from the coluny of Xatal, in South-eastern Africa. 211 



female from that of the male. These birds inhabit the dense 

 bush along the coast, never leaving it; they creep about the 

 underwood in search of their food, and are easily obtained by 

 those who can imitate their call, for they will immediately an- 

 swer, and come to the sportsman if within hearing ; on per- 

 ceiving their mistake, they make a low chirring noise, as they 

 do also if they see a cat, snake, panther, or other beast of prey. 



87. Telophonus erythropterus, Shaw. Tchagra Shrike. 

 This species frequently builds amongst a mass of tangled 



creeping plants, merely placing the nests on or amongst them, 

 either not at all adhering to them, or very slightly indeed. 



88. CoRvus SCAPULATUS, Licht. White-necked Crow. 



Eye dark brown ; legs and bill black. These birds are not to 

 be found nearer the coast than fifty or sixty miles. They seem to 

 feed on anything they can pick up, such as ticks [Acari), bits of 

 bone, berries and insects, and are fond of frequenting roads, in 

 fact, are scarcely to be found elsewhere. 



89. Vidua axillaris, Smith. Epauletted Widow-bird. 

 Male. The females of these birds are brown. They build 



amongst the tall grass, and lay from three to five eggs. I rather 

 think the males lose their black plumage at one time of the 

 year, but at that time they are not to be found in this part of 

 the country. I think they go more to the north during the 

 winter, coming this way to breed ; in the spring they come in 

 large flights, and pair off" afterwards. In these flights there 

 seem to be genei'ally a far greater number of females than males, 

 and I strongly suspect polygamy is much practised amongst 

 them. They do a great deal of damage here, in the fields of 

 oats and other corn (as do also the Maize-birds and other 

 Finches). The males assume a very peculiar clapping flight 

 during the breeding season, somewhat similar to the flight of 

 the Lapwing in England. 



90. Vidua rubritorques. Swains. Red-throated Widow- 

 bird. 



Male. The females are brown. Habits very much the same 

 as the preceding species, and, like it, docs much damage amongst 



