Birds of South Africa 245 



we frequently shot them, and could not distinguish which we had obtained until 

 we picked them up." 



The Turactis persa is denominated the " lory" in South Africa, 

 and it is " very common throughotit the forest districts. * * 

 * ^ Strange to say, though I inquired carefully, I never could 

 obtain any information respecting the nidification of this beauti- 

 ful and common bird." M. Atmore, however, states that the eggs 

 are white ; but this must be from hearsay, as he writes — •" How 

 difficult it is to find these forest-birds' nests ! The lories are 

 breeding now ; but for the life of me I cannot find a nest. The 

 young ones go in troops, and are delicious eating \ the old ones in 

 pairs. We never shoot specimens out of a troop, except for the 

 pot." Mr Layard does not include Colius among the Musopha- 

 gid^, but gives two species of Turacus, and one of Schizornis. 

 All are alike peculiar to the African continent. 



There are pleasing songsters in South Africa, as in most other 

 countries. Of the Crithagra canicollis, a finch very closely akin 

 to the domestic canary bird, we are informed that — " The Cape 

 canary is a very common bird throughout the colony, congregating 

 in flocks on the open and ploughed land, and feeding on grains 

 and seeds of all kinds [?]. It sings very sweetly, and breeds in 

 captivity with the tame canary, the male bird being very hand- 

 some ; and, I am told, producing with either the yellow bird or 

 one of its own species [/. <?., another mate of similar parentage ?]. 

 I purpose trying the experiment." Bessonornis phsenicurus is the 

 Cape robin, and decidedly deserves the name. It is common in 

 all the gardens, even in the midst of Cape-Town, flitting along the 

 gravel-paths, scraping in the flower-beds, perching on the leafless 

 summit of some deciduous tree, or the ridge of the house-top, and 

 pouring out a short, robin like song, which when heard in the 

 dusky twilight reminds the listener of the familiar note of the 

 household bird of the red stomacher." Other instances might be 

 cited ; and there are two or three good mockers. Thus Saxicola 

 pileata is " one of the most favoured and favourite birds of the 

 colony, over the whole of which it extends. He is protected and 

 petted on account of his own natural sweet notes, and for his great 

 powers of imitation. Perched on a white-ant's nest, he pours out 

 a flood of song, chanting long into the darkening twilight, when 

 other songsters are gone to rest ; and the morning light scarcely 

 enables you to see the musician, ere he again commences his 

 mellow notes or imitations." 



