358 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species of Birds 



in a second or intermediate plumage, and the black-breasted as 

 specimens of the same species when fully adult. I have myself 

 very little doubt of the specific identity of the two forms, though 

 further observation is required to place the matter on a perfectly 

 clear footing. There can, I think, be no doubt that it was a 

 white-breasted individual of this species which was mistaken by 

 Le Vaillant, when seen by him on the wing, for a specimen of 

 Circus melanoleucus {vide 'Ois. d^Afrique,Vol.i.p.l35). — J.H.G.] 



Phasmoptynx capensis, Smith. African Short-eared Owl. 



These Owls appear to me to be more numerous inland than 

 on the coast, frequenting marshy ground in open country. 

 Their flight is very noisless. If disturbed, they fly but a short 

 distance, and then alight again. 



Nectarinia collaris, Vieill. Little Blue-banded Sun-bird. 



Male. Iris dark; tarsi and feet black. These birds are 

 decidedly scarce, though found throughout Natal. Small in- 

 sects appear to form their principal diet. The females seem 

 much to outnumber the males ; I have sometimes seen four or 

 five females accompanied by one male. 



DiCRURUs Musicus, Vicill. Musical Drongo. 



Male. Iris dark red ; bill, tarsi, and feet black. These birds 

 are plentiful throughout the coast districts, and are generally 

 found in pairs, excepting during the winter months, when they 

 hasten from fire to fire as the grass is burnt, and take insects on 

 the wing as they are driven out ; in fact, I have frequently seen 

 them dart through the densest smoke in their eagerness to seize 

 some coveted morsel. They are intrepid little birds, attacking 

 without hesitation the largest Raptores ; and they are especially 

 fond of bullying any unlucky Owl or strange bird that attracts 

 their notice, rising quickly and repeatedly in the air, and darting 

 upon the back of, or making feints at, the object of their aversion, 

 at the same time uttering loud and harsh notes of alarm or 

 defiance, and spreading and shutting the tail very quickly, which 

 has a curious appearance. Many small birds collect at once to 

 add their voices to the hubbub, until they fairly worry their 

 victim away. These Drongos appear particularly fond of bees, 

 feeding on scarcely anything else when these are plentiful ; so 



