Annals of the Transvaal Museum 
265 
nest was that of an Hemipteryx , and this, coupled with the large feet, seem 
to indicate that the type of Ayresi should be placed in the genus Hemipteryx . 
Hemipteryx immaculata, Hartlaub. 
“ Above rufous-olivaceus, variegated with fuscous ; back of head, 
back, and rump more rufous. Below spotless fulvous ; throat and middle 
of abdomen whitish ; tail feathers brownish black, with a terminal white 
spot. Inner margins of webs pale ; under wing-coverts isabelline ; feet 
and bill pale. Length 104, wing 47, tail 20, culmen 9 mm.” This is the 
description of a species discovered by Dr. Hartlaub and described in the 
P.Z.S., 1866, p. 22. The type was procured by Capt. Bulger, in the Cradock 
District of the Cape Colony, and since then (probably on account of its 
having been placed in the synonymy of C. terrestris) the species has been 
lost sight of. 
Hemipteryx minuta Gunning.* 
“ This bird is considerably smaller than textrix , is not streaked on the 
flanks and breast, and has a comparatively shorter tail. 
“ Description : Feathers of the upper surface blackish brown edged 
with pale brown, rustier on the wings, and on the wing and upper tail- 
coverts. Crown reddish brown, the bases of the feathers being darker, 
giving a mottled appearance. A short eyebrow, and the cheeks greyish 
cream, shading into pale rusty on the nape, forming an indistinct collar. 
Lores blackish. Under surface greyish white, the sides of the chest duskv- 
brown, the flanks fawny ; under tail- coverts tawny- white. Tail blackish 
brown, the feathers (excepting the central pair) narrowly tipped with 
white. Thighs tawny rufous. 
“ Female : Length 89 mm., wing 49, tail 24, tarsus 20, culmen 9 -5. 
Waterfalls, Haenertsburg, 5th February, 1908. (Iris tawny. Bill horn 
above, light brown below, tip darker. Tarsus ashy-yellow. F. V. Kirby.) ” 
In addition to the type from wdiich the description was taken a £ is 
mentioned from Woodbush, which was collected on 29th January, 1908. 
Both these specimens (type and cotype) are in very w'orn condition, which 
is characteristic of these birds when taken during or just after the breeding 
season. The q is very much paler on the crown and hindneck. 
Since the discovery of this species, the Transvaal Museum collection 
has been considerably enriched by the addition of skins from Woodbush, 
Haenertsburg, Pretoria, Wakkerstroom, and Matatiele, from which the 
following diagnosis has been formulated : — 
Male in early summer plumage (Wakkerstroom, October). Crown tawny 
brown, variegated on the nape and sides with dark brown and paler tawny ; 
hindneck mottled with the same pattern as the crown, but paler ; upper 
back and scapulars dark brown variegated with tawnv-rufous and white ; 
feathers of the lower back dark brown with very broad dark rufous margins, 
which all but hide the dark brown bases ; rump lurnes dark rufous ; upper 
tail-coverts dark brown with broad rufous margins ; middle tail feathers 
like the upper tail-coverts but with lighter tips and narrower margins ; 
remaining tail feathers dark brown with broad, more or less white, tips. 
Lores, eyebrows, and side of head generally, creamy wdiite, the cheeks 
Annals Transvaal Museum, 1909, p. 174. 
