1811. 
HYGROMETER. — BIRDS AT ZAK RIVER. 
283 
We have tluis, though a very unscientific, yet a very true, 
hygrometer, by which the intense dryness of the inland air may be 
compared with the atmosphere of Cape Town ; which latter exceeds, 
probably, in tlie same proportion, the atmosphere of England. 
At this spot the thermometer rose to 84° (28°-8 C.) in the 
middle of the day, and sunk to 43° (6°'l C.) in the coldest part of 
the night. 
Here, for the only time during these travels, I met with an 
elegant bird, differing but little from the Long-legged Plover of 
England * : also the Egyptian Goose f , which I have frequently met 
with in the colony in a domesticated state ; the Crimson-billed Duck % ; 
and a small brown duck §, which, according to Speelman, is called 
by the colonists Smi-eendje (Widgeon). This last is, probably, not a 
common bird, as I never saw it but this once. 
On the surface of the earth, were scattered many remarkable 
stones, of various sizes, from one to four inches in diameter, of 
a compressed round form, hard and compact, and of a grey color. 
These were the first indications of lime-stone which had met my 
notice: they much resembled the Lias of England, and within, 
were crossed by small septaria of a dark color. || 
The latitude of our station at the Zak river was 31° 33' 32". % 
* Himantopus melanopterus, Temminck, Manuel d'Oraithologie, p. 528. — Cliaradrius 
Himantopus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. Gmel. i. p. 690. — Varietas, capitc cuncolwe. B. Fcemina. 
In the intestines a Taenia, or Tape-worm, was found, nearly a foot in length, three-tenths 
of an inch broad, and one-twentieth thick ; each joint being no more than one-twentieth 
of an inch long. 
f Anas Egyptiaca. 
% Anas erythrorhyncha. It is found in many parts of the Colony. 
§ Anas punctata. B. Entirely brown, excepting the chin, the cheeks, and a stripe 
from the eye, which are white. The eyes, bill, legs, and toes, black : the back sprinkled 
with minute yellow dots ; the under part of the body indistinctly marked with darker 
spots: the tail short and brown, with the tips of the feathers acute. 
II Here also may be found Ranunculus pantothrix. var. «. D. C. Syst. ^"eg., growing 
\a the river ; and a very prett}' species of Colutea {Suthetiandia), with small leaves. 
Of insects, I picked up an Anthia, resembling A.decemguttata, but without the white 
spots. 
^ 31st Aug. 1811, at the Sack river, the observed meridional altitude of the sun's 
upper limb was 49° 47' S". 
O O 2 
