THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1875. 4615 
variety of Coleoptera. It is a very common bird in this country, 
and on any fine night its clear musical voice is heard breaking the 
silence with quite a pleasant song: it was some time after arriving 
here before we could believe that the notes really proceeded from 
a nightjar. Like its European cousin it flies about after the moths 
and other nocturnal insects; but when the sun re-appears it retires 
and lies close under the ferns and bushes. We once disturbed a 
female sitting on two eggs; they were the size of those of the 
common thrush, pinkish white, spotted with red; they were laid in 
a hollow in the ground, with no pretension ofa nest. The bird 
seemed to be asleep or dazzled by the light of the sun, and let us 
almost touch her without stirring. 
Pigeons.—We have obtained specimens of a good many of the 
Columbidez, of which a great variety are found here. 
Green Pigeon (Treron Delalandi).—The green pigeon is a showy 
bird, twelve inches in length; head, back, wing-coverts and rump 
deep green; neck and breast ashy, brightening into yellow on the 
vent; shoulders and under tail-coverts brick-red, the latter blotched 
with white; wing-quills black, edged with yellow; feet red. This 
pigeon flies in small flocks, keeping mostly in the trees: it is wild, 
and not easily surprised, except by watching their roosting places 
of an evening, when a few pairs are often bagged. They are good 
eating, and are generally very plump. We have not heard this 
bird “coo,” but its shrill call is rather musical. It lives chiefly, if 
not entirely, on a kind of wild plum which grows on a lofty tree. 
Black Pigeon (Columba arquatrix).— The largest pigeon, we 
believe, found in South Africa is known here, from its dark plumage, 
as the “black pigeon.” Its length is fourteen inches; general 
colour purple-brown, spotted on the wing-coverts, breast and belly 
with white; head, neck and vent ash-coloured; bill and feet bright 
yellow. Vast flocks of these birds collect as the winter approaches, 
probably preparing for migration, as they disappear during our 
colder months. The stomachs of those we shot were crammed 
with tree-seeds and grain: they were in excellent condition, and 
the flesh is superior to that of most pigeons. With regard to their 
nesting, Mr. Layard says it breeds in mountain ravines, and lays 
four eggs, only two of which are hatched: the nest is a loose 
structure of sticks. 
Slate-coloured Pigeon (Columba Guinea).—The slate-coloured 
pigeon is extremely common, and widely distributed over the 
