266 



regularly spotted or scaled effect; lores, sides of face and ear coverts greyish- 

 brown ; hind crown, hind neck and sides of neck rufous- or rusty-brown : 

 moustachial streaks black, regularly spotted with fine white spots, little 

 more than dots; the under surface is mostly greyish-brown, throat and 

 abdomen white, sides of body olive brown ; thighs and under tail coverts 

 white. Total length 4; inches, tail rf. 



Adult female. According to the " B. M. Cat." this is similar to the 

 male, but slightly smaller. Total length 4f inches, tail if. 



Young male. The " B. M. Cat." describes this as similar to the adults, 

 ut of duller hue and the lighter markings somewhat obscure and the fore- 

 head and moustachial streaks are black without any white markings. 



Hah. : "Senegambia to N.K. Africa and .South to Equatorial Africa." 

 (B.M.C.) 



■S". squamifrons is also a S. African species and, according to Stark, 

 its distribution is as follows: — 



" South Africa : from Northern Cape Colony, Griqualaud West and the Orange Free 

 " State, northward throughout the Transvaal, ranging' into Matabili, Mnshona and 

 " Bechuana Lands, and extending to Lake Ngaiui, the Okavango River and the South of 

 " Benguela, on the Mamaque and Damara Lands." 



From the same source I cull the following : — That the Scaly-feathered 

 Weaver Birds (Scaly-crowned Finch) are very abundant on the Orange River 

 in small flocks among the bushes and mimosa trees that fringe the banks. 

 They feed entirely on the ground on grass seeds and insects. They are active, 

 vivacious, noisy and quarrelsome — also very tame, fearless, frequenting the 

 houses and kraals to feed among the poultry and sparrows. For fuller notes 

 see Vol. VI., ante page 310. 



TINKLING GRACKLE (Quiscalm crassirostris). As will be seen 

 in '"The Month's Arrivals" two dealers have evidently had specimens of 

 this species, which, though common in its native haunts, I do not think 

 has been previously imported alive to this country. It is also known in 

 Jamaica as the Barbadoes Blackbird and Tin-tin. It is very conspicuous 

 and readily attracts attention by its familiar demeanour, large size, lustrous 

 black plumage and metallic tinkling cry. Their general method of pro- 

 gression is a walk, they very seldom hop — mostly ground feeders searching 

 the roots of herbage for insects; they also frequent the backs, etc. of 

 cattle, feeding on the ticks which infest their hides. In this respect and 

 also in their general habits they resemble their compatriot the Ani 

 (Cfotophaga ani), also known as the Tick and Savanna Blackbird. The 

 plumage is glossy black ; it is also larger than the Tinkling, is of more 

 pigeon-iike build, and its bill, though smaller, resembles those of Hornbills 

 and Toucans; the centre of the upper mandible is quite hollow, and in a 

 specimen I have by me (kindly sent by Mr. E. W. Harper when in British 

 Guiana), the arch of cuhneii is higher than the top of skull. As a com- 

 parison I quote the sizes of both species. 



The Tinkling: Total length 145- inches, tail 7f. 



The Ani: Total length 12 \ inches, tail 5^. 



