Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 293 
excellent eating; the Boers call it the Mountain-Par¬ 
tridge.” 
Francolinus subtorquatus, Smith. Coqni Francolin. 
This is also a decidedly scarce species on the river 
Limpopo. 
Eupodotis ruficrista (Smith). Red-crested Bustard. 
Male and female, river Limpopo, 20th July, 1885. 
This Bustard is somewhat scarce about the Limpopo 
river, and is not always easily found, though two or three 
are generally together. Besides its monotonous cry of goo, 
goo , it also whistles a short song, which any one unacquainted 
with this habit would take for the notes of some small bush- 
bird, such as a Shrike or Thrush. 
Crex egregia (Peters). Greater African Crake. 
Potchefstroom, 25 th February, 1885. 
This Crake continues to be a scarce species. 
Totanus glareola, Linn. Wood Sandpiper. 
Male, Potchefstroom, 8th December, 1883. 
Gallinago major (Gmel.). Solitary Snipe. 
Male, Potchefstroom, 6th April, 1885. Weight 8 oz. 
380. Ardea melanocephala, Vig. & Childr. Black¬ 
necked Heron. 
Male, Potchefstroom, 20th June, 1884. Field-rats and 
locusts in the stomach. 
Male, adult, Potchefstroom, 22nd July, 1884. Total 
length in the flesh 36 \ inches. Iris tawny yellow, with an 
outer ring of dark umber; bill dusky brown, but pale on the 
under mandible; bare skin about the base of the bill and the 
eye fulvescent whitish ; bare portions of the tibiae, tarsi, and 
feet black. 
The Black-necked Heron is by no means uncommon about 
Potchefstroom during our winter months, and is generally to 
be found feeding on the ploughed lands, where it is not 
unusual to see three or four together. 
