260 BULLETIN 2 08, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Another observation of interest here, and corroborating the above 

 in that it involves again a bird that nests in a hole (or what amounts 

 to one), is the following inconclusive one kindly related to me by 

 W. L. Chiazzari, who recorded it in the Kichmond District, central 

 Natal. 



Insofar as its breeding habits are concerned, it has been suggested that it 

 might parasitize some of the flycatchers, and, while such species such as the 

 paradise flycatcher {Terpsiphone viridis) and the Cape Batis {Batis capensis) 

 breed in some numbers in these plantations, of the many nests I have examined 

 of these and a variety of other birds, such as Zosterops virens who favor the 

 wattles as nesting sites, I have not found any evidence to support this. However, 

 it is the purpose of this letter to submit for what it is worth an incident that was 

 recorded from this farm. 



On the morning of February 5, 1939, a female Prodotisc^is (I judged this by the 

 plumage which was more gray on the breast and throat) was seen to leave the 

 globular-shaped mud nest of a pair of stripe-breasted swallows (Hirundo cucullata) , 

 who had constructed it against a beam and the ceiling of the verandah on the 

 first floor. The nest however, had been usurped by a pair of swifts (Apus caffer) 

 who had laid in it some days previously. The honey-guide, upon leaving the 

 nest, perched on the balustrading enclosing the verandah, remained for a few 

 minutes, and then departed to some nearb}' trees. 



In great excitement I examined the nest only to be disappointed when I found 

 it only contained the two elongated white eggs of the swift. A watch was kept 

 for the next few days in the hopes of seeing the honey-guide return, and, although 

 it was observed on the railings, I did not see it enter the nest again. This may 

 have happened during the hours I was not at my post! 



In order to set before you the complete picture and perhaps complicate matters, 

 it is well to add to the above the fact that between the ceiling and the flooring 

 of the verandah on the ground floor and the verandah in question a hive of bees 

 had established themselves. The questions I now ask myself are these — was the 

 honey-guide attracted there b.y the hive or did it come with the intention of 

 parasitizing the swallow's nest? In that case the location of the hive may have 

 been coincidental. 



I am inclined to favor the latter as being the import behind the appearance of 

 the honey-guide on the verandah insofar as while I did not again observe the 

 bird at the nest, it showed no interest whatsoever in the bees around, or the 

 location of the hive. It may, of course, have been waiting for someone to open 

 the hive before showing signs of interest. Combined with this was the fact that 

 there were unavoidable comings and goings in and around the house which may 

 have disturbed the bird and a further disturbing element in the present tenants 

 of the nest whose arrivals and departures were always rapid and sudden! 



Unfortunately I was not able to complete my observations as I had to return 

 to University. I was sorely tempted to collect the bird in question for exami- 

 nation but on second thought I decided it was worth while asking my father to 

 keep it under further observation and to examine the nest once more. After one 

 more appearance it failed to show up again. 



Another less complete and conclusive observation indicative of the 

 bird's interest in hole-nesters is the following one made at Fort 

 Beaufort in the eastern Cape Province by J. Sneyd Taylor and relayed 

 to me by C. J. Skead. A sharp-billed honey-guide was seen flying up 



