Il8 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



species amono- themselves, keeps to its own special 

 domain. We went but little into the main forest, as the 

 birds there were not well adapted to our pursuit, and the 

 gloom which prevailed rendered it almost imj)ossible for 

 us to do anything photographically. 



The hills w^hich rise at the back of the town in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Knysna, consist for the 

 most part of rough open ground, intersected here and 

 there by valleys that mark the course of some small 

 stream which finds its way down into the estuary. 

 These valleys draw straggling ofTshoots from the main 

 forest, and in these offshoots are to be found many birds 

 which, though seldom appearing outside their wooded 

 retreat, nevertheless prefer to dwell in a somewhat less 

 gloomy place than the forest itself. Nests in these 

 wooded valleys require a considerable amount of finding, 

 there are such numberless objects to distract the eye. 

 Several different species of Flycatchers frequent these 

 portions of the forest, and one may not be aware of their 

 presence until their notes, in many instances rather harsh 

 and chattering, attract the attention. As these notes, 

 faint at first but gradually coming nearer and nearer, are 

 heard, one may begin to look about for the birds them- 

 selves. Thus, a little greyish-coloured bird may come 

 into view, continuously uttering a kind of complaining 

 chirping note, and hopping from branch to branch and 

 from twig to twig, seldom flying more than a few yards 

 at a time. This little bird is closely followed by another, 

 of very similar plumage, which appears to be driving it 

 along, gradually forcing it to lower its position from 

 amono- the hiofher branches of the trees, and brinCTing" 

 it close up to where one may be standing. On a nearer 



