Birds from Sonth-eastern Africa. 261 



A rather common species throughout the bush- veldt from 

 Rusteuburg into the Mashoona country, where, on tlie 8th 

 of October, Ave found it breeding. The nest was placed 

 amongst the outer boughs of a low thorn-tree some eight 

 feet from the ground, aud was cup-shaped, roughly con- 

 structed externally, principally of thorny twigs, and lined 

 with fibrous roots and dry wiry bits of grass. It contained 

 four somewhat incubated eggs^ of a pale creamy-brown colour, 

 with a finely speckled zone of rich brown of various shades, 

 from nearly black to pale brown, the rest of the surface 

 more or less dotted all over with brown. They measured 

 lylg inch by |. 



110. Laniarius poliocephalus (Licht.). 



(70) Umvuli river, 31st August. Iris bright yellow; bill 

 black; tarsi and feet light bluish ash. Total length in the 

 flesh 10"5 inches. The crop contained a small mouse. 



We only met with one pair of these Shrikes. Their notes 

 are loud and harsh, though not often heard, as the bird is 

 generally silently creeping about dense thickets. 



111. Laniarius sulphureipectus (Less.). 



(49) ? , LTmvuli river, 14th August. Iris ruddy brown ; 

 bill black ; tarsi and feet ash-colour. Total length in the 

 flesh 7*75 inches. The crop contained insects. 



An exceedingly scarce bird, and retiring in habits, fre- 

 quenting low bushy trees along the banks of the river. 



112. Laniarius atrococcineus (Burch.). 



(3) Eland^s river, Rustenburg "district, 11th May ; Bamang- 

 wato, 24th May ; Tatin river, Macloutsi river, Palatswie Pan, 

 and Chakanie Pan, December. Matabele name " Billi-bonvu.^'' 

 Iris dark ashy blue ; bill, tarsi, and feet black. 



These handsome Shrikes generally frequent dense thorny 

 mimosa-jungle, and arc not uncommon in parts of the country 

 where such bush is to be found. None were seen on the 

 northern side of the Malope river, either in the Matabele or 

 Mashoona countries, where the character of the bush gra- 

 dually but totally changes. 



