from the colony of Natal. 29 



very fond. Two of these birds perched on a tree, not long since, 

 close to my house, one evidently a young one ; the old bird, after 

 swallowing a number of small berries, went to the younger and 

 proceeded to feed it, by disgorging the berries one by one and 

 giving them to the young one, precisely as pigeons do. Their 

 note is a loud and rather prolonged whistle ; they are not seen 

 here at all times of the year, 



155. JuiDA MELANOGASTRA (Swains.). Black-bcllied Grakle. 

 Male. Iris darkish yellow; bill black; tarsi and feet black. 



These Grakles are also gregarious, inhabiting bush land ; their 

 food consists of small fruits. Notes, for the most part, loud and 

 harsh. 



156. Pholidauges leucogaster (Gmel.). White-bellied 

 Grakle. 



Male. Iris light yellow ; bill black ; tarsi and feet dark brown. 

 Also gregarious, but not nearly so plentiful as most other species 

 of Grakle here. Like the preceding, small fruits form their prin- 

 cipal diet, although they sometimes feed on flies and the winged 

 females of the white ant, rising and taking them on the wing, 

 similarly to the Flycatchers. In fact, almost every bird and beast 

 that I know will occasionally feed on these insects, which in the 

 spring of the year swarm out by millions, when hawks, dogs, 

 cats, toads, &c., &c., all feast alike. 



157. Andropadus importunus (Vieill.). Sombre Bulbul. 

 Male and female. Iris very pale green ; bill dark brown. 



These birds are very destructive to fruit, but fortunately are not 

 nearly so numerous as Pycnonotus levaillantii. They inhabit the 

 dense bush generally. They are not easily seen, in consequence of 

 their sombre-green plumage, and their habits of hiding, to which 

 they trust for safety, rather than to flight. Their note much 

 resembles the " chisick " of the House-Sparrow at home, but is 

 much louder ; they have also a short warbling song. Besides 

 fruit, insects form a considerable portion of their food. 



158. TcHiTREA perspicillata (Swains.). Tchitrec Paradise 

 Flycatcher. 



Male. Iris very dark brown; eyelids and bill sky-blue, but 



