248 Mr. J. H. Gurney's List of a Collection of Birds 
fly on to the lower part, and gradually hop upwards till they gain 
the top ; they can fly but a very short distance at a time, and are 
easily caught if chased out into the open grass, though they lie 
very close, and it requires a good dog to find them; if disturbed, 
they immediately fly to the thickest cover at hand, and commence 
running like the Rails. They feed on grasshoppers, caterpillars, 
and other insects. 
45. Zanclostomtjs .eneus (Vieill.). Bronze Cuckoo. 
The eye in this species is a beautiful dark red. It is rather 
a rare bird, and frequents the dense bush, where it creeps about 
like the Colies. Its habits resemble those of Centropus super ~ 
ciliosus , but it is not so active. It feeds on locusts and large 
grasshoppers. 
46. Totanus glareola (Linn.). Wood Sandpiper. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
47. Scopus umbretta (Gm.). Wmbrette. 
Eye very dark; legs black. Spread all over the country, 
but not numerous, and always seen singly. They frequent the 
streams of the interior, and the rivers and lakes near the coast: 
they are not very shy. 
48. Geronticus hagedash (Sparrm.). Caffer Ibis. 
Mr. Ayres states that he is unacquainted with the habits of 
this Ibis. 
49. Ciconia leucocephala (Temm.). Violet Stork. 
Eye dark brown ; bill black, red towards the tip; legs black. 
Frequents the bays and swamps along the coast (occasionally 
coming inland). As the tide recedes, they wade into the water 
after crabs and small shell-fish, of which (especially the first) 
their food principally consists. They are gregarious, and not so 
shy and cunning as most of the Waders; the flesh is coarse, and 
not good eating. The stomach of the specimen sent contained a 
large quantity of the shells of small crabs, a few small shell-fish, 
and a very few fish-bones. 
50. Ardea cinerea (Linn.). Common British Heron. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
