262 Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
As a rule, this species inhabits somewhat lower elevations 
than does M. capensis, and is partial to country that is more 
or less bushed ; it is often found at the edges of and in the 
native lands. In flight and call it resembles M. capensis. It 
breeds in the summer season, and I have seen nests in Zulu- 
land, all of which, however, were plundered by Crows before 
the full clutch of eggs had been laid. 
A nest taken near Beira on the 9th of November, 1906, was 
composed of dry grass and lined with fine rootlets; it w r as 
placed in a slight hollow at the foot of a small ant-heap among 
some rough grass. It contained three eggs, which were the full 
clutch, and the two old birds were shot. The curious thing 
about this nest was that the old birds built the nest about the 
third week in October and then deserted it, disappearing 
entirely from the locality, so that when I examined the nest 
about the end of the month it was wet and sodden and no 
birds were to be seen. 
On the 9th of November following, happening to be passing 
over that piece of ground, I, out of pure curiosity, walked 
over to look at the place, and to my astonishment the female 
flew off the nest. Except perhaps for the very wet weather, 
I am unable to explain why the nest was deserted for so 
long, and then finally taken possession of. 
The soft parts are:—Irides hazel; bill, upper mandible 
dark horn-brown, lower slaty; legs and toes darkish brown.] 
137. Macronyx amelias. 
Z. Umfolosi Station, June, July, Aug. (5). 
[ “ Ncongia” of Zulus. 
This pretty Long-Claw was only found in the flats around 
Umfolosi Station, Zululand, where it was not plentiful and 
frequented the dry vleis filled with longish grass. It 
appeared singly, and had to be shot on the wing, as it was 
impossible to see it in the grass. The flight is low and fairly 
straight, and the call is like that of the other Long-Claws, 
but clearer and sharper. 
The soft parts are :—Irides hazel; bill, upper mandible 
horn-brown, lower pale horn-coloured; legs and toes palish 
horn-coloured.] 
