428 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Spatula capensis (Smith), Cape Shoveller. — A pair seen on a 

 "vley " east of Newcastle on the 18th September (B). 



Aythia capensis (Cuv.). — First noted by Butler in the " vley " 

 east of Newcastle, near the Ingagane, early in September. He 

 saw a brood of five or six young ones about ten days old on the 

 18th of that month. We obtained several specimens in October. 

 Reid observed three pairs of these ducks on a small open " vley " 

 close to the main " drift " and Fort Amiel, at Newcastle, on the 

 7th November. 



Thalassornis lenconota (Smith). — Feilden obtained the first 

 specimen met with near the Buffalo River early in September. It 

 was common on the " vleys " near this river and the Ingagane in 

 October, and Butler had the good luck to find a nest and secure 

 four eggs in one of these " vleys." His note is added below : — 

 " Found a nest of this species on the 18th September. It was 

 built of sedge, and very similar to a Coot's nest, but smaller, and 

 placed in thin rushes just above the surface of the water, which 

 was about two feet deep, and about ten yards from an island in 

 the centre of a good-sized tank. It contained a single large 

 greenish white egg, quite fresh, and the surrounding rushes were 

 broken across (no doubt by the old bird) and bent down over the 

 nest so as to conceal its contents. On revisiting the ' vley ' on the 

 25th inst. I found another nest, precisely similar, about twenty 

 yards off, containing three fresh eggs. This nest was probably 

 built by the same pair of birds. The eggs were warm all day, and 

 a small flock, consisting of three or four pairs of birds, remained 

 close by constantly ; still we never saw the hen bird go to the 

 nest, although there were feathers in it and scattered about on the 

 water all round. I fancy they slip off the nest and dive like the 

 Grebes the moment they see any one approaching. Legs and feet 

 bluish plumbeous ; iris dark brown ; bill dark brown, inconspic- 

 uously spotted on the sides of the upper mandible ; lower mandible 

 pale brownish yellow, with base and tip dusky brown" (B). 



Proccllaria macroptera, Smith. — " Seen near the shore in 

 Durban Roads, and all along the coast, on my homeward voyage 

 in December " (R). 



Sterna macrura, Naum. — Obtained by Lieut. Giffard near 

 Newcastle at the end of November (R). 



Sterna bergii, Licht. — Several observed by Butler in the har- 

 bour at Durban, flying about among the ships lying at anchor. 



