THE ZooLocist—May, 1875, — 444] 
groups being Birds, Reptiles and Fishes; the Sucklers are con- 
nected with Birds through the Bats, with Reptiles through pan- 
golins and armadillos, and with Fishes through porpoises and 
whales. The pectoral sucklers (Primates) are central, and MAN 
is the centre of these—not a mere unit on the circumference of the 
system. ' 
Epwarp NEwnan. 
—————————————— eee 
oe 
Notes on the Natural History of South Africa. 
By R. B. and J. D. 8. Woopwarb, of Natal. 
(Continued from §. S, 4398.) 
Bustards.— As yet we have only met with two species of 
bustards in Natal,—the paauw (Otis Kori) and the koran (Otis 
afroides),—but we believe there are others to be found here. 
The paauw, which literally means “ peacock,” is a fine bird, nearly 
as large as a turkey ; during the winter, or dry season, they are 
very plentiful in most of the up-country districts. We have par- 
ticularly noticed them at Dronk Vley, an extensive marshy flat 
situated about eighty miles from the sea: this being a wild and 
uninhabited tract of country they are very little molested. Itis a 
grand sight for the naturalist to see a number of these noble birds 
stalking about in this retired locality, in company with a great 
variety of cranes and storks and occasionally a pair of secretary 
birds. We fear that before long bustards will become scarce, as 
they are so tame that they are easily shot by the sportsman, unless 
they are more strictly protected by the game-laws. The flesh of 
the paauw is excellent eating, being fully equal, and very similar, 
to that of the domestic turkey. We have not discovered their 
breeding places, but have heard that they retire for this purpose 
to the Drahensburg, a high range of mountains bordering Natal. 
The colour of the upper parts of this bird is gray, the wings being 
mottled with white; the under parts are whitish; the head of the 
male bird is crested; the female similar in colour, but rather 
smaller. It feeds on locusts and different kinds of reptiles, and in 
its wild state does not seem to care for vegetable food. 
The koran is not more than half the size of the former species, 
but is more generally distributed, being found on the coast as well 
