Vol. x.] xxxii 



a small tree-like shrub, and having searched it thoroughly 

 through proceeded to another. Their curious mouse- like 

 climbing antics and the positions assumed are known to 

 us from captive specimens in the Regent's Park, but this 

 was my only opportunity of witnessing their evolutions in a 

 natural condition. As the eggs of this isolated form — one 

 of the most distinctive Ethiopian types of bird-life — are not 

 well known, I beg leave to exhibit some specimens of them. 

 <f On the margin of the pond on Sea-point Common I also 

 noticed specimens of a Pipit {Anthus sp. inc.) and a small 

 Shore-Plover (AZyialitis) , but could not be certain as to the 

 species. 



' ( Two ascents of the well-known and most picturesque 

 mountain which rises to a height of some 2500 feet above 

 Capetown introduced me to several birds which I had not 

 seen below. The splendid Pro/ec-shrubs just coming into 

 flower were the resort of two forms of bird-life which were 

 quite new to me in naturd. These were the long-tailed 

 Promerops cafer — another exclusively Ethiopian type — and 

 the Sun -birds (Anthobaphes and Cinnyris), Promerops 

 appears to have been modified specially to feed on the nectar 

 of the Proteacese which are so abundant on the hills of 

 Southern Africa, but, no doubt, also avails itself of the 

 insects attracted to the same flowers. On Table Mountain 

 I also observed specimens of a very fine Rock-Thrush — Monti- 

 cola explorator, I believe — and an occasional Crow (Coruus 

 scapidatus). Of the latter a single specimen appears to 

 have taken up its abode in the garden of Groot Schuur in 

 the society of the Rooks which Mr. Rhodes has lately 

 imported from Europe. 



<( On the Cape Flats just outside Capetown the Secretary- 

 bird {Serpentarius secretarius) still builds its nest every year, 

 though I did not myself see it in this locality. A pair of 

 young Secretary-birds now in the Museum Grounds at Cape- 

 town were obtained here in 1898, and two eggs were taken 

 from the same nest on the 15th October this year. It is 

 curious to mention that our familiar Heron (Ardea cinerea) 

 inhabits the ' vleys ' in the same district, and that the Great 



