294 Mr. Ayres on Birds of 



29. (L. 321.) Laniarius atrococcineus (Burcli.). Car- 

 mine-breasted Shrike. 



Obtained near the Limpopo. 



30. (L. 353.) DiLOPHUs carunculatus (Gmel.). Grey 

 Starling. 



These birds feed much upon locusts and other insects, swal- 

 lowing them whole, and, in habits and motions whilst feeding, 

 remind one much of the English Starling. They are only found 

 at Potchefstroom during the winter months, from April to No- 

 vember, when they occur both singly and also in companies 

 varying in number from three up to a hundred or more. 



Male : — Iris very light brown, bill pale on the upper and pink 

 on the lower mandible, the bare skin about the eye (which in 

 some examples extends over the occiput) light yellow ; wattles 

 about the head and chin black, tarsi and feet pale. 



Female : — Iris dark brown, bill pale, tarsi and feet more dusky. 



31. (L. 335.) Juida australis (A. Smith). BurchelFs 

 Grackle. 



Obtained near the river Limpopo. 



32. (L. 367.) EuPLECTEs taha (Linn.). Little Black-and- 

 yellow Weaver-bird. 



During the winter these birds are found congregating with 

 E. sundevalli, and in equal numbers ; but in the summer they 

 are not found with their winter associates, and the greater 

 number of them leave us, though some are occasionally met 

 with in the rushy and reedy vleys, where they probably breed. 

 The males are at this season exceedingly beautiful ; I can only 

 compare them to butterflies ; they pufF out all their feathers and 

 appear like balls of black and yellow floating slowly about over 

 the grass, evidently courting their less gaudy loves hidden hard 

 by among the long rushes. 



Iris dusky, tarsi and feet dusky brown, the male has the bill 

 black in summer, but in winter dusky pale, darkest along the 

 ridge. 



33. (L. 391.) Estrelda bengalus (Linn.). Purple-eared 

 Finch. 



In November 186-1 I found this pretty species in some 



