from South Africa. 353 



river below the ruined bridge and to examine the thorny- 

 bushes and withies on the farther bank. Here and there stood 

 a Mionosa with its branches crowded with nests of two kinds 

 of Weaver-birds and a Sparrow (Passer arcuatus) \ those of 

 the former belonged to the previous season and the parent- 

 birds were absent, but the Sparrows had just finished lining 

 their nests, chiefly with Guinea-fowls' feathers, and probably 

 it was only bad luck that prevented my finding eggs. A 

 solitary black Crow came flying over the river, and Sand- 

 Grouse (? Pteroclurus namaqua) were crossing the stream at 

 dusk uttering their shrill cries. 



Next morning at 6 a.m. I proceeded to work the scrub on 

 the Colenso side of the river. The trees and thorn-bushes 

 were full of nests, which belonged to two kinds of Weaver- 

 birds, Fiscal Shrikes, Sparrows, and Doves (Turtur capicola 

 or T. senega/ensis). Other nests there may have been, but 

 in the absence of their owners it was impossible to identify 

 them. Breeding had just begun, for Mr. A. D. Hall found 

 a clutch of Shrike's eggs. My attention was before long 

 attracted to a sweet flute-like note with which I was 

 unacquainted, and after considerable trouble I ascertained 

 that it was uttered by a black-and-white Puff-backed Shrike 

 (Dryoscopus cub/a) . A particularly common kind of nest was 

 composed of very fine grasses, and close to it was invariably a 

 wasps' comb fashioned around the branches. The fact seems 

 familiar to me, but I can find no reference to it. One Dove 

 built a very frail little platform of sticks, and must, I thinks 

 have been (Ena capensis. 



Every here and there small parties of Hoopoes (Upupa 

 africana) kept rising in front of me, only to drop to the 

 ground again a short way ahead. The white in the plumage 

 was hardly noticeable, and the crest was so much depressed 

 in flight as to be practically invisible — in fact, it was some 

 time before I felt sure of the bird's identity. One fine flock 

 of Guinea-fowl {Guttera edouardi) rose from almost under 

 my feet among the bushes, and flew away low and heavily 

 to a distance of some hundred yards. I expected to come 

 across one or more species of Francoliu, but I did not see a 



SER. VIII. VOL. VI. 2 A 



