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



179. Bessonornis vociferans (Swains.). South-African 

 Robin. 



Female. Iris very dark brown ; bill black ; tarsi and feet light 

 pinkish brown. 



The food of these birds consists of berries, small fruits, and 

 insects. In their movements and attitudes they much resemble 

 the English Redbreast, and they are particularly fond of chasing 

 one another about. They frequent the dense bush. 



[I believe that the bird figured by Sir A. Smith in his ' Zoology 

 of South Africa,' Aves, pi. 60, under the name of Cossypha nata- 

 lensis, is an immature specimen of the present species. — J. H. G.] 



180. PiNDALUS RUFiCAPiLLUS, Hartlaub, MS. Yellow- 

 throated Flycatcher. (Plate V.) 



Pogonocichla ruficapilla, Sund. Kongl. Vet. Akad. Porh. 1850, 

 p. 105. Culicipeia ruficapilla, Grill, Zool. Antekn. p. 27. 



Female. Iris very dark brown ; upper mandible yellow ; tarsi 

 and feet pale, tinged with green. 



Rare in this locality : frequents the bush and thick creepers. 

 When in search of food is exceedingly active, flitting and hopping 

 from twig to twig with the greatest celerity, and catching the 

 small beetles, gnats, and flies, of which its food consists. 



[I am indebted to the kind assistance of Dr. Hartlaub for the 

 identification of this curious little bird. As I believe it has not 

 hitherto been figured, the accompanying Plate, in which it is 

 represented of the natural size, may prove interesting to such 

 ornithologists as are not ali'eady acquainted with this scarce 

 species. — J. H. G.] 



181. CoRVUs CAPENSis, Licht. South- African Rook. 

 Female. Iris very dark brown ; bill black ; tarsi and feet black. 

 These birds are very numerous inland, doing considerable 



damage to the ci'ops of maize when nearly ripe. On the coast 

 districts, however, they are only occasional visitants. Their note 

 is harsh and guttural. Their flight is swift, the beat of their wings 

 being much more rapid than that of the White-necked Raven 

 [Corvus cafer). 



182. TuRTUR ERYTHROPHRYS, Swaius. Lcvaillaut's Dove. 

 Male. Iris dark blackish brown, with a narrow yellow ring in 



