Vol. xvi.] 34 



possibly, (t. melanoptera) was coiiinionly hawking in con- 

 siderable numbers over the river. The Whiskered Tern 

 (Hydrochelidon hyhrida), easily distinguished by its smoky 

 coloration, consorted on the sandbanks with the Scissor- 

 bill {R}njcho])s Jiavirostris). Mr. Trevor-Battye saw several 

 individuals of the Goliath Heron {Ardea goliath), but 

 always singly, and it could not be described as a common 

 bird. The Wattled Crane {Biujeranus caruuculatus) was 

 seen on several occasions. Perhaps one of the most abun- 

 dant birds on these sandbanks was the Open-billed Stork 

 {Anastomus lamellUjerus)^ recognisable, even at a consider- 

 able distance and without the glass, by its peculiarly 

 shaped head. It was a shy bird — always the first of the 

 company to rise ; and as it crossed in front of the canoes 

 against the sky, the light could be seen between its 

 mandibles. 



The sjjeaker acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr. W. L. 

 Sclater, oi the Cape Town Museum, for his kindness in 

 taking him through that collection, which was rapidly 

 becoming a very good one under the fostering care of the 

 Director. 



Mr. C. B. TicEHURST exhibited the following birds 

 which had been obtained in Sussex : 



1. White-spotted Bluethroat {Erithacus cyaveculus). 



" An adult male was shot near Hastings on September 

 ] st, 1905, and brought to Mr. G. Bristow, taxidermist, of 

 St. Leonards ; it was seen by me on September 9tli. 



" This is the second example of this form which has 

 occurred in England : the first, also an adult male, was 

 picked up at Dungeness Light (situated about fifteen miles 

 from the spot where the present example was obtained) on 

 October <3th, 1902, and was exhibited by Mr. M. J. Nicoll 

 [cf. Bull. B.O.C., XIII., no. xci., p. 14 (1902) ]. 



" On August 27th and 28th of this year a Bluethroat 

 was observed by Mr. Nicoll and myself independently near 

 Dungeness, but we were unable to say to which form it 

 belonged. 



