THE BIRDS OF THE BUFFALO BASIN. 81 



Noisy Robin Chat — Cossypha bicolor {Sparrm.). Like 

 the last species, the Noisy Ro])in Chat is frequently taken in 

 the boys' traps during the non-breeding season ; but it 

 eludes them during the summer months. Though abundant 

 in the forest, it is one of the most difficult of the forest 

 denizens to observe. Repeatedly, when encamped by the 

 forest verge, I have tried — but so far in vain — to track to 

 their source certain loud cries which I am convinced are 

 made by the species ; in the dense forest one has little 

 chance of coping with such a skulker as this. At East 

 London, according to Mr. John Wood, this species is fairly 

 common and in its song imitates such birds as the nightjar, 

 the Turtle Dove, and the black-headed oriole. 



Brown Robin Chat — Erythropygia signata {Sund.). 

 Displaying the same disposition as the two preceding species, 

 this Robin Chat would remain practically unnoticed did 

 it not come to the boj^s' traps. Six specimens, between 

 1908 and 1912 inclusive, were brought to me by the boys, 

 and a seventh was obtained for me by Mr. Bryce Ross. One 

 of those brought had been eating tiny land-shells. The 

 months in which these specimens have been obtained — April, 

 May, August and December — indicate that in all probability 

 this species is resident in the forest. In July 1912 Mr. 

 Center showed me two specimens obtained at East London 

 and informed me that the species was not uncommon in the 

 bush there. 



White-browed Ground Robin — Erythropygia leuco- 

 phrys (F/^///.). This species occurs locally in the district 

 on overgrown hillsides and by the margins of wooded rivers, 

 being in spite of its name generall}^ found about bushes. In 

 May 1912 one visited the maize garden in front of the 

 Pirie Mission house, frequenting the fruit trees there. 

 Another that had been feeding on insects, was brought to 

 me on 29th July 1910. In December I have found the 

 species evidently nesting in the Cwencwe Valley. These 

 various dates seem to indicate that this species is resident on 

 the border of the forest. Towards the coast a specimen^4l2ep"7>>^ 



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