NOTES FROM NATAL. 427 



the time of our departure in November. Numbers were shot and 

 eaten, the young birds especially being excellent. They breed, 

 according to trustworthy informants, in the long grass at some 

 distance from water. We were too early for nests. 



Chenalopex cegyptiacus (Linn.), Egyptian Goose. — Not seen in 

 our district till the 6th October, when Butler observed several in 

 " Spoonbill Vley." Specimens were obtained by some officers 

 near this " vley " about ten days afterwards. It is reported to be 

 extremely abundant in a large " vley " just over the Free State 

 side of the Drakensberg to the west of Newcastle, called " Seekoe 



Vley." 



N.B. Nettapus auritus (Bodd.).— We were rather disappointed 

 at not meeting with this species. It appears to be irregular in its 

 visits to Natal. 



Anas sparsa, Smith, Black Duck.— Though not obtained in 

 the immediate vicinity of Newcastle, it was rather common at the 

 Ingagane River, about twelve miles away, where Reid shot several 

 in June and July. They were very shy, and generally found 

 singly or in pairs in the river, not in the " vleys." Iris dark 

 brown ; legs and toes orange, webs blackish ; bill, upper mandible 

 lead- colour, with rail and large saddle -shaped patch on culmen 

 (including nostrils) black ; under mandible pale flesh-colour, 

 blackish towards the base between the rami (R). 



Pcecilonetta erythrorhyncha (Gin.), Red-billed Teal. — Not so 

 numerous as the next species, A. xanthorhyncha, but a well-known 

 duck, frequently met with in small flocks in all the " vleys," and 

 excellent eating. The sexes differ so conspicuously in size that 

 we were inclined at first to think that these were two species, but 

 we have come to the conclusion that there is only one. 



Anas xanthorhyncha, Forst., Yellow-billed Teal.— Abundant 

 in all the " vleys," sometimes seen in flocks of considerable size. 

 Most excellent eating, and a decidedly pleasant change from our 

 impracticable rations of " trek ox ! " Though we found no nests, 

 they appeared to be breeding in October. Broods of young ducks 

 of various ages and unknown species were seen in the " vleys," 

 but we were as fairly puzzled by the nidification of the Anatidce 

 as by that of numerous other families, and could make nothing 

 of them. 



Querquedida hottentotta, Smith, Hottentot Teal.— Obtained by 

 Lieut. Giffard near Newcastle in November. 



