NOTES FROM NATAIi. 251 



shallow cup-shaped nest to the under side of a projecting rock or 

 side of a cave, and laying three or four eggs, white, spotted with 

 reddish brown chiefly at the larger end. The nest is made 

 of mud, warmly lined with feathers. " They roost at night in 

 caves, often congregating in large colonies and sitting huddled up 

 together on the ledges in long rows or in a cavity of the rock" 

 (B). 



Cotyle paludicola (Vieil.), South African Sand Martin. — A 

 permanent and most abundant resident in the neighbourhood 

 of Newcastle. Two phases of plumage occur, as mentioned by 

 Layard in his first edition ; one with the under parts white, the 

 other with these parts of a brownish colour like the rest of the 

 plumage. We were unable to solve this question, but are inclined 

 to the belief that the darker-coloured birds are immature. It 

 probably breeds twice, for Feilden found a nest containing three 

 incubated eggs in the bank of the Buffalo River, on the 6th 

 August, and it was undoubtedly breeding in the clay banks of the 

 rivers and streams near Newcastle, in October and November. 



Hirundo rustica (Linn.), Chimney Swallow. — First observed 

 in the Newcastle district by Butler and Reid on the 19th October. 

 Much more numerous down country ; large flocks seen both at 

 Richmond Road and Durban. 



Hirundo albigularis (Strickl.), White-throated Swallow. — 

 Appeared at Newcastle early in September in numbers, and noted 

 all the way to the coast. Numerous at Richmond Road in 

 December. The nest is open, of a half-cup shape, built of mud, 

 warmly lined with grass and a large quantity of feathers, and is 

 placed on the under surface of rocks, usually over water. Eggs 

 four, measuring 0*75 in. by 0*55 in., white, with small blotches 

 and spots of reddish brown, most numerous towards the obtuse 

 end. Nests were taken by Butler and Reid in October and 

 November; one found by Butler was on a cliff about one hundred 

 yards from the water on a sloping hill-side. When the nest is 

 destroyed by accident or removed, the birds usually commence a 

 fresh one on the same foundation within a few days. Reid took 

 one on the 15th October, and on the 21st found a new nest ready 

 for eggs in the same place. 



Hirundo cucullata (Bodd.), Rousseline Swallow. — This Swallow 

 visited the upper portions of the colony somewhat later than the 

 preceding, not being recorded by us earlier than the 2nd October. 



