Expedition to the Zambesi River. 71 



73. Crateropus KiRKi (Sharpe). 



Well distributed along the river^ especially in more or less 

 open country dotted over with small thickets and clumps. 

 Always observed in parties of from five to six birds, and never 

 very far distant from water, while the reed-beds bordering 

 the river became their roosting-places for the night. 



The note of this bird is peculiar, like that of the Magpie, 

 at first very harsh, then becoming soft and mellow. When 

 several get together they are very noisy and quarrelsome, 

 causing the little valleys to ring with a chorus of cries 

 which closely resemble those made by a party of Jackdaws. 

 A female shot at the end of October had the sexual organs 

 in a breeding condition. 



In immature birds the feathers of the mantle and lesser 

 wing-coverts are tipped with whitish brown, while the 

 whole of the underparts are washed with a light ochre, 

 becoming more distinct on the flanks, belly, and under 

 tail-coverts. 



Adult S (near Tete). Wing 3*72 inches, culmen 073, tail 

 4'2. Iris pearl-colour, legs and feet lead-colour. 



Adult $ (near Zumbo). Wing 4 inches, culmen 0*8, tail 

 4'2. Iris orange-red, legs and feet lead-colour. 



74. Pycnonotus layarui (Gurney). 



Very common. Open ground and the outskirts of villages 

 are chiefly frequented, while during excessive heat the bird 

 will haunt belts of large shady trees that overhang the river, 

 or some small watercourse thickly covered in with trees. 

 The song of this Bulbul consists of two portions : the first is 

 given out with deliberation, and the last with rapid execution, 

 the rendering of which might well be described as being 

 "gobbled" off. At sunset this bird will mount to some 

 high tree and pour out its somewhat monotonous song, and 

 keep on uttering it until the light has quite vanished. In 

 the pairing-season its singing becomes more varied, a few 

 rather sweet whistling notes being introduced. Further- 

 more, a portion of the song is often uttered when on the 

 wing. During the greater part of the year this bird is 

 gregarious. While at Durban, in June, we observed numbers 



