ANNALE ANNALS

VAN DIE OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

VOL. 16 PART I

SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE VERNAY- LANG KALAHARI EXPEDITION, MARCH TO SEPTEMBER, 1930 BIRDS By AUSTIN ROBERTS With Plate I HE Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition had its inception towards Tthe end of the year 1930, when .:vIr A. S. Vernay arranged with .:vIr Herbert Lang (who was then a guest of the Transvaal .:vIuseum) to combine a sporting and scientific expedition across the unknown central Kalahari to Ngamiland. Mr Vernay had on previous occasions under- taken expeditions for the purpose of securing desiderata in big game animals for museums, and on one occasion Mr Lang had accompanied him and secured much other zoological material for study purposes in Angola. Mr Lang was specially qualified to undertake explorations of this nature from earlier experiences when engaged by the American Museum of Natural History, in which he was Associate Curator of Mammalogy, in collecting specimens in East Africa and the north-eastern Congo. His extraordinary success in the accomplishment of these enterprises had already earned for him a world-wide reputation, and to these successes may be added the present one, as the detailed reports will show when published in due course. Mr Lang has been able to demonstrate that it is not the acquisition of only a few specimens, which become the jealously guarded possessions of a single institution, that makes the suc- cess of an expedition, but tbat by the employment of men who know their business and by their careful collecting of material in such quantity as the particular cases warrant, important facts of value to science can be accumulated. Knowing the great difficulties that were likely to be en- countered and the desirability of securing men of experience who were accustomed to the peculiar type of country to be traversed, Mr Lang proposed to the authorities of the Transvaal .:vIuseum such extensive co-operation as would assure the success for Mr Vernay's generous enterprise. Mr Lang held that only by such an arrangement would Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 2 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Mr Vernay be enabled to donate representative collections to some of our great sister-institutions abroad in which Mr Vernay was chiefly interested. After the necessary pourparlers, Director C. J. Swierstra and the Trustees of the Transvaal Museum generously granted all points by which, as it proved later, success beyond all expectations was secured in the field. It was agreed upon that four of the ablest members of our staff, whose salaries the Transvaal Museum continued to pay, would ac- company the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition and that the Transvaal Museum would be the official headquarters of the expedition and would care for all collections made in the field. The Transvaal Museum made a further important contribution to the final success by securing the services of five specially trained natives for the preparation of skins of mammals and birds. It was understood that the material collected be classified in this institution, which should receive such share of the material (including the types of new forms) as it required. Mr Vernay consented to this arrangement, making it clear that he desired the major portion of the collections to go to the Field Museum in Chicago. Subsequently, Mr Vernay arranged that the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the British Museum of Natural History in London should also receive a share of the material. When it is considered how difficult it is to collect selectively in an area like the Kalahari Desert, where animals are scarce and shy, it will be readily understood that it was no easy matter to secure sufficient material to supply the four institutions concerned. Nevertheless, wherever it was humanly possible, enough was secured, and in only a few cases was the representation of species insufficient to supply all four museums. But in order to secure such results, it was necessary to be well equipped with material and personnel, and the original plan was therefore expanded to meet this exigency. The difficulties to be anticipated were, briefly, the traversing of a wide sandy tract of country, where surface water, or water even from wells, was not to be expected; in addition it was desirable to reach Ngamiland during the usual period of inundation, when it would be possible to traverse the swamp area by canoes, for the purpose of securing such rarities that were desiderata as the Sitatunga Antelope. The rainfall-such as it is- in the central Kalahari was to be expected at the end of the summer months (March to May), and it was therefore decided to cross the desert area at that time and by so doing to operate in the Ngamiland area in June and July while the floods from Angola were at their height. This arrangement proved to be the best that could have been made, except that the floods did not materialise and the inundated area could not be explored; heavy inundation in this area from the eastern portion of the Angola plateau has always been sporadic and impossible to foretell. In order to meet the peculiar exigencies of traversing and collecting material in the desert, it was necessary to make special provision in motor transport and personnel. Mr Lang was fortunate in securing the services of Mr Dowthwaite, who had twice conducted Union Govern- ment officials along part of the route it was proposed to follow and who had had much experience in the construction of special vans that would Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 3 be suitable for the purpose. Under his directions three closed one-and- a-half-ton Dodge motor vans were constructed, with the sides adapted to drop outwards as beds, two large tanks on the running boards--one of which took the steaming overflow from the radiators and condensed it so that the water could be conserved for use again, and the other to carry fresh water for domestic purposes-and gauze screens over the radiators to keep them dear of grass tops and seeds. Two more trucks of a similar type were constructed without the covering and beds, for the purpose of carrying the bulkier material, such as petrol and water tanks, and, when these were emptied, the bulky specimens of big game animals. A "Victory Six" Dodge touring car was also secured for the purpose of mobility in getting to the hunting fields, etc., from base camps. Mr Dowthwaite was also able to recommend the services of several motor drivers and mechanics of experience: Mr Vlok, who had accom- panied Dr A. L. du Toit in his explorations in Ngamiland in 1925. Mr Robertson, who was well acquainted with the northern Kalahari and spoke the native language, Sechuana, and Messrs van der Berg and du Toit. Mr Vernay took a personal interest in the management of the organi- sation and the conduct of the expedition, and Mr Lang took charge of the operations in all departments. Besides the drivers above mentioned, the personnel comprised the following: Mr Joseph Aebischer, Mr Vernay's aide; Captain Beeching of the Bechuanaland Police, and three native police; Dr A. W. Rogers (Director of the Union Geological Survey), as a guest and in a private capacity as a geologist; and four members of the professional and technical staff of the Transvaal Museum, namely, Messrs V. FitzSimons, in charge of lower vertebrates and invertebrates except insects; G. van Son, entomologist and botanist; F. O. Noome, senior taxidermist; and myself, ornithologist and mammalogist; there were also fourteen native taxidermists and other servants. The total regular staff thus comprised fourteen Europeans and seventeen natives, who had to be transported and generally catered for in a wide area where supplies were unobtainable and had therefore to be arranged for in advance. To meet this necessity, supplies of petrol, oil and foodstuffs in just sufficient quantity to carry the party through to Ghansi district were carried in the vans; in fact, the vans could not carryall of it, and it was necessary at the outset to send supplies forward in advance and dump them and then send them forward again while the camps were stationary at these dumping sites. Other supplies were sent by rail to Gobabis in South-West Mrica for delivery by ox wagon at Gemsbok Pan, 200 miles away, and to Maun, by ox wagon across the northern Kalahari, 300 miles from Palapye Road railway station.

THE ITINERARY Prior to the start of the expedition, Mr Lang, accompanied by Messrs Dowthwaite and FitzSimons in December, 1929, proceeded to Makarikari and Molepolole to test out the vans and gain an insight into the conditions likely to be encountered. Some specimens were collected en route, though the hurried nature of the trip did not permit of much being done. Mr Dowthwaite also carried fonvard a supply of petrol in 1-2 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by 4 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM February, when Mr A. G. White (junior taxidermist) accompanied him and secured specimens of birds en route. In order to train five natives in the skinning of birds, and to "run in" the touring car, Messrs Lang and Noome and I made several excursions in the vicinity of Pretoria in January and February and procured a number of specimens for the Field Museum. One of these native assistants, Saul Sitole, had had several years of experience in the Transvaal Museum, and his services were of outstanding value, as he was not only expert at skinning, but by his intelligence and industry did much to encourage the others in their work. Mr Vernay desired to secure specimens of the typical big game animals still to be found in South Africa, and Mr Lang therefore arranged with Mrs Beyers and Mr Delport to collect these on the farms Geluk and Langkuil in the Kroonstad district of the Orange Free State Province. Thus when the major part of the expedition left for Gaberones on the first lap of the journey on 3rd March, 1930, Mr Lang, accom- panied by Messrs Noome and White, proceeded with one of the vans to Kroonstad and were later joined by Mr Vernay; while there, Messrs Noome and White also collected a fair number of birds and small mammals. Meanwhile, the rest of us formed a camp on the Metsimat- laba River, 12 miles west of Gaberones, and started collecting in earnest. The native skinners were still too unpractised to cope with the amount of material that could be collected, but we nevertheless secured a fair collection of birds and small mammals. It was an area of dry thornbush veld, similar to that of western Transvaal, with a few scattered rocky hills-with a fauna of their own- jutting up from the plains, and a dried-up river bed containing here and there a few pools of water from recent rains. On the banks above the river were also some small pans of fresh water containing coarse grasses and water plants that gave refuge to a few Ducks and other migratory water birds. Just before Mr Vernay was expected, we moved closer to Gaberones, and upon his arrival, together with his party from the Kroonstad district, Dr Rogers and Captain Beeching, camp was struck on 20th March, and we departed into the central Kalahari, the terra nova to which we were looking forward. Our route took us first to Molepolole, a native settlement, with a British Magistracy, situated in country very little different from that of Gaberones, except that it was a little drier, with stony ground and hills jutting up from the plains, and containing a fauna first described by such early explorers as Burchell and Andrew Smith; but before nightfall we were in the heart of the sandy veld which stretches without inter- ruption right across to Ghansi district some 240 miles to the north-west. There was still a track to follow, made by wagons from the outlying sparse and scattered native settlements and a motor lorry engaged by a water-boring party at Kuke Pan. The deep sand made heavy going, and never once-except in pans for a few hundred yards at a time--could the motor vehicles proceed except on the first and second of the four gears, until Ghansi district was reached. The horizon was bounded by scattered trees and we seemed ever to be "on the top of the world." The track wound about amongst the bushes, scattered trees and grass- covered veld for mile upon mile, and were it not that the aspect of the Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 5 country changed slightly as we proceeded westward, we should have tired of the monotony of the scene. Our first halt for the night was made in a slight valley, not far from a well from which water is drawn for the native stock, and is known as Metsimatluk. We "did not halt until after dark and were up at dawn to pack up hurriedly such things as we had used the previous night. Mr Aebischer and I proceeded in advance to shoot birds and secured a few near the welL Here I heard for the first time that noisiest of all Fran- colins( Chaetopus adspersus) but failed to secure a specimen, as they successfully concealed themselves in tangled brakes of thornbush. We did not hear this species again until we reached N gamiland, but then in great quantities. We bagged a fine male Swainson's Francolin together with a number of small birds. The Red-backed Shrike (Enneoctonus collurio) was seen all along the road, and also a few Lesser Grey Shrikes (Lanioides minor), which were about to depart northwards on their migration to Europe. Fewer of these Shrikes were seen thereafter, and by the time we were half-way across the Kalahari all had disappeared. During the morning we followed the course of a valley-like depression for a few miles and then continued on the track to Kuke Pan. Our advance in the deep sand was so slow that we had perforce to spend the next night about IS miles from Kuke Pan, at Kanke Pan, which con- tained a pool of fresh rain water. It was sunset when we arrived, and in the short time still available I endeavoured to secure a few birds in the open ground of the pan. A small party of the Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) seen here proved to be so wild that I could not get anywhere within shotgun range. When eventually I ventured a shot at long range they flew away over the bushes and were soon out of sight. This ,vas a matter for regret, as only a single pair was seen again and one secured-its mate escaping when wounded into a Ground Squirrel burrow-at a pan near van Zyl's Cutting on 20th April. The morning of 22nd March saw us encamped at Kuke Pan, where we remained until 31st March. A bore-hole had been put down here to a depth of 300 ft., but only very brackish water was struck, so brackish that even the cattle at first refused to drink it. Here we were in the true Kalahari type of veld. The pan itself, a calcareous floor carrying stunted grasses, was an elongated open hollow, containing pools of rain water from a recent shower. These pools, though drying up before our de- parture, attracted great numbers of granivorous species such as Doves, Finches and Finch-larks; also a small party of White-bellied Storks (Sphenorhynclzus abdimii) that had not yet departed on their northward migration, and Vultures. The open ground was also frequented by flocks of Red-capped Larks (Tephroc01YS), apparently of two species (cinerea and spleniata), a few Double-banded Coursers (Smutsornis africanus)J Pipits (Meganthus vaalensis), Capped Wheatears (Campicola pileata), but all shy and difficult to approach in the open. A few Swainson's Francolins and a flock of Guinea-fowls were seen here, but were so shy that only specimens of the latter were eventually procured. Fringing the open ground on parts of the pan were tangled masses of thorny scrub, which gave shelter to limited numbers of small birds, and beyond this lay savannah-like grassveld, with some larger combretum Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced 6 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

and thorn trees and more or less scattered bushes. To the north of the pan was a small settlement of natives, who had in the past cut down the larger trees near their huts for domestic purposes, and here bushes alone dotted the area. These human settlements were afterwards always found to be similar, the natives simply shifting their quarters to the edge of the cleared ground from time to time and thus extending the clearings so long as the family parties remained there. This is mentioned both in explanation of the presence of such treeless areas, and as haunts of certain birds that favour them, such as the White-quilled Korhaan (Afrotis afraoides), Partridges (Scleroptila gariepensis), certain Larks and Grass-warblers. Such little cultivation as these natives undertake seems to change the nature of the vegetation thereafter and to provide food for birds and mammals not found so plentifully elsewhere. Wandering over the surrounding savannah-like veld produces very little result. On distant trees one may espy a solitary Eagle, or the common Chanting Goshawk, approached with great difficulty on account of their wariness, but little else. Thus one learns in time to confine one's attention to the thorn- brakes and trees in and around the pans, or the neighbourhood of human habitations if there are any, for the purpose of getting specimens. The camp at Kuke Pan, as regards the collecting of birds, proved to be one of the most uninteresting of the journey. Birds were not only secured in relatively little variety, but were in the height of moulting and of little use for purposes of refined comparison. The night after leaving we spent not far from Gomodimo Pan, which we reached the following morning. Here birds were found in no greater quantity than at Kuke Pan-though it is worthy of record that we saw on our arrival a Tern (Chlidonias), some Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) and a few Vultures at the water-hole of the pan. Enormous hosts of Quelea Finches came to drink, and Mr Lang secured some fine photo- graphs of them. For the first time on the expedition I found the Brown Flycatcher (Agricola infuscata) in certain types of bushes near the pan. Partridges were here to be heard in fair numbers in open ground, but although Mr Vernay organised a big drive in which most European members of the party took part, Captain Beeching was the only one to hit one and it escaped. With a dog to help us we should, no doubt, have secured a good series; but we could not take one with us on account of the tsetse fly in parts of the country we had to traverse in N gamiland. I hit a partridge on another occasion, but it also escaped. Captain Beeching and I often tried walking them up when we heard them calling in the early morning or at sunset, but it was not until we reached Damara Pan that Captain Beeching secured a single bird in this way. On 6th April we went forward to Okwa River (a dry depression in which water seems never to run, as there is no trace of a watercourse) and Kaotwe Pan, where we spent a week and secured a fair number of specimens. The country hereabouts was more open and continued so until we neared Ghansi, but the nature of the fauna remained much the same. We had had a welcome shower when at Kuke Pan, passed through a sharper one on the way to Kaotwe, and had another when at the latter place. On the way to Damara Pan, however, heavy rains fell and delayed Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 7 ----.__ .. --.. -.-.. ＭＭＭＭｾ＠ ... - .. ｾＭ ..-- us for a time. Everybody's clothes and bedding were soaked by this rain coming on us at night and continuing more or less all the following day, so that we could not properly dry our things. These showers were very welcome, nevertheless. We were able to wash ourselves as much as we liked without feeling that the precious liquid was being wasted. The big pans soon filled to a depth of several feet, and it was not long before Ducks settled on them and a Tern and numerous Swallows hawked flies over the water. Here I secured a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia dnerea), a very rare migrant and practically the last of the European migratory Passeres to be seen on the expedition. The tangled thornbushes around one of the pans were loaded with old nests of the Wattled Starling (Creatophora carunculata), but the birds had long departed to less inhospitable regions. Otherwise the avifauna was the same as at the other pans we had passed; the absence of patches of large trees resulted in the number of species observed being less. In the bushes and open ground the Larks, Korhaans, Ant-eating Chat and other common birds we had encountered were all the same. On 22nd April we proceeded on the last lap across the sandy Kalahari to Ghansi district. Our first intimation of great changes in the terrain was the presence of stones in the here well-defined track. Soon afterwards we stopped for a time at a water-hole known as van Zyl's Cutting. For the first time since leaving Gaberones I saw a flock of Namaqua Sandgrouse. More were found thereafter at various points of our journey. Beyond van Zyl's Cutting we passed through groves of heavy timber, comprising giant leadwood and camel-thorn trees that offered more shelter for birds than the scrawny trees of the central Kalahari. Through- out our journey up to now we had here and there found small numbers of the Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis albirostris niger) and Bower Finches (Plocepasser mahalz), but in these better favoured trees they were found in much larger numbers. Glossy Starlings and Rollers were also seen in larger numbers, and on the whole there was promise of greater quantities of birds; but where we eventually camped at the Gemsbok Pan Magis- tracy we were again in more open ground and terrestrial species again predominated, all of them the same as those already observed, if not secured, in the previous month. The Gemsbok Pan settlement is situated in more or less open country, characterised by slightly undulating veld (but no river valleys) covered with grass and bushes and in some places with larger thorn trees; around the hollows and pans were more or less tangled growths of low thornbushes. Water is obtained here from wells and bore-holes, except after rains, of course, when surface water is available in the pans for a brief period. Standing out here and there are giant, gnarled lead- wood trees (Combretum imberbe), the favourite look-out posts of Eagles, Hawks and Rollers. One large pan, beside which stood a deserted farm- house, contained a large quantity of rain water in which were myriads of Apus and water insects. These attracted some European Waders that had not yet migrated northwards, such as the Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) and Greenshank (Glottis nebularius). At another pan in the midst of thornbush I discovered a nest of an Eagle, perhaps belonging to Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by 8 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

a fine pair of African Eagle (Nisaetus spilogaster) which I secured there. Several species of small Hawks, including the very rare Rufous-necked Falcon (Chicquera ruficollis ､｡ｶｩ･ＮｾＩＬ＠ were haunting these pans for the purp.Ose .Of capturing the Finches and D.Oves that came there to drink, and increased my bag. In an open waterless pan cl.Ose to the settlement the vegetati.On had been cleared f.Or an aerodrome; this pr.Oved t.O be an attractive place t.O certain small Larks, Pipits, C.Oursers, PI.Overs and Chats and a resting gr.Ound f.Or Sandgrouse that had had their drink at watering places at the settlement. In this pan, by dint .Of much pursuing and expenditure .Of much small sh.Ot, I secured a Stark's Lark, a very wary and elusive bird. CI.Ose by in the scrub a few Ruf.Ous-eared Warblers (Priniops ocularia malopensis) were gathered. When we had the d.Own- P.Our at Damara Pan the regi.On ab.Out Gemsb.Ok Pan had had the first g.O.Od rain .Of the seas.On. Perhaps because .Of this, a number .Of Passerine birds were f.Ound nesting n.Ow, at least f.Our m.Onths late, particularly the Grey-backed Finch Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) and Larklike Bunting (Fringillaria impetuana). Even a Swift Warbler (Tachydyta aridula kalahari), a Red-winged Shrike (Tschagroides australis dama- rensis) and a Prinia (Prinia jlavicans) were found t.O be breeding. The birds were in many cases just beginning t.O m.Oult. Owing t.O the necessity .Of shipping t.O Pret.Oria the bulky specimens and pr.Ocuring additi.Onal supp'lies, tW'o m.Ot.Or vans were despatched t.O the railhead at G.Obabis while we awaited their return. Dr R.Ogers acc.Ompanied Mr D.Owthwaite .On this trip. Mr Vernay, acc.Ompanied by Captain Beeching, Messrs N.O.Ome, Aebischer and van der Berg, the native Saul Sit.Ole and s.Ome .Other native assistants, pr.Oceeded f.Orward in advance t.O Ngamiland in pursuit .Of big game. Mr D.Owthwaite returned with the I.Orries t.O Gemsbok Pan .On 4th May and the next day we f.Oll.Owed up Mr Vernay's party. Retracing .Our steps as far as Sunnyside Farm, we then turned northwards and s.O.On entered an.Other type .Of veld. Whereas the S.Oil in Ghansi district c.Omprised a mixture .Of cal- care.Ous r.Ocks, harder pebbles and sand, we n.Ow entered firmer gr.Ound, with stretches here and there .Of I.O.Ose sand. The appearance .Of the vegetati.On was much the same in many respects-a listless mixture .Of dry grass, th.Ornbush and c.Ombretums-but in certain secti.Ons P.Ointed termite hills indicated a difference in the S.Oil. Our first halt was at an .Open pan-Machumi Pan-which P.Ossessed a well and tr.Ough f.Or watering cattle. While Dr R.Ogers and Mr Lang were busy in studying and ph.Ot.Ographing the ge.OI.Ogical features discl.Osed by the well, I succeeded in securing s.Ome interesting small Larks that were apparently attracted by the water spilt at the tr.Ough. On the r.Oad bey.Ond, while the m.Ot.Ors were having a " breather," I secured the first adult specimen .Of the Black-cr.Owned Redwing Shrike (Orthotchagra senegalensis) t.O be f.Ound S.O far west, and it pr.Oved t.O be new.' I had secured an immature bird of this race at G.Om.Odim.O and had heard it also in the distance at Gemsb.Ok Pan with.Out succeeding in I.Ocating it, and it was the ref.Ore pleasing t.O have an adult at last. That night we camped at a permanent fresh-water pan near the Mabeleapudi k.Opjes, and the f.Ollowing day halted f.Or a few days, tW'o miles farther .On. These k.Opjes were the first we had seen since leaving Molep.OI.Ole, and pr.Ove the flatness .Of the Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 9 country we had traversed so far. 'Ve had now entered Ngamiland and birds were becoming more numerous in comparison with the central Kalahari. Though a fine series was obtained, I would have liked to have spent more time in exploring the neighbourhood and especially to have secured specimens of the Crowned Guinea-fowl, this being probably the type locality of Numida papillosa. As at Gemsbok Pan, some small birds had evidently been delayed in nesting, owing to the lateness of the rain. I found here a nest with fresh eggs of the Yellow-backed Bush- warbler (Camaroptera brevicaudata sllndevalli) and several nests of the beautiful Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina). Here we observed for the first time since leaving Gaberones the Bush Partridge (Dendro- perdix sephaena), and heard and saw, but did not secure, the Red-billed Francolin (Chaetoplls adsperslls). In the rocky koppies were giant trees with Eagle nests in their inaccessible branches. Many of these large trees had perished from droughts of preceding years and either stood gauntly against the sky or had fallen on the rocks below. The picture was one of utter barrenness, recently relieved by the late rains. Below the hills, however, were tangled thornbrakes that gave shelter to many species of birds, and here and there stood baobab trees to indicate a change in vegetation. From the top of the koppies one obtained a view of the country as far as the eye could see, unending flats to the north and south, tree-covered, with here and there lighter coloured patches that signified open, grassy ground. When we had proceeded northwards, one of these light-coloured patches proved to be the Ngami Flats, to which the name of" Lake" has been given by those who have visited the country when inundated. On 5th May we reached the edge of the Ngami Flats, a great, long, stretch of loose silted earth, carried thither by inundations of former years, bordered on the south by a thin fringe of tangled Acacia caffra, then a low ridge of stony conglomerates and behind that the arid savannah veld of the Kalahari type. The vista was disappointing in its monotony, especially after one had read so much of the glorious" Lake Ngami"; but to the naturalist it proved to be a far better hunting ground than the eye would lead one to believe to be the case. At our next camp on the border of these flats, at a village bearing the name of Motlhatlogo, there was an extraordinary abundance of bird life. Much of it proved new to me, as it contained a large element of Angola forms which have followed the course of the rivers southwards. Specially may be mentioned the Mourning Dove (Streptopelia ambigua) and Meve's Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis m. mevesii). Probably the drought and absence of surface water accounted for the absence of other birds which have been recorded from" Lake Ngami," though it is possible they may have been taken more to the north-east. Suffice to say, during the six days spent here a very large collection was made of birds and a fair number of small mammals. On 16th May we moved onwards, but found so much of interest on the road that we only reached Toten that night. The road traversed a depression of the Lake River by which the Ngami Flats are inundated during the heaviest floods. Along the borders of this depression are strips of large green trees that afford shelter to a great variety of birds and small mammals. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 10 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

The Red-billed Francolin (Chaetopus adspersus) was particularly numerous, being often found in large coveys, consisting of birds of all ages, that scuttled out of the way as we rushed upon them with the motor vehicles. Next day on the journey we were delayed by a break- down to one of the motor vans and did not reach Maun until I I p.m. In the meantime, while waiting for the vans, Robertson and I, who were in advance, collected along the road a large series of birds, monkeys, squirrels and the large yellowish Duiker Antelope of this region. Amongst other things I found the nest of a Red-billed Francolin with eggs (photographed by Mr Lang), and secured the type of the very large Red-eyed Turtle Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata maxima). While Mr FitzSimons was waiting during the halt on the road, he also dis- covered a nest with a single egg of the Red-billed Francolin in a hollow stump; returning later to show it to Mr van Son, he was surprised to find that the hen had laid another egg in the interim! We were up at dawn to see once again a stream of clear, running water. What a beautiful sight was presented! The wide bed of the Thamalakane River, backed by giant green trees, with stretches of grassy flats, patches of waving reeds and rushes and the clear smooth water flowing slowly past us towards the more arid grassveld of the south in which it loses itself. Birds in great variety were all around us in the big shady trees; on the opposite bank were white and purple Herons, and a solitary Goliath Heron suspiciously eyeing us; Ducks and Geese flew up or down the river, while the "hutitu" bird (the Great Coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus) gave out its bubbling notes in the reed-bed close at hand. While we gazed, an otter poked its head out of the water below us, gracefully slid under again, to appear and disappear farther down. This we were informed was the first sign of the usual rise of the waters, otters coming down in advance. Suffice to say, we had at last struck a place where we could collect a great variety of species with a modicum of exertion and without discomfort such as had been our lot so far. Here we got a greater collection than anywhere else, ､･ｳｰｩｴｾ＠ the fact that this was on the borders of a large settlement of natives and Europeans, and we would probably have done even better had we gone 10-25 miles upstream. Here Mr Vernay and his party had also collected a series of birds, some of which were not observed by us. Probably the bird population changes considerably according to the season and the degree of in- undations. We were informed that now comparatively few birds were about. Having regard to the great variety we procured, the Thamalakane region must indeed be a paradise for birds in summer. Our explorations were often conducted up and down the river, either on the banks or by canoe in the river. On one occasion I encamped for three days at the wagon drift five miles up the river. From here I was able to work still higher up and secured species not found near the Maun settlement. Amongst the birds seen there, but secured only later at Shorobe, was a Palm Swift, flying high up out of range. It had evidently come down from the hyphaene palms 20 miles higher up the Thamalakane. Too much space would be taken up by enumerating the many species obtained either in the river valley tree-covered area abutting on the river, Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM II

or in the mopane bush that lay immediately behind it. In the mopane, where there were very few birds, I found, however, the Helmet Shrike (Prionops poliocephala talacoma) and a solitary Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) that were not found along the river. Shortly after our arrival we moved our camp to the east bank of the river, where there was a beautiful and ideal camping spot under some large trees. A few days later Mr Lang left us to rejoin Mr Vernay, who shortly afterwards left on his return home. After a stay of about three weeks at Maun, a motor van was sent back to shift our equipment forward. Only two vans being available and the equipment consisting of three loads, it was necessary-to procced by stages. The first stage was Shorobe, about 25 miles up the river, and during three days we were able to collect here numerous species new to our collection. It was an ideal site amongst giant hyphaene palms near a large shallow lake-like expanse of the river, where water birds of all kinds were sporting about. A small island, covered with coarse grass and reeds, surrounded by rushes and more reeds, proved to be the haunts and probably the type locality of Bedford's Warbler (Bradypterus babaeculus bedfordi). During the time we were here the water was seen to be slowly rising as a result of the usual inundation by the Okavango floods from Angola. With it came more water birds every day, amongst them a Pelican and many species of Herons and Ducks. In such a grand collecting ground we could have secured a much greater variety than we did, had time per- mitted; but the return of the empty lorry necessitated our moving forward and we did so reluctantly on 12th June. The next dump was at Shaleshanto, on the border of the Mababe Flats, where Mr Vernay's party had previously encamped and collected big game. That party had also encamped at Kwai to the north-west, and had secured a fair number of birds, especially of big water birds, some of which I had not collected or seen, on the border of the marsh area, such as a Pelican (Neopelicanus rufescens) and a Long-legged Korhaan (Lissotis melanogaster). There was no water and we depended upon the tanks during our stay at Shaleshanto. Nevertheless, a fair number and variety of birds were collected, amongst them being the Yellow-breasted Bush Shrike (Chlorophoneus sulphureopectus similis), Western Glossy Starling (Lamprocolius sycobius chloropterus), and a new form of the White-quilled Korhaan (Afrotis afraoides mababiensis). On 17th June we proceeded forward to Tsotsoroga, where a base camp was formed and we were met by Mr Lang and the rest of the members of the expedition staff, with the exception of Mr Vernay and his aide, Mr Aebischer, who had returned home. This camp was in the midst of an extensive mopane forest, with several large pans of fresh water in the neighbourhood and a large cattle post. The presence of grazing herds of cattle and abundance of fresh water attracted a larger variety of birds here than is usual in mopane, which supports little animal life. Nevertheless, to secure representative collections one had to walk for many miles every day on the chance of meeting with bird parties, and results were never com- mensurate with the exertion expended. The result of this continuous walking was first a chafing of my feet, then these becoming sore and ultimately turning septic. It was weeks before this condition of my feet Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 12 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

improved and I was able to walk with comfort. On one occasion I accompanied two of the drivers to the edge of the Mababe Flats and collected around our temporary camp for several days while the others went farther on after specimens of big game. Several birds of interest, including three species of Sunbirds (Nectariniidae), were procured then. On another trip I went with them to Zweizwe Water-hole for several more days, and amongst other things, a new form of Yellow-eye Canary (Serinus mozambicus vansani Rbts.) was obtained there. Around Tsot- soroga Pan a few rare birds were procured, mostly in single specimens, such as Andersson's Pern (Gypohierax angolensis) which was shot by Mr McArthur, Grey Kestrel (Dissodectes dickinsoni), Sharp-billed Honeyguide (Prodotiscus regulus), Mechow's Goshawk (Melierax me- chowi), Black Helmet Shrike (Eressornis retzii retzit), and Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes); a long series was procured of two of the typical birds of the mopane forest, Helmet Shrike (Prionops p. talacoma) and Arnott's Chat (Sciocincla arnotti). Only by dint of the greatest exertions was a fair collection brought together. Altogether we remained at Tsotsoroga for three weeks, moving on 10th July to Kabulabula, on the Chobe River. With the great variety of birds in the bush, river fiats, marshes or along the Chobe River itself, where several related species from both east and west were discovered, collecting was profitable and a pleasure. Two species of Laniarius, Centropus, Meganthus, and such new records as the Horus Swift (Epicypselus horus), which was nesting in sandbanks, Angola Wagtail (Psomophilus simplissima), Spectacled Weaver (Hyphanturgus ocularius), and many more were added to the collection. A Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in breeding condition and a nest of the Grey-rumped Swallow (Pseudohirundo griseopyga) with three eggs, in a Gerbille burrow, were also interesting finds. Mter a stay of three weeks we moved to the rapids on the river below Kasane, where many more species were added to the list, including Schalow's Lourie (Turacus s. schalowi), a new race of the Collared Sunbird (Anthodiaeta collaris chobiensis), another of the Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albtfrons maxima), and such eastern forms as the Intermediate Scimitar-billed Hoopoe (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas intermedius), and Heuglin's Robin (Cossypha heuglini intermedius). The Hadadah (Hagedashia hagedash brevirostris) found here is the West African race, and amongst other surprises was the finding of a European Swallow (Hirundo rustica) hawking flies in company with other Swallows. The Grey-headed Gull (Hydrocoloeus cirrhocephalus) and Pied Wagtail (Motacilla vidua) were common. Our time being limited to four days at this delightful spot, we probably missed a number of species, but what we did procure were all of interest. On 30th July we arrived at dusk at Livingstone Falls, spent the following morning there and then trekked southwards in the afternoon. En route we found that the Bower Finch (Plocepasser pectoralis) in Southern Rhodesia was not the same as that of the south and west, with clearly marked spots on the chest and rather more rufous back; since the COmmon species of the Kalahari was found at Makarikari and nowhere does it seem to merge into this eastern species, we may conclude it does Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

not link up and is a definite species. On the way to Bulawayo we secured a single specimen of the Crested Guinea-fowl, and a few other desirable birds. On 2nd August I returned to Pretoria with two of the lorries, while the balance of the staff went westwards via Plumtree to Makarikari Lake, collecting there until the end of August. From the accounts given me of that area, in which new forms of birds were procured, it is bleaker and more brackish than the central Kalahari we had passed through. During the dry season it is intensely arid, often with stunted vegetation and great open fiats covered by a fine dust raised from the dried-out portion of the brackish lake. Along some portions of the shoreline Flamingoes and Pelicans had nested recently and immature specimens of the former were secured. On the whole some of the species subject to variation were found to be paler in this neighbourhood than elsewhere, no doubt as a result of the dryness of the air and almost white colour of the often alkaline soiL After three weeks of collecting in this neighbourhood, the party returned home via Bulawayo and Zimbabwe. Near the latter place Mr N oome secured a number of fine birds not previously represented in the collection, such as Sooty Chat-babbler (Pinarornis plumosus), Mashona Hyliota (Hyliota mashonae), and Rhodesian Bar-throated Bush Warbler (Apalis thoracica rhodesiae).

DISPOSAL OF THE COLLECTION OF BIRDS When the whole collection had been assembled it was found to contain 3334 specimens, comprising 358 species and 44 additional sub- species. After I had made the necessary studies for the present report, but before the conclusions reached could be published, the specimens were distributed as follows: Ko. of Forms re- Forms described Paratypes bird skins presented as new assigned Donated to Field Museum r52 9 370 39 189 Donated to American Museum 618 264 34 77 Donated to British Museum 602 232 27 69 Reserved for Mr Vernay 16 2 Allocated to Transvaal Museum 249 43 Ｖｾ＠ Total: Specimens ... ..• 3334 Species and subspecies 402

THE KALAHARI SA..."l"DVELD AND ADJOINING AREAS The true Kalahari is the area contained within the Bechuanaland Protectorate, bounded approximately as follows: On the east: by the native settlements near the railway line that runs from Vryburg to near Plumtree, thence northwards on the ｂ･｣ｨｵ｡ｮ｡ｬ｡ｮ､ｾ＠ Southern Rhodesia boundary to Kazungulu. On the north: by the Chobe River and swamped areas of Ngamiland. On the west: by the plateau area of D amaraland, but extending north ｾ＠ westwards near Gobabis to the Etoscha Pan area in a belt of more or less sandy country, and thence into southern Angola. On the south: by an (as yet) undefined boundary situated south of the Molopo River, trending southwards to the west of Kuruman. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

This central area comprising the Kalahari proper is characterised by its dryness, due in part to irregular rainfall, absence of watercourses and permanent surface water, and its uniform heavy sand; its vegetational covering is grass, usually accompanied by scrub or scattered hardy trees, able to exist on account of the deep sand holding such water as the irregular rainfall supplies. The nature of this vegetation varies towards the different borders, but on the whole has characteristics of its own. It is situated at a rather lower level than the areas to the east and west, the altitude undulating between about 3000-3500 ft. above sea- level. Hills are absent, and stony kopjes are only found on the eastern border and in a widely scattered line across the northern part situated south of Ngami Flats and Makarikari Lake. Its minimum width is about 400 miles in any direction. Adjoining the rough boundaries, the nature of the vegetation varies according to the character of the soil, the real Kalahari consisting of loose sand. Thus where belts of sand extend outwards, or where some of the vegetation is the same even when the soil is different, the fauna extends beyond the Kalahari sandveld. The only clearly demarcated check to this outward extension seems to be in the north, and even here it is possible the fauna may extend farther north, since we know very litde about the fauna of the area north of the inundated territory; but such evidence as we have points to the sharp delimitation of the fauna on the northern border as here defined. While there is not much perceptible difference in the flora between the eastern border, such as at Gaberones, and the Kalahari itself, the collections made of animals point to marked differences and even the limitation of the extension of some forms, especially in small mammals (a report on which will be given in another article). The extent of country embraced is large enough to bring about a general effect in the characters of the forms that may lead to their eventual establishment as definite species; but a casual study of the fauna of the central Kalahari leaves the impression that its forms are all either intrusive or of recent establish- ment. Nevertheless, this first impression may well be deceptive. When the local forms are carefully compared, several interesting features are disclosed. Amongst the species resident in the central Kalahari are a number, about two dozen, that do not extend beyond the dry areas adjoining, and they do so often in all directions except across the Ngamiland swamps, which indicates that they are really typical Kalahari species. In some cases they are exactly alike in all directions across this great extent of country of the Kalahari and adjoining dry areas, which points to their having been established for a considerable period of time. In other cases they are clearly defined as species in this area, but display local differences to a greater or less extent according to the border conditions. Amongst resident birds about three-fourths are species, that mayor may not have subspecies, of wide distribution over the continent. By analysis of the distribution and characters of all the forms we may be able to arrive at a fair idea of the importance of such a wide expanse of more or less similar conditions of environment in the evolution of species. In order to reach more definite conclusions, however, it is necessary first to study the species in adjacent territory, the effects to be Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 15

observed in them and their relationship to the territory with which we are mainly concerned.

RAINFALL AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA Where species are concerned, those from the east and west of South Africa are seldom the same. The climatic conditions of the east and west are so entirely different that this is not unexpected. The rains of the east are more copious than those of the west and principally during the summer months, from September to March in the south and a month or two later in the north of South Mrica. In the south and south-west of the Cape Province (roughly from Port Elizabeth to Port Nolloth) the rains fall mainly in the winter months, most plentifully in the south and becoming rapidly less northwards to Little Namaqualand. The coastal strip (known as the Namib Desert) from the Little Namaqualand coast northwards to the Cunene River, has less than 5 in. of rain per annum, though light mists pervade this strip and relieve the lack of rain to a slight extent. In a few places inland, such as Bushmanland in the northern Cape Province south of the Orange River, the rainfall is also extremely low, but erratic, in some years heavy and bringing to life a special type of flora adapted to it. In the higher ground to the west of the Namib there is also slightly more rain, as the surplus eastern summer rains drift across the continent and are precipitated there. Towards the east in the southern parts of the Cape Province summer rains also fall, and these combined with the winter rains of the same area may account for the extensive forests of Knysna. Slight winter rains are also not uncommon along the eastern coast from Port Elizabeth to Natal, but north of this are rare; they are so slight and irregular as to leave little impression. These summer rains from the Indian Ocean are precipitated very largely in the hilly and mountainous country of the southern and eastern belt of the escarpment, but carry on beyond into the northern Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia and even to the Kalahari, Namaqualand and the Damaraland plateau beyond. The greater the distance from the Indian Ocean and lower the altitude in the west, the less the precipitation, may be taken as a fair rule. The rainfall and nature of the surface soil and underlying geological formation have produced a flora of very distinct types, and the fauna has naturally been affected by the latter. Thus in the areas of heaviest rainfall the vegetation has been the most profuse; the regularity or irregularity of its incidence has also affected it, since those types which could not withstand droughts of one or two years' duration naturally became eliminated. We therefore find that in the southern belt of the Cape Province is the largest show of vegetation, such as the Knysna forests where there are both winter and summer rains, and westwards rather less where the rains of the winter are the main source of moisture; with the decrease of rainfall inland, north of the southern mountains, a decrease is to be noted in the vegetation, especially in the plateau areas of the Karroo velds, which sustain a particularly hardy type of vegetation adapted to scanty and irregular rainfall. In these inland areas, it is noticeable that the rainfall decreases from the east to west, this being Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

accounted for by the diagonal drifting of the moisture from the Indian Ocean, very little reaching Bushmanland. In the eastern summer-rainfall area grasses are much more in evidence than in the western winter-rain region. The greater the rainfall, the denser the growth of grass, and under modern conditions, and probably since the first appearance of man on the scene, this has had an effect of its own. Man has always fired this grass in the dry season by accident or to suit his own convenience, and the results are seen in the disappearance of all vegetation which could not withstand the fires. The only trees which have survived are the tough acacias and a few others that have been able to find root in the deeper soils, often only in kloofs, hollows and along the streams and rivers. The whole of the eastern summer-rainfall area has been affected by these grass fires, except where the nature of the soil and contour of the country have permitted a denser, perennially green growth that can keep away the grass and thus guard itself. In the eastern Cape Province to Zulu land and the eastern Transvaal forests of greater or lesser extent have survived in this way, either on the southern, south-eastern or, more rarely, eastern aspects of hills and mountains. No doubt the Knysna forests are of greater extent than those to the east simply because of the thinner growth of grass and absence of grass fires to encroach upon them. It is very noticeable in Natal and northwards to Transvaal how the evergreen yellowwood forests lie in the shelter of the hills that are not swept by the gales of north-western wind that are prevalent at the end of winter and which drive the grass fires before them with the most devastating effects. Probably these forests formerly covered a much greater extent of country and linked up more completely than they do to-day, as they contain some very lethargic and local forms of animals that would not wander from one forest to another and yet occur in the isolated forests all over this area. Some forests have been destroyed within historic times, either by denudation by natives located near them or by fires in exceptionally dry seasons. In the lower ground covered by grass on the east and especially from the Tropic of Capricorn northwards, where the soil is firmer and the hardier trees can withstand the fires, perhaps owing to gales of wind being less prevalent, savannah country is the rule. Even here, however, the densest vegetation is usually to be found along the valleys and water- courses. In much of this low-lying ground there is not a high rainfall, as the moisture from the sea is carried more from the sea to the hills beyond before precipitating than precipitated in the flats. As we proceed westwards, as stated before, the rainfall decreases, and the amount of vegetation sustained then depends upon the soil, the rain water running off in the harder and soaking in in the softer, especially the sandy, soil. Hence we find that the grass becomes more scanty and scattered in its growth in the dry western districts of the Orange Free State, south-western Transvaal and northern districts of the Cape Province which extend towards the Kalahari. Grass fires are therefore less frequent there than to the east and north, only occurring after very propitious seasons when the grass has been able to expand and form a uniform covering that allows the fire to spread. Such areas Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

that can be fired are patchy, and the wide spreading devastating fires of the east are consequently never seen in the dry west. But as we proceed northwards in this central, comparatively dry, summer-rain region the soil becomes sandy, and grass and trees are able to establish themselves more readily than in the south. Even here, however, in this area known as the Kalahari, the growth of grass is never so uniform--owing to the patchy nature of the rainfall-as to permit of grass fires spreading very far, and a degree of fluctuating stability in the vegetation is the natural result. Having made the position clear in regard to the present and recent times (how recent remains to be proved by future research), we may cast our eyes back to the possible conditions prevailing before. Consultation of a contour map of South Africa shows that a mountain escarpment encloses the plateau of the interior at some distance inland, with wide gaps at intervals. That of the east is to-day much moister than that of the west; but it is possible, or even probable, that the western escarpment at one. time received a greater rainfall than it does to-day. Any change in the course of the ocean currents that are responsible for the rainfall might have caused change in the rainfall from the coast of Angola south- wards to the Cape Province, and there is the prospect of this having occurred very far back in the past; but palaeontological evidence points to there having been very little change since Pleistocene times. Some of the existing fauna still does extend along the west, but only of those types which have become specially inured to the existing dry conditions of climate. The others of the south that are not so inured are of well- isolated types that would seem to be very old. This is seen more clearly in mammals than birds. Whether the species peculiar to this western area have drifted southwards from Angola or vice versa is not clear, though the general view is held that most of the fauna has come from the north. Certainly the evidence of present times seems to point to most species having radiated southwards, since more species occur in the tropical than the temperate parts of South Africa, and there is a very noticeable extension of some species farther south than others. N ever- theless, there is evidence that some species have evolved in the south and they likewise extend in various degrees northwards, most of them on the east, but seldom beyond the Zoutpans which lies just north ofthe Tropic of Capricorn. It seems to me possi e, therefore, that some of these southern species may have extended northwards on the west in the same way into Angola. However interesting it may be to delve into the past upon the evidence of the present, the opinions one may hold are largely problematical and reqUIre more investigation. Suffice to say, that there are in the plateau area of South-West Africa a few species which occur nowhere else, some of them sufficiently distinct to be placed in genera, others extend either northwards to southern Angola alone, others southwards alone, and yet others extend from Angola to the Cape Peninsula. Some of these species also extend over the Karroo and others thence northwards to the west, and even to the east, of the Drakensberg escarpment. Enumeration of a few of the genera of birds peculiar to the east and to the west in South Africa will make the above statements clearer. They may be given in lists as follows. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced 18 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

South African endemic genera Eastern Western Geronticus Spheniscus (coast only) Melanocircus Pseudocarbo (coast only) Geocolaptes Anacarbo (coast only) T Notopicus Pterocles XT Sphenoeacus A/rotis XT Tchagra Colius T Chaetops Pelicinius T Petrornis Pansoma XT Notiocincla Stenostira T C ampz'coloides Priniops X Petranthus Cryptillas (southern only) H emimacronyx Euryptila Anthobaphes Eremomeloides T Promeropsl T Karrucincla T Emarginata Dromolaea T Agricola XT Eremicinnyris T Calendulauda Calendula Chersomanes XT C erthilauda Pseudammomanes T Alario T Serinops XT Those marked with an X we found in the Kalahari and those marked with a T extend to or slightly beyond the Tropic of Capricorn. In the northern part of South-West Africa (Damaraland and Ovam- boland) there are also endemic , but most of them extend beyond the Cunene River to southern gola as well. These are: Chapinortyx Psammocincla Nototockus Achaetops Lanioturdus Ammomanopsis Aethocichla On the eastern side of the continent in the same parallel in the tropics there are only three endemic genera, of which one at least extends to north-eastern Rhodesia and the others may also prove to do so. These are: Pinarornis Heterocorys Swynnertonia Comparison of the number of species found respectively on the east and west of South Africa shows a much greater quantity in varieties in the east; but in the case of endemic genera it is apparent from the above lists that there are twice as many genera on the west as on the east. The explanation is obviously that there is less distinction between the con- ditions of environment of the moist eastern area of South Mrica and the greater part of tropical Mrica than between the dry west and the tropics.

1 This genus represents the only family peculiar to South Africa. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

This dry western condition has prevailed long enough to produce its own generic types. It is cut off from the north by the Congo Basin and the moist area between there and the eastern coast. Some of the western genera are seen to be decidedly tropical, but the majority can be claimed to be southern, even though some of them extend to the border of the tropics or just beyond. A remarkable feature disclosed, however, is that not one genus can be claimed to be endemic to the Kalahari sand- veld area; and of endemic species we can only claim as endemic those which also occur in the dry border areas. Since there are some Kalahari species which extend into Damaraland, the impression may be left that the fauna as a whole of that area has intruded into the Kalahari; but Damaraland has its own distinctive types, besides distinct genera. These species often extend into southern Angola and comprise the following in particular, apart from the seven endemic tropical genera mentioned above: .Eupodotis ruppelli, to Orange River and Angola • Poicephalus rUppel/i, to Angola .Agapornis roseicollis, to Angola • Phoeniculus damarensis, only Damaraland •Micropus bradfieldi, only Damaraland , Bradamis herrero, only Damaraland 'Karrucincla schlegelli, Namib rKarrucincla namaquana, Namaqualand -Certhilauda damarensis, only Damaraland -. Spizocorys sclateri, to northern Cape Province (Philipstown) • Pseudammomanes erythrochlamys, only Damaraland • Melanopteryx trothae, Ovamboland and Angola

THE DRY KALAHARI SANDVELD AND ITS BIRDS A notable feature of the central Kalahari sandveld is the absence of rivers. Either because of the generally flat nature of the area, or because of its thick covering of sand, which would silt up the valleys and prevent erosion, combined with uncertain rainfall, there are practically no water- courses, but only occasional shallow valley-like depressions which might on very rare occasions carry flood waters. As in other parts of South Africa, however, here and there are circular depressions, or pans, in which water can accumulate during heavy rains. There is little flooding into them owing to the absorbent nature of the sand; but the bottoms of these pans are usually calcareous and hard. The natives take advantage of these depressions to excavate, in a primitive way, small hollows in them to catch a limited amount of rain water; but this supply of water is precarious and therefore supplemented by consumption of" tsama" water-lemons, which grow wild in the sandy soil, or are cultivated around their huts. The absence of water has kept out many species of birds that need it, but most resident animals do without it, either altogether or for long periods. I noted that the great majority of resident birds in the Kalahari never visited the water-holes even when the pans did hold easily accessible water. The only visitors to water-holes observed were the following species.

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.;Pternistis swainsoni "Heterocorax capensis vPseudogyps africanus ",Passer motitensis (rare in central "Torgos tracheliotus Kalahari) .... Burhinops capensis vAmadina erythrocephala (rare in cen- "Oena capensis (common) tral Kalahari) vStreptopelia capicola (rare in central ｾ＠ Uraeginthus angolensis (common) Kalahari) v Granatina granatina (fairly common) v Eremopteryx leucotis smitM (common) "Tetraenura regia (common) v Eremopteryx verticalis verticalis (corn - v Fringillaria impetuana mon) "Quelea quelea sanguiniTostris J Corvus albus Lack of water accounted for the absence of many species that required it. The Cape Turtle Dove (Afropelia capicola) and Laughing Dove (Stigmatopelia senega/ensis) were seldom seen in the central Kalahari, but the Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) was common. Chae- topus adspersus was found only near permanent water, nor was Ortyg- ornis coqui found far from water. Scleroptila gariepensis was common, on the other hand, and apparently did not require water. Sandgrouse were notably absent where there was no water. On the borders of the Kalahari sandveld, wherever permanent water was accessible, there was always a notable increase in the bird population, both in quantity and variety. Some of these species probably radiate over the Kalahari during propitious rainy seasons, but either eventually perish or find their way to the borders again when extended droughts prevail. During our exploration we had rains, almost the first to fall after an exceptionally dry year, and it was noticeable that migratory water birds and swallows soon appeared on the flooded pans; but the majority of other birds must have been residents. These species resident within the Kalahari sandveld central area are about ninety in number, most ofthem widely dispersed species which are apparently intrusive; but amoBgst the balance are the following species, which I consider to be typical of the area, though they have radiated outwards into territory having much the same characteristics as the Kalahari: Typical Kalahari birds Melierax canorus, extending south to the Karroo, east to western Orange Free State, Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia and west to Namaqualand and Damaraland. Cerchneis rupicoloides, ranging in much the same way as Melierax canorus, but farther eastwards as well. Sderoptila gariepensis and subspp. Range much as Melierax canorus, but not into the Karroo and northwards into southern Angola. Pternistis swainsoni and subspp., ranging to Cunene River and Damaraland on the west, to eastern Transvaal and Matabeleland on the east, Orange River in the south and Okavango Swamp border on thenorth. Afrotis afraoides and subspp., from Zuurberg and dry plains west of Drakensberg and Matabeleland to Damaraland, Ovamboland and Okavango Swamp border. Turdoides bieolor, in the thornbush of Bechuanaland, western Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia to Damaraland. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 21

./ Pycnonotus nigricans, apparently partly migratory southwards to the eastern Cape Province and upper Karroo, also found in western Trans- vaal to Southern Rhodesia and in Damaraland. oJ Bradornis mariquensis, Orange River and Damaraland to Benguella, western Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia. \I Batis pririt, southwards in the Karroide districts of eastern Cape Province, south-westwards to Little Namaqualand, eastwards to western Orange Free State and Transvaal, westwards to Damaraland and north- westwards to N gamiland and Benguella . .,/ Myrmecocichla formicivora and subsp., southwards to Upper Karroo, eastwards to "highveld" of Orange Free State and Transvaal, westwards to N gamiland and Damaraland. "Erythropygia paena and subsp., Orange River from western Orange Free State, Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia, across to Damaraland and Benguella. v Prinia flavicans, like the last, but not to Benguella. ｾＧ＠ Nilaus brubru, thornveld of South Mrica to Mossamedes, but not to eastern Southern Rhodesia. (N. nigritemporalis extends from eastern Southern Rhodesia to north-eastern Zululand where the two species overlap.) ./ Laniarius atrococcineus, thornveld of Orange River northwards, west of eastern escarpment and to Damaraland. v Parus cinerascens and subsp., north of Orange River, like the last. v Plocepasser mahali, north of Orange River, western Transvaal and border of northern Bechuanaland (displaced by pectoralis near Wankie, Southern Rhodesia) to Damaraland and Benguella . ./ Sporopipes squamifrons, thornveld north of Orange River to Southern Rhodesia on the east, and to Benguella on the west. v Amadina erythrocephala, Orange River from western Orange Free State and Transvaal in the east and Great Namaqualand to Benguella in the west. v Passer motitensis, range similar to the last. J Granatina granatina, range similar to the last. v' Tetraenura regia, Lower Vaal and Orange Rivers northwards on the east to Southern Rhodesia, on the dry west to Benguella . ./ Fringillaria impetuana, a little south of Orange River (Cradock) north- wards over the dry west to Damaraland, border of N gamiland and Matabeleland. v Anacorys africanoides and subspp., western Transvaal and north of lower Vaal River to Matabeleland and Damaraland . ./ Meganthus vaalensis and subspp., from northern Karroo near Orange River to Transvaal on the east, and from Damaraland to Cunene and Chobe Rivers on the west. Amongst subspecies of the Kalahari we see the effects of environment repeated in several respects in widely different birds and mammals. The shade of colour is normally paler in this dry area, much more so than in Damaraland, but often not so pale as in the Etoscha Pan neighbourhood, much depending upon the species. This pallor or bleaching has become specific in some cases, the forms either becoming isolated, or the effect involving all the individuals over the whole area. Thus in Damaraland Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 22 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

we find Riippell's Parrot (Poicephalus ruppelli) has lost the green coloration of its congener, Meyer's Parrot (P. meyeri damarensis), which occurs in adjoining ground. The Damara Hornbill (Tockus damarensis), formerly considered a distinct species, but now shown to link up with the Red- billed Hornbill (T. erythrorhynchus), has turned albinistic in this bleaching tendency. The Pied Babbler has gone a step farther and is more albinistic, but specifically, not varying wherever it occurs. Such pallid forms of Larks as Pseudammomanes grayi, Certhilauda damarensis, Spizocorys starki, Tephrocorys spleniata, and Corypha damarensis, seem to be specifically distinct; and I am not sure that Spizocorys conirostris damarensis is not also a distinct species, as there is no evidence of its linking up with the eastern form. In other birds of the western plateau area and neighbourhood the Namib Chat (Psammocincla albicans) is extraordinarily pallid, and members of another Chat genus, Karrucincla, are very grey, the darkest in the Cape Province (pollux), that of Namaqua- land (namaquana) whiter, and that of Damaraland (schlegelli) still paler and smaller. In subspecies it is a well-known rule that Damara forms are pale. In the Kalahari there are not so many very local species as in Damara- land and consequently fewer examples to select for illustrations. In Larks the pale coloration in the Kalahari forms is often greater than in those of the plateau area of Damaraland, but not as pallid in all cases as those of the Etoscha Pan and Namib areas. In subspecies of the Part- ridges, the Rufous-naped Lark (Africorys africanus) and some other species, the western ones are more like those immediately to the east of the Kalahari, in being more rufous above, than those of the Kalahari lying between them, which are decidedly more bleached. The same effect is seen in the Hares amongst mammals. In the Makarikari Lake area some of the birds are more bleached than in the central Kalahari, but may not be so bleached as the forms in the Etoscha Pan area. The Black- throated Serins of Makarikari (Serinus angolensis jitzsimonsi) show the upper parts darker and the black of the throat more extended, but underparts whiter than in Transvaal birds, which also have a large black throat-patch, but are more buffy below, and less dark above. The Damara birds are buffy like the Transvaal ones, but have only a few spots on the throat. A form from Machumi Pan (semidesertz) is whiter below, with fairly heavily spotted throat, somewhat like that from Makarikari, paler above and with an albinistic tendency in having the outer tail feather almost completely white; the Makarikari series show more white in the tail than the other races, but not so much white as the Machumi bird. In some cases, such as the Damara Ground Robin (Erythropygia paena damarensis) and Bushveld Cisticola (Drymodyta chiniana frater), the western bleaching effect is the same from the eastern border of the Kalahari right across to the Damara plateau. In the case of the Warbler, in the territory between the Kalahari and Lebombo Mountains a less bleached form (chiniana chiniana) is recognised, and east of the Lebombo Mountains south to Durban occurs the darkest form (campestris). In the case of the Ground Robin (Erythropygia paena paena) its range does not extend so far eastwards, and its place is taken by the striped species (E. leucophrys pectoralis) in Transvaal and eastwards and northwards. In this genus we have an illustration also of a western character common Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRA..;."Ij"SVAAL MUSEUM

to a number of birds and mammals, namely, the tendency to lose colour markings in the Kalahari. Before we discuss this, however, let us con- sider the effects of ecological conditions upon the fauna seen in other parts of South Mrica. Deserts are known to produce pallor, and humid conditions,especially under lowered temperatures, a darkening effect; consequently there is nothing new in the bleaching effects related above in reference to the Kalahari. In the south of South Mrica, especially where the rainfall is heavy, the shades of colour are darker than farther north. But in addition to this a number of birds have developed stripes below, which either become less conspicuous, or disappear, farther north. Of such striped birds we have instances in Sphenaeacus afer, Hemipteryx textrix, Calendu- lauda albescens, Certhilauda curvirastris; a change is seen in Prinia maculasa in the Karroo and P. hypaxantha (which is yellower below) along the Drakensberg, which are represented in the Kalahari and ad- jacent dry areas by P. flavicans, which has a bar across the chest instead of stripes. In the Serins we have Serinus scataps of the southern and eastern evergreen forests striped below; while in Serinaps flaviventris of the west, the female is striped in the south, losing the striping northwards (marshalli), the male in the south darker than in the north, where it is yellower and palest in the western Kalahari and Damaraland (dama- rensis). In Crithagra sulphurata southern birds are darkest, those to the ! north-east becoming yellower; but in the west its place is taken by ｾ＠ C. albagularis, which also has more yellow on the rump in the north, but is paler there and known as craccapygia. In Serinus angalensis we have a typical Kalahari type of coloration, represented in the moister east by S. mazambicus and in the south by Alaria alaria, an entirely differently coloured species, which for that reason has been placed in a genus. These are instances of common features in our birds, greens prevailing in the east and south, browns or greys in the west. The chestnut and black coloration of Alaria has an analogy in Passer melanurus in the south and along the west, and Placepasser rufascapulatus and Cinnamapteryx rubiginasa in the Cunene area and northwards. Other ploceine genera farther north are completely black or partly so, sometimes with chestnut, where eastern relatives are yellow. In mammals, too, black is a frequent character of Congo Basin species. This is not entirely due to the dark depths of the great Congo Forest, as is generally assumed, as it is to be seen in species found far from the forest region. In fact, it occurs even in Damaraland, so that another explanation must be sought. I t is possible that this black geographical colour character has in some cases had an assimilative origin where animals have developed the dark colour of the rocks or soil they inhabit; but since all of them also do not inhabit such areas, there must be some other explanation. Possibly it arises from some chemical in the food or water, the assimilation of which in the colour pigment might not be the same in all species. Whatever the origin, the fact remains that black, black and chestnut or black and white are more prevalent in species of the west than the east, at least south of the Equator. When once this black coloration has been developed it may well be retained even after the species radiates far from the regional source of this pigmentation. Instances of this are seen in the Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced .ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ----.....--- natives of Mrica, who have radiated from the Congo Basin, and in birds, in the two Black Cuckoos (Cuculus (Surnieuloides) clamosus and Oxylo- phus serratus). The black and white Mopane Chat (Sciocincla arnotti) may be another instance, and the Ant-eating Chat (Myrmeeoeichla formi- eivora) of the dry west may well be an offshoot from it, much as is the case in mammals in the Banded Mungoose (Mungos mungo) of the bushveld and the Suricate (Surieata surieatta) of the southern more open area. Nobody has disputed the generic status of Suricata, Cynietis, Geoseiurus, and quite a number of other mammals peculiar to the Karroo and dry area to the north of it; and these consequently give an "age" to the area which may well be utilised in ornithology. To return now to the subject of colour markings, we find the Kalahari-frequenting subspecies, Drymodyta ehiniana frater, less heavily striped above than D. ehiniana ehlniana. D. subrufteapilla of the Cape Province is a dark and greyish bird, striped below in most forms; D. lais of the Drakensberg Admiral Lynes has found extends westwards, overlapping the range of subrufteapilla and is also striped below in the western area, but north-eastwards on the Drakensberg it is more buffy, heavily striped above especially on the crown, but not striped below; D. lais mashona of Southern Rhodesia and Zoutpansberg (Transvaal) is less striped above and only obscurely on the crown, while D. lais montieola of western Transvaal is still less striped above and has the crown uniform. A somewhat related species is D. ruftlata, which Lynes. has found has a wide distribution northwards to Southern and Northern /' Rhodesia, as well as from the Kalahari-like western Transvaal to Damara- land. It is a more rufous-coloured bird than the southern and eastern species (lais) just referred to. In the Ground Robins previously referred to, Erythropygia paena has completely lost the striping characteristic of its eastern congener, E. leueophrys. The latter, an eastern species, occupies denser scrub than the former and its habitat is consequently more restricted. In the south it is most heavily striped and darkest; farther north it becomes more buffy tinted and less striped, until in Southern Rhodesia it is much less striped and in Ngamiland hardly marked at all on the chest, this type extending apparently to the Cunene. The case of the Priniae apparently is another example. In mammals this tendency to disappearance of stripes and spots in the Kalahari is more apparent than in birds. What applies to the Kalahari as regards pallor of coloration applies only in part or not at all to the species found on the border of the Ngamiland swamps. Some are darker forms that have radiated south- wards, such as Afrieorys afrieanus ngamiensis. Others are pale there like the Kalahari related forms, but darker above in such cases as the Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) and a few others. There are three exceptions to the general rule as regards colour of western birds. The Black and Crimson Boubou (Laniarius atroeoeeineus) which is brilliantly coloured where other birds are inconspicuous; perhaps this is a "warning coloration," as it is a carnivorous species. The Pied Babbler (Turdoides hieolor), which is very conspicuously white, evidently through a tendency to albinism becoming a specific character, and the third is Calamonastes fasciolatus, which is buffy where its eastern Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 25

congener (stierlingt) is white below, an anomalous case which needs further investigation. As regards structural differences, the legs are longer in some Kalahari terrestrial species than in their congeners of the south. In some the shape of the bill varies according to the locality, such as the light bill in Sabota sabota sabota, as compared with the heavy bill of S. s. naevia, etc. In others the wing length is longer in birds from the Ngami Flats area, which I suggest is in adaptation to having to fly far for water. The conclusion one comes to after examining various geographical characteristics is that what applies to one or more cases does not by any means apply to all of them. Each species must be taken separately and compared with related species wherever possible in order to trace the origin of their characters. In some cases the differences are subspecific, in others specific, or even generic, much depending upon the adaptation of the species to its peculiar environment and the length of time this adaptation has operated. Isolation of forms also doubtless contributes much to the establishment of the characters. In a locality such as the Kalahari much can be learnt by further study, as the expedition was, after all, a brief one for the purpose of exploring so large a territory. The following brief summary of some of the racial characters of species will serve to illustrate some of the differences of interest: Afrotis afraoides, White-quilled Korhaan Afrotis afraoides centralis. Northern Karroo. Size largest, wing length, (J, about 295; barring above broadest, and colour darkest. Afrotis a. afraoides. Northern Orange Free State and Transvaal. Size smaller, wing length, (J, 280, tarsus 85; barring slightly narrower, colour dark. (Afrotis afra is a distinct species found to the south of Zuurberg Mountains, from Little Namaqualand to Bedford District. It has no white in the primaries.) Afrotis a. kalaharicus. Central Kalahari. Size the same, wing 280, but tarsus longer, 95; barring narrower (in 9 more so than in CS), but white on rump and wings more in evidence, and on the whole paler. Afrotis a. damarensis. Damaraland. Size the same, light bars above in breadth and colour much the same as in afraoides (more rufous), but wings and rump whiter and tarsus as long (95 mm.) as in kalaharicus. Afrotis a. etoschae. Etoscha plains. Size the same; paler in colour and more white all over above, on wings and rump more so than in damarensis. Afrotis a. mababiensis. Mababe Flats. Size the same as kalaharicus, but barring narrowest and more numerous and general coloration above darker. (See the photographs on Plate 1.) Sabota sabota, Sabota Lark Sabota s. sabota. Transvaal bushveld to Zululand. Small billed (culmen 13-14 mm.). Buffy tone above and below in coloration, spotting on chest conspicuous. Sabota s. bradfieldi. Philipstown, de Aar and Hope Town Districts. Stout-billed (culmen length 15 mm.). Darker above, whiter below, and very heavily spotted on the breast. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced 26 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Sabota s. sabotoides. Central Kalahari. Bill slightly heavier than in sabola (culmen length 14-15 mm.), not so stout as in bradfieldi or naevia. Very pale above and white below, the spotting on the breast inter- mediate between sabota and naevia. Sabola s. naevia. Damaraland. Stoutest bill (culmen length 16-17 mm.). Pale above but not so white below as in saboloides, and spots below small and fewer. Sabola s. waibeli. Etoscha plains. Long bill, but more slender (culmen length 16 mm.) than in naevia. Colour much as in sabotoides, not quite so pale above and white below, spots small and scattered.

Africorys africanus Africorys africanus africanus. Eastern Cape Province to Zululand. Very dark above, buffy rufous below; bill and hind claw longer. Africorys a. transvaalensis. Transvaal (east to west), northern Orange Free State and eastern Bechuanaland. More rufous above, variable below; bill and hind claw shorter. Damara birds are similar. Africorys a. grisescens. Southern Rhodesia. Paler than transvaalensis, but not so pale as desert forms; bill and hind claw about the same. Africorys a. ghansiensis. Western Kalahari. Paler than grisescens, but not so pale as pallidior. Africorys a. pallidior. Etoscha plains. Very pallid throughout, bleached to nearly white. Africorys a. ngamiensis. Ngamiland. Dark above, though paler than typical africanus, and shorter in length of bill and hind claw. This form is evidently related to the dark one of Angola (occidentalis) rather than the pale ones to the east, south and west.

Corypha spp., Clapper or Clappet Larks In this genus the forms are referable to species, owing to isolation having taken place. In the plateau area of the south occurs a large species (hewitti), which has only the outermost tail feather white, while in the low country of the south occurs a smaller species having white on the two outermost tail feathers (apiata) with another small species (fischeri) replacing it in the tropics, from as far south as Zululand, north- wards to the northern limits of the African fauna. The large plateau forms extend northwards to Transvaal and Damaraland, and the tropical species (fischeri) takes its place in N gamiland. In Ovamboland occurs a very pallid form (damarensis), which appears to be specifically distinct, but related to the tropical small form (fischeri) rather than the large plateau form found just south of it. In the case of the larger form (hewitti) the most rufous is found in Transvaal. In the Kalahari sandveld it is very pale, not so rufous as the one from Damaraland (deserti) , which is paler, however, than the Transvaal form (heuitti). In the case of the smaller forms, those from the south and higher ground of the tropics are darker than those of the tropical lowlands, but the Ngamiland form now discovered is much lighter coloured-though not so very pallid as the Etoscha plains form (damarensis). ,-z. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 27 ----_._----_...... _-- Phasianidae Perhaps the best illustration is found in the Partridges. In those of the open veld and those of the bush the effect is the same; in fact, the same effects are seen in all birds and mammals of local habitat and upon a wider scale in those of less restricted movement. In the case of Dendroperdix sephaena the eastern birds are smaller, the northern ones (within South Mrican limits) intermediate and the typical form of the Upper Limpopo valley the largest. The Zululand form is darkest and much vermiculated, the eastern Transvaal to Zambesi form much like, but smaller than, the typical western Transvaal form, which is rufous and buffy with much vermiculation below; the Chobe River form is more rufous above and in the tail, but less vermiculated; the Ngamiland less rufous, but vermiculated to about the same degree; while the Ovamboland form is palest and least vermiculated. In the case of Scleroptila gariepensis, which is related to, but specifically distinct from, levaillantii of the eastern escarpment, the typical form occurs in the Orange Free State and Transvaal plateau; that of the low country of Transvaal is much paler, and very much like that of Damaraland (those from the plateau are very much like those from near Etoscha Pan) ; but intervening we have a very pallid form in the Makarikari area (where the soil is a fine whitish silt), and another pallid form with less distinct markings in the central Kalahari sandveld. The distribution of this bird is discontinuous, so that the forms become somewhat isolated. In the case of the Swempie or Coqui Partridge (Ortygornis coqui) the darkest form (campbellz) occurs in Natal and Zululand, with the underparts heavily barred; the typical form (coqui) of the Upper Limpopo Valley to Matabeleland is quite as heavily barred as the eastern, but the upper parts are not so dark. In the Ngamiland form (vernayi) the barring below is much less than in any of the others, the general coloration paler. In Angola (angolensis) the barring below is narrow but numerous, whereas eastwards the barring is narrow but more scattered. Like other Partridges in this region, the Coqui does not appear to be continuously distributed, so that some isolation of characters may be looked for when more complete series become available.

THE N GAMILAND AREA The watered area of N gamiland is so widely different from the arid Kalahari from which it is sharply defined, that a discussion of some notable features observed is necessary. We have in this area an enormous extent of flat country, which becomes inundated from the north-west when the customary rains occur. Although river channels are to be noted, these are often obliterated by floods, owing to the general flatness, and extensive marshes then exist. Over a large part of the southern boundary of this area, such as at Ngami Flats and the south bank of the Chobe River, there is a low confining ridge to hold back the southward flow and raise the general water-level of the inundated area. On the northern side of this low ridge the soil is partly sandy, permitting water to soak through, even when there is no surface flow, so that the vegetation still receives water at its roots even in comparatively dry years. At Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

irregular intervals high floods occur, which fill all the channels with flowing water, such as the" lake river" which carries water from the Thamalakane River to the Ngami Flats; such flats, of which the Mababe Flats constitute another instance, then become large lakes. Despite the southern confining ridges of the Ngami Flats and Chobe River, there is one outlet to the south with a perennial flow, the Thamala- kane River, which is known farther south as the Botletle River, flowing into the Makarikari Lakes. There is also a valley near the junction of the Chobe and Zambesi Rivers that formerly carried water to the Makari- kari. In normal years little water flows as far south as the Makarikari Lakes by the Botletle River, and when the expedition was there after I left it, in August, water was found in pools only. Nevertheless, the water-loving bush birds-apart from really aquatic species-probably extend down the Thamalakane-Botletle River only to a limited distance, and the general boundary line of the swamped area is only slightly disturbed by this valley. Coming as these floods do from the north-west, the vegetation and fauna naturally follow the same course and extend to the border. Then to the east flows the Zambesi River, and, following its course upwards, much of the fauna finds its way into the ground occupied by the north- western fauna. It was most interesting to note how, as we proceeded from west to east along the northern border of the Kalahari, eastern species increased in number, though north-western ones were still in evidence. The briefest way of indicating this is by comparative lists: Eastern forms Western forms .- Dissodectes dickinsoni - Cerchneis t. ngamiensis ". Gypohierax angolensis v' Accipiter ovampoensis , Ortygornis coqui vernayi v Chaetopus adspersus '- Dendroperdix sephaena ,- Lissotis melanogaster " Streptopelia semitorquata australis v S. s. maxz"ma " Streptopelia ambigua ｾ＠ Vinago schalmui subspp. '. Hagedashia h. brevirostris -,' Lybius torquatus Centropus cupreicaudus . Halcyonopa alb. orientalis Turacus schaWwi Corythaixoides concolor palliceps Corythaixoides concolor chobiensis Poicephalus meyeri transvaalensis . P. m. damarensis -i Bycanistes hucinator " Protockus bradfieldi williaminae Phoeniculus purpureus angolensis c Rhinopomastus cyanomelas intermedius '" R. c. cyanomelas v Strix woodfordi Otus senegalensis intermedius Smithiglaux capensis ngamiensis , Crotema fossii fossii . Epicypselus horus finschi Corypha fischeri mahabiensis Psomophilus capensis bradfieldi ｾ＠ Psomophilus simplissima . Turdoides jardinei jardinei v T. hartlaubi Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 29

Eastern forms Western forms , Loidorusa tricolor annectans . L. t. ngamii v Phyllastrephus terrestris rhodesiae Chlorocichla fiaviventris occidentaHs 'v Hypodes cinerea cinereola v" M elaenornis pammelaina ater ./ Batis molitor I. B.pririt ./ Sciocincla arnotti1 , Saxicola torquata stooei v Cossypha he:uglini intermedius . C. h. subrufescens v Erythropygia leucophrys makalaka · Bradypterus brachypterus toogensis B. h. bedfordi ./ Chlorodyta fiavida neglecta ｾ＠ C. f. fiavida · Drymodyta galactotes galactotes \ D. erythrops lepe v Prinia mistacea affinis v Drydromas fulvicapilla dispar · Uromitris smithi Hemicecrops dimidiata Eressornis retzii retziil · Looiarius ferrugineus sticturus L. neglecta .,/ Chlorophone:us sulphureopectus similis ../ Parus niger Lamprocolius chalybeus sycobius .. L. nitens bispecularis -,' Lamprotornis mevesi v Chalcopsar australis • Anthodiaeta coUaris chobiensis N otiocinnyris ludovicensis ｾ＠ H yphanturgus ocularius , Amblyospiza albifrons maxima '. Serinus mozambicus subspp. Serinus angolensis subspp. ,_ Petronia superciliaris bororensis Amadina fasciata noomei Lagonosticta jamesooi v Rhodopyga senegala rendalli Uraeginthus a. angolensis Of special interest are the occurrences at the same places, or over- lapping, of Laniarius ferrugineus sticturus and L. neglectus at Kabulabula; the finding of Psomophilus simplissima at the same place, while the western form of the southern species was procured at N'kate, Maun and Mabeleapudi, whence there is every prospect of its crossing the range of the other species; the overlapping in distribution of the two species of Centropus, the western one extending south-eastwards to Zimbabwe and even farther east in Southern Rhodesia. Probably even more interesting forms occur there which we were unable to procure in the short time available and the limited radius of our operations. Certainly some of the species we procured were not known previously to extend so far east or west in thIS area, and the procuring of Turacus schalowi, Centropus superciliosus loandae and others throw a new light upon their distribution and introduce new names to the South African list of species and subspecies. Migratory birds procured The migratory species that enter this region for the summer months were not all secured, as we arrived in the region just about the time when they were migrating northwards or had already done so. Their occurrence is of little importance in the present discussion as compared with that of resident species, as the former do not reflect the effects of environment

1 Possibly of western origin on colour characters. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by 30 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM as much as the latter; but they may as well be enumerated here for other reasons. Migrants seen or procured in or near the Kalahari ./ Sphenarhynchus abdimii. Procured at Damara Pan on 17th April. v Nycticarax nycticarax. Procured at Kabulabula on 22nd July. \ Paecillanitta erythrarhyncha. Procured at Damara Pan on I6th April. v Cerchneis (Ticharnis) naumanni. Procured at Gaberones on I8th March. v Afl'axyechus tricallaris. Procured at Damara Pan on 18th April. • Philomachus pugnax. Procured at Damara Pan on I6th April. '<"Glottis nebularius. Often seen at Gemsbok Pan in May, and at Shorobe in June. v Eralia testacea. Procured at Makarikari on 17th August. , Pisabia minuta. Procured at Makarikari on 23rd-27th August. v Rhyacaphilus glareala. Procured at Maun, 3rd and 4th May; Shorobe, Ioth June; Kasane, 28th July; Makarikari, 12th and 18th August. Chlidanias leucaptera. Seen at Gomodimo on 1st April and Damara Pan on 17th April; procured at Maun on 2nd and 5th May. Chlidam'as leucapareia delalandei. Procured at Maun on 2nd May. Pseudacircus macraurus. Procured at Kuke on 27th March. , Cuculus gularis. Procured at Gaberones on 18th March. ｾ＠ Clamatar (Oxylaphus) cafer. Procured at Gaberones on 18th March. Lampromarpha cuprea. Procured at Kuke Pan on 22nd March and at Kaotwe Pan on 9th April. v Adamatarnis klaasi. Procured at Gaberones on 18th March. ｾ＠ Caracias garrulus garrulus. Procured at Marico on 6th March and seen at Gaberones a week later. '/ Caprimulgus eurapaeus. Procured at Gaberones on 1st March. " Nyctictypus rufigena rufigena. Procured at Gaberones on 15th March. v Sylvia communis communis. Procured at Damara Pan on I8th April. v Phyllascopus trachilus trachilus. Procured (but lost) at Lobatsi on 6th March. v Hirunda rustica rustica. Procured at Gaberones on 7th March, and at Kasane on 27th July. \< Hirunda albigularis. Procured at Damara Pan on 20th April. v Petrochelidan spiladera. Procured at Damara Pan on I6th April. "'. Lanioides minor. Procured and seen up to 28th March at Kuke Pan, \/' Enneactanus calluria. Procured and seen up to 28th March at Kuke Pan. Some Mrican migrants I half-expected to find in Ngamiland and on the Chobe River were noticeably absent and therefore presumably go farther north. These were: vNeatis cafra , Hirunda albigularis I.,Milvus aegyptius parasitus '" Cecropis cucullata vNyctictypus r. rufigena , Tchitrea plumbeiceps Cuculidae '<' Cinnyricinclus verreauxi

THE TIME FACTOR It must be apparent to students of any biological subject that the time factor is of primary importance. However much this may be apparent, it is not often expressed. This may be due to the difficulty of drawing up a time scale with mathematical precision. In palaeon- tology it is possible to do so, since the formations in which the fossils lie can be estimated to be "younger" or "older" according to their sequence in strata. In the living animals arriving at the estimates is Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 31 difficult-especially in birds, which have secured mastery of the air, are large enough to live through all seasons of the year, or even cycles of years, and as a whole show such widely different adaptations. Never- theless, if only each family were examined impartially, there is abundant evidence that could be utilised for estimating the age of species, i.e. the possible length of time during which the species have remained constant to the characters they now possess. The evidence of geology could be profitably compared with the characters and distribution of some very local forms to estimate the age of the species. It does not follow that because some "modern" species, like Thrushes, often show much local variation that there are not very old-established species amongst them. In the Thrushes in particular I feel convinced we ought to find some very material ･ｶｩ､ｾｮ｣･＠ that could be correlated. with geological ｣ｨ｡ｮｧｾｳ＠ .. I t can hardly be dented, for example, that the MIssel Thrush (Turdus V1SCZVOruS) and our Groundscraper (Psophocichla litsitsirupa) are related, the first occurring in Europe, the second in Africa; and since our Natal Thrush (Pseudoturdus guttatus) and the Chinese Song Thrush (" Turdus" auritus) are so extraordinarily alike in colour markings and the Tristan Thrush (Nesocichla eremita) is not far removed, except in insular adaptive characters, we may form an estimate of how their ancestral types must long ago have been more widely distributed than they are to-day. In the case of the Blackbirds and Ring Ouzels, too, we find kindred dark forms in Europe, Asia and America, the montane forms especially seeming to point to survival in restricted areas. In Mrica only one dark form (" Turdus" ludoviciae)-which may not be related to the dark forms of Europe and elsewhere-occurs in Abyssinia. The difficulty systematists have encountered in these Thrushes appears to be to allow for the importance of outstanding colour characters and at the same time for developments in structure and colour resulting from local conditions; and many have also been in error in attempting to force the species into as few genera as possible. Suffice to say, that the classifica- tion of the Thrushes is in great need of reconstruction. In application to the age of the Kalahari there is ethnological evidence to show that it has remained the same for a great period of time. Certainly there is no evidence to prove that the meteorological and fluviatile conditions there were any different many decades ago from what they are to-day. There probably have been great fluctuations in the rainfall, but, taken as a whole, around a mean, which has led to the establishment of a flora and fauna capable of surviving such trying normal conditions and extended periods of drought as are found in the Kalahari region. Bordered as it is by different geological and meteoro- logical conditions, and considering its situation geographically, it is to be expected that the fauna is partly intrusive, and partly extrusive from the most arid centres. The inward radiation might be recent, but the outward would be of strictly adaptive forms-taking ages to develop. These specially adapted forms would find refuge during long droughts in the more propitious conditions on the borders that are, in part, the same as in the arid region of their origin. Thus such types as the Black and Crimson Shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus), Pririt Flycatcher (Batis pririt), Monotonous Lark (Mirafra passerina), Sabota Lark (Sabota sabota), Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by 32 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ｆ｡ｷｮｾ｣ｯｬｯｵｲ･､＠ Lark (Anacorys africanoides), Marico Flycatcher (Bra- dornis mariquensis), Smith's Ground Robin (Erythropygia paena), Barred Bush Warbler (Calamonastes jasciolatus), Bar-breasted Wren Warbler (Prinia jlavicans), Ashy Tit (Parus cinerascens), Bower Finch (Ploce- passer mahalt), Scaly-feathered Finch (Sporopipes squamifrons), Red- headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala), Larklike Bunting (Fringillaria impetuana) and Pied Babbler (Turdoides bicolor) may be regarded as species that have evolved in this arid tract and radiated outwards to greater or lesser distances. Such birds as the Rufous-eared Warbler (Priniops ocularia), the Chat Flycatcher (Agricola infuscatus), White- quilled Korhaan (Afrotis afraoides) and a few more, may be of Karroo rather than Kalahari origin, while most of the other species are intrusive from the west or north. Where subspecies are concerned, it is to be expected that there are many which display the same effects. Even these must have taken a long time to evolve, though of less utility for estimating the age of the territory concerned. Most of them are intrusive, some extending widely over the continent and having other subspecies. It is to the endemic genera and species that we must look therefore for evidence of age of the territory. There are no genera of birds confined to the territory, its fluctuations in rainfall perhaps rendering this less likely to occur than in species or subspecies; yet this may be evidence of the limits of the period under which the Kalahari has remained the same. If this be so, then we must conclude that the fauna of the west, with so many generic types, must be much older in establishment than that of the east, where there are fewer endemic genera, and that the Kalahari fauna between the east and west is more recent still, because it can show only endemic species and no distinct genera. It is probable that the period of the establishment of the species starts from some geological change. It has been stated by some geologists that the swamped area of Northern Rhodesia and Ngamiland, which now finds an outlet over the Victoria Falls, at one time flowed farther south and found an outlet by way of the Limpopo River. If this is correct, it seems probable that the present central Kalahari was formerly not as dry as it now is and the change produced varieties that eventually became established as distinct species. Certainly some species radiate from Angola diagonally south-eastwards even to Swaziland via the Limpopo valley. Only the terrestrial birds could have intruded from the treeless Karroo, and as the typical species enumerated above are mainly arboreal and few are related to eastern species, we may conclude that they must have evolved from some stock from the north- west (Angola), which again shows some affinity to that of the north- eastern dry regions bordering the deserts of northern Africa, now cut off by the moist belt between the Congo Basin and Tanganyika coast. We have some evidence of the former existence of a dry belt probably extending northwards east of the Congo Basin, by the presence in mammals of the desert-frequenting Gemsbok, which is closely related to the Oryx of the north, and Dikdik, and in birds in our Ostrich (Struthio australis) and Scaly-feathered Finch (Sporopipes squamifrons), which are now cut off in the same way from their northern congeners. In fact, quite a number of these species typical of the Kalahari have Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 33 congeners in the region just south of the Sahara, with a great geographical gap between them.

DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERS OF FORMS Recent intensive study of geographical variation of species has gone a long way towards a clearer understanding of the status of forms and the possible lines of evolution of species. Nevertheless, in some quarters it is still claimed that these variations are of little significance, and there is still a reluctance to accept the names applied to such variations. When we find the finest degree of refinement applied to average variations in settled countries of the northern hemIsphere, and then find well- founded African varieties-recognisable on even single specimens- rejected and put into synonymy by the same authors, we cannot avoid the conclusion that individual, institutional or national viewpoints have influenced such rejections. Nevertheless, these described forms are usually quite sound, otherwise the authors responsible would not have named them, and the racial characters usually have some significance. The long series which it was possible to compare from the definite route followed by the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, with the long series in the Transvaal Museum from other localities, furnishes abundant evidence of the existence of far more varieties than was previously suspected. We can no longer state that a certain variety is found merely in the" Kalahari." Frequently there are different varieties in the north, south, east or west of that area, owing to the differences of ecological conditions prevailing on all the borders. Moreover, when we are thus able to compare material from beyond the borders of such areas, we discover differences that would not have been otherwise suspected, and we develop an entirely new outlook upon the question of geographical variation. In studying any large group of animals we find that the degree of variation differs amongst species. The variation, if there is any, may be slight in one species over a very large area, whereas another species may vary wherever there is a difference in soil, vegetation, climate or even proximity to such different conditions of environment. In some birds differences are seen only in one sex or even at one season. Some become affected in size or length of limbs, or in shape of bill or wing or other points of structure, and colour markings, besides shades of colour, become affected in even such a comparatively small area as the Kalahari and its adjoining territory. Sometimes such characters are only subspecific, in others definitely specific in status; a hard and fast rule cannot be laid down as to whether the forms are of either status until evidence has been forthcOlning. Owing to so many forms that were formerly classed as species under the conservative binomial system having been proved to link up, some authors have too hastily jumped to the conclusion that all such geographically separated forms must link up. Some have contended that where there are geographical gaps, even if the forms actually do not link up to-day, they must have done so formerly and are therefore still only subspecies J This line of argument will hardly commend itself to anyone looking farther back into the palaeontological periods when many of the existing forms had not yet 3 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Reproduced by 34 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM developed and to whom a time scale is important. Such authors, in following the same line of argument, unnecessarily reduce to subspecific rank insular forms which cannot possibly link up. All such reductions of rank should be based upon evidence, not hypothesis, since science demands proofs, not arguments based only upon analogies. Turning now to the results of the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition's work, we are presented with some problems which remain to be explained as they do not fit in with recent conclusions, and the overlapping of species in distribution is sometimes remarkable. For example, a specimen of the recently described wagtail of Angola, Motacilla ( Pso- mophilus) capensis simplissima Neumann, was procured at Kabulabula, while an allied subspecies (bradjieldi) of the Cape Wagtail was found at Mabeleapudi, Maun and N'kate. Although simplissima was named as a subspecies of capensis, the difference in colour markings (a spot on the middle of the breast in place of a bar) is specific. Another example is that of the Bush-shrikes of the genus Laniarius. At Maun only one form was found, but at Kabulabula I obtained both this western one (neglectus) and the eastern (1. sticturus). Closely allied as these two species undoubtedly are, this overlapping seems extra- ordinary; but-if one is to judge by earlier conclusions of Hartlaub and Bocage-this seems also to occur in Angola and elsewhere where the eastern and western forms of these Shrikes can meet in consequence of their habitat extending uninterruptedly across the continent. For some time I have observed-from the accumulation of evidence -that in certain areas species have evolved and become sufficiently well defined to radiate far from their point of origin into the territory of the other allied species without interbreeding, and even eventually forming a new set of subspecies. One such evolutionary point is the southern and south-western Cape Province, its species radiating north- wards to varying distances according to the suitability of the nature of the veld. Another such point is the north-east African plateau area, whence some of its forms radiate southwards on the east, perhaps overlapping the southern forms at some points along their range. Again, the Angola area is seen to have species of its own, sufficiently well defined to hold their own when radiating into the territory of allied forms to the east. The difficulty most systematists have encountered in trying to reconcile such overlaps seems to be to change their theories about distribution. Where the species are well defined there is of course no difficulty, but when it comes to placing those of similar colour patterns that overlap in distribution, then they encounter difficulties. Everyone knows how much alike are the Cisticolae and Pipits and how hard they are to identify. In fact, of foreign systematists Admiral Lynes seems to be the only one who has gained a real insight into the case of the Cisti- colae, and this knowledge was only acquired after expenditure of a small fortune in personal exploration in the field. But this is not the only case requiring close study, and I am convinced that quite a lot of the dicta of northern workers on Mrican birds will be upset when the species have been more closely studied. Not only have we in the present collection evidence of overlapping in the Laniarius Shrikes, Wagtails, Pipits and Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 35 Red-capped Larks, but probably there are others as well, the collection here dealt with being by no means completely representative. Certainly, I have recently found Nilaus brubru and N. nigritemporalis in the same area along the Pongola River in north-eastern Zululand, and we have recently ohtained Calamonastes stierlingi in Leydsdorp district, Trans- vaal, while C. fasciolatus occurs in the same type of veld only a little to the west, and there is no evidence that they link up. Such cases are not accounted for by migration or even local restlessness. In the case of hirds with more clearly defined characters we have no less than three species of Coucals (Centropus) occurring on the Chobe River, one representing the north, one the east and the other the west, the last extending much farther south-eastwards into the Limpopo Valley and the eastern one extending apparently much farther westwards in Northern Rhodesia. This is surprising in view of the little difference between them in colour and the similarity of their voices. Then again there is the case of the Glossy Starlings: at Zwiezwe River I procured Lamprocolius nitens bispecularis and again at N'kate and in Southern Rhodesia between Victoria and Beitbridge. In the Mababe Flats and on the Chobe River I procured L. sycobius, which was indistinguishable from bispecularis in the field. It occurs southwards to the Limpopo River, whence there is a specimen in the Transvaal Museum collection taken by myoId friend, the late Thomas Ayres. These two species are undoubtedly closely related and differ but little in colour. It may be said that there is little interest in some of the cases quoted, as their overlapping distribution was already known; but in others this was not known, and the existing systems are at fault in the reduction of some of the species to subspecies. Going heyond the area here heing dealt with we find many forms formerly regarded as species reduced to subspecies unnecessarily and contrary to evidence. Thus Prinia hypoxantha of the Drakensberg is not apparently a subspecies of maculosa of the Karroo; nor is Hemipteryx major (of which mystica is a suhspecies) shown to be a subspecies of H. textrix. Amongst other birds Pternistis swainsoni cannot possibly he regarded as subspecies of afer, as Bowen has placed it, nor is there evidence to show that castaneiventer links up with humboldti and the latter with afer. In the course of the treatment of each species more cases of like nature will be mentioned. If we attempt arbitrarily to force the nomenclature to fit theories and take no cognisance of facts, we shall be hampering the progress of science and continue to be behind the times in ornithology in comparison with other branches of zoology. We cannot ignore the fact that in areas like Damaraland and southern and eastern South Mrica there are some very distinct genera about which there has never been any equivocation, such as Lanioturdus, Chaetops, Promerops, Geocolaptes, Euryptila, and Steno- stira; yet there is still a tendency to ignore such genera as Anthobaphes, Hemimacronyx, Petranthus, Notopicus, Agricola, Chersomanes and others which render assistance in judging the age of the regions where they occur. In the same way the existence or otherwise of links between species is too important to justify careless lowering of the status of species to subspecies. In other words, more is to be gained by a search for a true reflection of the status of forms by means of the nomenclatural 3-2 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted under licence Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

system, than by arbitrarily making species subspecies because the forms occupy different territory or by objecting to the use of more genera. It must be recognised that there are not only subspecies, but also species, genera and even families peculiar to certain territories. I have therefore, in the following account of the birds collected on this expedition, retained the classification proposed in my "Review of the Classification of South African Birds" (cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. VIII, pt. IV, pp. 187-272, 1922), with such emendations as have since been found necessary.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS COLLECTED

Order RATITAE Family STRUTHIONIDAE Struthio camelus australis Gurney

Ibis, p. 253, 1868; P. L. Selater, T.Z.S. IV, p. 354, 1860; Bartlett, P.Z.S. p. 205,1860: Cape Colony. 3 rSrS, Kuke and Gomodimo; 3 ¥¥, N'kate. Sechuana name, "Mpwe." These specimens mayor may not be ty.{>ical, as there is no definite full description of the Southern Ostrich. In nammg it, Gurney merely referred to the distinctions given by P. L. Selater (I.e.), who again referred to a paper by Bartlett (I.e.), who stated that the eggs were smaller, very much smoother and less deeply pitted, the granulations in some specimens being nearly evanescent. He further stated that he had "reason to believe that the southern bird is the larger in size." In a footnote is added: "Three fine birds of the Southern Ostrich arrived at the Gardens from the Cape," and" The most noticeable difference observable in the living birds are that the naked skin in the Cape examples is bluish (not reddish) and the neck thickly feathered, the top of the head being also covered with hairlike feathers. In the Barbary bird the top of the head is bare." Schonwetter (Om. Monatsb. p. IS, 1927) has figured the pore marks ofthe Ostrich eggs. W. L. Selater (Fauna S. Afr. Birds, IV, p. 525, 1906) gives a brief descrip- tion, but states, following Salvadori (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. XXVII, p. 575,1895), that australis has "no distinct white band (at the commencement of the feathering of the back, where, however, are scattered some whitish feathers)." In all three of the males collected there is a distinct white band at the com- mencement of the feathers of the neck. Two adult males in the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria-both from the Cape Province-are similar. The descriptions leave the impression that the head and neck are nude; but both are covered by tufty down, with short bristles projecting, and the bare areas are confined to a nearly complete circle around the ears (the coverts forming a ring of stiff bristles inside this bare area), a bare line extending forwards from the gape in front of the eyes to the nostrils and thence back- wards a little way towards the forehead (leaving a patch of coarse bristles projecting forwards behind the culmen, and a narrow row on each side), a Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 37 semicircular line extending beside the inner border of rami of mandible, and an isolated nude area about 50 mm, in length on the upper throat, The eye- lashes and bristles of lores are black, and the bristles and tufty down of the head and neck are dirty white, The feathers of lower neck and body black, wings and tail white (in some cases mixed with black), No note was made of the colours of skin when the birds were shot. The bones having been removed, no measurements of the tarsi and toes can be taken in the skins, but I note the following measurements, which it has been possible to take of the three males: Length of claw 65, width 28, height 28; 77 x 28 x 28; 80 x 30 x 26, Bill from the gape 127; 140; 140, Hard apex of maxilla 63'S x 14-16; 71'S x IS; 67'S x 16-17, Hard apex of mandible 25 x 17'5; 25 x 14'5; 25 x 15-16'5, One female (No, 2939) is dark brown, about the lower neck dirty light brownish to white, some feathers with dirty white tips giving a mottled appearance, Lower feathers on front and back of thighs white, Inner-wing plumes mainly white, the white decreasing outwards and centred along the shaft, Some of the middle tail feathers also white at the base and others at the tip, Head-down browner than in males, No, 2938 is similar, but No, 2940 differs in being lighter brown in the old feathers, tail rather whiter, but feathers over neck and back not albinistic, Dimensions of these females are: Claw 54 x 27 x 27; 53 x 26 x 27; 66 x 27'S x 27, Bill from the gape 140; lI8; 128, Hard apex of maxilla 55x15; 62X16; 64x13-14'5, Hard apex of mandible 23 x IS; 22'S x 14-16'5; 24'S x 12'5-14'5, Prof. Dr J, E, Duerden (Bull, No, 3, Dept, of Agriculture, Union of South Mrica, pp, 15-16, 1919) gives the average of 20 South African eggs (domestic) as 5'92 x 4'92 in, (= 149 x 124'3 mm,), and of 43 of camelus (domestic) as 6'15 x 5'35 in, (= 155'8 x 135'5 mm,), It will be seen from these figures that my figures are in close agreement, and that the Southern Ostrich has rather more oblong eggs than the northern, His comments upon the experiments carried out in crossing camelus and australis are of considerable interest, since they were found to interbreed in the first and subsequent generations, pro- ducing fertile progeny, The experiments had not been carried out for a sufficient length of time to prove whether a degree of infertility was present or not; but on the evidence he produces it seems clear that the characters of the two are well defined, One point of importance has been missed in his com- ments-in which he assumes that all the forms may yet prove to link up- namely, that australis and molybdophanes show the same characters of (I) absence of a bald patch on the crown, (2) colour of skin, and (3) pitting of the eggs, whereas massaicus has these characters as in camelus, Since the distribution of australis and molybdophanes is separated by massaicus, one may safely assume that australis and molybdophanes may be only subspecifically related, whereas massaicus is not and becomes a subspecies of camelus, In birds colour is of importance in phylogenetics because eyesight plays so great a part in their existence; and antipathies arise unconsciously where inter- breeding is concerned when the colour of the races are markedly different. If left to themselves, instead of being thrown unnaturally together, the probabili ty is that the camelus and australis Ostriches would keep to themselves and not interbreed, A few eggs were procured by Mr Vernay, but not being accessible cannot be measured for this paper, Six from Gomodimo and Kaotwe that have been engraved with various crude patterns by Bushmen that I have had for ex- amination measure: 157 x 130, 146 x 123'5, 145 x 121'5, 148 x 127,146 x 126'5, lSI'S x 128'5, average 149 x 126, In six eggs from Zambesi River, Kalahari and Transvaal in the Transvaal Museum collection, dimensions are much Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced .ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

the same, maximum and minimum, 158 and I46'5 x 126 and I2I'5, average 152 x I25. Struthio camelus camelus eggs according to Schonwetter measure 152'5-17I'5 x 125'5-136'5, average I56'5 x 134. In the wilds of the central Kalahari a few were seen as we travelled westwards, but none near Gemsbok Pan, nor northwards until we reached the Mababe Flats, where they were sometimes to be seen from the road. All the specimens were procured by the hunting parties, either by Mr Vernay's or Mr Lang's (at N'kate). Order COLYMBIFORMES Suborder PODICIPES Family PODICIPIDAE Poliocephalus ruficollis capensis (Salvad.) Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova (2), I, p. 252, 1884: Shoa. 16, Maun; 16, ＱｾＬ＠ Mochaba River. Wing length 97-101. Although the Thamalakane and Chobe Rivers are suited to Dabchicks, they were seldom seen. Order CICONIIFORMES Suborder STEGANOPODES Family PHALACROCORACIDAE Microcarbo africanus africanoides (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 57,1836: "New Latakoo" (i.e. southern Bechuana- land). 566.499, Maun; 266,399, Shorobe; 3 66, 499, Kabulabula. Of these, 1 9 from Maun, I 6 from Shorobe, and 1 6,299 from Kabulabula are completely black, several more are nearly completely black and the rest are more or less mottled, in some hardly at all black, below. As sexed their dimensions are: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 1066 :ZX5-234 147+-166 35-38 29'5-33'5 II ｾｾ＠ 200-217 149+-165 33-37 28 -32'5 Gyldenstolpe (Ark. Zool. 19 A, I, p. 96, 1927) (who states that the type of eoronatus is a synonym of africanus, although having the tail only I35 mm. I), Bannerman (Birds Trop. W. Afr. I, p. 41, 1930) and Friedmann (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. No. 153, p. 14, 1930) all follow the lead of earlier writers in synonymising africanoides with afn'canus, despite my showing that it is re- cognisable, Latham (Syn. Birds, III, pt. 2 (VI), p. 606, 1785), who described the bird as the" Mrican Shag" (whence Gmelin, Syst. Nat. r, pt. 2, p. 577, 1789, latinised it as Peleeanus afrieanus), stated that the tail had 12 feathers, and was 7 in. (= 177 mm.) in length. South Mrican birds do not approach that tail length, being well under 170mm. Fleck(J. am. p. 379,1894) records 170 mm. for one. The type was originally in the British Museum, but seems to have been lost; but the type of africanoides is still there. Bannerman (I.e.) Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 39 quotes the tail length as 160-191, clearly indicating its greater length in the nominate form. As regards coronatus, specimens from Lamberts Bay not only have much shorter tails and larger feet, but also narrower black margins on the feathers of the upper parts, much narrower than in africanoides which has them narrower than in pictilis of Madagascar, which is recognised by all the above-mentioned writers. This was the only Cormorant found in Ngamiland, but it was common on the Thamalakane and Chobe Rivers, where fish abound, spending a great part of its time perched on snags, or branches of trees, or reeds over the water. Evidently the breeding season was not far distant, judging by the organs examined and the advanced stage of the breeding plumage.

Family ANHINGIDAE Anhinga rufa rufa Lacep. and Daud. Buffon's Hist. Nat. (Didot ed.), Amadr. XIV, p. 319, 1802; Ois. XVII, p. 81, 1802: Senegal (ex Daubenton, Tabl. Pl. Enlum. p. 107). 200,2 Maun; I

Family PELECANIDAE Neopelecanus rufescens (Gm.) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, p. 571,1789: West Africa. 10, Mochaba River. This specimen was procured by Mr Vernay's party. I saw a Pelican at Shorobe and took a long shot at it with the Mauser rifle, but failed to secure it. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated licence granted by the Publisher Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Suborder ARDEAE Family ARDEIDAE Ardea cinerea cinerea L. Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 143, 1758: Sweden. 1<;1, Tsotsoroga Pan; 1<;1, Mochaba River. Dimensions: wing 435-440, tail 173-175, culmen 106-112. Fleck (J. Orn. p. 386, 1894) records one from Nukana, wing 468, tail 202. The Grey Heron was only occasionally seen on the Thamalakane River, very shy and difficult of approach. The one secured at Tsotsoroga Pan was alone and perched on a tree overlooking the pan. It breeds in South Mrica, but no difference between Mrican and European birds has been detected as yet. Ardea melanocephala Vig. and Child Denham and Clapperton's Travels, II, App. XXI, p. 201,1826: near Lake Chad. I <;1, Geluk, Kroonstad; I <;1 im., Naboomspruit; 1 6, Pietersburg. The Black-headed Heron was not observed in Ngamiland and only observed in the Union at the places where it was secured. Adult male, adult female and immature female measure, respectively: wing 412,395,387; tail 170, 158, 150; culmen 100,97, 100. Ardeomega goliath (Cret2Sch.) Riippell's Atlas, p. 39, pI. 36, 1826: White Nile. 1 6, 3 <;1<;1, Maun. Dimensions (6 and 3 n, respectively): wing 605, 580-590; tail 230-235 ; tarsus 225-238; culmen 173-189. The Goliath Heron was not common, but conspicuous by its size. It was usually seen singly, standing in the shallows or veld bordering the marshes, in situations difficult of approach except by canoe, so that all were shot with either '303 rifle or '22 Morris tube. More were seen in the big open shallows at Shorobe than anywhere else, but none were secured there owing to other more desirable birds being seen at the same time. Bannerman (I.e. p. 62) places this Heron under Typhon Rchb., genotype A. sumatrana Raffies; but since Mathews has pointed out (Birds Amtr. III, p. 418, 1913) that Typhon and Ardeomega are not synonymous, it seems wisest to adhere to the latter's view. Pyrrherodia purpurea purpurea (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 236, 1766: "In Oriente" (France). 6 66, 1

The Purple Heron was common on the rivers, and to be observed in the shallows, veld near the water, or in reed beds. Casrnerodius albus rnelanorhynchus (Wagler) Syst. Av. Additamenta (last page), 1827: Senegambia. 1<1, Shorobe; 1<1, Kabulabula. In both specimens the bill is yellow and long plumes are present, indicating the approach of the breeding season. Dimensions: wing 375 and 396, tail 163 and 163, tarsus 153 and 17o,culmen lI5 and lI5. About a dozen Great White Egrets were seen in the shallows at Shorobe and perched conspicuously on the tops of trees on the banks of the river; but they were very shy. At night they went to roost, with a host of other Herons, Cormorants and smaller birds, in an insular patch of reeds. Egretta garzetta garzetta (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. r, p. 237, 1766: "In Oriente" (= Malalbergo, north-east Italy). I <1, Kasane. Dimensions: wing 282, tail 98, tarsus lIO, culmen 93. The Little Egret was only observed at Kasane, though doubtless occurring widely in Ngamiland. Bubulcus ibis (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 144, 1758: Egypt. I <1 and I

Matatiele is in full breeding plumage (12th December, 19II), wing 204, tail 76, tarsus 55, culmen 59. There appears to be a progressive increase northwards, Bannerman giving the following figures for a dozen specimens from tropical West Africa: wing 198-231, tail 76-90, tarsus 60-68, culmen 57--69. The name of Ardea senegalensis Gmelin would seem to be available for West African birds, but there is none for southern ones. Some confusion seems to have existed in regard to the status of A. idae of Madagascar. It has been recorded from various localities in Africa, but Sclater, who gives it sub specific rank, gives its distribution as Madagascar only. Now Friedmann (I.e. pp. 22-5) has shown that both species occur in Madagascar and in Africa. The Squacco was found on the Thamalakane as well as the Chobe Rivers, but I failed to secure specimens at Maun, owing to its shyness. It was not common on either of these rivers, usually solitary and skulking in reed-beds, when not feeding in the weeds in the shallows. Butorides striatus atricapillus (Afzelius) Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Handl. Stockholm, xxv, p. 264, 1804: Sierra Leone. I cJ, I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabulaj I cJ, 3 ｾｾＬ＠ Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Culmen 185-186 64-66 169-177 59-ill·5· These average larger than West African birds: Bates (4) wing 170-177, tail 65, culmen 61--62; Bannerman (25) wing 162-182, tail 62-67, culmen 60--65. On the other hand those from north-east Africa seem to be still smaller: Friedmann (5) 167'5-178,63--66,57-61'5. As will be seen from the above records, Green-backed Herons were procured only on the Chobe River, and I did not observe it on the Thamala- kane River. It usually perches in the willows growing in or over the water and is solitary in habits, though a pair may sometimes be startled from the same tree. It was otherwise seen in the weed- and rush-covered shallows, doubtless its feeding grounds. Erythrocnus rufiventris (Bund.) Oefv. Kong!. Vet.-Akad. Forh. Stockholm, for 1850, p. IIO, 1851: Mooi River, Potchefstroom. 2 cJcJ, I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; 3 cJcJ, Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen 2 1 5-226 74-'79 58-66 200 72 58 Only one, very wild, Rufous-bellied Heron was seen on the Thamalakane River; but it was not rare on the Chobe River. The examples procured were invariably found in the weeds and rush-covered shallows, and were solitary, betaking themselves to the shelter of the marshes beyond the fringe of reeds on the opposite bank when startled. Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 142, 1758: Europe. I cJ im., Kabulabula; I cJ, Makarikari Lake. Dimensions: wing 278 and 285, tail lIO and II2, culmen 72'5 and 67. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 43 ------_.. _-- Only solitary individuals of the Night Heron were observed at Kabulabula, perched for the day inside willows overhanging the water. As a rule, they flew out with a clatter on the opposite side of the tree when startled, rendering a shot almost impossible. The fact that they were solitary seems to indicate that they were abnormal individuals left behind by the northern migrants. In the southern Cape Province, however, they are resident and breed in September!. These southern birds may therefore yet prove to be separable from the northern upon comparison of long series. Ardeiralla sturmii (Wagl.) Syst. A. Aves, No. 37, 1827: Senegambia. 1 5 juv., Gaberones. This specimen of Dwarf Bittern was shot on the Metsimatlaba River and the species was not seen again in the north. Ixobrychus payesi (Hartl.) J. Orn. p. 42,1858: Casamanse River. The African Little Bittern was seen on several occasions on the Chobe River, after having been startled taking shelter in reed beds, whence all our efforts to get a view of it failed. It was heard uttering a harsh crackling note on one occasion before settling and again in the reeds.

Family SCOPIDAE Scopus umbretta bannermani C. Grant Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. xxxv, p. 27,1914: Mt Leganisho, Kenya Colony. 1 ｾＬｌｯ｢｡ｴｳｩ［＠ 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Mabeleapudi; 15, Tsotsoroga; 15, Kabulabula. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen cJ 303-316 155-158 69--73 81-85 !f 297-306 152-157 69-73 80-82 The Hamerkop was not common anywhere. Only one was seen at Maun, but not procured. Another was seen flying over my head and away from the water-hole at Kaotwe, whence it had been scared by a member of the party. It flew eastwards and was evidently a stray one, as the great Kalahari was the last place where one would expect to see this bird.

Suborder CICONIAE Family CICONIIDAE Ciconia ciconia ciconia (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 142, 1758: Sweden. 15, Gaberones (1st February). This White Stork was procured by members of a party that went in advance to dump provisions. None were seen later. Sphenorhynchus abdimii (Lcht.) Verz. Daubl. p. 76, 1823: near Dongola, Sudan. 1 ｾＬ＠ Damara Pan, 17th April.

1 In 193 2, I had infonnation of their nesting in the Orange Free State and outside Johannesburg in October and December, respectively. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 44 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM Individual White-bellied Storks were seen from time to time, but not secured. At Kuke about a dozen were in the habit of coming to a half-dry water-hole. The one procured was caught in a trap set for jackals at a carcass. The species was not seen again, and probably this one was a straggler from those that had already gone northward. Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis (Shaw) Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. v, p. 35, pI. 33,1800: Senegal. I 0', I ｾＬ＠ Maun; I ｾＬ＠ Shorobe. Dimensions, male and females, respectively: wing 670,625,630; tail 265, 257, 263; tarsus 264, 239, 225; culmen 334,303,282. The beautiful Saddlebill Stork was seen singly from time to time in the shallows bordering the Thamalakane River, but seldom allowed one to approach within range. The last specimen was observed to be dancing about amongst some short rushes, as though alarmed by something at its feet; but this ceased as I approached it in a canoe and I suspect it was merely playing. Colour of bare parts noted were: legs black; feet and" knees" pink; patch on crop, where exposed, crimson scarlet; bill red, with a black band in front of the "saddle," which is yellow; a small yellow wattle on side of throat; iris yellow; eyelids black, bordered by red. Leptoptilos cr1lllleniferus (Lesson) Traiti d'Orn. p. 585, 1831: Senegal. I 0' (? ］］ｾＩ＠ y. ad., I ｾ＠ ad. Maun; I 0' im., Mochaba River; I 0' im., I ｾ＠ im., Mababe Flats; I 0' ad., I 0' y. ad., I 0' im., I ｾ＠ im., Tsotsoroga; I 0' im., Kabulabula. Numbers of Marabous were attracted by carrion in Ngamiland, but the great majority were not yet in adult plumage, of which we were anxious to procure specimens. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Ad. d' 69 0 250 Ad.<;J 620 215 1m. 620-720 225-270 Ibis ibis L. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 241, 1766: Egypt. I 0', Geluk, Kroonstad. Dimensions: wing 517, tail 190, tarsus 218, culmen 243. This rare migrant, the Wood Ibis, was not met with in the Kalahari nor Ngamiland, doubtless by then having migrated northwards. Family PLEGADIDAE Theskiornis aethiopicus aethiopicus (Lath.) Index Om. II, p. 706, 1790: Ethiopia. I ｾ＠ im., Geluk, Kroonstad; I 0' im., I ｾ＠ ad., Maun; I ｾ＠ im., Kabulabula; I 0' ad., I 0' im., I ｾ＠ im., Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Ad. d' 395 105 177 Ad.<;J 360 95 147 1m. 360-380 102-11 I 158 - 182 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 45 Only solitary individuals of the Sacred Ibis were observed at Maun and Kabulabula. At Kasane they were also solitary, but foregathered on the rocks at the rapids. Hagedashia hagedash brevirostris Rchw. Om. Monatsb. p. 147, 1907, juv.: Cameroons. H. h. guineensis Neum. Omis, XIII, p. 194, 1904, ad.: ｾｩｧ･ｲ＠ (cf. Bannerman, Birds Trap. W. Afr. p. lIS, 193 0 ). 16, I

Family PLATALEIDAE Platalea alba Scopoli Del. Flora et Fauna Insubr. II, p. 92,1786: Luzon==Cape of Good Hope. 266,2

Suborder PHOENICOPTERI Family PHOENICOPTERIDAE Phoeniconaias :minor Geoffr. Bun. Soc. Philom. I (2), No. 13, p. 98, pl., 1798: Senegal. 6 juv., Makarikari Pan. This Flamingo was found to have nested in the Makarikari Pans, broken shells being still found lying about the nests and the young birds being secured in the neighbourhood. Adult birds were too wild to secure, even with the rifle. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Order ANSERIFORMES Family ANATIDAE Thalassornis leuconotus Eyton Monogr. Anat. p. 168, 1838: South Africa. 10', Maun. Dimensions: wing 163, tail 52, tarsus 34, culmen 47. The White-backed Duck was only once observed nine miles above Maun, a small flock of half a dozen being found in the shallows, from which this one was dropped. Spatula capensis (Eyton) Monogr. Anat. p. 135, 1838: South Africa. I ｾＬ＠ Geluk, Kroonstad. Dimensions: wing 218, tail 73, tarsus 32, culmen 60. The Cape Shoveler was not seen in Ngamiland. Anas (Afranas) undulata undulata Dubois Om. Gall. I, p. II9, pI. 77, 1837: Cape of Good Hope. 3 eM, Kwai; 30'0', Maun. Dimensions: wing 235-251, tail 88-95, tarsus 34-36, culmen 54-61. The Yellow-bill was not uncommon on the rivers, being found in small parties up to a dozen in number. Most were seen in the shallows at Shorobe, where scores were seen together with other Ducks, but out of reach of the guns and unapproachable in the canoe owing to the shallowness of the water. Notonetta capensis (Gmelin) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, p. 527. 1789: Cape of Good Hope. 40'0', 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Makarikari Pan. These were all taken after I left the expedition, on 28th August; but were not observed in Ngamiland, which seems to point to their having been else- where on migration. Micronetta punctata (Burchell) Travels, I, p. 283,1822: Zak River, Fraserburg, C.P. 1 0', Geluk, Kroonstad; 2 0'0', Mochaba River; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; ｉｾＬ＠ N'kate. The Hottentot Teal was found in the shallows in pairs on the Chobe River, one female having an egg in the oviduct. This egg is cream coloured and measures 42'5 x 31'7 mm. Paecilonitta erythrorhyncha (Gmelin) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, p. 517. 1789: Cape of Good Hope. 10'. Geluk, Kroonstad; 20'0', ｉｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 10', ｉｾＬ＠ Damara Pan; 10', I ｾＬｍ｡ｵｮ［＠ 10', Kwai; 20'0', I 'f, Kabulabula; 10',2 n im., N'kate. Dimensions: wing 207-222, tail 74-90, tarsus 30-35, culmen 47-53. The immature specimens have the top of the head light grey-brown, the neck paler and brown mottling below smaller. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 47 ---._.---.._-- The Red-bill was by far the commonest Duck in the Kalahari and Ngami- land. It occurs in all the larger pans near Gaberones as long as they contain water, and even in Damara Pan, which filled about the time of our arrival. Evidently it was migrating northwards about this time, as we found it very common on the waters of Ngamiland.

Dendrocygna viduata (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 2°5,1766: Cartagena, Venezuela. 50-0-, Maun; 10-, I Cjl, Kasane. Dimensions: wing 223-240, tail 59-71, tarsus 47-52, culmen 45-53. Next to the Red-bilI, this White-faced Duck was the commonest Duck in Ngamiland, particularly on the Thamalakane River. It was seen in flocks of from six to twenty in the shallows and flying up or down the river.

Nettapus auritus (Boddaert) Tabl. Pl. Enlum. p. 48, No. 770, 1783: Madagascar. 20-0-, 2 CjlCjl im., Maun; 40-0- ad" I 0- im" 2 CjlCjl, Kabulabula. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Ad. 0- 156- 165 64-'72 22-24 24-26 1m. 0- 152 63 21'5 22'5 Ad. ｾ＠ 158-165 69-73 22-23'5 23'5-24'5 1m. ｾ＠ 142-148 53+-56 + 22-22'5 21'S-22'S The beautiful Dwarf Goose was found in pairs, threes and fours on the Thamalakane River, and in pairs, up to four pairs sometimes consorting together, on the Chobe River, It was not uncommon, but shy, when approached in a canoe, skimming away along the river, with a gentle squeeky note, for some distance and then settling again. It kept to the margin of reed-beds in deep water rather more than other species, but was at times disturbed in the shallows, where it was probably feeding.

Sarkidiornis melanonotus (Pennant)l Ind, Zool, p, 12, pI. XI, 1769: Ceylon, 10-, ｉｾＬ＠ 10- im" Maun; 10-, Tsotsoroga. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Maun: ad. 0- 372 120 57 58 im.O- 340 + II8 58 59 ad, ｾ＠ 275 II5 47 50 Tsotsoroga: ad. 0- 358 125 55 60 Pairs of the Knob-bill and sometimes three or four together, were seen on the Thamalakane River, and again on the Chobe River flooded flats, but they were shy after the first shots had been fired and could not ｴｨ･ｲ･｡ｦｴｾｲ＠ be approached within range. The one procured at Tsotsoroga Pan was a solItary bird that halted there in passage.

1 Bannerman (Birds Trap. W. Afr. I, p. 157. 1930) finds no difference between African and Indian specimens to justify the use of the subspecific name of africanU$ for our birds. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Alopochen aegyptiacus (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 197,1766: Egypt. I ¥, Maun. Dimensions: wing 380, tail 140, tarsus 68, bill 49. A flock of eight Egyptian Geese was seen in the shallows above the drift at Maun and after repeated efforts the one specimen was procured. Others were seen also at Shorobe, but were unapproachable in the open shallows. A solitary individual was also seen on the rocks at Kasane rapids. Plectropterus gambensis gambensis (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. p. 195, 1766: Gambia. I ¥ juv., Maun; 1<3 juv., Kasane. The Maun specimen was moulting from very worn plumage. The under- parts and inside of wings are pure white and the face and throat white flecked with brown; the rest of the plumage dull brownish in the old feathers, the few new feathers blackish with a strong green gloss on the scapulars. The bill and legs were light brown. The Kasane specimen has a general colour of more or less brown, whitish about the face, dull buffy white from the middle of breast to under tail-coverts, flanks brownish; head and neck dark brown, back partly glossy blackish; wings as in adults, white underneath, on the edge and a patch on the shoulders, the quills dark brown, secondaries and coverts glossy green with a slight violet sheen. The Maun specimen was solitary, although it may have been a member of a small flock of about ten seen at the same place a few days previously. Every day flocks varying from six to a dozen might be seen flying up or down the river, or somewhere along the shallows or banks some distance away from the village; but it was not easy to get within range, and shots fired at them at long range had no apparent effect. Spurwings are notoriously tough and nothing short of AAA shot will bring them down. The one procured at Kasane was shot with' the Morris tube '22, and was one of a flock of a dozen standing about in a flooded flat.

Order FALCONIFORMES Family SAGITTARIIDAE Sagittarius serpentarius serpentarius (Miller) Icon. Anim. pI. 28, 1779: Cape of Good Hope. I ¥, I <3, Mababe Flats. Dimensions: wing 630, 650; tail 435 and 400, with long feathers 705 + . -854; tarsus 295, 320; culmen 47,51; crest 170, 120+. Both are in rather worn plumage. The majestic Secretary-bird was seen from time to time on the road at the start of the expedition, but not in the sandy districts of the central Kalahari nor until we reached the neighbourhood of Ngami Flats, where a few were seen at a distance, and again in the Mababe Flats, where the two specimens were procured. Several were observed at N'kate, Makarikari. At the Mababe Flats more were seen than elsewhere, but it was not as common as in the Union. From the nature of its habitat it is hard to procure. Selater does not recognise any subspecies, but Bannerman (Birds Trap. W. Afr. I, p. 165, 1930) recognises the northern birds, which have broader and paler crest feathers, under the name of gambiensis Ogilby. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 49

Family AEGYPIIDAE Pseudogyps africanus (Salvad.) Nat. Star. R. Accad. Torino, p. 133, 1865: Sennar. I,? ad., I 0' im., Mochaba River; I '? ad., Mababe Flats; 2 Tsotsoroga; I ,?, Kachikau. The immature male has not yet assumed the white back and is browner than the adults. One female from Tsotsoroga is much whiter below than the others and may be younger, as it has much the same dimensions as the immature male. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 41 ｾ＼ｪ＿＠ 607-627 265+-275+ 9<>-95 47-50 8" 585 265 + 95 47 10' im. 580 260+ 95 49 The White-backed Vulture of the savannahs takes the place of the Cape Vulture of the mountainous districts of the south, nesting in trees instead of kranses. Several nests were discovered in occupation near Tsotsoroga Pan. One was situated at the top of a large knobthorn tree about 60 ft. from the ground. The natives could not scale this tree but Mr V. FitzSimons eventually did so, procuring an egg from it. This egg was on the point of hatching and attempts to rot the contents for extraction proved futile. The second nest was situated in a tall mopane tree near a pan, the bird being scared from it when I fired at an Eagle that came down to drink. Next day I returned with a rope, but found the broken shell below the nest. Most probably it had been destroyed by Bateleur Buzzards, which haunted the neighbourhood, during the long absence of the Vulture after its scare. Both nests were about 2 ft. in diameter, consisting of platforms of sticks with smaller sticks and some straw in the centre. No subspecies are recognised in current literature, although Baron von Erlanger named three, schillingsi, fullebornei and zechi on differences in shade of colour, which are shown to be largely a matter of age and state of wear of the plumage; but the wing length of the northern birds recorded by von Erlanger and Bannerman goes to show that they are shorter winged than the southern, not exceeding 600 mm., whereas four of the six recorded above exceed this, namely, 607-627 mm., average 614. If found to be admissible these birds would be referable to P. d.. fulle- bornei Erl. It was also seen in the Kalahari, attracted to carcasses of big game shot by NIr Vernay's party.

Torgos trachellotus tracheliotus (Forst.) Levaillant's Reise Afr. III, p. 363 (German ed. 1791): Cape Province. I 0', I ?, Mababe Flats; 3 0'0', 1 ¥, Tsotsoroga Pan. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 0' 7I5-725 340-375 125-I35 68-70 ? 743 365 I3 0 68

The discontinuous distribution and reputed differences between the northern and southern forms seem to be indicative of specific status, but I follow previous procedure for the presentl •

Trigonoceps occipitalis (Burchell) Travels, II, p. 329. I824: near Kuruman. 2 ?, Mochaba River; 3 iSiS, Mababe Flats; 2 iSiS, Tsotsoroga Pan; I is, N'kate. Dimensions: wing 6I0-640, tail 263-285, tarsus 95-IIO, culmen 48-54. This handsome White-headed Vulture was the commonest species and found throughout our journey, being attracted to carcasses of big game left exposed for a few hours. There are no subspecies recognised in literature, but it may be noted that Friedmann records the wing length in seven adult specimens as 547-590 mm., for specimens from north-east Africa; whereas these eight are considerably larger, and Bannerman also records the wing dimensions of nine specimens (presumably from West Africa) as 620-660, indicating the possibility of the existence of races.

N ecrosyrtes monachus pileatus (Burchell) Travels, II, p. I95, I824: Hope Town District, C.P. 4 iSis, 2

Family FALCONIDAE Hierofalco biarmicus biarmicus (Temm.) Pl. col. livr. p. 55, pI. 324, 1825: Kaffraria. I is im., Geluk, Kroonstad; I

1 Fuertes (Abyssinian Birds and Mammals, painted from life, published by the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 1930) shows the folds of skin on the sides of face and neck in an Abyssinian specimen that are reputed not to be found in the northern birds. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Ad, ｾ＠ (=d') 324 160 42 19 1m, d' 313 170+ 43 19'5 Ad, ｾ＠ 340 185 41 21 1m, ｾ＠ 335-341 188-195 42 20'5-22 The Kuke and Gomodimo specimens of the Lanner were procured while they were raiding Quelea Finches and Doves that were coming to drink at the ｷ｡ｴ･ｲｾｨｯｬ･ｳＮ＠ The adult male was killed by one of the natives with a stick while it was attempting to take a rat from a trap, Chicquera ruficollis daviesi Roberts Ann. Trans. Mus. VIII, p. 2II, 1922: Windhoek, ｓｯｵｴｨｾｗ･ｳｴ＠ Mrica. I ¥ im., Gemsbok Pan. Dimensions: wing 232, tail 151, tarsus 35, culmen 15'5. This specimen of the Rufous-necked Falcon is changing from juvenile to adult plumage, some of the feathers of the former (rufous-brown barred) still retained on the breast. This is the second specimen I have seen in this changing plumage, which goes to prove that the immature birds are not without bars on the middle of the breast, and the types of horsbrughi (shot at a nest) are therefore not referable to ruficollis. The somewhat short dimensions also confirm the immaturity of the specimen. C. ruficollis should not be made a subspecies of C. chicquera. This specimen was shot at a pan, where it was evidently in wait for Finches coming down to drink. Another was seen at the same time, but it made off and was not seen again, although I returned to the pan on a number of occasions in the hope of procuring it. Cerchneis tinnunculus ngamiensis Roberts1 1 ¥ ad., I ¥ im., Motlhatlogo; 1 ¥ ad., Mababe Flats; 1 c! ad. (type), Shorobe. Most like C. tinnunculus carlo Hartert and Neumann (J. Om. p. 592, 1907) from Bissidimo, Abyssinia; but differing in the male in having less spotting above and the head grey, only very finely streaked on the shafts of the feathers; in the female, less heavily striped below. As compared with C. t. rhodesi Davies (Ibis, p, 620, 1920), Motopo Hills, Southern Rhodesia (type in Albany Museum), much darker, and averaging rather larger, especially in the female. C. t. rupt:cola of the south is not so heavily barred above and striped below in the female, always has the head broadly striped on the shafts in the male, and is of about the same size. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen C. t. rupicola, I2 d'd't 235-245" 147-160t C. t. rhodesi, 2 d'd' 220,220 133-I38+ C. t. ngamiemis, I d' 230 140 C. t. carlo, 10 Sd' 223-237 146-164 C. t. tinnunculus, d'd't 234-256 158-168 C. t. rupico/a, 9 n 240-258 145-164 C. t. rhodesi, 2 ¥¥ 235-241 145,145 36-36'5 13'5-15 C. t. ngamiensis, 3 ﾥｾ＠ 244-257 153-161 36-37 14'5-15'5 C. t. carlo, I ¥ 233-258 153-178 38-42 14-16 C. t. tinnunculus, 12 ｾﾥ＠ 245-263 175-180 14-15'5 • One 248. tOne 167. :t: Bannerman, Bds. Trop. W. Afr. I, p. 2II. 1930. 1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 27, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by 52 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

The disparity in size and colour in the sexes in this Kestrel is greater in ngamiensis than rupicola, so much so that when I procured the male I mistook it for naumanni, owing to the inconspicuous stripes on the head, smaller spots on the back and mantle, and smaller size. It was not until I compared the specimens in the Museum that I realised my mistake. The species was seldom seen, a small party of them being first encountered at Lake Ngami, a pair being seen at Shorobe and another pair on the Mababe Flats. Cerchneis t. rupicola Daudin Traiti, II, p. 135, 1900: Cape of Good Hope. I ｾ＠ (? 6 im.), Gabane Hills, Gaberones. Dimensions: wing 242, tail 156, tarsus 37, culmen IS. I am not sure about the identity of this specimen, as it is sexed as a female, but from the banding on the tail and smaller spots above, I think it is an immature male. This southern form varies quite as much in size as the northern rhodesi, and extends to the mountains of southern Transvaal. Cerchneis (Megacerchneis) rupicoloides (A. Smith) S. Afr. Quart.]. I, p. 238, 1830: Groen Rivier, Little Namaqualand. I 6, Lobatsi; I ?, Gaberones; I 4>, Metsematluk; I!jl, Kuke; 2 66, 7 n, Gemsbok Pan; 16, I ｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; I ｾＬ＠ N'kate. . The great majority of Great Kestrels secured appear to be young birds, with no barring on the flanks and somewhat worn plumage. The largest is the most heavily barred. Dimensions: wing 268-290, tail 153-176, tarsus 40-46, culmen 15-18. This bird was found throughout the route we followed except in the mopane veld; but most plentifully at Gemsbok Pan, where there were many haunting the vicinity of the settlement and an aerodrome. They prefer the more or less open country, perching on the peak of large trees, whence they can obtain a wide view of the surrounding veld. They feed very largely on Orthoptera and other insects, but also occasionally upon small mammals and birds. Cerchneis (Tichornis) naumanni naumanni (Fleischer) Laurop and Fischer's Sylvan, p. 174, 1818: South Germany. I 6, Geluk, Kroonstad; I 6 ad., 161m., Lobatsi; 161m., Gaberones (18th March). Naumann's Kestrel is common in South Africa during the southern summer but before the end of March has departed northwards, so that we did not find it in the Kalahari. Dissodectes dickinsoni (P. L. Sc1ater) Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 248,1864: Chibasa, Shire River, Nyasa. I !jl, Tsotsoroga Pan. Dimensions: wing 226, tail 143, tarsus 31, culmen 17. This specimen of the Grey Kestrel was amusing itself, from time to time, by swooping at a Roller at a pan and the Roller likewise chasing the Kestrel in turn. It was very shy and after pursuing it round and round the pan for more than an hour I at last tried a long shot \vith AAA in the '410 and brought it Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 53 down. A pair was also seen flying away when we were on our way to the Zweizwe River, another pair at Kazinka and a single bird on the Chobe River. At Kazinka they were attracted by a grass fire and one was hit, but escaped. Milvus aegyptius parasitus (Daudin) Traite, II, p. 150, 1800: South Africa. I (j! im., Gomodimo (3rd April). This specimen of the Egyptian Kite was procured by a member of the expedition accompanying the hunting party, and it was doubtless a straggler from the northward migration. I did not see this Kite, either in the Kalahari or Ngamiland. . Elanus caeruleus caeruleus (Desf.) Hist. Acad. Roy. Paris, p. 503,1787 (1789): Algiers. A few Black-shouldered Kites were observed on the Mababe Flats, but never allowed of approach to within 100 yards, and no specimens were secured. Aquila rapax rapax Temminck Pl. col. livr. 76, pI. 455, 1828: South Africa. I a, Gomodimo; I a, 10 miles south of Machumi Pan; I a, Motlhatlogo; I a, Toten-Maun road; 2 aa, ｾｬ｡｢｡｢･＠ Flats; ｬｾＬ＠ Mochaba River; I tj? (=a), Kachikau. Dimensions: wing 493-513; tail 250-275; culmen, without cere, 37-40. The Tawny Eagle was more plentiful than any other of the larger Eagles, usually to be observed perched on a look-out post on the top of a high tree. It was not observed with prey in its talons, but it was attracted to carrion at times. At Gomodimo I observed a party of five, which I took to be Vultures until my shot (unsuccessful) put them to flight. Mr Vernay procured one the same day, in very fine plumage. One procured at Ylotlhatlogo was concerned in a little trage!1y mentioned hereafter.

Afraetus wahlbergi (Sundwall) Otifv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. Stockholm, p. 109, 1850 (1851): Western Transvaal. 1

Nisaetus spilogaster (Bonaparte) I a, I

Cuncuma vocifer vocifer (Daudin) Traiti, II, p. 65,1800: Keurboom River, C.P. 46'6', 1 ?, Maun; 16' (? ¥), Kachikau; Z 6'6' (1 ¥), 1 ¥, Mochaba River; 1 ¥ ad., Z 6'6' (? im., 16' im., Kabulabula. The Maun specimens sexed as males are consistently smaller than two adult females from elsewhere, which makes me doubt the sexing in four other cases. Bannerman has shown that northern birds are smaller than southern ones and applies to them the name of C. v. clamans, which Sclater has not admitted. The following table of dimensions bears 'out Bannerman's figures: Wing Tail Culmen North Africa 6'6' 470-525 192-214 38-40 North Africa r;1r;1 480-550 207-233 39-43 Maun 46'6' 530-540 220-235 37'5-39 Mochaba River 1 6' 510 230 38 MochabaRiverI6',I<;?(=2<;?<;?) 570-585 250-260 44-43'5 Kachikau 16' (=<;?) 605 275 42'5 Kabulabula 1 <;? 565 245 44'5 Kabulabula 1 6' (=<;?) juv. 585 275 42 Kabulabula 1 6' (:= r;1) im. 580 265 + 42 Kabulabula 1 6' im. 525 225 + 38 Specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection confirm this difference in size, as also Friedmann's published dimensions (l.e. p. 68), The specimen in the United States National Museum from" Greece" was probably from South Africa. This beautiful Eagle was very common on the Thamalakane River, its loud calls and conspicuous white plumage being quite a feature of the pleasures of boating there. The Boer children there called it "Jannie, jaag-die-kalwe- kraal-toe" (Johnnie, drive the calves to the kraal), after its wild notes, which resemble a woman shrilly shouting that command. Many of their huge nests of sticks were seen in the giant trees along the river, and one was in occupation at Shorobe; but they were too difficult to get at, and no amount of bribing would induce natives to attempt to get to them. Although accustomed to tree climbing-I must have climbed hundreds of trees on this expedition-the nest at Shorobe was beyond me. Gypohierax angolensis (Gmelin) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 1, p. z5z, 1788: Angola. I ¥ juv., Tsotsoroga. I did not see this rare Vulturine Eagle, and the specimen was shot by Mr McArthur at the pan, where it was found in company with the Hooded Vulture, perched on the tree-tops. Buteo vulpinus (Gloger) Abiind. Vag. dureh Einjl. d. Klimas, p. I4I, I833: Mrica. Z 6'6', I ¥, Gaberones (1st February). The female is pale and the males are dark; one male has the tail mottled, while the other male and the female have it barred. Dimensions are as follows: Tail Tarsus Culmen 6' (mottled tail) 205 69 21 6' (barred tail) 193 69 19'5 r;1 (barred tail) 198 73 22 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence 56 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

These Buzzards were obtained on the first dumping trip. By the time the main expedition reached Gaberones these birds, which are common in mid- summer, had departed northwards.

Accipiter (Hieraspiza) minullus tropicalis Rchw. J. Om. p. 139, 1898: East Africa. I tS ad., I ｾ＠ juv., Kabulabula; 1 ｾ＠ ad., Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen <1 143 IIO 39 9 ｾ＠ 156 128 41 10'5 ｾ＠ juv. 156 128 40 10 Subspecies of the Little Sparrow-hawk have been variously treated by authors, and latterly Friedmann (l.c. pp. 74-5) has rejected all of them, though giving the West African erythropus specific rank. Material in the Transvaal Museum goes to show that southern birds are different from tropical ones in being darker glossy black in adults, more reddish on the flanks in males and yellow on the under wing-coverts in young birds. I met with the Little Sparrow-hawk in the bush on the Chobe River, where it was fond of taking its post in big trees on the motor road, whence it could dart at small birds that came into the open. It is remarkably quick in flight, seizing its prey in its talons and disappearing with it in a flash through the trees. When perched it is so inconspicuous that one can only see it with difficulty, and usually one's first apprisal of its presence is its sudden dash- away, swift and dodging, through gaps in the trees, that renders shooting well-nigh impossible. Accipiter ovampensis Gurney Ibis, p. 367, pI. vi, 1875: Okavango River. I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 250, tail 184, tarsus 52, culmen 14. The rare Ovambo Sparrow-hawk was only seen on two occasions, on the Chobe River. The first specimen was quietly perched inside one of the willow trees, and I was unaware of what it was until handling it. The second flew into a tree while Dr Ballantine and I were canoeing up the river. We approached cautiously and it dashed in and out around the tree, as though it had some special interest there, eventually darting off across the river, two barrels from our guns failing to touch it. Although widely distributed from eastern Transvaal across to Ovamboland, and thence northwards to Gold Coast hinterland and Abyssinia, it is poorly represented in colleCtions and subspecies are not recognised. A. ·hilgerti Erlanger from Gallaland is reputed to be founded on a melanistic specimen.

Nisastur badius polyzonoides (A. Smith) Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pI. ii, 1838: north of 26° S. lat. I ｾＬｇ｡｢･ｲｯｮ･ｳ［＠ ItS, Gemsbok Pan; I ｾＬｍｯｴｬｨ｡ｴｬｯｧｯ［＠ I ｾＬｉ＠ ｾ＠ im., Maun; ItS im., Kabulabula. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus 1 <1 ad. 176 135 41 3Wad. 19 1- 197 150-1 57 40-43 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence .ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 57 Some authors regard this form as a distinct species, but the concensus of opinion appears to indicate that it is not. The Gaberones specimen is practically topotypical. I met with the Shikra near pans at Gaberones and Gemsbok Pan, but not in the central Kalahari. It appears to await small birds which come down to drink in the heat of the day. The female procured at MotlhatIogo was seen to carry away something in its claw" (a young Dove) and settle in a large matted isolated thorn tree, but before I could reach it a Chanting Goshawk swooped down. The Shikra dropped its prey to the ground and skipped into the tangle of thorns above; but at the instant the Chanting Goshawk attempted to pick up the young Dove, it saw a Tawny Eagle which haunted the place, sweeping down from the skies and, with shrill screams of alarm, also took refuge in the thorn tree. The Tawny Eagle saw me, swept round the tree and settled on a stump on the side opposite the Dove, where I was able to get a shot at it with the Morris tube. The Chanting Goshawk was so terrified that it allowed me to get within range and I secured it first and then the Shikra. The Dove had been taken from a nest. As a final event in this tragedy, Mr Lang consumed the roasted squab! Melierax musicus (Daudin) Traite, II, p. II6, 1800: Cape Province. ＱｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Kuke; I ｾＬ＠ Kaotwe Pan; ｉｾＬ＠ Okwa River; ｉｾＬ＠ I ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; I ｾＬ＠ I ｾＬ＠ I ｾ＠ juv., Motlhatlogo; I ｾＬ＠ Mababe Flats. These specimens show some slight variation in respect of the width of the bars below and greyness on the wings, but the upper tail-coverts are white in all of them, in some cases with a few faint bars on the tips of the feathers just above the white bar. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾｾ＠ 330-358 Z3Z-z5z 88-<}5 I9-ZI ｾ＠ 360-380 z55-z63 9Z-IOO Z0-22 The maximum figures are slightly exceeded in specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection: wing, ｾ＠ 362, ｾ＠ 392; tail, ｾ＠ 268. Authors have differed in attempting to reduce species in this genus to lower status, but Sclater has correctly placed them. lV!. musicus, poliopterus coombsi and metabates mechowi all occur in Zoutpansberg District. The Chanting Goshawk was the commonest Hawk in the Kalahari, in- dividuals or pairs being seen all along our route. They are usually seen sentinel on the top of trees or sailing over the veld like Harriers in search of prey. They are rather sluggish and appear to subsist mainly on lower vertebrates and insects, otherwise taking young birds from nests or robbing smaller Hawks of their prey. They breed in Transvaal in midwinter. In the north I saw only the Mechow's Goshawk, although Mr Vernay's party secured one in Mababe Flats. Melierax metabates mechowi Cabanis. J. Om. p. 229, 1882: Melandje, Angola. I ｾＬｚｷ･ｩｺｷ･＠ River. Dimensions: wing 295, tail 200, tarsus 79, culmen 18. Several Mechow's Goshawks seen at Tsotsoroga Pan, but the shooting there seemed to have put them on the qui vive and I could not get within Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 58 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

range. I saw what I took to be the same species some distance off the road when travelling towards the Chobe valley, but did not meet with it again thereafter. Micronisus gabar (Daudin) Traite, II, p. 87,1800: South Mrica. I 0' ＨＺＺＺＺＺｾＩ＠ im., Lobatsi (2nd February); I 0' ＨＺＺＺｾＩＬ＠ Gaberones (niger); I ｾＬ＠ I 0' juv., I 0' ( ＺＺＺＺｾＩ＠ im., Gemsbok Pan; I 0' juv., Mabeleapudi; I 0' (niger), 1 ｾＬ＠ Mothlatlogo; I ｾＬ＠ 1 ｾ＠ im., Toten; 1 0', Maun; 1 ｾＬ＠ Tsotsoroga; 1 0' im., Zweizwe River; I 0' (niger), Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 1 0' 193 ISS 44 12 4

Gymnogenys typicus typicus (A. Smith) S. Afr. Quart.J. I, p. 107, 1830: Eastern Cape Province. 1 ¥, Mann. Dimensions: wing 483, tail 320 +, tarsus 100, culmen 25. This specimen of the Banded Gymnogene is evidently just out of the immature plumage, as there is still a patch of light brownish on the rump, the grey feathers above are finely freckled and on the flanks the long feathers are Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 59

grey and finely freckled and rayed instead of being clearly barred. Sclater and some other authors recognise only two subspecies in Africa, but there appear to be four on the evidence of records, as indicated by Friedmann (I.c. p. 94), or three according to Bannerman (l.c. p. 301). I did not meet with this bird, the single specimen procured having been brought in by a native.

Suborder TURNICES Family TURNICIDAE Turnix lepurana (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. App. 55, 1836: north of Kurrichaine. 2 crcr, I juv., Kuke; I cr, IjuV., Gomodimo; I cr Ｈ］ｾＩＬ＠ 25 miles west of Damara Pan; I cr, Mabeleapudi. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 77"5-'79 34-37 17-19.5 10-12 85 39 19 10·5 This Button Quail was not uncommon in grassy flats throughout the Kalahari. A nest with three very much incubated eggs was discovered beside the lorries where we camped 25 miles west of Damara Pan on 21st April, which Mr Lang photographed. Curiously enough, we caught one of these birds when mouse hunting with lamps at this camp, about 200 yards away. Another nest was discovered at Kaotwe Pan by Mr van Son, on 10th April, with two extraordinarily marked eggs, which I have no doubt were also of this species, though the bird was not seen. The single egg which was saved of the former clutch is stone-grey, heavily covered with speckles and spots of yellowish to dark brown and purplish slate, the larger spots mostly over the obtuse end; dimensions 25 x 18·2. The latter clutch of two eggs was abnormally thin shelled, white with a dark brown complete ring round the top near the thickest diameter, surrounding a white centre and the rest of the egg from near the greatest diameter to the acute end immaculate. Only one egg is sufficiently well preserved to measure, 23·5 x 16·6. Both nests were hollows under tufts of grass and lined with fine grass. It has a penetrating, rattling, crowing note. The young birds with a wing length of only 50 mm. were quite able to look after themselves, flitting out of the grass, dashing away, dropping into the grass again and running off for some distance-quite like their parents, which often jumped up at the same time. Suborder GALLI Family PHASIANIDAE Ortygornis coqui coqui (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 55, 1836: near Kurrichaine, western Transvaal. I cr, Gaberones (17th December, 1929). Dimensions: wing 139, tail 70, tarsus 32.5, spur 9·5, culmen 18. This is a typical adult male of the Coqui Partridge with broad bars below. It occurs in the open thornveld and is most plentiful in the flats below the foot of the hills, where its call of "swempie, swempie, swempie" is often heard in the early mornings and evenings. It is most often seen late in the afternoon by motorists on the roads. This specimen was procured in this way when the first inspection trip was made by Mr Lang. Having no dogs, we procured none when camped in the neighbourhood, though we often heard them. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by 60 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Ortygornis coqui vernayi Robertsl 1 is (type), Tsotsoroga Pan; 2 iSiS, 1 is im., Mochaba River; 3 iSiS. I:? N'kate. (1) Colour: crown pale chestnut, lores, eyebrows and round the neck buffy yellow (cheeks flecked with chestnut in the type), and ear-coverts chest- nut. Chin and throat white to buffy below; beneath the buffy coloration is a collar of white feathers broadly barred with black, which spreads out over the chest, below which the bars become narrower and more scattered, leaving the middle of the lower breast nearly uniform; though the longer plumes pro- jecting down the sides are barred, those near the middle are spotted rather than barred; lower flanks, abdomen and under tail-coverts uniform buffy (in some specimens faintly barred). (2) This subspecies differs markedly from O. c. coqui in its paler coloration above, and narrower, on the abdomen and flanks more scattered, black bars below, the middle of lower breast and belly without bars. O. c. angolensis Reichenow has a profusion of narrow bars below, extending over the abdomen to the under tail-coverts. This Ngamiland form shows a closer resemblance to O. c. stuhlmanni Reichenow (J. Om. p. 17, 1892: Usegua), Tanganyika Territory, of which the Transvaal Museum possesses two specimens from Boror, but is much richer coloured, more buffy chestnut than buffy on the cheeks and to the hind neck; the lower parts buffy instead of yellowish white; greater wing-coverts nearly uniform greyish, flecked towards, and developing as bars over, the secondaries with rufous buffy; over the back, scapulars and inner secondaries marked with black patches; tail more rufous and throat white. (3) The Mochaba River specimens are more buffy than the type from Tsotsoroga and the four from N'kate. (4) The female from N'kate has the crown rather darker than in the male; black stripes are distributed along the centre of a broad light stripe that extends from eyebrow to nape and again from the lower part of the lores to below the ear-coverts and encircling the white gular patch. Below this circlet of the throat and round the back of the neck the feathers are not barred until the breast is reached, each feather dull rufous brown at the base, with a white shaft line and externally becoming greyish. The back is not so blackish as in the male and the dorsal stripes extend as pale shaft lines, broadening to the tips, over the interior wing-coverts and secondaries. The external base of the primaries is partly barred with rufous, so that the specimen may not be fully adult. (5) The immature male (wing II7, tail 52, tarsus 28, culmen 17) has no spurs and retains traces still of the juvenile plumage on the sides of the crown; the feathers of the back, scapulars and upper tail-coverts with long white shaft stripes, and outer margin of primaries white; otherwise it looks like an adult male and goes to show that the juvenile male is not like the female, as one would expect. The type figured by Sir Andrew Smith (Ill. Zool. S. Afr. pi. IS) as a male must therefore have been an abnormal female that had developed spurs. The bill is light brown on the dertrum instead of black. (6) Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen 136- 140 71-80 20-21'5 131 68 19 1 cr. Ann. Tram. Mus. xv, p. 21, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 61

Dendroperdix sephaena chobiensis Robertsl (Plate I, fig. 6) 4 eM, 5 Kabulabula; 2 (H, Kasane. Large like D. sephaena sephaena (A. Smith, Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 55, 1836: Marico River, western Transvaal), but paler and less vermiculated below, male with the tail redder, even the longer upper tail-coverts partly dark olive chestnut. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Cuhnen Spur 6 aa 163-168 90-98 40-43 :45-:47'5 11'5-17 4 ｾｾ＠ 148-157 (164) 8:4-9:4 (98) 35-42 24-26 Type: No. 2417, adult male, Kabulabula, 21st July. Dendroperdix sephaena mababiensis subsp.nov.l I ｾＬ＠ Mabeleapudi; I ｾＬｍ｡ｵｮ［＠ I ｾ＠ (type), I

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, pp. 21, 22, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 62 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

This specimen of the Orange River Partridge was procured on the dumping trip and is fairly typical of the form, which extends widely across the southern Transvaal and Orange Free State. It is a bird of open plains, where its shrill "crowing," sounding something like" Perrie-pirrie" repeated several times with a slight pause between each repetition, is a characteristic sound about sunrise and sunset. It is commonly found in coveys of anything from three to a dozen individuals.

Scleroptila gariepensis langi Robertsl

4 aa, I ｾＬ＠ N'kate. A very pale race, far less rufous above, greyer and the yellow paler than in S. g. pallidior Neumann (Bull. Brit. Om. Cl. XXI, p. 45, 1908) from south of Cunene River. Colour: Crown and nape very dark brown, with pale buffy margins to the feathers, bordered from across the forehead to hindneck by a broad, dull, buffy yellow stripe; lores white and a stripe extending thence downwards to below the ear-coverts, and another stripe above the eye, broadening behind the eye, to sides of neck, white flecked with black; the lower stripe becomes almost completely black below the ear-coverts and forms a band from there which borders the white gular patch in a semicircle; below the lores, at the corner of the mandible a small buffy yellow patch is isolated from the black and white stripe below the eye, but beyond the stripe, at the anterior part of the ear-coverts, uniform buffy yellow appears again, on the posterior part of the ear-coverts becoming greyish and below them forming a yellowish patch between the two descending black and white stripes. Back to tail, including the scapulars, brown to grey, each feather with a broad white shaft-stripe; the webs on each side of this shaft-stripe crossed by pale rufous to white bars, about five in number on the shorter and more on the longer feathers. The greater wing-coverts have only the shaft pale, the webs grey-brown, with very pale rufous bars. The primaries pinky at the base, dark grey-brown for the rest and lightly rayed or speckled with pale (almost white) marks, except at the tips; secondaries and their coverts somewhat similar, but with broad whitish outer margins; primary coverts more rufous, with more or less brown mottling and tips. Under side of primaries at the base and under wing-coverts, under surface of wing, paler and slightly mottled with pinky rufous. There are a few chestnut marks on the upper back. The patches of chestnut increase over the side of neck and become large and elongate marks over the breast and flanks. Below the black gular semicircle is a fringe of white to buffy, below this the feathers becoming buffy white with a slight showing of grey mottles, which disappear on the lower breast; between the chestnut marks of the flanks nearly uniform pale buffy. The lower flank feathers, as they lose the chestnut markings, become slightly mottled or barred with brown, the under tail- coverts nearly white, narrowly and sparingly barred with dark brown. As compared with S. g. pallidior of Ovamboland, the upper parts are very much greyer in general effect, and the yellow of the side of the head and under parts of bod are much paler in langi. The Transvaal Museum possesses specimens of 'or from Grootfontein, Omutako Flats, Quickborn Farm (north of 0 ) and Gobabis, and one of S. g. ludwigi Neumann (J. Om. p. 79,1920: Middelburg District, Transvaal) from Mooivlei Farm, north-west of Pretoria.

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 22, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Type: No. 2794, adult male, N'kate, northern Bechuanaland, 8th August, 1930. Dimensions: wing 175, tail 90, tarsus 37, culmen 28, spur 9. Mr Lang, whose party collected the series, has noted on the label of the female, "ovaries slightly enlarged; stomach contents mostly grass seeds and a few insects." This specimen is slightly darker above and more profusely rufous-spotted below than the male.

Scleroptila gariepensis kalaharica Roberts l

I c;? (type), Damara Pan, 21st April, 1930. Even more" desert-like" in respect of its bleached appearance than S. g. langi. The feathers above are less barred and greyer throughout, and below the rufous spots are smaller, fewer, present mainly on the breast, with only two or three spots on the flanks; the whole of the lower breast and abdomen practically uniform pale buffy. In place of the plentiful rufous marks on the chest there is more grey tipping on the feathers. The primaries are only slightly freckled near the pinky rufous base, and the specimen would seem therefore to be fully adult. Dimensions: wing 158, tail 75, tarsus 34, culmen 25. In all open patches, especially near pans, these birds were heard from Gaberones to Gemsbok Pan; but in Ngamiland it was never heard, and is reputed not to occur. At Gomodimo Pan it appeared to be common and Mr Vernay organised a drive to procure specimens, but although a covey was flushed and one was dropped, we failed to procure any. I also flushed a covey there and dropped one with the '410, but it got away. Captain Beeching frequently tried "walking them up" when the birds were heard calling, but only once with success at Damara Pan. With a good pointer dog, I have no doubt we should have obtained a good series; but we could not take dogs with us on account of the tsetse fly in Ngamiland.

Chaetopus adspersus (Waterhouse) Alexander's Exp. Int. Afr. II, p. 267,1838:" Great Fish River, Namaqualand." (This should read" Kuisib River," west of Walvis Bay, see p. II9 of the same volume.) 6 d'd', 4 c;?c;?, 3 juv., Motlhatlogo; 5 d'd', 3 2 juv., Motlhatlogo-Toten Road; 3 d'd', Toten; 2 d'd', 4 n, 2 juv., Maun; I c;?, Shorobe; 2 d'd', 5 n, Mababe Flats; I d', 2juV., Mochababa River; I d', 3 c;?c;?, I juv., Kabulabula; I d', I c;?, Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Spur 171-188. 95-105 45-50 19-::U'5t Il-23'5 27-3I'5t 156-174 80-95 16'5-19'5 • Two of 172 and one of 192. t Without cere. t With cere. De Schauensee has named the Ngamiland birds "Francalinus adspersus kalahari" (cf. Prac. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, XXXIII, p. 453, 1931) from Lake Ngami; but when comparing this long series and others from" Quick- born," Okahandja, and north-western Rhodesia in the Transvaal Museum collection, I was unable to distinguish any difference.

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 22, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

The series of young birds contains various stages from chicks newly hatched to nearly adult. The youngest specimen, No. II9I (24th May), has its primaries sufficiently developed for flight (wing 51, tarsus 16, culmen 10). The face is creamy coloured, with a black stripe behind the eye; the crown is rufous brown in the centre, blackish on the borders; nestling down below creamy buff, with obscure dark bases. White-tipped feathers are beginning to appear on the sides of breast. Above, with white shaft-stripes terminating in a white spatular mark on the upper part of wing, secondaries and scapulars on a grey, freckled brown ground; scapulars with a black patch on each side of the white shaft-stripe; tips of remaining wing feathers with a freckling or patchwork of buffy white on a mottled brown ground colour; tail like the wing. In the second stage (No. 884, Motlhatlogo, 12th May), a young bird that flitted into the lower branches of a thornbush when disturbed, the wing length is 71 mm., the colours the same, but feathers are more developed. In the third stage (No. 2495, Kabulabula, 23rd July) the head is the same, but feathers are complete in place of down on underparts of body, except the throat, and are greyish freckled brown, with white shaft-lines terminating in a spatulation. It measures: wing 93, tail 48, tarsus 23, culmen 16. In a fourth stage (No. 1014, Motlhatlogo, 17th May), the chin and throat are producing white feathers, the forehead and crown, cheeks and ear-coverts are dark brown, slightly shaft-striped or finely barred with white, the remaining plumage as in the previous stage: wing 123, tail 59, tarsus 24, culmen 18. Finally (No. 939, Motlhatlogo, 14th May), the juvenile is being displaced by the adult plumage, barred feathers displacing the spatular marked ones below but the mottled black and white shaft-striped feathers still partly surviving on the back and wings; the tail is now as in adults: wing ISS, tail 89, tarsus 43, culmen 23. Three clutches of eggs were taken. The first on Toten-Maun road, 18th May, six fresh , was photographed by Mr Lang; these eggs are rather pointed, light p brown in colour with white pore and chalk marks and measure: 46'5 x 33'7, 46'2 x 34, 4S'4 x 34'3, 4S x 33'5, 43.6 x 33'5 and 43'2 x 32'7. The nest in this case was a hollow filled with a few straws and leaves under some weeds beneath the shadows of a large tree in the forest bordering the road. The second nest was found at Maun on 23rd May in a similar situation. The clutch was of six eggs, slightly incubated. The eggs are much paler, creamy coloured with more white chalky marks, less pointed at the acute end and measure: 40' S x 32'7, 40'4 x 32.8, 40'2 x 32.8, 40 x 33'3, 39 x 33'3, 38'9 x 32'7. The third clutch was taken by Mr Vernay's party at Kwaai in June. The eggs are creamy yellow, with a few white pore marks, and measure: 42'1 x 33"2, 40·8 x 33'2, 40·8 x 32'8, 40.8 x 33'3, 40'S x 32'7. This Red-billed" Pheasant" was heard for the first time at Metsematluk, its harsh noisy cackling being unmistakable; but it was not seen, as we were then on trek. It was not heard again until we reached Mabeleapudi, where it was heard and seen but not procured. Along the borders of Lake N gami it was extraordinarily abundant, parties of as many as 10-20 being continually seen from the motor cars as we travelled along. They are fond of feeding in the open ground, and upon being alarmed race away with great speed for the shelter of the tangled thornbush. I found at a later date that natives startle them into flight and induce them to take to the trees by setting dogs at them; the birds are so accustomed to this that when one pretends to set dogs after them they take to trees in the same way. Skulking as they do in the matted vegetation, they are difficult to hit when they can be induced to take to flight. When running they are nearly as hard to hit, and few people wait for them to Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

take wing, as they are a serviceable addition to the menu. Without question it is the commonest game bird from Ngamiland to the Zambesi. Chaetopus natalensis natalensis (A. Smith) S. Afr. Quart. J. II, p. 48, 1834: Durban. I & ad" 3 juv" Gabane, Gaberones; loY. ad., Wyllie's Poort, Zout- pansberg (6th October). The very young ones are still in nestling down, face creamy yellow, with a black stripe behind the eye, crown reddish brown bordered with black; back mainly reddish brown, striped with blackish and creamy yellow on the sides, the wings mottled or striped with the same colours, tail mainly rufous brown; below yellowish, with a tinge of brown on sides of breast, thighs more rufous and with blackish mottling. Another specimen (wing 116 mm.) is half-grown and differs from the young of adspersus of the same age in being more rusty coloured on the breast and upper parts of body, wings, etc" but the character of the markings is much the same. This Natal "Pheasant" was plentiful in the bush-covered slopes of the Gabane Hills and was breeding about the time of our being there, January and February are probably the most favoured months for breeding in the neighbourhood. Pternistis swainsoni swainsoni (A. Smith) Rep, Exp. Expl. C. Afr, p, 54, 1836: Western Transvaal. I &, Zeerust (1st February); I &, Lobatsi (2nd February); 2 &&, Gaberones 1 'i', Molepolole; 10, Metsematluk, Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Spur 194-207 80-89 55-57 22'5-25 17'5-23'5 188 78 44 20'5 These are typical birds. A clutch of five eggs was purchased from a native on 8th March. They are pinky white to yellowish with some white pore marks and measure: 45'9 x 38'2, 45.8 x 37'3, 45'5 x 37'8, 44'5 x 37'5 (twice). Pternistis swainsoni chobiensis Roberts! Somewhat similar to p, s, damarensis Roberts (Ann. Trans. Mus, XIV, p, 238, 1931) in respect of the cheeks being paler and less coarsely striped and under parts of body with more clearly defined and thinner stripes, but less rufous tinged in general and smaller in size, P. s. damarensis has a larger bill than even swainsoni, namely, male 26'5-2TI, female 22'5-23, Type: No. 2414, adult male, Kabulabula, 21st July. Dimensions: wing 188, tail 68, tarsus 52, culmen 22, spur 18. To this form I refer a male from Caprivi Corner in the Transvaal Museum collection and the following specimens taken during the present expedition: I 'i', Motlhatlogo; I 'i', Maun (with 3 eggs); 2 &0, I 'i', Mochaba River; 1&,3 'i''i', Mababe Flats; 3 n ad., 1& juv., Tsotsoroga; 2 &&, 1& juv., 3 'i''i', Kabulabula; 2 &&, 1 & im., N'kate; 1 'i' juv., Zimbabwe. Dimensions: \ Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Spur 187-197 68-80 52-58 22-2.5 9-18 164-175 66-'75 43-48 18-23 9-18

1 Cf. Ann. Trans, Mus, xv, p. 23.1932. :; Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 66 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

ＭＭＭＮＭＭＮＭＭＭＮＭＭｾＮＭＭＮＭＭＭＭＭＭ .. ---.. ＭＭＭｾＮＭＭＭＭＭＮ＠ A clutch of three eggs brought to me by a native piccanin, with the hen from the nest, shows the egg too is smaller than that of swainsoni from Gaberones: 44 x 35'9, 43'7 x 36 and 42'7 x 35.8. In colour they are pinky brownish with white pore marks. The N'kate specimens have the cheeks more heavily striped than typical ones from the Chobe River, while Maun and Ngami specimens show the other extreme. Individual variation is seen also, but any of the series can be picked out from series of either swainsoni or damarensis. The young are represented in several stages from half-grown to young adults. A young male from Tsotsoroga, taken on 20th June, with a wing length of 139 mm:, is in complete feather, the throat, space around the eyes and the lares still partly feathered. It is white on the throat and creamy white above the eyes; cheeks white, freckled with dark brown, becoming more heavily marked on sides of lower throat. Upper parts more rusty olive than in adults, some of the longer feathers of the upper back and scapulars with white shaft-lines, expanding apically with more or less black marks on both webs or only the inner web; wing-coverts, secondaries and primaries externally freckled with rusty colour; lower back rusty olive, some feathers with small arrow marks of blackish and all more or less freckled orvermiculated; upper tail- coverts and tail similar, but the dark markings, if present, more in the form of bars. Lower throat lighter grey than in adults, with darker shaft-marks; below this the feathers are more rusty tinged, with narrow white shaft-lines, terminating in a white tip to each feather and a dark brown mark subterminally on both webs; this type of marking covers the under parts to the abdomen, which, together with the under tail-coverts, is more buffy and less marked. Some specimens of the same age are more heavily marked with blackish above and below, the marks above sometimes arrow-shaped, sometimes in the form of two or more broad bars. At a sub-adult stage the throat, lares and area round the eyes are practically nude, but the white-tipped feathers below and the white shaft-stripes between the black marks above are still present to indicate immaturity. Females in fully adult plumage still retain more or less black on the inner secondaries, which is lacking in adult males. The sharpness of the spurs is a fair indication of maturity in males. In the young the bill is dark brown, paler on the base of the mandible, which increases with age until the whole mandible is yellowish and finally coral red in the adult. The adult is also red on the operculum and base on each side of the mandible, the remainder blackish. In the young the legs, feet and claws are yellowish brown, changing to dark brown, or blackish in adults. Swainson's Francolin (or" Pheasant") was not uncommon where water is permanent, and was even seen at Kuke, though not right across the Kalahari. One was also seen at a pan at Gemsbok Pan. It is a wary bird and not easily procured without dogs. It frequents native gardens and does con- siderable damage when beans and other cereals have just begun to appear above ground, but is cunning in eluding the traps set for it. It is essentially a bird of dry thorn tangles, but usually comes into open ground to feed. Coturnix delegorguei delegorguei Delegorgue Voy. Afr. Austr. II, p. 615, 1847: Upper Limpopo River. 1 ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 98'5, tail 36, tarsus 25. culmen 13'5. This was the only Harlequin Quail I saw on the expedition. Dr Ballantine informed me that he had seen more along the Chobe River, and it is doubtless not uncommon in suitable ground, such as near native gardens. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ------....--_ .... _-_._- Family NUMIDIDAE Numida mitrata papillosa Rchw. Om. Monatsb. p. 145, 1894: Kalahari, south of Lake Ngami. z ｾｾ＠ im., Kaotwe; 1 ｾ＠ ad., 16 im., Damara Pan; 466 ad. (1 head only), z 66 im., 4

result of the lesser development of these papillae, the measurement of the culmen appears to be greater (22-26 mm.), but actually there is not much difference in size. The wing length in three males from Kabulabula is 294-295, but in the rest about the same as those given above for papillosa. I cannot perceive any difference in colour in this form, and the only difference, appar- ently, lies in the lesser development of the papillae. In the eastern Transvaal and thence to the coast of north Zululand and mouth of the Limpopo the papillae are not developed, though I have seen one with a trace of them from Olifants River, Pilgrims rest District. This form I have named N. papillosa limpopoensis (Ann. Trans. Mus. x, p. 77, 1924), but since I see no reason why this form should not link up with N. mitrata of the Lower Zambesi valley it seems advisable to make papt110sa and its allied forms subspecies thereof. Guttera lividicollis lividicollis Ghigi Mem. Ace. Bologna (6), II, p. 196, 1905: Zambesi (Victoria Falls). I 6, Dett, Southern Rhodesia. This is probably typical of the Zambesi form of Crested Guinea-fowl and matches specimens from Zululand, but not Karkloof, Natal, whence I described G. I. symonsi. It is to be noted that recent writers persistently refer to Durban as the type locality for edouardi, although I have distinctly pointed out that all birds ever collected there are not referable to it. This type of edouardi was said to have been purchased in the market at Durban, and it could quite well have been brought there by a boat from East Africa. As indicating how such importations are misleading I may mention that Mr Harold Millar procured for me a specimen of Numida at Mount Edgecombe, near Durban. As soon as I saw it I recognised that something was wrong, and upon enquiry from Mr W. Campbell learned that his father had introduced Guinea-fowls on to the estate from the Zambesi!

Order GRUIFORMES Family RALLIDAE Limnocorax flavirostra (Swainson) Birds Trop. W, Afr. II, p. 244, pl. 28, 1837: Senegal. I 6, I ｾＬ＠ Maun; I 6, Kabulabula; I 6, I ｾ＠ juv., Kasane. Dimensions : Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen <5 106-I07 43-49 41-44 23'5-28 !? 104 38 37 24 This was the only Crake observed in Ngamiland, which is strange, con- sidering the great expanse of marshes beyond the borders where we collected. Perhaps the other species were not observed owing to the length of the vegetation and inaccessibility of all but the river stretches. This species was not uncommon in the shallows and reed-beds along the rivers, where its shrill trilling notes were a notable feature. Porphyrio madagascariensis (Latham) Index Orn. Suppl. p. lxviii, 1801: Madagascar. 266, Maun. Dimensions: wing 245-251; tail 74, 88; tarsus 83, 85; culmen 60'5; width of shield 20, 20'5. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted by Sabinet Gateway under licence Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 69

The Purple Gallinule was not uncommon on the Thamalakane River, but very shy, disappearing into the dense reed-beds directly it saw us approaching. A new nest was discovered in the reeds, but eggs had not been laid, on 28th May. Gallinula chloropus brachyptera (Brehm) Vogelf. p. 33I, I855: Middle Africa. I if, 1

Family BALEARICIDAE Balearica regulorum regulorum (Bennett) Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 118, 1833: South Africa. One specimen was procured by Mr Lang's party at N'kate, Makarikari, after I left, I saw this beautiful crane nowhere in Ngamiland, and fear that former export of live ones (now prohibited) has decimated it. Bugeranus carunculatus (Gmelin) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, p. 643, 1789; Cape of Good Hope. 2

Family OTIDAE Choriotis kori (Burchell) Travels S. Afr. I, pp. 393 and 402, I822: junction Vaal and Orange Rivers. 2 W, I if im., Gaberones; I if, Toten-MaUll road; I if, Maun; 5

This great Bustard was fairly plentiful between Gaberones and Mole- polole, but not observed again until we reached i Flats, where some were reported by members of the expedition. Ther er it was seen occasion- ally until Mababe Flats was reached, where it was very abundant. One was said by local Europeans at Ngami Flats to have turned the scale at 60 lb., but we found that a large male weighed only 32 lb. All were very fat at this season and their preparation was a long task for the skinners; but, having regard to the unusual facilities we had, this fine series was secured while the opportunity offered. Neotis caflra cafira (Lichtenstein) Cat. Rer. Rariss. Hamburg, p. 36, 1793: Cape Province. A pair of this Bustard was put up near the road beyond the Chukudu " River" on 7th April, but no more were seen. Lophotis ruficrista (Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 56, 1836: Latakoo, Bechuanaland. 1 0', Gaberones; 1 0', near Gomodimo; 1 ¥ juv., Gomodimo; 1 ¥, Damara Pan; 2 n, near Mabeleapudi; 10', 1 ¥, Mababe Flats; 1 'jl, Zweizwe River; I 0', 5 n, N'kate. The Red-crested Korhaan was found throughout the Kalahari, but is one of the most difficult birds to hit. It gets up suddenly, usually at some distance, and dashes away at great speed with a curving sweep, that carries it to safety in a few seconds. If a tree is close by-and it generally occurs amongst trees rather than in the open-it sweeps behind it and away to safety. Although called "The Silent Member" by sportsmen, it has a squeaky note, uttered while the bird is on the ground, which rises in volume as it continues, until reaching a fair volume of sound. In flight it does not utter a sound. Sclater records its distribution as "the valley of the Orange River to that of the Zambesi and Benguella"; but it occurs in eastern Transvaal to northern Zulu land as well. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus 255-266 137-150 77-80 243-262 130-145 75-81 Afrotis afraoides afraoides (A. Smith) (Plate I, ｦｩｧＮｾ＠ Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. I, 1831: near Orange River. 2 0'0', 2 'jl'jl, Geluk, Kroonstad. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 0' 275-283 133-137 83-86 32-35 ¥ 266-269 130-1 35 75-83 30-33'5 These are typical of the White-quilled Korhaan which occurs westwards to southern Bechuanaland and northwards to Transvaal, its place being taken in central Kalahari by the next subspecies.

Afrotis afraoides kalaharica Robertsl In respect of a greater tendency to show more white in the plumage approaching A. a. etoschae Grote (J. Om. p. 42, 1922) of Ovamboland, but differing therefrom in the male in having the light bars above only slightly 1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 23, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

paler than in A. a. afroides, In the Damara form (A. a. damarensis Roberts, Ann. Trans. Mus. XI, p. 220) from Quickborn Farm, 60 miles north of Oka- handja, the bars above are in the fresh feathers as rufous as in typical afraoides, but the rump and wings much whiter and the barring above narrower. The female differs in respect of its rather paler, vermiculated rather than barred, upper parts, paler and more narrowly barred neck and chest, the dark bars more numerous than in either afraoides or damarensis. These Kalahari birds also have longer tarsi than birds from the Union, namely, in males 89-<)7 (usually about 95) and in females 86-<)6 (usually over 90) as compared with 82-<)0 in males and 75-83 in females. Type: No. 399, male, Gomodimo Pan, 3rd April, 1930; No. 4II, female, from Gomodimo, may be taken as the type of that sex. To this subspecies I refer the following specimens: 1<$, Kuke; 3 <$<$, 19, Gomodimo; 1<$,2 n, Kaotwe; 3 99, Damara Pan; 3 <$<$, I 9, Motlhatlogo; 2 <$<$, 19, N'kate; 1<$, Mahalapye. (Those from N'kate and Mahalapye are not completely like the Kalahari birds and may have to be removed when more material becomes available.) Dimensions: \Ving Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾ＠ 265-281 127-140 89-97 32-35 ｾ＠ 260-277 125-137 86-96 31-34 This Korhaan was plentiful in the central Kalahari in open stretches, males getting up with their noisy clattering notes, hovering as they circled about and generally relieving the monotony of this arid region. But they were extra- ordinarily wary, seldom getting up within range, as though they had had long experience of sportsmen. Their notes of" Crack-crack," repeated rapidly, or a long-drawn" Cra-ack," repeated with a pause between each utterance, often tempted us to walk them up; but it was quite another matter to locate the birds this way and we found it better simply to walk over the veld casually, but with guns ready for their sudden flights. Afrotis afraoides mababiensis Roberts1 (Plate I, fig. 3) In the main like A. a. kalaharica, but considerably darker above, owing to the still greater reduction of the width of the pale rufous bars above in the male; and the reduction of the pale and increase of black vermiculation and

1 Cf, Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 23, 1932. I also described another subspecies at the same time, namely: Afrotis afraoides centralis Roberts In respect of colour very similar to A. a. afraoides (A. Smith), except that the barring of black is slightly broader, but larger in size. In these respects it is somewhat connectant between afraoides and afra, but the primaries are white as in the former, and until it is proved that afra connects up in that respect it is advisable to regard them as distinct species. Type: T.M. No. 143°4, adult male, Ventersburg District, 7th December, 1925. A female from Philipstown agrees in respect of large dimensions. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 299 150 92 35 282 140 88 37 A male of afTa from van Rhynsdorp District and a female from Clan William District measure respectively: wing 296,277; tail 146, 122; tarsus 92, 83; culmen 39, 33'S. Two, male and female, from Fish River valley, Grahamstown, have wing lengths of 295 and 282. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence 72 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM barring above and around the neck to the upper part of the chest in the female. 1 rS (type), 1 ｾＬ＠ Mababe Flats, 16th June and 29th May, respectively. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾ＠ 278 127 95 35 ｾ＠ 261 125 86 ＳＳｾ＠ The female was procured by Mr Vernay's party and the male by myself, the only one I saw. I was stalking an Eagle with the combination '4IO and Morris tube, loaded with AAA shot, when the bird got up silently and hovered at about 80 yards. It hovered after I fired and descended straight to earth in its usual style, with feet down, as though not hit, settling beside a tiny pan covered with grass, into which it retreated. Walking methodically backwards and forwards over this pan I failed to flush it and at last I tried a thin tongue of very short grass on the far side (the grass was nearly all burnt off or grazed down at this season) where it was discovered badly wounded. It is extraor- dinary how well these birds can conceal themselves. I suspect that they were scarce near the road, where we were encamped, on account of their having been decimated, or scared away, by passing sportsmen. They are very conservative in their habitat and slow to increase. In many parts of the Union they are now very rare where they were formerly common, and only where owners of farms have rigidly protected them are they still plentiful. Where main roads are concerned the legal protection of these birds has been of no avail. Lissotis melanogaster notophila Oberholser Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. Washington, XXVIII, p. 836, 1905: Durban. 1 ｾＬ＠ Mochaba River; 1 ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 335, 350; tail 180,195; tarsus 135.140; culmen 40, 44· The South Mrican form of the Long-legged Korhaan was recently renamed L. m. major by Bannerman (Ibis, p. 435, 1930) in error, which was retracted in the following number of the Ibis. He was able to show that the southern form is much larger than the northern, wing in rS 360-370, ｾ＠ 342-358, as against rS 330--342, ｾ＠ 310--315. Specimens in the Transvaal Museum show a wing length in rS 365-373, ? 336-345. These specimens were procured by other members of the party and I did not meet with the species.

Order CHARADRIIFORMES Family CHARADRIIDAE Leucopolius pecuarius pecuarius (Temminck) Nou'lJ. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. XXVII, p. 143, 1818: Africa. 1 rS, Geluk, Kroonstad; ＱｾＬ＠ Maun; IrS, Mabahe Flats. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾ＠ 107-II4 42-48 25-29 16-5-18 ｾ＠ 103 45 28 16'5 Friedmann (I.e. p. 159) has shown that Vieillot's name is not preoccupied and it must therefore stand. I met with Kittlitz's Sandplover only at Maun, where it was found on the meadowlike veld on the river bank. It was evidently only there in passage, as I did not see it again. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 73

Afroxyechus tricollaris Vieillot Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. XXVII, p. 147, 1818: Africa (Cape Town). I a, Damara Pan; ｉｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; I ?, Kabulabula; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Kasane; 2 aa, I ｾＬ＠ N'kate. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾ＠ 108-rr:z 58-66 22-22'5 14-r6 !i1 II 2-II 8 60-65 22'5-23 15-r6'5 I see no reason for placing the West African forbesi, nor the Madagascar hifrontatus, as subspecies of trieollaris seeing that they do not link up. Sclater has made this genus a subgenus of Charadrius in his Syst. Av. Aeth., but Friedmann (I.e. p. 159) considers it a distinct genus. The latter regards forbesi as a distinct species, but bifrontalus a subspecies of trieollaris. The Treble-banded Sandplover was found on the shores of all large stretches of water, such as pans and rivers. At Kasane it was common on the rocks at the rapids. It is more solitary in habits than most species. Eupodella asiatica Pallas Reise Russ. Reiehs, II, p. 715, 1773: Southern Tartary. I a, Geluk, Kroonstad (5th March). Dimensions: wing 143, tail 56, tarsus 39, culmen 20. The Caspian Plover is a migrant that I did not see on this expedition. It is rare in South Africa. Stephall.ibyx corOll.atus corOll.atus (Bodd.) Tabl. Pl. Enlum. p. 49,1783: Cape of Good Hope. I a, Geluk, Kroonstad; 1 t;?, Zeerust; la, I ?, Gaberones; 1 ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; I a, Machumi Pan; I a, 2 pull., IVIotlhatlogo; I ｾＬ＠ Kasane; 2 aa, I ｾＬ＠ N'kate. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Geluk, etc. 198-210 87-95 61-'75 30-33 Machumi Pan 208 98 706 36'5 Motlhatlogo 216 99 8 31'5 I give the two Ngamiland specimens separately because the dimensions are different, but there is no noticeable difference in colour. It is a bird which wanders considerably and unlikely to vary within the same subregion. Friedmann (I.e. pp. 161-5) recognises three forms from east and north-east Africa, demissus from British Somaliland, suspieax from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Kenya Colony, and eoronatus from Kenya Colony southwards to the Cape Province. The specimens recorded above give an average wing length of over 206, whereas his Kenya and South African birds referred to eoronatus give an average of only about 194, and the small series of demissus slightly less, 193; the Abyssinian series on the other hand averages 206, i.e. about the same as those recorded above of eoronatus. If the colour differences hold good, the Kenya specimens might therefore be referred to another small race, differing from demissus in that respect. The Crowned Plover was not met with in the central dry area of the Kalahari, but elsewhere was not uncommon in bare flats. It often frequents cattle pens, and where not disturbed becomes fairly tame, fearlessly picking up insects near the homesteads in the usual Plover style, the body swivelling Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 74 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM from the hips as it bends over to peck at the ground. It is seldom seen alone, being usually in small parties. When suspicious, it sidles off with a clucking warning and, if startled, rises suddenly with a sharp loud alarm note, its associates following suit. The appearance of dogs or cats at once excites it, the whole party swooping down with shrill cries to drive off the intruder. The two young taken at Lake Ngami could not have been more than a fort- night old. Hoplopterus armatus (Burchell) Travels, I, p. SOl, 1822: Klaarwater, C.P. 2

Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE Recurvirostra avosetta Linn. Syst. Nat. loth ed., p. lSI, 17S8: Europe. I (not sexed), Maun. This specimen was procured by Mr Vernay's party. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 75

Himantopus himantopus (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 151, 1758: Southern Europe. 1(5, Kabulabula (22nd July); 1 (5, I 'jl, N'kate; 1 (5,2 'jl'jl, Makarikari Pans. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen <5 230-233 78-90 II2-124 62'5-65 ｾ＠ 215 +-228 77-81 108-Il3 61'5-64 These are shorter winged than European Stilts, and the male procured at Kabulabula was one of a pair which certainly could not have been from Europe, Since the species is known to breed in Zululand and the Cape Province, it seems probable that the resident are separable from the migratory birds; the name of meridionalis Brehm (Isis, p. 726, 1843) in that event could be used for them. The Kabulabula specimen was one of a pair which rose from a swamp when I was shooting at Horus Swifts, and circled about with loud cries of alarm. I saw no more, the other specimens being obtained after I had left. The N'kate specimens were procured on 21st and Makarikari specimens on 24th August.

Family SCOLOPACIDAE Capella nigripennis Bonaparte leon. Fauna Ital. Uee. fasc. xxv, 1839: Cape of Good Hope. 1(5, Maun. Dimensions: wing 136, tail 56, tarsus 39, culmen 91. This specimen has an unusually long bill (as also one-the type of ｡ｮｧｯｾ＠ lensis-from Angola, according to Bocage, Om. Angola, p. 475, 1877, viz. wing 131, culmen 92), although the species has normally a longer bill than its European congener, media, which comes to South Africa as a migrant. It has also whiter outer tail feathers and axillaries than Union specimens, but individuals vary much. In 15 specimens from the Union the dimensions are: wing 125-139, tail 51-59, tarsus ＳｾＧＳＵＬ＠ culmen 72-88 (only two are below 75). In C. media (which has the barring below more widely extended across the breast and sides), the wing is longer and bill shorter, namely, wing 142-150, culmen 60-68. The Ethiopian Snipe was seen on only three occasions, the one procured on the Thamalakane River, one at Tsotsoroga Pan and another at a deep pan about six miles from Tsotsoroga. At the pans they settled in the water weeds in deep water, and would not be flushed again when beaten up. In the Union it was very plentiful formerly, but seems to have become scarce in recent years. At Potchefstroom in the last century the well-known ornithologist, the late Thomas Ayres, and his friends, frequently made good bags, and the " drumming" of the birds was to be heard on all sides in the evenings. I once saw the unusual sight of five travelling close together and then separating to "drum." I found their nests there in September, in the centre of small tufts of grass in the vleis. At Wakkerstroom, in a marsh bordering the town, it was fairly plentiful 20 years ago, but draining of the marsh has spoilt its haunts. It is probable that closer settlement and drainage of marshes have had a good deal to do with its scarcity. It certainly is to a large extent migratory, but some individuals were to be seen at any time of the year at Potchefstroom, and the movements were probably local. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Erolia testacea (Pallas) Vroeg's Cat. Adumbrata, p. 6, 1764: EJolland. 266, GeIuk, Kroonstad; I tf, Makarikari. The Curlew Sandpiper was only obtained at these two places in the southern autumn and spring. Pisobia minuta Leisler Nachtr. Bechst. Naturg. Deutsch!. p. 74, I8d: Ranau, Germany. 766,7 tf'(.. N'kate (23rd-27th August). These Little Stints were evidently the first migratory arrivals from Europe. Philomachus pugnax (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 148, 1758: Sweden. 16, 1 'i?, GeIuk, Kroonstad; 1 tf, Damara Pan (16th April); I tf, Shorobe (loth June). It will be seen from the above records that some individual Reeves remain in Africa, while the majority are breeding in the northern hemisphere. Several small parties were seen in the shallows at Shorobe, as well as a few solitary individuals, all in the non-breeding plumage. The migratory birds often arrive in South Africa in August, some still retaining traces of the northern summer plumage, and by October they are to be seen in large flocks in suitable ground. Before they leave in March some begin to show the summer plumage. Actitis hypoleucos (Linn.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 149, 1758: Sweden. I tf, Pretoria. The Common Sandpiper was not seen in the course of the expedition, this specimen being collected prior to its departure. It is not uncommon in South Africa during the summer months. Iliornis stagnatilis (Bechstein) Om. Taschenb. II, p. 292, 1803: Germany. 1 6. 3 , Geluk, Kroonstad. This northern migrant, the Marsh Sandpiper, is common in South Africa during the southern summer months, but leaves in March for the north. I did not observe it in Ngamiland. Glottis nebularius (Gunnerus) Leem's Beskr. Finn. Lapp. p. 261,1767: Norway. 1 , Geluk, Kroonstad. The Greenshank was observed at Damara Pan, Gemsbok Pan, Maun and Shorobe, but never allowed one to approach within range. The appearance and shrill piping of the birds when startled rendered identification easy. They were always solitary and seen wading in shallow water, presumably attracted by the myriads of Apus which filled the pans in the Kalahari at this time (April). Such pans soon dry up and it is possible that the individual Green- shanks to be seen then betake themselves merely to the Okavango Swamps until the following summer. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 77 Rhyacophilus glareola (L.) Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 149, 1758: Sweden. 266,3 Geluk, Kroonstad (5th-10th March); 16, I ¥, Maun (3rd and 4th May); 266, Shorobe (10th June); I ¥, Kasane (28th July); 2 n, N'kate (12th and 18th August). The Wood Sandpiper was not as plentiful as the Ngamiland records may appear to indicate. It was solitary and found frequenting the shallows on the Thamalakane River and rocks of the rapids near Kasane. It has not yet been found to breed in South Africa, and these individuals would seem to have been left behind by the northward migrants.

Family CURSORIIDAE Cursorius temminckii temminckii Swainson Birds W. Afr. II, p. 230, 1837: Senegal. 4 ¥¥, Gemsbok Pan; I ¥, Maun. Dimensions: wing 123-126, tail 43-47'5, tarsus 38-41, culmen 20-21. Small parties of this species were seen from time to time on the cleared ground of the aerodrome at Gemsbok Pan. At Maun they were also seen on several occasions in dry open ground near the river. Their presence was not always to be discovered and they appeared only sporadically. Coursers, probably of this species, were also seen in the dry flats of Ngami, but I failed to get near enough to make sure of their identity. Rhinoptilus chalcopterus albofasciatus Sharpe Bull. Brit. Om. U. III, p. xiv, 1893: South Mrica. (Rhinaptilus chalcopterus obscurus Neumann, Om. lVIonatsb. p. I I, 1910: Fort Quinpungo, Mossamedes, is a synonym.) 16, I ¥, Gaberones; 16, Gemsbok Pan. Dimensions, 6: wing 179-181, tail 80-82, tarsus 75, culmen 21-22'5. Sclater and Mackworth-Praed (Ibis, p. 806, 1920) made albofasciatus a synonym of obscurus of later date, and the same course has been followed in the Syst. Av. Aeth. p. 139, 1924. This is obviously wrong. The Gaberones specimens were shot on the road at night from the motor car, and were moulting. Another was disturbed from its shelter, under some bushes, and the Gemsbok Pan specimen was shot as it ran away from the shelter of a thorn tree in stony ground, where it had been ｳｱｵ｡ｴｴｩｮｾＮ＠ They looked much like miniature Dikkops, which are also nocturnal in habits. Smutsornis africanus africanus (Temminck) Cat. Syst. Cab. Om. pp. 175 and 263, 1807: Namaqualand. I 6, I ¥, Geluk, Kroonstad; 2 66, 2 ¥¥, Kuke; I 6, Motlhatlogo. Dimensions: wing 147-154, tail 61-66, tarsus 50-60, culmen 13-15'5. This is the Courser of pans and open barren veld. It appears not to be nocturnal like the Bronze-wing (Rhinoptilus), being often seen in daylight searching for its food; but it is, nevertheless, often put up unexpectedly when squatting. It is more of a skulker than the species of CUTsorius, and is found either singly or in pairs, seldom more. The specimen procured at Ngami Flats was solitary, and my attention was first drawn to it as it raced to the shelter of some scattered thorn bushes to which we followed but lost sight of it. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Mter a diligent search we caught sight of it again as it raced away some distance off. It must have squatted, and this is the only time I have known the Double-banded Courser to take refuge in the bush. Family BURHINIDAE Burhinus capensis capensis Lichtenstein Verz. Doub!. p. 69, 1823: Cape of Good Hope. 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 1 cr, Kaotwe; 1 ｾＬｏｫｷ｡＠ River; 1 ｾＬｇ･ｭｳ｢ｯｫ＠ Pan; 3 crcr. 3 ｾｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; 1 cr, Maun; 1 cr, Mababe Flats; 3 crcr, Tsotsoroga; 2 n, Kabulabula; 1 cr, N'kate. Dimensions: wing 223-240, tail II6-133, tarsus 89-97, culmen 34-39. The Cape Dikkop was very abundant at Motlhatlogo, where it was not unusual to find parties of a dozen skulking within a small area in the thornbush. Elsewhere only one or a pair was found at a time, and the above occurrence is strange. They were very fat and had presumably found an abundance of food at night in the Ngami Flats. Oedicnemus vermiculatus vermiculatus Cabanis J. Om. p. 413,1868: Lake Jipe, near Teita, Kenya Colony. 1 cr, ｉｾＬ＠ Maun; I cr, Kabulabula; 2 crcr, ＱｾＬ＠ Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 206-210 II l-lI8 43-44 74-76

Microparra capensis (A. Smith) Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pI. 32,1839: Algoa Bay. 8 66, 7 n, Maun; I 'jl, Kabulabula. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 85-91 29-34 32-36 16-I9

Suborder LARI Family LARIDAE Hydrocoloeus (Cirrhocephalus) cirrhocephalus phaeocephalus Strickland and Sclater List Birds Damaraland, Jard. Cantr. Om. p. 160, 1852: Okavango River. 3 eM, 3 'jl,(, Kasane. I follow Dwight (Bull. Amer. Mus. N.H. LIl, p. 270, 1925) in the above classification of the African Grey-headed Gull. Friedmann (I.e. p. 94) does not agree with regard to the subspecific name, maintaining that Swainson's earlier name of poiocephalus was not intended for poliocephalus and the original spelling must stand. I fear that recent sticklers for the law go a little too far, failing to realise that in times past Latin names had a meaning and obvious misprints must be corrected. The case of the Diederik Cuckoo is on a similar footing. Common sense must govern law. This Gull was observed only about the rapids near Kasane, where it was plentiful. Family STERNIDAE Chlidonias leucoptera (Temm.) Man. d'Om. 1st ed. p. 483, 1815: Sweden. 16, Kroonstad; 16, I 'jl, Maun (2nd and 5th May). The White-winged Tern was seen by me only at Gomodimo and again at Damara Pan, but not secured. They were evidently there only temporarily on their northward migration, sailing over the water and occasionally skimming the surface. Chlidonias leucopareia delalandei Mathews Birds Austr. II, p. po, 19IZ (after Bonaparte's delalandei nom. nud.): South Africa. I 6, Maun (2nd May). The name of C. I. sclateri Mathews and Iredale, Man. Birds Austr. I, p. 84, 1921, is used in Sclater's Syst. Av. Aeth. p. 153, 1924; but renaming it was surely not necessary, seeing that a nomen nudum can have no standing. I did not meet with the Whiskered Tern, which must have passed through Maun early in May on northward migration to central Africa, as I have never seen it in the Union ex during the summer months. Sclater records it only from Nyasaland and adagascar in the tropics, but its winter quarters may prove to be more extensive. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway 80 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Suborder PTEROCLI Family PTEROCLIDIDAE Pterocles namaqua ngami de Schauensee Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, LXXXIII, p. 441, 1931: Lake Ngami. This race is decidedly paler in respect of the abdomen and under tail- coverts than typical southern birds. To it I also refer specimens from N'kate, as well as intermediates from Gemsbok Pan, as follows: 2 eM, 2 ¥¥, Mababe Flats; 10. 1 ¥, N'kate; 700,7 ¥¥, Gemsbok Pan. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Mababe Flats and N'kate:&, 167-171 IOo--II2 22-26 12.5-13 !j! 164-170 98-102 22-26 12-14 Gemsbok Pan: &' 167-180 100--135 23-26 12-15 !j! 160--170 88-104 21-25 12-14'5 The Namaqua Sandgrouse was very abundant at Gemsbok Pan, occurring usually in large flocks of anything from a dozen to three score, flying overhead and uttering their notes of" kelkiewyn." They came to drink in the mornings and evenings at pans and cattle pools and then rested for a while in open flats, such as at the aerodrome. I did not see them anywhere between van Zyl's Cutting and Gaberones, nor in Ngamiland, the above specimens from there having been procured first by Mr Vernay's party and then by Mr Lang's. Calopterocles burchelli burchelli (W. L. Sclater) Bull. Brit. am. CI, XLII, p. 74, 1922, vice Tetrax (Pterocles) variegatus Burchell: Griquatown, C.P. 2 n, Gemsbok Pan; 10, Mabeleapudi. Dimensions: Wing Tail Taxsus Culmen &' 167 66 29 12 'f 163-164 58--']0 26-27 II'5-13 These are not quite comparable with specimens of the Variegated Sand- grouse of the Union, but darker than the following subspecies. It was not a common bird in these localities, and found in pairs only, as it was near the breeding season. It rises from the ground uttering rapid, clucking, alarm notes, which are distinguishable from those of other species to the practised ear, but in flight they are not so readily distinguished. The Sechuana name is "Mokhwarakhwara," which is onomatopreic. Calopterocles burchelli makarikari Roberts l Distinguishable from the typical form of the south in its consistently paler general coloration. Type: T.M. No. 17274, V.L.K.E. No. 2937, adult male, N'kate, 17th August, 1930, Also 13 more 00 and 5 ¥¥ from the same place, I 0 (=¥), Kasane, and 4 00,1 ¥ (somewhat intermediate between N'kate and Gemsbok Pan specimens) from Maun. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen N'kate: &' 160--172 61--']4 27-31 II-1 3'5 ¥ 160--165 60--68 26-30 11-13 Maun:&, 163-173 686i4 28-30 12-1 3'5 'f 158 26 13

1 cr. Ann. Trans, Mus, xv, p. 24. 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 8r

At Maun this species came down late in the evenings to drink at the edge of the Thamalakane River in large numbers, but all in pairs. Many of them afterwards settled for the night, in pairs, in the open ground near the river, doubtless owing to the darkness having settled down before they could betake themselves to their feeding grounds. Occasionally a pair would be flushed under the scattered trees during daylight, but this was unusual and the great majority appeared to go far afield. They had not yet commenced to lay and probably did so in July. Ganga gutturalis gutturalis (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 56, 1836: near Kurrichaine. 21 &&, 19 n, Mababe Flats; 6 &&,8

This bird was not met with in the dry Kalahari area between Gaberones and van Zyl's Cutting, but in Ngamiland, where there was a permanent supply of water, it was not uncommon. It came to the edge of rivers and pools to drink at dusk. At Gaberones and Maun it was seen in flocks, but at the Chobe River in pairs, July being the breeding season. As a rule, it utters a "Chuck chuck chuck" note when flying overhead and when alarmed utters this rapidly in a sudden flutter to warn the others as it rises. When settling it usually does so silently.

Suborder COLUMBAE Family COLUMBIDAE Streptopelia semitorquata maxima Roberts l 1 cr, Toten-Maun road. The largest race of the species, in colour not outstandingly different from other races, the wing length in the type 212 mm. Type and only specimen directly referable to this race: T.M. No. 17335, V.L.K.E. No. 1028, adult male, Toten-Maun road, 18th May, 1930. Fleck (J. Orn. p. 389, 1894) refers to a specimen from Lake Ngami with a wing length of 215 mm., and Bocage (Orn. Angola, p. 384, 1881) states that the wing length varies between 190 and 230 mm., going to show how enormous this race is in the Okavango River system and westwards. This species varies considerably in size, as we know, but there is a limit and averages go to show the prevailing size, of which more will be said below. This specimen was one of four or five I saw during a halt on the road, about midway between Toten and Maun. They were in the big trees, and looked like pigeons, when disturbed flying around for a time and settling again in trees. I endeavoured to get more, but they were too wary and we had to proceed on our way, unconscious of the fact that they represented the largest form in the genus.

Streptopelia semitorquata australis Robertsl 4 crcr, 19 im., Kabulabula; 1 cr, Shorobe; 4 crcr, 3 n, Maun. According to Reichenow (Viig. Afr. 1, p. 410) the wing length of the species varies between 170 and 190 mm., and according to von Erlanger (J. Orn. p. 124, 1905) the wing length in three males of the typical race is 192-198 mm., and in another (perhaps a female) 180. Friedmann (l.c. pp. 217-18) records dimensions of specimens from all over the continent, which he has examined, and concludes that all the highland and plateau birds are referable to S. s. semitorquata (Riippell, N. Wirbelth. ViJg. p. 66, pI. 23, fig. 2, 1837, from Taranta Mountains, Abyssinia). The figures he gives for the wing length of 210 specimens are 175'5-194 (average 185), whereas fourteen from Kenya Colony measure 168-191 (average 175). Friedmann had only one adult from South Mrica with a wing length of 192'5, and placed all these under semitor- quata, recognising only minor Erlanger (southern SomaIiIand and the lowlands of East Africa south to Mombasa) as a subspecies. South African birds average considerably larger in wing length than Abyssinian and East African ones, namely: 3 Grahamstown, 188-194; 3 Leydsdorp district, 187-200; 3 Wood- bush, 180-194; 1 Groot Spelonken, 190; 2 Letaba River, 191-195; 1 'i' Elands River (north-east of Pretoria), 187; 5 Rustenburg district, 191-201; 1 Chirinda,

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 24, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Southern Rhodesia, 190; 6 Beira, 183-204; 3 Boror, 183-194. The average wing length of these is 192. Comparison of these with specimens from Machile River, north-western Rhodesia and Caprivi Corner in the Transvaal Museum and the specimens from Kabulabula, Shorobe and Maun indicate that they are intermediate between the south-eastern birds just recorded and the Ngami and Angola birds. The wing length is: 3 Machile River, 194-202; I Caprivi Corner, 190; 4 Kabulabula, 192-204; I Shorobe, 194; 7 Maun, 194-206; average 200. It is obvious these cannot be referred to the typical race, which shows measurements of 175-198, with an average below 190. I therefore propose the above new name for the southern birds occurring on the eastern side of South Africa, taking a large Leydsdorp district (Sekororo) specimen (T.M. No. 12978) as the type, and including in the form the others mentioned above from all south-eastern localities and westwards to the Upper Zambesi valley. Those from the Thamalakane River appear to be referable to it, but may eventually have to be referred to maximus, as the minimum is 194 and maximum 206, both within the figures quoted by Bocage. Much depends upon what average is obtained from long series west of the Thama- lakane River as to the position of these from Maun and Shorobe. There may well be two races in Angola, the difference between 190 and 230 being greater than anything elsewhere recorded, and the probability is that southern birds are large and northern birds small in that country. This splendid Red-eyed Dove was fairly plentiful in the trees bordering the Thamalakane and Chobe Rivers. It feeds very largely on berries, when these are available, but also grain found in the natives' cultivated lands. Its call is easily recognised, something like a hurried" Kukkukkuk kukkoo." During the heat of the day they take shelter in the branches of large trees, especially such as are in matted bush, often gathering together in such favoured places in numbers up to a dozen or more, not in close proximity, but scattered about within sight of each other. They are more lethargic and local than the Cape Turtle Dove. At Kabulabula I found that they roosted in the matted willows on the border of the Chobe River. The colour of the eyelids was noted to be mauve. Streptopelia decipiens ambigua (Bocage) Om. Angola, p. 386, 1881: Dombe, southern Angola. 4 iM, 2 n, I ｾ＠ juv., Motlhatlogo; 2 aa, 2 S'S', Maun; I a, I ｾＬ＠ Kazungula. Dimensions: a, wing ＱＶＷ＼ＭＱＸＰ［ｾＬ＠ wing 160-172. This delightful Mourning Dove is essentially a homestead bird, being seldom found far from human habitations and consequently is very local. On the Chobe River I found it only at the junction, Kazungula. Its notes vary considerably, usually a gentle" Kuk kurr" repeated two or three times, or a more rapid" Kuk-kuk-koo," and sometimes something between a growl and a coo. The colour of its eyelids I noted to be dark pink, legs pinky red, bill black. A nest with two eggs, much incubated, was found in a banana tree on an island at Maun on 8th June; the eggs are glossy white and measure 30'2 x 22' 5.

Afropelia capicola tropica (Reichenow) Om. Monatsb. p. 139, 1902: Songea, Tanganyika Territory. 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Pretoria; I ?, Rustenburg; 2 aa, ＱｾＬ＠ Swartruggens; I a, Gaberones; ｉｾＬ＠ 2 aa juv., Gomodimo Pan; 2 aa, 2 n, Mabeleapudi; 4 aa, 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Motl- 6-2 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

hatlogo; ｉｾＬ＠ Maun; ｉｾＬ＠ Shorobe; 5 ｾｾＬ＠ 5 ｾｾＬ＠ Tsotsoroga; ｉｾＬ＠ I ｾＬ＠ Kabula- bula; 1 ｾＬ＠ N'kate. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen a 154-166 95-II2 18-22 12'5-15'5 ｾ＠ 153-160 90-108 18-22 12-15 It was a matter for surprise to me to find how little difference exists between these specimens from widely sundered localities. Southern birds in the Union are darker than these, but those from the dry and hot north Zululand districts, thence through the Transvaal to the Kalahari, show so little difference that they cannot be separated. In Damaraland, on the other hand, exists a paler form that one would expect to find in the Kalahari, but none of the above specimens come as near to this pale form as to those from Transvaal. The Cape Turtle Dove is common where natives cultivate the soil, but it ranges from there into the wilds. The dry central Kalahari contained a few, and they were seen practically anywhere; but being of a more wary nature and somewhat more in demand for the pot than smaller Doves where game is scarce, such as at Ghansi, procuring them in these wilds was difficult. They are birds of strong flight and often go far afield to their feeding grounds. In settled districts they frequently repair to certain roosting places every evening, following certain routes every day and laying themselves open to destruction at the hands of sportsmen aware of this habit. These roosting places may be large poplar groves, or tangles of large acacia thorns. Their diet consists of cultivated grain, where this is available, or hard seeds of indigenous vegetation, picked up from the ground. In newly ploughed lands they feed largely on the milky bulbs of an indigenous grass which have been exposed. They are the pest of grain growers, as they are not content with picking up fallen grain, but settle on the ears of corn and feed on them before they are ripe. Mealies alone defeat them, as they cannot get at the grains through the tightly packed husks. They do not feed on berries picked directly off the trees, however, nor do they appear to care for small seeds. Its most common call sounds like " Kuk koorru," repeated two or three times. It breeds most commonly in the early summer months, though I have seen nests in every month of the year. A nest with a single egg was found at Metsematluk on 21st March. The usual clutch is two white glossy eggs. The nest is placed high in acacia thorn trees, as a rule, but the site varies considerably.

Stigmatopelia senegalensis aequatorialis (von Erlanger) Om. Monatsb. p. 98,1904: Menaballa, Abyssinia. 2 ｾＧｦＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; ｉｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; ｉｾＬ＠ Shorobe; I ¥, Tsotsoroga; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ 3 ｾｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. The Laughing Dove was found in the east as well as the north of the Kalahari, but not in the central dry area. It is a quiet bird, usually tame and . commonly seen around homesteads and cattle kraals. It feeds quietly on the ground almost exclusively on the tiny black seeds of the" linseed-bleeding" weed (Amaranthus) so commonly found around cattle kraals and deserted homesteads; but in the absence of these it also feeds on small grain, though I have never heard it accused of doing any serious damage. Its call is something like a gentle" Koo koo kukkukkoo "-a gentle laugh. The name of Laughing Dove might give the impression that it has an hilarious call, whereas it is more like a chuckle than a laugh. Like the Cape Turtle Dove it lays two glossy white eggs, averaging smaller than those of Afropelia, the nest being Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the granted by under licence Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 85

similar, but seldom placed higher than 12 ft. from the ground, usually about 8-10 ft. Oena capensis capensis (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 286, 1766: Cape of Good Hope. I ¥ juv., Kuke; 1 &, Gomodimo; 2 &&, Kaotwe; 4 &&, I ¥, Gemsbok Pan; 1&, Mabeleapudi; 3 &&, Shorobe; I ¥, Zweizwe River; I ¥, Tsotsoroga; 6 &&, I ¥, N'kate. The pretty Namaqua Dove was found wherever we went, usually coming to water-holes during the heat of the day to drink, and resting on the thorn- bushes close by. It feeds on the ground quietly, creeping about like, and often in company with, the Laughing Dove. It feeds only on small grain and seeds, and when it has had its fill usually perches on exposed places in the sunlight instead of inside the trees like other Doves. Nests ready for were found at Gemsbok Pan and one with two fresh eggs was taken on 29 ril. The nests were all placed low down, usually about a foot to three feet from the ground, quite exposed to the sun, and the eggs are pale yellow, measuring 19.8 x 157 and 21 x 15.8. In the Union I have usually found the nests in autumn months (April and May) and on stubble in reed-beds where the reeds had been cut off, small aloes, and dry branches of low bushes. The call note is very low. " Kuh 00," the first syllable explosive and the second protracted and fading out. Very few specimens were procured in good plumage, as they were either in moult or bunches of feathers were knocked out in the shooting. They are "tough ",birds to kill, not only on account of the sun-baked plumage, but also from their daily physical exercise in flying to the drinking pools.

Turtur chalcospilos zambesiansis Roberts Ann. Trans. 111us. VIII, p. 197, 1924: Zimbiti, Beira. I ¥ (= &), Motlhatlogo-Toten road; I juv., Toten-Maun road; 1 &, Maun; I ¥, Zweizwe River; 5 &&, 3 ¥¥, 1 ¥ im., Kabulabula. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Cuhnen 7 iM ad. lIZ-125 7o- 8z 16-18 lZ'5-15'5 4 ｾｾ＠ ad. I IZ-II7 (107) 70 -74 16'5-18 13-13'5 z ¥¥ im. III-II3 '}o I'} 13'5 This little Emerald-spotted Dove was not met with until we had left the Ngami Flats, but thereafter it was fairly plentiful. It feeds on the ground in open bush and forest and repairs to water pools to drink during the hotter parts of the day. Its flight is remarkably swift for a bird of its bulk, and it comes in at a terrific pace to drink, checking its speed with remarkable facility to alight in the midst of a tree whence it can inspect the drinking pool. It is equally rapid in "getting off the mark" when startled, with an alarm beat of the wings that sets all the other birds at once on the alert. Its call has been likened in all the native languages to "My mother is dead! my father is dead! all my relations are dead! and my heart goes dum dum dum," Each sentence is so clearly enunciated that (especially in the briefer terms of the native languages) this interpretation is very apt. Eggs I have taken elsewhere are creamy yellow, the nests placed fairly low down in open bushes, on the usual platform of sticks and fine roots. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced 86 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Family TRERONIDAE Vinago delalandei delalandei (Bp.) Comptes Rend. XXXIX, p. 873, 1854: Durban. 1 er, Gabane, Gaberones; 2 erer, 2 ¥¥, Zimbabwe, Southern Rhodesia. Dimensions: wing 170-175; culmen, without soft base, II'S-13'5, to the feathers of forehead H)-21'S. The Gabane specimen was one of a flock found feeding on wild figs. They were very wary and found during the heat of the day in the shelter of densely foliaged trees in the hills, where approach was difficult; but in the evening they were flushed from a tree which was bearing fruit at the foot of a hill. It was only by waiting in hiding that I was able to secure one when they returned. The others were procured by Mr Noome at Zimbabwe, also in fig trees. These are rather yellower than the Gabane specimen, but not as yellow as the eastern subspecies, orientalis Gunning and Roberts (Ann. Trans. Mus. III, p. 109, 19I-I: Boror), which extends from the Lower Zambesi to northern Zululand.

Vinago schalowi damarensis Reichenow Vag. Afrik. I, p. 399, 1901: Nukana, Okavango River. 4 erer, 4 ¥¥, I ?, Maun. These are practically topotypical of the race and agree with Reichenow's description. Dimensions: wing, er 17<)--183, ¥ 174-180; culmen, without the soft base, 12-13'5. to the feathers of forehead, 6 22-23, ¥ 21-22'5. Seven of these specimens were procured by me in the same fig tree, where they were feeding, together with many Starlings, Hornbills and other frugi- vorous birds. Mr Vernay's party procured the other two. They must be very local, as they were seen nowhere else.

Vinago schalowi chobiensis Roberts l 3 n, Kasane. Dimensions: wing 173-182; culmen, without soft base, 13-14, to the feathers of forehead 21-23. Differs from V. schalowi damarensis in being duller yellow on head and under parts of body, the upper parts of body slightly darker and the fringes of the wing-coverts paler yellow. The type and other specimens all have a very pronounced grey collar (which is less pronounced and obscure in damarensis), in that respect differing from V. s. schalowi Reichenow (Orn. Centralhl. p. 108, 1880) from the" Diamond Fields" (? Orange River). Reichenow gives the wing length as 184 in the type of schalowi and 180 in damarensis. In a series of five skins from north-western Rhodesia (Machile River) in the Transvaal Museum collection, the dimensions and colour are the same as in these from Kasane, going to show its constancy to type. Wing length 173-182. Type: T.M. No. 17928, V.L.K.E. No. 2&}9, sexed as a male, but perhaps a female, Kasane, 28th July, 1930. These three specimens were also secured on wild fig trees much frequented by other birds.

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 25. 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). the by granted Gateway under licence Sabinet by Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Order CUCULIFORMES Suborder CUCULI Family CUCULIDAE Cuculus guIans Stephen Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX, p. 83, pI. 17, I8IS: ex Levaillant, Cambdeboo, C.P. 1 a, Gaberones (18th March); I a, Victoria (31st August). Both these specimens were procured by Mr Noome. Whether the Victoria specimen was wintering in Southern Rhodesia or on its southward migration is difficult to say from the date. It is usually not observed in South Africa until October. Dimensions: wing 212-218, tail ｉｓＸｾＱＶｯＬ＠ tarsus 19, culmen 19-:;n. Clamator (Oxylophus) cafer (Lichtenstein) Cat. Rer. Rar. p. 14, 1793: eastern Cape Province (ex Levaillant). I If, Gaberones. This specimen was also procured by Mr Noome, probably on its north- ward migration, as I saw none. Lampromorpha cuprea (Boddaert) (Cuculus caprius, errore pro C. cupreus). Tabl. Pl. Enlum. p. 40, No. 6S7, 1783: Cape of Good Hope. I

Family CENTROPIDAE Centropus (Megacentropus) cupreicaudus Reichenow Orn. Monatsb. p. 53,1896: Angola. 8 c!'c!', 5 n, Maun; :E

ciliosus, the first with the .rump and upper tail-coverts plain, in the other two species barred. In the eastern Cape Province apparently burchelli and pymi (related to superciliosus) occur, and there is therefore the possibility that the blue-headed birds mentioned above from Nata River and Strathmore Ranch are also distinct from jlecki and that they overlap in distribution. I note that C. burchelli has been" recorded by Neave (Ibis, p. 117, 1910, and Manchester Mem. LI, No. 10, p. 46, 1907) from Luangwa Valley, but this is incorrect. Centropus superciliosus loandae C. Grant Bull. Bn·t. am. Cl. xxxv, p. 50, 1915: Dalla Tando, northern Angola. 1

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 25, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

The typical form occurs in eastern Transvaal southward to Zululand and north-eastern Natal, is darker, without a green tinge on the chest, and smaller. This new form occupies eastern Bechuanaland and western Transvaal. Dimensions of material in the Transvaal Museum are as follows: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Crest C. c. concolar, 6 202-210 230-242 34-35 23--26 63-'71 C. c. bechuanae, 6 :U8--224 250-260 37-39 23--26 74-'77 C. c. concolor, !i! 205--214 225-250 32-38 22'5-26 62-'73 C. c. bechuanae, !i! 210-218 240-250 36-39 22'5-25 71-'75 This form is not referable to the very pale and much greener chested C. c. pallidiceps (Neumann, J. Orn. p. 66, 1899) of Angola and Damaraland, of which the Transvaal Museum possesses two specimens from Quickborn Farm (north ofOkahandja) and Gobabis. These two measure: wing 214-215, tail2So- 255, tarsus 36-38, culmen 24-25, crest 72-87. The following specimens come near to this western form: 10', 3 ｾｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; I ｾＬ＠ Toten-Maun road; 3 0'0', 1 ｾＬｍ｡ｵｮＮ＠ Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 218--222 242-258 35-39 23--25 !i! 207--220 221--255 35-41 23'5--24'5 Corythaixoides concolor chobiensis Robertsl 2 0'0', Kachikau; 7 eM, I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; I 0', Kasane. Paler than C. c. concolor, especially about the cheeks, and lacking the greenish tinge on the chest of that form; and large like other western birds, but with a shorter crest. Type: T.M. No. 17291, V.L.K.E. No. 2256, adult male, Kabulabula, 8th July. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Crest 6 207-222 240-260 36-42 24-25'5 72-'76 !i! 2 17 245 37 25 67 The Grey Lourie was plentiful in eastern Bechuanaland and from Lake Ngami eastwards, but was not met with in the central Kalahari. It favours districts where matted thorn trees abound and berries are to be had. The raucous" Kweh" and habits of the bird have been immortalised by Sir Percy FitzPatrick in his book Jock of the Bushveld, and need not be repeated here. It breeds in both summer and winter, probably at times when certain berries, upon which it can depend, become plentiful. The nest is a dove-like platform of twigs and the clutch is normally three. The eggs are white, faintly tinged with blue; one taken from an oviduct at Kabulabula on 17th July measures 42'7 x 34'2. Suborder PSITTACI Family PSITTACIDAE Poicephalus meyeri damarensis Neumann J. Orn. p. 501,1898: Ochimbora, South-West Africa. I (not sexed), Mochaba River. Dimensions: wing 16 S, tail 80, culmen 22' 5. 1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 25, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

This specimen is undoubtedly referable to this form on dimensions and absence of yellow frontal band. It was obtained by Mr Vernay's party. Poicephalus meyeri transvaalensis Neumann Om. Monatsb. p. 25, 1899: TransvaaL 3 eM, 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 3 d'd', 2 Maun; 2 eM, I ｾＬ＠ Maitengwe River; I d', Victoria, Southern Rhodesia. These vary in the same series in respect of the presence or absence of the yellow frontal band, but in dimensions are consistently smaller than dama- rensis. Dimensions: wing 147-158, tail 63-75, culmen 18-22. Meyer's Parrot was not common at Gaberones, and it was found again at Maun, but not seen in the intervening dry area. It was sometimes seen in pairs, but more commonly in small parties. One's attention was always attracted to it by its klinking call-notes, which are uttered when in trees or flying. Berries appear to be its main food and wild figs on occasion.

Order CORACIIFORMES Suborder CORACIAE Family CORACIIDAE Coracias garrulus garrulus L. Syst. Nat. loth ed. p. 107, 1758: Southern Sweden. I ｾＬ＠ Marico (6th March). The European Roller was seen again at Gaberones, but not thereafter, and probably left on its northward migration about this time. Coraciura caudata caudata (L.) Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, p. 160, 1766: Angola. 2 d'd', I ｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Kuke; 2 d'd', I ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; I d', Maun; 1 d', Mababe Flats; 2 d'd', Kasinka; 5 ｾｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. The beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller was found everywhere, nowhere common, but always conspicuous by its habit of perching on the peak of trees and lively manner of flight. It was not noisy at this season, and frequently only single individuals were observed, though commonly found in pairs, sometimes three or four, in touch with each other. Grass fires always attract these birds, and the two at Kasinka were procured by setting alight a patch of grass specially to lure these and other birds of the same tastes. Large insects appear to be its sole diet, especially Orthoptera. Eucoracias naevius mosambicus (Dresser) Ibis, p. 386, 1890: Mozambique. I ｾＬ＠ Gaberones; ｉｾＬ＠ Mabeleapudi; 2 d'd', Tsotsoroga; ｉｾＬ＠ Pietersburg, Transvaal. Dimensions: wing 187-194, tail 140-148, tarsus 20--23, culmen 38-42'5. The Mozambique or Purple Roller was not so common as the Lilac- breasted, but had much the same habits. The Racquet-tailed Roller (Trime- nornis spatulatus) was not seen at all, though I was on the look-out for it. I question the correctness of making this form a subspecies of naevius, as the two forms have not been shown to link up. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced 92 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Family ALCEDINIDAE Ceryle rudis rudis (L.) 4 ｾｾＮ＠ 19, Maun; 4 ｾｾＬ＠ 19,3 pull., Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 132-141, tail 70-79, culmen 56-66. The Pied Kingfisher was only observed on the Thamalakane and Chobe Rivers in the Protectorate. Its habit of hovering before diving and its con- spicuous glossy black and white plumage always attract attention. A nest containing three half-grown young was found in a sandbank of the Chobe River on 23rd July, Megaceryle maxima maxima (Pallas) Spic, Zool. fasc. VI, p. 14, ＱＷｾＺ＠ Cape of Good Hope. I ｾＬ＠ 19, Maun; 1 ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; ｉｾＬ＠ Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Maun: c! 202 110 10 87 !i! 203 IIS 10 90 Kabulabula and Kasane: c! 195 IIS 8 91 c! 193 III 9 90 These dimensions are given in detail, as it seems to me there are local differences which need study and explanation. One in the Transvaal Museum from Sesheke measures: wing 194. tail 114. culmen 91. Others from South Africa measure as follows: Wing Tail Culmen Knysna,4 a03-209 IIS-12a 9C>-91 Port Elizabeth, I a06 Iaa 88 Port Alfred, 3 a03-a09 II I-lao 89-1}4 Umtamvuma River. I aOI IIS 91 Matatiele, I 198 I 13 90 Barldy West, 2 I97-20a II3-120 95-101 Pretoria, 2 aoo-a09 II8-I23 87-1}2 Waterval Onder, I 199 IIS 91 Hector Spruit, a a04-a06 IIo-IZO 9C>-91 Beira, 1 aoo II5 91 From this it will be seen that both the Barkly West (Vaal River) specimens have the bill in excess of the rest, and the three (given above) from the Upper Zambesi have the wing length shorter, 193-195. The Giant Kingfisher is usually found in trees overhanging water, whence it flies with raucous cries when disturbed. To capture its prey it hovers less than the Pied Kingfisher, often diving straight from its perch. It is the terror of the trout societies in the Union on account of the quantity of fish it con- sumes and its elusiveness when pursued. Corythornis cristata longirostris Roberts1 ＹｾｾＬ＠ 1 9 (abnormal),Kabulabula; ＲｾｾＬ＠ 1 9, 19 im., Kasane; 1 ｾＬｓｨｯｲｯ｢･［＠ 3 ｾｾＬ＠ Maun. In size smaller than C. c. mstata (Pallas) of the Union of South Africa, but the bill longer, and the under side of wing paler. The following table of dimensions of adults will clearly show the difference in size (the averages in brackets): Wing Tail Culmen C. c. [ongirostris, 17 54-57"5 (56) 23-a8 (a6'4) 33'5-37'5 (35'3) C. c. cristata, 16 57-60 (58'7) 27-:3 1 (27'7) 31-34 (3 1'5) 1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 25, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 93 (Specimens from eastern and northern Transvaal have rather longer bills than those from the south, namely, 29, 32'5, 33, 33'5 and 34, as against a maximum of 32'5 in two out of eleven adult specimens from Pretoria and southwards; but in the wing length and in other respects they are similar, so that I have included them in the figures quoted above.) Type: T.M. No. 17499, V.L.K.E. No. 2468, adult male, Kabulabula, 22nd July, 1930. The west and north-east African birds are shorter winged, but also short- billed, so that the names of forms described from there do not concern the status of this one from the Upper Zambesi and Thamalakane Rivers. One specimen from Kabulabula is remarkably coloured. The blue of the upper parts of the body is very pale, about the colour (malachite) of the blue in the crest of normal adults, and the pale blue of the banded crest is pro- portionately paler, faded (as it were) to nearly white. It is fully adult, the bill being completely red and the blue above not in the form of spots or bars. One can only conclude that the blue has failed to develop to the same standard depth of colour as in normal individuals. A specimen from Machile River and another labelled "N.W. Rhodesia" in the Transvaal Museum measure, respectively, wing 55,57; tail 24, 28; culmen 37'5,32'5. This beautiful Malachite-crested Kingfisher was plentiful on the Thama- lakane and Chobe Rivers. It perches on weeds and reeds growing in the water, diving thence to capture its prey in the water below. When disturbed it darts away at great speed, almost skimming the water in flight.

Chelicutona aThiventris orientalis (Peters) J. Om, p, 134, 1868: Inhambane. 1 ¥, Kabulabula: I d', 1 ¥, Kasane. Dimensions : Wing Tarsus Culmen 98 12 41 102-103 n'S-I3 41-47'5 This bird was very rare at Kabulabula, and not seen at all on the Thama- lakane River. It was observed in the bush immediately above the river at the former place and in the willows bordering the river at Kasane rapids. In the Union it is frequently found away from the rivers, and feeding then upon insects. Chelicutia chelicuti damarensis (Strickland) Contr. Om. p. 153, 1852: Damaraland. I d', 1 ¥, Gaberones; 2 d'd', 2 ¥¥, Kuke; 3 d'd', 3 ¥¥, Tsotsoroga; I ¥, Kabulabula; I d', I ¥, Kasane; I d', Victoria, Southern Rhodesia. Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen Gaberones and Kuke: d' 83-85 42 -45 33'S-34'S ｾ＠ 84'5-86 45-47 31'5-32 Tsotsoroga: d' 80'5-83 43-45 29'S-31'S ｾ＠ 82-85 44-47 26-5-33 Kabulabula: ｾ＠ 84 48 34 Kasane: d' 80 42 32 ｾ＠ 81 46 31 Victoria: d' 81 42 34 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 94 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ------_.. _--... _--_._------As will be seen from the above records, this Kingfisher was found sparingly right across the Kalahari. It occurred where there were large trees, under which it found its food, which consisted mainly of beetles and other insects. Its call was not often heard in the dry area, and it was not until we reached the northern area (Kabulabula and Kasane) that I heard its cuckoo-clock-like notes; often repeated and answered by others.

Family MEROPIDAE Melittotheres nuhicoides (Desm. and Puch.) Rev. Zool. p. 243, 1846: south-western Transvaal. 1 a (?), 1 t;!, Gaberones; 10',2 t;!t;!, Kabulabula; 20'0', 1 t;!, Kasane. This beautiful Carmine Bee-eater was only observed in eastern Bechuana- land and on the Chobe River. Like other large Bee-eaters it is gregarious when roosting, but scatters around the neighbourhood during the greater part of the day. Coccolarynx bullockoides (A. Smith) S. Afr. Quart. J. II, p. 320, 1834: South Africa. 2 O'a, 1 t;!, Kabulabula; I a, Kasane. The White-fronted Bee-eater was seen only on the Chobe River, where it was commencing to burrow into the sandbanks for the purpose of nesting. Melittophagus pusillus meridionalis Sharpe Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. XVII, p. 45, pI. i, fig. 4, 1892: Pinetown, Natal. I a, 3 n, Maun; 1 t;!, Mababe Flats; 4 aa, II t;!t;!, Kabulabula. The Little Bee-eater was common on the Thamalakane and Chobe Rivers, perching on reeds overhanging the water or on twigs of the trees fringing the open ground, and hawking bees and other insects therefrom. Dicrocercus hirundineus hirundineus (Lichtenstein) Cat. Rer. Rar. p. 21, 1793: Orange River (ex Levaillant). 2 aa juv., Kuke; I 0', Kaotwe; la, 1 ｾＬ＠ Damara Pan; 1 0', Gemsbok Pan; I a, Mabe1eapudi; 2 0'0', I ｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; 1 0',3 n, Maun; 2 n, Tsotsoroga; I a, Nata River. As the above records show, the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater was found every- where on the expedition. It is, however, not a gregarious species and only one or a pair may be found occupying a certain strip of veld or "territory"; unlike the Little Bee-eater, it often occurs a long way from water, though having a decided preference for pans, over which it hawks its prey from the sur- rounding trees. Family BUCEROTIDAE Bycanistes melanoleucus (Lichtenstein) Cat. Rer. Rar. p. 8, 1793: Kaffraria. (Syn. B. bucinator Temminck, Pl. Col. livr. 48, pI. 284, 1824: Cape of Good Hope.) I ｾＬ＠ Zambesi River. Dimensions: wing 252, tail 192, tarsus 33, culmen and casque II7·S. The Trumpeter Hornbill was only heard and seen at the rapids near Kasane and again on the Zambesi, where Mr van Son procured this specimen. It is plentiful about the neighbourhood of Victoria Falls. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 95

Lophoceros epirhinus (Sundevall) I ¥ (=&,), Marico; 7 (M, 3 ¥¥, Maun; I ｾ＠ im., Mababe Flats. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen IS 215-232 195-213 28-32 83-90 ｾ＠ 199-208 185-185 28--29 6().....o;4 The immature male has the bill black and casque not developed: wing 218, tarsus 31, culmen 75. I cannot understand why this species is made a subspecies of nasutus having regard to the constancy to type in the casque of the male. This species extends northwards into Kenya Colony, whereas nasutus extends from Senegal to Eritrea and southwards to the coast of Tanganyika Territory, where a smaller form exists. They differ in the shape of the casque of the male, which projects forward above the culmen in epirhinus, but does not in nasutus. I note that Bates (Handbook Birds W. Afr. p. 243, 1929) shows no casque in a figure of a male Grey Hornbill from West Africa and does not mention one in the text. This Grey Hornbill was only found in the settled districts of Transvaal and eastern Bechuanaland and again in Ngamiland eastwards. It feeds largely on berries and fruit, though I have also seen it on the ground, apparently in search of insects. It has a peculiar melancholy note, which starts as a ticking sound and works up to a shrill whistling cry. Tockus erythrorhynchus rufirostris (Sundevall) Oefv. K. Vet.-Akad. FiJrh. Stockholm, VII, p. 108, 1850 (1851): Aapies River, Pretoria. 5 crcr, 5 ¥¥, I ｾ＠ im., Tsotsoroga; I cr, I If, Kasane; 2 ｾ｣ｲＬ＠ Lupane, Southern Rhodesia. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 8 ISIS I80-I93 200--208 37-40 72-85 6 ¥¥ 175-184 I78-I97 33-37 66-'76 These birds are not topotypical and grade with the next form; topotypical birds have still shorter bills, IS 74-79,

1 cr. Ann. Trans. Mm. xv, p. 25. I932 (misprinted" nagmiensis"). Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced 96 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ------... ＭｾｾＭ ... base of the feathers of the breast and crop, if not elsewhere as well), the sides of the head, neck and forehead usually pure white, the middle secondaries with three feathers mainly white, the tail feathers with the outermost pair (some- times two pairs) either completely white or for the greater part white, and only a trace of the black bar. Old males are apparently the whitest. Away from this part of Damaraland the normal form has been reported. A female in the Transvaal Museum from Waterberg to the north (Bradfield coli.) has the tail and wing characters of damarensis, but the breast and face are as in rufirostris. The Ngamiland specimens have less white on the secondaries, the outer- most tail feather with a complete bar and the base black. The head, face and breast are also not so white as in damarensis, but more as in rufirostris. Type: No. II54, adult male, Maun, 21st May: wing 195, tail 203, tarsus 40, culmen 90. This bird was usually found frequenting the villages and cattle kraals, and was not uncommon. It appears to feed largely on insects, as I never found it feeding in trees. The call is striking: "Tshutshweetshwee (repeated three times), tshutshutshu (three times), tshutshweetshwee (three times), kukweek- wee (twice)." Xanthorhynchus leucomelas (Lichtenstein) Verz. Samml. Vag. Kaffernland, p. 17, 1842: Kaffirland. ＱｾＬ＠ 1 ｾ＠ (=

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 26, 1932; Bathurst district, C.P. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 97 "Buceros melanoleucos; nobis, Buceros niger, subtus albus; rostro rubro serrato 41 pollices longo, mandibula superiore cornu sive prominentia carinata 31 pollices longa; remiges atrae nitentes; margine externo albo ciliatae; rectrices duae intermediae totae, relinquae praeter apicem nigrae. Pedes et ungues nigri. Longitudo universa 2 pedum I pollicis, caudae I pedis. Habitat in terra Cafrorum." The description is repeated in German, but need not be set down here. Only two points have justified the application of this name to the Crowned Hornbill, first, that it is said to have a red bill and secondly, that the bird came from "terra Cafrorum" (= eastern Cape Province). The rest of the description fits the Trumpeter Hornbill, also a bird from Kaffraria, eastern Cape Province. Change the one word "rubro" to "nigro" and there can be no element of doubt that the Trumpeter Hornbill is the bird intended. I am convinced, from a study of Lichtenstein's Catalogue of r793 and Levaillant's publications, that the former was a sale catalogue of a part of Levaillant's collection. This explorer was very proud of his collection and anxious to see it housed in the French National Museum, but, being short of funds, could not afford to donate it. Then came the French Revolution, "The Reign of Terror," when Levaillant was arrested and put in the stocks pending execution, but owing to the death of Robespierre he was freed. It is noteworthy that it was in these troublous times that the above sale took place; and more- over, contained only some of the Levaillant collection, perhaps a part which he considered of least importance, such as duplicates of birds, or perhaps some that had already been painted for his Oiseaux d'Afrique (which was published some years later), and the mammals, shells, insects and cabinets. Amongst the few mammals that can be identified are some which are recorded in Levaillant's Travels with sufficient detail to be collated with Lichtenstein's. One of these is the Ground Squirrel of Great Namaqualand (Sciurus N amaquensis) in which the colours are incorrectly described, but which Oldfield Thomas (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 490, r923) has pointed out still leaves no doubt as to the animal being the race found in Great Namaqualand. I am not sure that such an interpretation is acceptable, but I quote the case as being one on a par with the" red" bill of the Hornbill Lichtenstein described. Certainly the description is not that of the Crowned and must refer to the Trumpeter Hornbill. Levaillant states (Travels, II, p. 69) that he collected a specimen of a big Hornbill and sent it to Temminck, who had heard about its occurrence in the eastern Cape Province and asked Levaillant to look out for it. The younger Temminck subsequently (I823) named it. Suffice to say, that since the Licht- enstein name of B. melanoleucos is not referable to the Crowned Hornbill, the next name must be used. Buceros coronatus Shaw (Gen. Zool. VIII, p. r8n) given to this bird is preoccupied by B. coronatus (I783), an Indian species, and the next on the list, chronologically, is Lophoceros alhoterminatus Biittikofer (Notes Leyden Mus. XI, p. 67, r889) from Gambos, southern Angola. This name has been synonymised with melanoleucos or, more recently, regarded as a subspecies of melanoleucos; but if, as I suspect, it is like bradfieldi in the shape of bill and casque, it represents a distinct species, and for eastern birds we have therefore to fall back upon the next eastern name, which is Lopkoceros melanoleucos suakeh"cus Neumann (J. Orn. p. r87, I905). Sc1ater (Syst. Av. Aeth. I, p. 228, I924) has synonymised it with melanoleucos, but van Someren (Nov. Zool. XXIX, p. 75, I922) and Friedmann (I.e. p. 426) admit it, on the basis of having wider stripes on the side of the head. I find also that east coast specimens from north of the Union of South Africa are. distinctly sm;tlter;, 7 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

like those from the coastal belt of eastern Mrica, and I tentatively refer these also to suahelicus. Certainly, the western birds differ on the evidence of dimensions, pallid colour and markings of the tail, which is all that one can find detailed in the descriptions and records of Angola birds. P. bradfieldi has a well-marked difference in the bill and casque, the tomia hardly meeting in the middle and the casque sloping evenly towards the tip of the bill. Comparison of the dimensions given hereafter go to show the difference between western and eastern birds. Dimensions of Protockus suahelicus australis and s. suahelicus: 00 't't A A \ \ Tar- Cul- Tar- CuI- Locality Wing Tail sus men Wing Tail sus men Knysna 0 (im.) 248 213 29 86'5 Knysna "'t" (=im. 0) 250 220 29 84 Grahamstown "'t"( =oim.) 253 230 32 89 Grahamstown 0 Om,) 247 216 27 80'S Grahamstown "0" (im,) 238 :uo 29 86'S Grahamstown "0" (im.) 241 217 31 82'5 Grahamstown "0" (im.) 238 205 29 84 Grahamstown 't (im.) 235 193 28 68 Bathurst (type of australis) 266 235 32 'S 97 236 210 28 81'5 Bedford 237 206 29 77 Red Hill 234 203 28 86 Dargle (im,?) 235 204 29 83 Tugela, Weenen 233 212 27 84 Ingwavuma district 254 227 31 93'S 232 198 + 27 90 Ingwavuma district 247 216 31 92'S Ingwavuma district 25 1 :422 3:4 93'S Ingwavuma district (im.) 24:4 217 3I 88,S Zimbabwe· 228 :400 30 80 Beira (sex?=o) 240 2 1 5 :48 90 Beira 23:4 200 29 87 Beira 228 193+ 26 85 Beira 218 193 28 77 Boror 239 215 220 190 + 28 81 Mlunguso, Nyasa :444 :415 ｾｾ＠ ｾｾ＠ Bagamoyo (sex?) :427 202 28 81 • A female from Zimbabwe, collected by the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, when on the homeward journey, Dimensions of wing length given by Neumann (Om. Monatsb. p. 75, 1923) for suahelicus are, 00 235-245, n 205-232. Layard (Birds S. Afr. p. 225, 1867) gives the wing length as 265, and Hartlaub (v. d. Decken's Reise Moss. Aves, p. 486,1870), a specimen from" South Africa," wing 276, tail 258, culmen 81'5; but perhaps the latter was a Damaraland specimen. Other published records of dimensions of East African specimens are quite in conformity with Neumann's, but give tail and culmen lengths as well, namely: 0, tail 215-230, culmen 79-'95; Sf, tail 200-215, culmen 79-81.

Protockus bradfieldi williaminae (de Schauensee) Proc, Acad. Nat, Sci. Philadelphia, LXXXIII, pp. 5-6, 1931, Kachikau, northern Bechuanaland; idem, LXXXIV, pt, 19, 1932, 400,2 n, MaUll; 10,1 Sf, Mababe Flats. This differs from P. h. bradfieldi Roberts (Ostrich, I, p. 65, 1930) from Waterberg, South-West Mrica, in respect of its greyer face. I had it down Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 99 ------_.. __.. for description in this paper, but have been anticipated. The following de- scription may stand, however. Colour: Upper parts pallid brownish grey, the crown with some brownish centred feathers, and at the base and hidden parts of the scapulars and wing-coverts brown to dark greenish black, but the exposed portions bleached grey-brown to dull white. A broad, ill-defined line above the eyes to the side of the nape-plumes pallid grey, to whitish posteriorly; ear-coverts, chin and throat greyish brown, whitening towards the breast, below which the under parts are white, and greyish only on the flanks. The back uniform brownish grey. Primaries and secondaries dark greenish, the exposed ends of the former dull brown with the margins narrowly dull white and the latter similar but margined broadly with white; inside of wings grey-brown; tail feathers brown, to dark green, the central pair uniform, the next pair white tipped for about 10, the next two pairs white tipped for about 40 and the outermost pair white for about 5-10. The female has only two pairs of tail feathers white-tipped, for about 30 instead of 40. This difference is only slightly variable in either sex in the eight specimens examined. As regards the status of this species and Lophoceros alboterminatus Biitti- kofer, there is a suspicion that they may be the same, since they are geograph- ically not far apart. Some Benguella species certainly have found their way to Ngamiland, but many have not and others are certainly distinct. It by no means follows that all species from the same two areas are identical. In the case of alboterminatus, Biittikofer stated that in three specimens he had before him all had the central tail feathers white-tipped, this being, in fact, the only character on which he founded the name. None of the nine specimens of bradfieldi I have examined show this character. Then, as regards dimensions, the figures he gives point to the Gambos birds having a shorter wing and bill and longer tarsus and tail than williaminae. The Damara specimen (referred to melanoleucos) recorded by Gurney (Birds Damaraland, p. 208, 1872) shows a bird with a long wing and tail as in these from Ngamiland, but with a long tarsus and short bill. Bocage (Orn. Angola, p. 116, 1877) records dimensions of a male and a female (perhaps from different localities) from Angola with a long wing and very long tail in tpe male, and tarsus and bill shorter in both sexes than either alboterminatus or these Ngamiland birds. The dimensions are variable, of course, but they are often correlated with other characters when dissimilar in different geographical areas. The following table illustrates the records of dimensions and those of the nine specimens enumerated above including the type of bradfieldi: aa !j1

white eyebrow and the white stripes on the head broader than in melanoleucos. Sclater has synonymised it with alboterminatus, which is justified on the paucity of the description, but not when we consider that there is probably a type in Berlin Museum. This Hornbill was by no means common and it was only by great efforts that I secured these specimens. Their melancholy whistling notes were the same as those of the eastern Crowned Hornbill, and first attracted my attention. As I had already described the specimen from Waterberg sent by Mr Bradfield (though the description was not yet in the press), I was on the look-out for the species. The first specimens came every morning to the large trees at the ferry, and thereafter others were seen in the trees on the eastern side of the river. They never stayed for long, and seemed to come to the river about 8 a.m. perhaps to drink, though I never saw them at the water. In the Mababe Flats I saw a few pairs in the larger trees, but so shy that I could get nowhere near them. It was only by very careful stalking that I eventually got the two there. It was not met with farther east, where I was specially keen to find it. The distribution of birds in this region is extraordinary and inexplicable considering the absence of barriers. Bucorvus caler (Schlegel) Mus. Pays-Bas, Buceros, p. 20,1862: Kaffraria. I J, Toten; 2 JJ, Maun; 1 J, Dett; I J juv., Makarikari Pan. Dimensions: wing 496-560, tail 315-358, tarsus II6-120, culmen 193-225. Iris dull yellow. Bill and feet black. Bare skin round eyes, on cheeks and pouch pinky red, throat purplish. The Ground Hornbill was not seen until after we left Ngami Flats, and at Maun it was not uncommon a few miles from the village. Parties of three to five were in the habit of coming down to the river, apparently to drink; while there, they lingered about the open ground for some time when not disturbed. I did not see or hear it again thereafter, though it doubtless occurs in the Chobe valley. Its native (Sechuana) name is "Le-ohututu."

Family UPUPIDAE Upupa alricana Bechstein Kurze Uebers. IV, p. 172, I8n: Congo to the Cape. 2 JJ, Gaberones; 1 ｾＬ＠ Kuke; 1

Three from Maun and one from Kabulabula have green in the white on the primary coverts; and one from Gaberones, one from Tsotsoroga, two from Kabulabula and one from Maitengwe have the purple wing-coverts edged with glossy bronze, especially the last one. The worn upper surface of the central tail feathers is bronzy, but in the unworn fresh condition blue. The young birds have the bill black, immature birds red with a brown tip. This subspecies extends eastwards to the eastern Transvaal, the wing and tail, however, becoming shorter, indicating its mergence with the southern purpureus (which lacks the white tips to the primary coverts) and brevirostris of the Lower Zambesi area. In Damaraland it is represented by P. damarensis, characterised by its purple instead of green colour above. The Red-billed Hoopoe was only met with in the big trees near permanent pans of water, streams and rivers, always in parties of about half a dozen or more. It is a noisy and conspicuous bird, which finds its defence in its strong odour. Rhinopomastus cyanomelas cyanomelas Vieillot Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. XXVIII, p. 165. 1819: Namaqualand. 1

.... Ｍｾ＠ ... ｾ＠ ------in eastern Africa." Friedmann (I.e. p. 401) also writes as follows: "This race, which is just what its name implies, is considered a synonym of sehalowi by Grant, Sclater, and others. It is said to have the long tail 1 of sehalowi, but with less white on the tail feathers. An adult male from the thornbush country of the Bushman's River, Natal, agrees with Robert's description, but as Grant has shown that the range of nongeographic variation in tropical East Africa is great enough to more than match a good series of intermedius, it is quite unnecessary to add a third group to the named forms of this species. The group that Roberts named is merely an aggregate of variables bridging the between two valid subspecies." Since these birds are not so variable as has made out and Friedmann has himself named intermediates in many cases, this lengthy disquisition is neither justified nor correct. Provided the adults are correctly sexed, there is no difficulty in identifying any individual I have so far seen of the three races of this species, which is more than can be said for many other subspecies. R. e. intermedius occupies a wide strip of territory from Natal, through eastern Transvaal and western Southern Rhodesia to the Chobe River, which ought to be sufficient in itself to justify retention of the name-if subspecies are ever to be considered worth recog- nising. The figures I gave in the Annals above mentioned, and for the material recorded now prove how little these birds vary in tail length, when of the same sex and adult, despite the wear they are likely to be subject to. I did not find this bird at Kabulabula nor Kasane, and only at Kazungula, whither I went to procure Streptopelia ambigua, which I had been told occurred there. It will be of interest to learn how far west and north it goes from there, and it may quite well occupy the greater part of north-western Rhodesia. I have seen a male specimen from Matetsi, Southern Rhodesia, of this race, tail length 170 mm. Suborder STRIGES Family TYTONIDAE Tyto alba affmis (Blyth) Ibis, p. 388, 1862: Cape of Good Hope. I ｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 1 is. 1 ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; 1 is, I ｾＬ＠ Maun. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 290--298 117-123 58 19-20 ｾ＠ 235-287 IOS-II7 62 18-19 The first Barn Owl was found in a thornbush on the banks of the Metsi- maklaba River, an unusual site, as it prefers the shelter of old Hamerkop nests, caves, hollow trees and the like. At Gemsbok Pan they were a nuisance to householders by taking refuge in lofts and outbuildings. At Maun a nest was seen at the bottom of a dry well in the bush, with four or five young. The Sechuana name for all owls is "Morubisi." Family BUBONIDAE Phasmaptynx capensis capensis (A. Smith) 1 is, Maun; 2 iSis, 3 ｾｾＮ＠ Mababe Flats; 1 ｾＬ＠ N'kate; I ｾＬ＠ Pietersburg. Dimensions: wing 267-287, tail 140-153, tarsus 41-49, culmen to feathers 27'5-3°'5· 1 I showed that the tail was not nearly as long as in schalowi. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). granted Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 103 The Marsh Owl was common in the long grass on the border of Mababe Flats. It leaves its hiding places about sunset or earlier and flies about uttering a frog-like croak. Long grass in old marshes are its favourite haunts, failing which it occupies rank grass in the marshes themselves. A few were also seen flying about in the evenings at Kabulabula, but otherwise I saw no more.

Strix woodfordi woodfordi (A. Smith) S. Afr. Quart. J. II, p. 312, 1834: eastern forests of the Cape. 1&, Kabulabula; I ｾＬ＠ Kasane. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 261 165 39 18 254 160 36 20 These were the only two specimens observed. The first was in hiding in a tree growing in a matted tangle of small thornbushes, and the second was in the willows bordering the river opposite Legge's Island. Otus senegalensis intermedius (Gunning and Roberts) Ann. Trans. Mus. III, p. III, I9II: Pretoria. ｉｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 2 &&, Maun. Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen 134-135 58-60 10-10'5 138 64 The two from Maun are rather darker than typical specimens from the Upper Limpopo valley, but separation is hardly justified on so little material. Chapin (Amer. Mus. Nov. No. 412, pp. I-II, 1930) has recently justified my recognition of four subspecies in South Africa, after all others have rejected them. The more material I have seen, the more have I been convinced of the validity of these forms, and it has been amusing to find one" authority" after another gravely rejecting them-until now. These little Scops Owls are past masters in the art of concealment. One may hear them uttering their peculiar notes in a patch of trees or even one large tree, but locating them is quite another matter. The first one secured flew from a small thorn tree in which it had been sitting about 4 ft. from the ground, and the others at Maun were seen at dusk high up, silhouetted against the sky. They are certainly rare in collections, but I fancy are not actually so rare as that would seem to indicate. The Sechuana name for this Owlet is " Kukurungwe." Ptilopsis leucotis granti (Kollibay) Om. Monatsb. XVIII, p. 148, 1910; South-West Mrica. 1&, Okwa River; I ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan; I ｾＬ＠ Motlhatlogo; 1&, Maitengwe. Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen

Microglaux perlatu:m (Vieillot) Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. VII, p. 26, 1817: Senegal. 1&, 2 Motlhatlogo; 2 &&, I

1 Cf, Ann, Trans, Mus, xv, p. 26, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 105 (Orn. Monatsb. p. 10, 1906) is more yellowish throughout and appears to be confined to Damaraland. This Eagle Owl was not uncommon in the stony kopjes of the east, but rare in Ngamiland. Nyctaetus lacteus (Temminck) Pl. Col. livr. I, p. 4, 1824: Senegal. I C;, I ¥, Maun. Dimensions: Wing Tail Culmen cS 435 Z40 37 ｾ＠ 455 Z55 38 These and a specimen from Nyasaland are darker and smaller than specimens from the west and south. Bates (l.c. p. 204) gives the following dimensions: wing 415-432, tail 210-235, culmen 35-38. The Nyasa bird comes within these figures. Two from Damaraland, two from Rustenburg and two from north-eastern Transvaal measure: wing 445-470, tail 235-275, culmen 35-38. The female is larger than the male. I consider therefore that the name of Bubo verreauxi Bonaparte (Consp. p. 49, 1850) should be recognised for this larger southern race. In how far the difference in colour is concerned remains to be ascertained after comparison of more materiaL This Giant Eagle Owl is nowhere common and I saw but few. One was seen near the Okwa River in the central Kalahari, another at Mabeleapudi and several at Maun, but none gave an opportunity to secure them. One of the two procured was brought in by a native and the other was shot by Mr van Son. Suborder CAPRIMULGI Family CAPRIMULGIDAE Caprimulgus europaeus europaeus L. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. p. 193, 1758: Sweden. 1 C;, Gaberones (12th March). This specimen was obtained on a stony hill and was probably just ready to leave on its migration northwards.

Nyctictypus rufigena rufigena (A. Smith) Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pL 100, 1845: Cape Province. 1 ¥ juv., Pretoria; 3 C;C;, I ¥, Gaberones. Dimensions: wing 160-166, tail 122-126. The adult specimens were in moult, like most of the birds procured in March and April. The Gaberones specimens were shot at night from the motor car on the roads. Their eyes show up in the light of the head-lamps and even in flight can be seen by following them with the spotlight. They were not uncommon in the flats. All the specimens (28) in the Transvaal Museum collection were taken in the summer months, 9th September and 8th April being the earliest and latest records respectively. I have also never seen it in winter, and conclude therefore that it is migratory. It has been recorded from Darfur (Lynes), Yola Province and Southern Cameroon in May and July; but the dimensions given by Bates Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under 106 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

(l.c. p. 215), wing 157-164, tail 102-1°4, convince me that these are not South Mrican birds. In the series above mentioned the maximum and minimum dimensions are: wing 157-170, tail 113-130. West African birds are shorter tailed. Nyctisyrigmus pectoralis fervidus (Sharpe) Birds S. Afr. p. 86, 1875: Ovamboland. ＱｾＬ＠ Mabeleapudi; I ｾＬｍｯｴｬｨ｡ｴｉｯｧｯ［＠ ＱｾＬ＠ Mababe Flats; 13, Tsotsoroga; 233,3 W, Kabulabula; 1 ｾＬｍｩ｣｡＠ Hills. Dimensions: wing 161-175, tail II8-130. The smallest specimen has the outermost primary longer instead of shorter than the fourth, and is perhaps immature. The longest wing measure- ment is excessive, the next being 169. I find this form intergrading with pectoralis in the eastern low country, so that it must be regarded as a sub- species thereof. The first two specimens were procured by Mr FitzSimons in stony ground at Mabeleapudi and MotIhatlogo. Then I found it taking shelter on the ground in dense forest, one taking stance on a stump when flushed. Sub- sequently, most of the specimens were procured on the road from the motor car. It is a resident species. Nycticircus trimaculatus lentiginosus (A. Smith) Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pI. 101, 1845: Great Namaqualand. I 3, Gabane, Gaberones. Dimensions: wing 191, tail 135. Mr FitzSimons procured this specimen at Gabane Hills. I have never seen it anywhere but amongst rocky hills, where it is difficult to procure, as it dodges behind the rocks when flushed and is lost to sight in a moment. CroteIlla fossii (Hartlaub) Orn. West Afr. p. 23, 1857: Gaboon. I ｾＬ＠ Gaberones; 4 33, I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 158-17°, tail 120-134 +. The position with regard to the nomenclature of the Mozambique Nightjars has not been clarified by recent inquiries. There are in synonymy a number of names, which should not perhaps have been placed in synonymy, as follows: Locality Wing Tail C. fossii Hartlaub Gaboon 140-150 91-106 C. welwitschii Bocage Loanda 16z 114 C. mossambicus Peters Inhambane ISZ IZS C. clarus Reichenow Bukoba 148-155 IlS-IZO Specimens in the Transvaal Museum from the coastal area and inland, respectively, give the following dimensions: Coastal area (mossambicus) Wing Tail Umgeni River, UmbelIuzi River, Beira, Boror and Bagamoyo 150-162 Uo-Iz7 Average of 13 specimens 156 II9 Inland area Transvaal and Chobe River 157-170 117-134 Average of ZI specimens 16z IZS Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher granted licence under Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 107 Beira, Boror and Bagamoyo specimens (8) show lower figures than when the Umbelluzi and Umgeni ones are added, or an average wing length of 154, tail IIS. On the other hand a single specimen (in moult) from Ondongwa, South-West Africa, has a relatively shorter tail (wing II2, tail 108, or 66'5 per cent. of tail to wing length) and is paler than eastern specimens, which points to the probable existence of different western forms. Thus welwitsehii may well be a larger form of the Gaboon fossii, characterised by a short tail (65- 70 per cent., as compared with 71-80 per cent. in the eastern mossamhicus). All the specimens were procured on roads from the motor car. It does not occur far from streams, in my experience. Suborder GYSELI Family MICROPODIDAE Caffrapus (Epicypselus) horus finschii Bocage Orn. Angola, p. 157, 1881: Angola. 2 c:M, I \j?, Kabulabula. Darker than E. horus beirensis Roberts (Ann. Trans. Mus. XIII, p. 73, 1929. Beira) on the crown and face, though not so dark as and bluer on the back than E. h. australis Roberts (idem, Koster, Transvaal). Dimensions: Middle Wing Tail feathers c! 151, 147 53,53 40 !i! 154 55 44 These specimens were procured at a colony of nests in a sandbank on the Chobe River. The burrows contained fresh eggs in clutches of two or three, The eggs are glossy white and measure: c/3, 24 x IS, 24'1 x IS, 23'3 x IS; c/3, 23'5 x 14'8, 24'1 x 14'8, 23'5 x 15'5; c/3. 23 x 14'7, 22'1 x 15,21'5 x 14.8; Cj2, 24 x 14'6, 23'9 x 14,8. Cypsiurus parvus subsp.? Ie!, Shorobe. Dimensions: wing 136, tail II2, middle feathers 38, culmen 5, This is greyer than specimens from the east coast (Beira and Boror) referable to e p. myoehrous Reichenow (J. Orn. p, II6, 1886: Karema, Tanganyika Territory). A specimen from Swakopmund in the Transvaal Museum collection is still paler and in my Synoptic Check List I have referred it to typical parvus, but Friedmann (I.e. p. 3I9) states it cannot be that form, which is confined to the dry northern belt from Senegal to Abyssinia, and suggests it may be braehyptera. C. p. brachyptera, however, is a dark West Mrican form parallel with myochrous of East Africa. The Palm Swift was seen on the Thamalakane River about 8 miles north of Maun, flying out of range. Mr van Son subsequently saw it in the' evenings at Shorobe, frequenting the tall ivory palms, and succeeded in procuring this specimen. It was not seen again elsewhere, presumably owing to the absence of tall palms, Suborder GOLII Family COLIIDAE Colius colius (L.) Syst, Nat, 12th ed. I, p. 301, 1766: Cape of Good Hope. I c! juv.• Gaberones. One of a family party of the White-backed Coly seen in the trees on the Metsimaklaba River j two were shot, one dropping in the dry sandy bed of the Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by 108 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

river but, before I could get it, a Goshawk whipped it away. This is the most northerly record for the species on the east of the Kalahari. It was not seen again. ..- t \,". -" ; ..-." , Urocolius indicus transvaalensis Roberts Ann. Trans. Mus. VIII, p. 218, 1922: Pretoria. I

Suborder PICI Family CAPITONIDAE Lyhius torquatus torquatus (Dumont) Diet. Sci. Nat. IV, p. 56, pI. 28,1806: "Brazil" (South Africa). 4 eM, 31f1f, Maun; 8 eM, 21f1f, Kasane. Dimensions: wing 89-96, tail 56-60, tarsus 19-22, culmen 20'5-24'5. The Black-collared Barbet was common at Maun and Kasane, usually found feeding on wild figs or berries. Notopogonius leucomelas subspp. 2

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 26, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

white below with clearer stripes and larger spots, and have been named "Tricholaema leucomelas namaqua" Sclater (Bull. Brit. Orn. CI. XLII, p. 63, 1922). East of this, in Natal, the birds are rather smaller, the red frontal patch shorter and below yellower, sometimes showing stripes on the flanks. These are referable to Tricholaema affine Shelley (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 680,1879: Weenen, Natal), which was based on an immature bird that lacked the red frontal patch. East of the Lebombo occurs another form, smaller than the last, more uniform and clearer yellow below and not striped on the flanks, which I have named N. I. tongensis (Ann. Trans. Mus.), It occurs also in eastern Transvaal low country near Leydsdorp, West of the Drakensberg in Transvaal occurs a form with whiter under parts, average shorter tail and bill than those from Natal and Zululand. This form extends westwards through the Kalahari (bigger at Gemsbok Pan) to Damaraland, becoming rather smaller westwards and northwards. From the Zoutpansberg and N'kate are a pair and a female, respectively, which are the smallest in the series and may be found to occur from the Lower Limpopo valley through Southern Rhodesia to the Zambesi. It is to be noted that there is a smaller species in this genus (diadematus) extending from Nyasaland and Angola to north-east Mrica. I would therefore refer these specimens to subspecies as follows: Notopogonius leucomelas leucomelas (Boddaert) Tabl. PI. Inlum. p. 43, 1783: Cape of Good Hope. Yellowish white below; flanks usually striped dark brown; red frontal patch about 12 mm. from back to front. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 82-85 48-53 19-20 20-21'5 'i' 79 46 19-20 20-21'5 Cape and Karroo to Orange Free State. Notopogonius leucomelas namaqua (Sclater) Yellowish white below; flanks striped and breast clearly spotted (frontal red area and dimensions probably the same as in leucomelas). Little Nama- qualand. Notopogonius leucomelas amnis (Shelley) Clearer yellow below; flanks sometimes striped, breast not spotted; red frontal patch small, about 10 mm. Dimensions : Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 81-83 50 '5-56 19-19'5 'i' 78-81 49-53 18'5-1 9 Natal (Weenen). Notopogonius leucomelas tongensis Roberts Colour below clearer and more uniform yellow; red frontal patch below 10 mm. in length. Dimensions: Wing Tarsus Culmen 79 18'5 20 78 17 20 East of Lebombo Mountains. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced IIO ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Notopogonius leuco:melas centralis Robertsl Paler yellow below; flanks not normally striped; red frontal patch 10 mm. or less in length. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 79-82 (83) 46-51 18-20 18-20'5 5j? 77-81 46-49 18-20 18-20'5 Type: T.M. No. 486, adult male, Rustenburg, Kalahari (except Gemsbok Pan), Ngamiland and Damara birds average rather less. Dimensions: Wing Tarsus Culmen 77-81 18-20 19-20 75-78'5 18-19 18'5-20 Notopogonius leuco:melas nkatiensis Roberts2 Silkier and whiter below; flanks not striped; red frontal patch 7 mm. long; wing ｾ＠ 73, tail 44, tarsus 18, culmen 16'5, Type: T.M. No. 17565, V.L.K.E. No, 2862, N'kate, northern Bechuana- land, 11th August, 1930. The Pied Barbet was nowhere common, though not a rare bird. It is one of the few species adapted to the dry Kalahari thornveld and yet occurs eastwards to near the coast in Zululand. Berries appear to be its main food, though it also feeds on fruit when no berries are to be had. It is often to be traced by its call, which is a loud" Hoop-hoop-hoop," somewhat resembling the call of the African Hoopoe. Pogoniulus chrysoconus extoni (Layard) Ibis, p. 226, 1871: Kanye, North Bechuanaland. I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Kasane. Exton's Tinker was only found by me on two occasions and by Mr Noome once, and it must therefore be rare. Its clinking" song" is so distinctive that if it had been heard we should have procured more. Trachyphonus vaillantii vaillantii (Ranzani) Elem. Zool. III, pt. 2, p. 159, I82I: South Africa, ex Levaillant. 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Hamanskraal, Pretoria; 16, Zwartruggens; ｉｾＬ＠ Gaberones; ＲｾＬ＠ Zimbabwe. Although we kept a look-out for this bird in Ngamiland, it was neither seen nor heard. Its peculiar rattling" song" is so distinctive that one cannot mistake it when heard. Trachyphonus nobilis O. Grant (Ibis, p. 397, 1912) was described from Lake Ngami on a . Ie specimen. The Transvaal Museum possesses specimens of T. vaillantii m Machile River, and Bocage records it from Angola. Family INDICATORIIDAE Indicator indicator (Sparrmann) Phil. Trans. LXVII, p. 43. pI. 1,1777: Great Fish River, C.P. 1 6, Zweizwe River; 16 im., Kabulabula; 16 im., Kasane. Dimensions: wing III, tail 76, tarsus 14, culmen 13.

1 Cf. Ann. Tram, Mus. xv, p. 26, 1932. 2 Cf. ibid. p. 27, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM III

Only these three specimens were seen. The adult came to call me to a bees' nest. The immature males still retain some yellow on the forehead and breast and the cheeks and throat are partly black, in transition.

Family PRODOTISCIDAE Prodotiscus regulus regulus Sundevall Oefv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. Stockholm, p. log, 1850: Mohapani, Palachwe. I <;!, Tsotsoroga. Dimensions: wing 77, tail 52, tarsus II, culmen 10'5. This specimen was the only one observed. It was flitting about in some small bushes in the mopane forest in company with other small birds and looked like a Flycatcher. This and two males from Hector Spruit are paler below than one from Natal and another from Grahamstown.

Family PICIDAE Chrysoptilopicus bennettii bennettii (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 53,1836: Western Transvaal. <;!, Gaberones. Dimensions: wing 124, tail 6g, tarsus Ig, culmen 27'5. This fine Woodpecker was seen only once, in more or less open dry forest, at Gaberones. I refer also to this subspecies: 2 JJ, 4 W, Tsotsoroga. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 127-128 71 18-:n 25'5-27'5 118-124 67-'73 19--20 2o--z6 They were found frequenting the large mopane trees, and were more plentiful than the other large species. Dry country seems to be preferred by them. Chrysoptilopicus bennettii capricorni (Strickl.) Contr. am. p. 155, 1852: North Damaraland. I J, I Jim., Gomodimo. Dimensions: wing uS, tail 65, tarsus 20-21, culmen 28-28'5. The adult male matches a specimen from Ondongwa, South-West Africa, in the rich colour, few spots below, and lighter upper tail-coverts. These two were secured after a long pursuit, arising from my hearing their loud, deep, bell-like notes. One would never expect this sound to emanate from a Woodpecker. Chrysoptilopicus ahingoni annectans (Neumann) Bull. Brit. am. Cl. XXI, p. 95, Ig08: Sambo, Benguella. 1 J, I <;!, Kabulabula. Dimensions: wing 125,128; tail 64. 70; tarsus 17'5. 17; culmen 2g, 26,S. This form is intermediate between C. a. abingoni and C. a. smithi. It is a noisy bird when rapping on tree trunks, often doing so, apparently, to get into touch with others of its kind, or merely for pastime. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 112 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM ------Chrysoptilopicus abingoDi snlithi (Malherbe) Rev. Zool. p. 403, 1845: South Mrica. 16. Gaberones; 16, Mothlatlogo; 366. 2 ｾｾＮ＠ Maun; 16, Shorobe; 1 ｾＬ＠ Tsotsoroga; 1 ｾＬ＠ Maitengwe River. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen ｾ＠ lIS-US 61-']1 17-19 25'5-28 ｾ＠ 119-122 64-,]1 16-19 27-28 This form, like anneetans, averages larger than abingoni of the eastern part of South Africa, of which the maximum wing length is 118. It was always easy to find this Woodpecker by its rapping. It was nearly always in pairs, the mate being somewhere near when one was procured, but they were shy and had to be carefully followed to get in a shot.

Dendropicos fuscescens subspp. 16, 1 ｾＬ＠ Gaberones; I ｾＬｋｵｫ･［＠ 16, Gomodimo; 1 6, Kaotwe; 2 66. I ｾＬ＠ Gemsbok Pan;.2 66, 2 ｾｾＬ＠ Mothlatlogo; 1 ｾＮ＠ Token; 16, 1 ｾＮ＠ Maun; 6, I ｾＬ＠ Mababe Flats; 4 66. Tsotsoroga; I 6, Zweizwe River; 566, I ｾＬ＠ Kabulabula; .2 66, Kasane; I ｾＬ＠ N'kate; 16, Zimbabwe. These birds are not easy to classify, owing to the smallness of the series and the assumed overlapping of two species. A few years ago I classified the specimens in the Transvaal Museum (Ann. Trans. Mus. x, pp. 83, 84, 1924) and then came to the conclusion that there were two species overlapping in distribution in South Mrica, a large southern one extending northwards through the central districts to the Upper Zambesi valley and a small one extending from central Africa to the eastern Cape Province on the one hand and to the Orange River on the other. The specific distinction was based upon Reichenow's Die Vogel Afrikas, II, p. 192, in which "guineensis" (=fuseeseens) was said to have the wing length over 93 mm. and the tropical hartlaubii hardly as much as 93 mm. In his description of hartlaubii he adds that the upper parts are more strongly olive yellowish green compared with "guineen- sis." Now, however, after examination of the series collected on the Vernay- Lang Kalahari Expedition, more material since collected in the Union in the Transvaal Museum and a few specimens in the Albany and Kaft'raria Museums, I am more inclined to agree with Sclater (Syst. Av. Aeth. p. 862, 1930) and Friedmann (I.e. p. 482), that there is only one species but with a number of subspecies. There are still a few individuals, however, in the series that present a little difficulty by being either much above or below the normal size of individuals in the same districts. To take the colour characters first, all eastern Cape Province specimens I have seen are the most heavily striped below and are dark above, the latter character sometimes matched by specimens from farther north. In specimens of authentic origin adult males from Uitenhage, Humansdorp. "The Fort," Fish River and Peddie have the forehead dark reddish brown, as figured by Levaillant, and these must be taken as typical. Others from Kleinpoort Farm near Committees Drift, Fish River (two, male and female, taken by me), two (females) from" Brakktoof," Albany District, one (male) from Peddie, two (male and female) from Breidbach, King Williamstown, and one (male) from King Williamstown have the forehead in the male dark grey-brown, seeming to show the existence of another form in the eastern districts. A large male from "Modder River, Orange Free State" has the forehead very Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 113

rusty coloured; but the locality seems dubious, as another male from Modder River taken by another collector has the forehead dark grey-brown. The wing length in both, however, is over 97 mm. No other specimens from the rest of the Union, that I have seen, display any approach to this reddish tinge mentioned in the above specimens. The Uitenhage specimen, which is in the Albany Museum collection, is smaller than the other two from Humans- dorp and "The Fort," and a pair from Peddie are the largest of these from eastern Cape Province. The Modder River, Potchefstroom, Bloemhof, Vryburg, Gaberones, Rustenburg, Koster, Pretoria district and Stoffberg (Middelburg district, Transvaal) specimens are mostly large; but one from Moorddrift and one from Olifants River, Middelburg district, are small. This large dark form I named orangensis, the type from Potchefstroom. It has fairly heavy stripes below and is fairly dark above. In the western area I also named a small, fairly heavily striped form, which has the upper tail-coverts paler than the other forms, as harei, from Barkly West on the Lower Vaal River. Specimens from Gemsbok Pan, western Kalahari, and Okahandja district, South-West Africa, seem also to be referable to this form. From the northern Transvaal I named as transvaalensis a large male from Nylstroom, which has the stripes below much thinner and on a paler ground colour. No others have been seen that exactly match it, but specimens from Kuke Pan, Gomodimo Pan and Zimbabwe are sufficiently close to it to be classed with it. Farther east, just below the Drakensberg, occurs another large form, with fairly heavy striping below, but not so dark above, which I named intermedius from Weenen, Natal. This form extends northwards to the eastern Transvaal, and one (female) from Beatrice, Salisbury district, Southern Rhodesia, may also prove to be referable to it. In the Weenen district and several places farther north smaller specimens have been procured and have caused me to think there are two species which overlap; but perhaps the explanation is that the smaller form found still farther east finds its way up the river valleys and in that way occurs in the same districts as the larger one. Comparison of the table of wing measurements given below will make this clear. The eastern form found in the coastal lowlands I named natalensis from Red Hill; it is a yellower tinted form than the others and has thinner stripes below, though not as thin as in the northern coastal forms. It occurs as far north as Ingwavuma district. A little to the north, at Umbellosi, near Lourenyo Marques, occurs a form much resembling that of the Lower Zambesi valley (centralis ?), but with the upper tail-coverts much redder than in any other specimens I have seen. In nine specimens collected by me in Boror not one has any red on the upper tail-coverts, and in one of two specimens from Beira there is only a little red. Specimens of natalensis not infrequently show a fair amount of red, but not nearly as much as in this Umbellosi specimen, which I made the type of noomei. In the Upper Zambesi valley occurs a very thinly striped form, very pale on the forehead in the male. The type of this form, capriviensis, from "Caprivi Corner," is a large male, and amongst the series collected along the southern banks of the Chobe River only one female matches it in size, though some smaller males match it fairly well in colour. A female from Machile River, North-west Rhodesia, is slightly larger than the type, and another female from Ngami Flats is the same; but other specimens from the latter locality are small, and lighter coloured on the forehead in a female, which may indicate intrusion from the west of the small, pale, thinly striped stresemanni. Of this form there are two birds (male and female) from Okanjande, South- West Mrica, in the Transvaal Museum collection. Specimens from the Thamalakane River are rather dark on the forehead in a male, and rather longer 8 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

in wing length than the three small ones from Ngami Flats; a pair from Mababe Flats and four males from Tsotsoroga Pan are of about the same size as those from Thamalakane River and very similar in colour. It is difficult to place these Ngamiland specimens with certainty, and it looks very much as though a large form exists in the "Caprivi" strip, which strays into the country to the south which is inhabited by a rather smaller one, The specimens I have examined give the following wing lengths:

Locality Museum collection Male Female D,fmcescensfuscescens. Wing length average 92 Blue Cliff, Uitenhage Albany Museum 88'5 Humansdoro " 93 "The Fort/' Fish River 92'S 95 Peddie South Mrican Museum 97 97 "Modder River, Orange Free State" 0) Transvaal Museum 97'5 D. fuscescens, subsp.{ ?). Wing length average 93 Kleinpoort, Fish River Transvaal Museum 95 94 Brakkloof, Albany district 94 Albany ｍｾｳ･ｵｭ＠ 91 Peddie " Kaffraria Museum 93 Breidbach, King Williamstown 94 93 King Williamstown " 94 D.fuscescens orangensis. Wing length" average 97 Modder River, Orange Free State Transvaal Museum 99'S Potchefstroom (type) 97 Bloemhof 97 Zoetvlei, Vryburg 95 Gaberones 97 V .-L. ｋ｡ｬｾｨ｡ｲｩ＠ Exp. 98 ｒｵｳｴｾｾ｢ｵｲｧ＠ Transvaal Museum 99 95'5 Koster " 95 Hennops River, Pretoria district 98 95'5 97 " 96 " 95 " 93 93 Zoutpan, Preto:ia district " 96 + " 94 Hamanskraal: Pretoria district 94'5 Baviaanspoort, Pretoria district ".. 102 Stoffberg, Middelburg, Transvaal " 99 97'S D, fuscescens transvaalensis. Wing length average 97 Nylstroom (type) Transvaal Museum 100 Kuke Pan V.-L. Kalahari Exp. Gomodimo Pan Zimbabwe, Southern Rhodesia .. D.fuscescens harei. Wing length average 94 Orange River South African Museum 93'5 Barldy West (type) Transvaal Museum 93 93'S Gemsbok Pan V.-L. Kalahari Exp. 94 93 6 ｏｫ｡ｨｾｾ､ｪ｡＠ 9 district Transvaal "Museum 93 91 '5 96 93 Hountop'River South Af;ican Museum 97 Damaraland " 9 I + D.fuscescens stresemanni (?). Wing length average 90'5 Okanjande, South-West Africa Transvaal Museum 90 90'5 Ngami Flats V.-L. Kalahari Exp. 91 91 90 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM !IS

ｾＮｾｾＭ .. ＭＭＭｾＭＮＭＭ Locality Museum collection Male Female D,.fu$cescens capriviensis, Wing length average 97 Ngami Flats V,-L, Kalahari Exp, 97 Kabulabula 98 "Caprivi Corner" (type) Transvaal" Museum 97 Machile River, North-western Rhodesia 97'S D, .fu$cescens capriviensis (?), Wing length average 94 Maun V,-L, Kalahari Exp, 93 94 95 Mababe" Flats " 95 94 Tsotsoroga Pan " 94 " 94 " 93 " 92 Zweizwe" 96 Kabulabula 95 95 94 93 93 " " 93 Kasane" 95 93 N'kate" 95 Zambesi South African" Museum 94 92'S " 94 D,.fu$cescens intermedius, Wing length of larger specimens 95-101, average 96'5; wing length of smaller specimens 89'5-95, average 93 Weenen, Natal (type) Transvaal Museum 96 " ,,98'5 Acornhoek 101 97 " 96 95 Sheila," Leydsdorp 96'S 97'S Klein Letaba " 97 95 " 9S Selati, Lydenburg district South African" Museum 97 Beatrice, Southern Rhodesia Transvaal Museum 96'S Tugela Estates, Weenen 93'S 92 92'S Indhlovudwalile," Swaziland 94'S Louws Creek, Barberton 91"5 Hector Spruit " 95 95 94 9S " South African Museum 94'S Sabi River" 94'S Klaserie Transvaal" Museum 94 94 93 Sheila," Leydsdorp " 93'S 93'S ",. 93 .. 92'S 89'S Mokeetsi' " 9S 94 Elim': Zoutpansberg 94 Moorddrift. ｗ｡ｴ･ｲ｢･ｲｾ＠ district 92 Olifants River, Middel urg, Transvaal 92'S D,fuscescens natalensis, Wing length average 92'S Red Hill, Natal Coast (type) Transvaal Museum 92'S Ntambanana, Zululand 92'S White Umfolosi River 94 91'S Ivuna, near Nongoma 93 Ubombo (fiats) 91 Otobotini " 92 8-2 Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced II6 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Locality Museum collection Male Female D, fuscescens nataletlsis (cont,) Ingwavuma (flats) Transvaal Museum Manaba" (The last locality, Manaba, is far from the Lebombo Mountains and contains a fauna distinct in many respects,) D, fuscescetls noomei Umbellosi River (type) Transvaal Museum 93 D,fuscescerl$ centralis(?), Wing length average 90'S Beira Transvaal Museum 93'S 92 B;;or, Mozambique 92 9 1 92 90 ".. 88 90 89'S .. 88 .. 87'S D, fuscescerl$ subsp, (?) Blantyre, Nyasa Transvaal Museum 90 Livingstonia, North-eastern Rhodesia Albany Museum 94 It will be seen from the above figures how very wide the range is in respect of wing length from single localities, such as Sheila, Leydsdorp; but when we consider that small forms exist to the east and large forms to the west of this particular locality, the reason becomes clearer, Whether the large and small forms interbreed or not remains to be proved, and upon this depends whether they are actually species or merely subspecies. A range of variation of nearly 10 per cent. in such cases and only about 5 per cent. in the case of those from Boror seems to indicate possible specific isolation and to support the theory upon which I formerly classified them, namely, that there are two species, a small one in the tropics that has radiated southwards and a large one on the inland plateau, which has radiated outwards and overlaps the range of the other. There is, however, an absence of other characters than size, which makes it difficult to accept this without further proof. With regard to immature plumage, there are eight males in the Transvaal Museum collection, of which six are from localities whence adults are also present in the collection and can therefore be identified with certainty, In all of these the nape is black behind the red crown, the latter therefore more restricted. The following differences are to be noted: D. fuscescens orangensis. Modder River, Orange Free State,6th January, 1906 (sexed <;21), The nape as broadly black as the red crown and forehead grey-brown, with a slight rusty tinge and light-coloured tips to the feathers immediately in front of the red area, The upper parts of body are more yellowish than the adults and the under parts with large spots rather than stripes. Wing 95, culmen 18'5 (in adult 22). Two from Hennops River, 3rd August, 1924. These are evidently younger than that from Modder River, as they are yellower below, with smaller, obscurer markings; one has the forehead lighter than the other, with a yel- lowish tip on the shaft of all the feathers; wing 88, culmen 15; the other with a darker forehead has light tips to the feathers only adjoining the red area, the red area narrower than in the other; wing 87, culmen 14'5. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

D. fuscescens transvaalensis. One from Nylstroom, taken at the same time as the type, 6th August, 1909. The forehead is dark brown, without pale tips to the feathers, the red area narrower than the black nape; upper parts of body as in the Modder River specimen, but the under parts of body with smaller spots and on a yellower ground colour-not white as in the type. Wing 89, culmen IS. D. fuscescens intermedius. Klein Letaba, 8th September, 1902. Upper and under parts of body less yellow than in the preceding, the forehead dark brown, stripes below fairly heavy. Wing 95, culmen 16'5. D. fuscescens natalensis. Mkusi River, Zululand, 30th November, 1928. Forehead dark as in the last, but upper parts of body (plumage worn) darker, under parts yellower with stripes fairly heavy. There is very little red on the crown. Wing 88'5, culmen 16'5. D. fuscescens capriviensis ( ?). Two from "Matabeleland," 5th October, 1905 (collected by C. Wilde, who also collected the type of capriviensis). Both specimens have the upper and under parts of body less yellow than in the southern specimens above mentioned and the forehead very pale, with traces of pale tips, the stripes below narrow but less distinct than in the type. Wing 93 and 94, culmen 16'5 and 16, respectively. From this it will be seen that to a large extent the colour of the young males follows much the same local character found in the adults. Apparently there are no definitely immature females in the Transvaal Museum collection, as the bill (which is usually shorter in female adults and males) in no case is less than 17 mm. in the larger or 16 mm. in the smaller forms examined. NOTE. Dendropicos hartlaubi Malherbe has one page precedence over D. lafresnayi, which Friedmann and others appear to have overlooked when using the latter in a specific sense. These Woodpeckers were met with in the driest parts of the Kalahari as well as the moister parts of Ngamiland. They frequent the bigger trees, as a rule near the pans where other birds occur in "parties." I procured all I could in order to secure as much evidence as possible as to the identity of the forms. Nevertheless, it was nowhere common and only a limited number was procured. They are rather quiet birds, though active when engaged in searching for their food. They are quick to sidle behind branches when alarmed. Some- times they were discovered by their" rapping," which is not so resonant as that of the larger Woodpeckers and very rapid. I have seen them rapping for quite a 10Jlg time in the same place. After each performance they would look about them, as though expecting the appearance of others. Sometimes this rapping would be followed by a shrill note, adding to the conclusion that the performance was intended to draw others to it. Both males and females rapped in this way.

Thripias namaquus namaquus (Lichtenstein) Cat. Rer. Rar. p. 17, 1793: Namaqualand. 1&, Maun; I ｾ＠ (=&), Shorobej I ｾ＠ ( &), 1& im., Kabulabula; I &, 19. Kasane. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet 1I8 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Two of the Chobe River specimens have reddish tips to the upper tail- coverts, a character seen in at least 50 per cent. of specimens from the east coast (Beira northwards) and not in a single one in eighteen specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection from the south and west. The extent of the auricular black patch varies considerably in the same series and in those recorded above. The forehead varies also considerably in males, the white spots often tinged with red near the red area, sometimes extending forward, and in the size of the black, white-spotted area, which in some is only half the width of others. In an exceptional specimen from Bubye River (T.M. No. 10539) the red extends to within 5 mm. of the bill, each feather with white below the red. Dimensions: wing 132-137, tail 66-74, tarsus 19-20, culmen 33'5-38. The Bearded Woodpecker was not observed until we reached Maun. It is also a very loud "rapper," and all the specimens were secured by following up the sound, The scream of alarm is also much louder than that of the Cardinal. They were invariably in pairs and very shy.

Order PASSERIFORMES Suborder OSCINES Family ALAUDIDAE Mirafra passerina Gyldenstolpe

Ark. Zool. XIX, A, p. 24, 1927: Mohapoani, Bechuanaland.

(Mirafra fringillan's auct.)

I'1? (=d'), 1 '1?juv., Kuke; I '1?, Mabeleapudi. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Hind claw 85 57 20'5 13'5 8 72 48 20 13'5 6'5 These were all I saw of this species. It is not uncommon in the bushveld of Transvaal, but is seldom seen except during the breeding season, when the males utter a short monotonous chirping and are bolder.

Africorys africanus transvaalensis (Hartert) Nov. Zool. IX, p. 45, 1900: Rustenburg. I d', Pretoria; I '1?, Gaberones. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Hind claw 98 66 27 18 9'5 92'S 62 26 18 8 These are rufous above and below, typical of transvaalensis. This species has a habit of perching on the top of a tree, stump, stone or ant-heap to sing, and I should not have found this species had I not followed up the call notes to procure specimens. These notes sound something like" Chirrie, too pay," and when uttered are usually accompanied by a flitting of the wings. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

Africorys africanus ghansiensis Roberts l 2 66, Kuke; 3 66, Gemsbok Pan. A pallid form coming near A. a. pallidior2 Shelley (Birds Afr. III, p. 62, 19°2: Elephant Vlei), with the same small markings on the chest, but not so pallid above and below. The type of pallidior is in such worn condition that Hartert and Shelley have both expressed doubts as to its true colours; but there is a specimen in the Transvaal Museum from Ondongwa, not far from the type locality, which confirms it as a very pallid form. Type: T.M. No. 17591, V.L.K.E. No. 660, adult male, Gemsbok Pan, 28th April. Dimensions: wing 95 +-99, tail 60 +-69, tarsus 28-29'5, culmen 19-20' 5, hind claw 9-9.8. Africorys africanus ngamiensis Robertsl 1 6, 1 ¥, Mababe Flats. A dark form, the crown very dark with broad black centres to the feathers, little rufous showing on the nape, and the back buffy greyish, with little black showing; ear-coverts pale rufous with brown flecking and blackish on the upper margin; lores, superciliary stripe, cheeks and throat buffy white, the cheeks with black flecks; rump buffy brownish grey; upper tail-coverts similar, but with dark centres to the feathers; tail brown with rufous margins, be- coming speckled pale buffy on the whole outer web of outermost feather. Under parts pale buffy, more rufous across the chest, which has well-defined triangular black markings; edge of wing and axillaries pale buffy pinkish, the under wing-coverts and inner edges of primaries (except the small outermost) and secondaries clearer pinky; outer web of outer and greater part of inner primaries rufous, decreasing on the secondaries until absent on the innermost, which are brown, darker in the centres, with rufous buffy margins; the primary coverts are dark brown, with broad rufous margins and whitish near the tips, secondary and greater wing-coverts similar, but without the whitish tips. Type: T.M. No. 17589, V.L.K.E. No. 1582, adult male, Mababe Flats, 14th June. Dimensions: Hind Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen claw <5 94 66 26 18 9 ¥ 84 58 28 17'5 9 A. africanus occidental£s (Hartlaub, Orn. W. Afr. p. 153, 1857: Gaboon) is also a dark form, but" less blackish and paler above" than A. a. africanus, according to Hartert (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. XIX, p. 93, 1907) "dull greyish with the darker centres to the feathers less extended, less well defined and more in the form of streaks." The type was from Verreaux's collection. According to Bannerman (Ibis, p. 233, 1912) it is a small race, and he gives the wing length as 3'5 in. ( 89 mm.), but in the original description Hartlaub gives the following dimensions in "Pied du Roi": "Total length 6" 10'" (= 185 mm.), culmen 71''' ( 19'5 rnm.), wing 3" 8'" (= 99 mm.), tail 2" 5'" (= 66 mm.). ¥, length 61" ( 170 mm.)." Only a few of these birds were observed while we were travelling from Shorobe to Mababe Flats, and another was shot, but escaped into a Gerbille

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 27, I932. 2 The name of Mirafra pallida having been used before (cf. Gray, Handlist Birds, II, p. I2I, I870) Shelley's name must replace it. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). (dated by the Publisher granted Gateway under licence by Sabinet Reproduced I20 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

warren. The type, however, was shot in the Mababe Flats two days later. Another specimen of the species (possibly of another subspecies) was flushed in long grass on the banks of the Chobe River, but it dived into the grass again and I failed to flush it a second time. These birds are very evasive, after being flushed invariably running from where they settle and rising again in an unexpected quarter, if one is fortunate enough to get them to do so.

Corypha1 hewitti kalaharica Roberts2 A light-coloured form, faintly striped above, not much mottled nor dark rufous like C. h. hewitti (Ann. Trans. Mus. XI, p. 223, I926) of Transvaal, lighter coloured than C. h. deserti (idem) of Omutako Flats, South-West Mrica, which is a redder bird. Colour: Above pale pinky brownish, far less rufous than any subspecies so far described, with narrow brown centres, hidden in the fresh plumage over the hind neck and upper back, on the lower back more rufous and darkly barred in the usual way with whitish margins, the upper tail-coverts greyish with brown shaft stripes. Central pair of tail feathers greyish, variegated with darker stripes and faint barring, margined with pale vinous rufous; the pair next the central pair grey-brown, the rest darker brown, with the outer web, tip and portion of the inner web towards the tip of the outermost pair rufous buffy to white. Primaries and other wing feathers as in hewitti, but lighter rufous, the margins paler whitish on the inner secondaries. Below con- siderably paler than deserti. Type: T.M. No. I7633, V.L.K.E. No. 688, adult male, Gemsbok Pan, 29th April. Also 300, from the type locality, 200 from Damara Pan and 300 from Kuke. The Kuke specimens are in worn plumage, the two from Damara Pan and the type nearly through the moult whilst the others are either in worn or moulting plumage. Dimensions : Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen cr 87-91 57-63 23-26'5 15-17 ｾ＠ 81--83 56-57'5 23'5-24 14'5-15 These birds are not easy to procure as they have the habit of nsmg unexpectedly, dodging in flight, settling at some distance and running immediately in any direction. Then they may lie close and wait until one is behind a bush before rising suddenly again. When undisturbed they rise skywards, clapping their wings and whistling a pretty" Whe-ie," especially on bright mornings after sunrise.

Corypha fischeri mababiensis Roberts2 A paler form, both above and below, than C.f.fischeri (Reichenow,J. Om. p. 266, I878: Rabai, near Mombasa), though not so pale as C. damarensis (Sharpe, Pmc. Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 650, pI. 75, I874: Ondonga, South-West Africa). Colour: Upper parts buffy greyish with obscure brownish centres to the feathers, from crown to back and scapulars, the crown with the dark centres more clearly defined and the back with lighter buffy margins and darker barring. Plumes of the lower back more uniform than the upper back, only slightly barred; longer tail-coverts with dark centres and no barring. Tail feathers dark brown, the central pair with rufous buffy margins, the outermost

1 Corypha is not regarded as the same as Coryphus by Sclater. 2 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mm. xv, p. 27, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 121

pair almost entirely rufous buffy, the penultimate pair rufous buffy on the outer web only. Primaries brown, the outer web at the basal two-thirds buffy rufous, much paler than in fischeri, and the margins of the secondaries and all the upper coverts marked as in fischeri, but also pallid. Superciliary stripe buffy white, sides of face buffy white with fine dark brown flecking, throat more uniform, but faintly flecked on the lower part above the spots on lower throat and chest; remaining under parts to under tail-coverts dull rufous buffy. Axillaries and under side of wing opposite them pale rufous buffy, the inner margin of primaries for the basal half vinous buffy. Type: T.M. No. 17636, V.L.K.E. ｾｯＮ＠ 1916, adult male, Tsotsoroga Pan, 26th June. Also two males from Zweizwe River. Dimensions: wing 77-82, tail 58-60, tarsus 24'5-25'5, culmen 16.8-17'4. The type is the smaller of these specimens. These birds were only observed in openings in the mopane veld, and were extraordinarily difficult to procure, as they had reduced the dodging and running habit to a fine art. I have only heard Fischer's Lark clap its wings when taking its aerial flights; but I once shot one in Barberton district which was whistling prettily from the top of a thornbush. Typical fischeri appears to occur southwards as far as Zululand. A specimen of zombae from Nyasaland in the Transvaal Museum is much darker. C.f. angolensis Bocage (J. Sci. Lisboa, VIII, p. 59,1880: Caconda, Angola) is a much more rufous-coloured bird. Anacorys africanoides africanoides (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 47,1836: "Eastern Province of the Colony and Latakoo." 1 ¥, Hamanskraal, Transvaal. This is a typical specimen, not distinguishable from others in the Transvaal Museum collection from Zoetvlei, south-west of Vryburg, and Fourteen Streams. Litakun (near Kuruman) must be taken as the type locality, as the species does not seem to extend into the eastern Province, as stated by Smith. Anacorys africanoides sarwensis Robertsl General coloration above and below considerably paler than A. a. harei (Roberts, Ann. Trans. Mus. V, p. 258,1917: Windhoek, South-West Africa), the ground colour above pale VinOUS instead of rufous and under parts purer white; superciliary stripe, lores and line below the eye to forepart of ear- coverts white, the rest of the ear-coverts pale rufous in contrast; white under parts with scattered triangular flecking across the chest. Type: T.M. No. 17596, V.L.K.E. No. 495, adult male, Kaotwe, loth April. Dimensions: wing 87' 5, tail 58, tarsus 22, culmen 14, hind claw 7. Also 3 eM ad., 4 ¥¥, 2 juv., Kaotwe; 2

This was the commonest Lark in the Kalahari, being found throughout the dry area, but not in Ngamiland. It is commonly seen perched on the top of low bushes and has quite a pretty whistling note. As it is not very shy, specimens were easily procured. During the early part of the journey it was found in moult and it was still moulting when we got to Gemsbok Pan. Anacorys africanoides makarikarii Robertsl Even paler than A. a. sarwensis, the ground colour above conspicuously lighter, but with broader dark centres; ear-coverts not so reddish and browner; below white, with a few scattered and tiny triangular brown marks across the chest. Type: T.M. No. 17S93, V.L.K.E. No. 2883, adult male, N'kate, 12th August. Dimensions: wing 91'S, tail 62'S, tarsus 22, culmen 13, hind claw 6. Also another, not sexed, from N'kate and a female from Nata River. Sabota sabota sabota (A. Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 47,1836: Latakoo. 16 juv., Swartruggens; 266, 3 n, 266 juv., 1 'il juv., Gaberones; 1 'il, 666 juv., Kuke. These birds were in the height of moulting, and some were in such a poor condition of plumage that they were discarded. The Sabota ran the Fawn-coloured Lark a close second as regards numbers. It usually flies to the top of the nearest tree upon alarm and chirps its warning from there. Its whistling note is rather harsh. Dimensions : Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 81-84 47 20-20'5 12-14 76-80 44-50 20-23 12'5-1 3'5 Sabota sabota sabotoides Robertsl Considerably paler above than both S. s. sabota of the east and S. s. naevia (Strickland, Contr. Om. p. 152, 1852: Damaraland) of the west, the super- ciliary stripe pure white, and much whiter about the neck, back and margin of all wing feathers; below also whiter than naevia; the bill slender as in sabola, but longer, 14-IS'5 (16) instead of 13-14; in naevia the culmen measures IS'5-17'S in 7 66, and 14'S in ＱｾＬ＠ from Damaraland. The spotting on the chest is not as heavy as in sabota and not as scattered nor so small as in naevia. The immature birds conform to the same colour difference. S. s. waibeli (Grote, J. Orn. p. 46, 1922: Okaukwejo) is a pallid" desert" form like this one, but is compared with naevia, which has a very thick as well as long bill. Grote gives no measurements for the bill, but two males from Tsumeb in the Transvaal Museum have the bill long (16 mm.) but not stout, though longer and stouter than in those from the Kalahari. Type: T.M. No. 17719, V.L.K.E. No. 661, adult male, Gemsbok Pan, 28th April. Dimensions: wing 86, tail 54, tarsus 21, culmen IS. Also 666, 2 n, S juv., Gemsbok Pan, 266, Kaotwe, and 16, 1 ｾ＠ juv., near Lake Ngami. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 78-86 50-55 20-22'5 14-16 80 45 20-21 14-15'5 1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 28, 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). by the Publisher (dated under licence granted Gateway by Sabinet Reproduced ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 123 This Lark was common in certain types of veld, open grassy bush, and became very local towards Lake Ngami, beyond which it was not seen again.

Pinarocorys nigricans (Sundevall) Oefv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. Stockholm, VII, p. 99,1850: Aapies River, Pretoria. 1 0', 1 Sil, Motlhatlogo. Dimensions : Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen 6 lIS 76 27'5 IS'S ｾ＠ 115 76 26 IS Several small flocks were observed in open ground fringing the forest, but were very shy. A few were also seen at Toten, but nowhere else on the expedition. I observe that Sclater still maintains the name of P. erythropygia (Strick- land, Proc, Zool. Soc. Lond. p. 219, 1850) although I have pointed out that Certhilauda nivosa Swainson (Birds W. Afr. I, p. 213, 1837) is probably the same bird, and nivosa is certainly not applicable to our Karroo Lark.

Chersomanes albofasciata erikssoni O.-Grant Bull. Brit. Om. Cl. XIX, p. 82: Okahokahana, South-West Africa. 1 0', pan east of van Zyl's Cutting. Dimensions: wing 88, tail 52, tarsus 25, culmen 22, hind claw, 10'5. Only a pair of these was seen at this place, the female escaping down a Ground Squirrel warren. Three were seen at a pan on the way to Kuke, but would not permit me to get anywhere within range, and eventually flew away over the bush. Its scarcity was remarkable, as it is a common bird in the Union in dry veld. It is absurd to retain these Larks in the genus Certhilauda merely because they have long bills. In all other respects they are quite different.

Eremopterix leucotis smithi (Bonaparte) Comp. Av. I, p. 512, 1850: South Mrica. I Sil, Kuke; 16, Kaotwe; 20'6, 1 C?, 16 im., Machumi Pan; 10' im., Motlhatlogo. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen <5 S2-S4 46-49 IS-IS 11'5-12 ｾ＠ 7S-SI 43-44 IS-ITS 11-12 The white of the flanks appears to extend higher up than in typical eastern birds; but in the remaining coloration similar to them and not like E. l. madaraszi Reichenow (Om. Monatsb. p. 78, 1902: East Mrica), which is smaller and has white on the wing-coverts. It was not as common as the Grey Finch-lark, but often seen in the same pan with it Eremopterix verticalis verticalis (Smith) Rep. Exp. Expl. C. Afr. p. 48, 1836: Orange River. 20'0', 2 SilSil, 20'0' im. and juv., Kuke; 10' (=Sil), Gomodimo; 20'0', 1 Sil, Kaotwe; 20'0',2 SilSil, Gemsbok Pan; 10',2 SilSil, Machumi Pan; 10',20 miles north of MabeIeapudi; 1 0', Maun. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by 124 ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM

One of the females from Kuke is a partial albino. The western birds are more like E. v. damarensis Roberts (Ann. Trans. Mus. XIV, p. 243, 1931) than typical verticalis in their mOre pallid coloration. Dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen J 80'5-85 45-50 15'5-17 II-1:4 tj> 76-8:4 43-48 15'5-17 10'5-1:4 The Grey-backed Finch-lark was found in most pans containing water, to which it resorted at any time of the day. It was mostly in pairs, though the quantity to be seen at times looked like flocks. At Gemsbok Pan, Mr Fitz- Simons discovered a nest with fresh eggs, which Mr Lang photographed. These eggs are glossy white, heavily sprinkled with light and slate brown, densest at the obtuse end, and measure 21 x 13'8 and 19'3 x 13'3. Tephrocorys cinerea cinerea (Gmelin) Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, p. 798, 1789: Cape of Good Hope. 3 aa, 6 n, Kuke; 2 aa, 1 <;>, Damara Pan. The Kuke specimens contain three dark-crowned females, while the rest are light crowned, and paler above. All three from Damara Pan are dark crowned. This leads me to conclude that two species are represented, though the evidence is not completely convincing. They were in large flocks, evidently on migration and remaining at the pans only for a short time before restlessly moving onwards. It was not easy to secure more than a few at a time in consequence. The dark and light birds differ slightly in dimensions: Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Dark birds, :4 JJ 95-<)8 66-68 19-:40 IQ-II Light birds, 3 JJ 93-94 6:4-66 19'5-20 1:4'5-13 Dark birds, 4 tj>tj> 90-<)3 59-65 19-20 12-13'5 Light birds, 3 tj>tj> 87-89'5 57-62 19'5-20 12-12'5 This is precisely in accord with the differences seen between the pale Namib birds (spleniata Strickland, Contr. Orn. p. 152, 1852: Damaraland) and dark ones from the Union. I firmly believe therefore that these two species have come to overlap in their local migrations and this accounts for their being found in the same ground. Spizocorys starki (Shelley) I (=a), Gemsbok Pan; I a, 1 <;>, Machumi Pan. This Lark was extremely rare and shy, At Gemsbok Pan in the aerodrome I saw a few from time to time, getting up and flitting about at some distance, at the same time uttering a twittering note which I recognised as being of a bird new to me. It was only by dint of many attempts to get them at long range that one was procured. While halting at Machumi Pan on our northward journey, I saw several pairs, and by quietly stalking them managed to secure two. I saw one more in the Ngami Flats, but failed to get within range. It is a rare bird in collections. The Transvaal Museum possesses two from Quick- born Farm, Okahandja, and one:from Pretoria district. Family MOTACILLIDAE Motacilla vidua Sundevall Oeft. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. Stockholm, VII, p. 128, 1850: Assouan, Upper Egypt. I , Kabulabula; 2 aa, 4 W, I?, Kasane. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). under licence granted by the Publisher Sabinet Gateway Reproduced by ANNALS OF THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM 125 Selater regards this as a subspecies of M: aguimp Dumont (Diet. Sci. Nat. ed. Levrault, XXI, p. 266, 1821: Lower Orange River), but there is no evidence that they link up, the latter being confined to the Orange River system and southern rivers. These Pied Wagtails were found only on the Chobe River, mainly on the rocks at the rapids near Kasane. Here they were found in fair numbers searching for their food in shallow water running over flat rocks. One was heard singing a beautiful warbling song, quite unlike anything I have ever heard. Psomophilus capensis bradfieldi Robertsl

Differs from P. c. capensis (Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. I, p. 333, 1766: Cape of Good Hope) in its darker upper parts. Type: T.M. No. 13681, male, Swakopmund, 22nd January, 1925. Also four more from the same locality in the same collection. 19, Mabeleapudi; 1 J, Maun; 19, N'kate. This Damara Wagtail was seen nowhere in the arid Kalahari until we reached Mabeleapudi. This suggests the requirement of permanent water; yet at Maun the one obtained was from a flock of about a score which were travelling down the river southwards. I saw no more of them on the Thamala- kane River. The third was afterwards procured at N'kate.

Psomophilus simplissiInus (Neumann) Om. Monatsb. p. 176, 1929: Chipepe, Bailundu, Angola. 1 J, Kabulabula. This I took to be an immature specimen of P. c. capensis, with the pectoral bar incomplete, as there was only a little brownish on the sides and a little black in the middle, half hidden by the white feathers of throat and breast. Neumann's description, based on fourteen specimens, leaves no doubt as to this specimen being the same. It is so well marked that one should regard it as a distinct species, especially since capensis bradjieldi occurs in Ngamiland and in South-West Africa at Swakopmund. The occurrence of the form on the Chobe River is of extraordinary interest, as nrustrating the strange distribution of birds in this region. One would expect to find it on the Thamalakane River, where more Angola birds occur than on the Chobe, and yet there I procured the Damaraland form recorded above. For some years I have had in mind to describe these Wagtails of Damara- land and Beira, which are darker above in the former and strikingly more yellow below in the latter than our series from elsewhere in the south. There are three of these latter from Beira and one from Pietersburg, Transvaal. I have now given them the name of

Psomophilus capensis beirensis Roberts2 Similar to P. c. capensis of the Cape of Good Hope in respect of general characters, but yellower below and faintly tinged yellowish on the back. Type: T.M. No. 4181, adult female, Zimbiti, Beira, 22nd April. Also two from Beira and one from Pietersburg. Dimensions: wing 82, tail 87, tarsus 23, culmen IS.

1 Cf. Ann. Trans. Mus. xv, p. 28, 1932. 2 Cf. ibid. p. 29. 1932. Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated 2009). Gateway under licence granted by the Publisher (dated Reproduced by Sabinet