossypha caffra, 

 Turdus olivaceus, Motacilla capensis, Zosterops capensis, 

 Serinus canicottis, Corvus scapulatus, Passer arcuatus, Turtur 

 capicola, and T. senegalensis, with numbers of Sturnus 

 vulgaris, which is said to have been originally introduced by 

 Mr. Cecil Rhodes. The "Robin" and the native Thrush 

 were the chief songsters; while the groves resounded with 

 the notes of the two Doves, of which one was as harsh as the 

 other was soft and pleasing. 



I spent most of August 17th on the Cape Flats in the 

 company of Mr. W. G. Fairbridge, whose intimate ac- 

 quaintance with the district and its avifauna was of the 

 greatest value. These immense stretches of scrub-covered 

 ground, bushy marshes, and rolling sand-hills, intersected by 

 cross-roads margined here and there with wattle-bushes, and 

 interrupted by larger or smaller vleys, furnished abundance 

 of bird-life. The Backbakiris and Bulbuls looked very hand- 

 some as they perched on the topmost sprays of the bushes, 

 active little Warblers (Prinia maculosa and Cisticola tinniens) 

 darted in and out of the low-growing shrubs uttering their 

 sharp cries of alarm, small parties of Colius capensis chased 

 each other from tree to tree giving vent to softer notes, and 

 Fringillaria capensis sat on the tops of the bushes, as our 

 Yellow-hammer does. The Yellow-bellied Canary (Serinus 

 flaviventris) flitted past in small flocks, noisy bands of Red- 

 winged Starlings (Amydrus morio) crossed our path at 

 intervals to settle at a distance, while overhead an occasional 

 Heron or Crow (Corvus scapulatus) and one Tern (Sterna 

 balcenarum) winged their way towards the neighbouring 

 shores. On one of the larger sheets of water were a iew 



