234 Mr. Guy A. K. Marsliall 07i 



48. Telephonus sENEGALUs. (Couimou Red-wiugctl Busli- 

 Shrike.) 



A plentiful resident, being generall}' found in pairs in the 

 denser parts of the bush. It is fond of lurking on the 

 ground among the thick shrubs growing on large ant-heaps, 

 but takes at once to the trees when startled ; the tail being 

 broadly expanded in flight, which is of short duration. It 

 has several harsh cries, but also utters a pleasing song, 

 consisting of eight mellow notes, and one of its calls reminds 

 one pleasantly of the alarm-chuckle of our Blackbird. Its 

 food consists of beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, &c. 



49. Laniakius guttatus. (Pied Bush-Shrike.) 



A common resident species, though more often heard than 

 seen, on account of its skulking habits. It is especially 

 partial to the dense growth along streams or the thickets on 

 giant termite-heaps, such as are to be found along many of 

 the rivers, and it is a matter of some difficulty to dislodge it 

 from such positions. It is a tiiorough " duellist,^^ like all 

 its congeners, for the harsh " where, where ! " of the female 

 is answered with scarcely an intermission by the deep, 

 ringing " here, here ! '^ of the male ; a very loud note, like 

 " chk,'' or, again, a long drawn-out " mope,^^ is also repeated 

 at intervals. The stomachs of the birds examined con- 

 tained beetles and moths. 



50. Drvoscopus cubla. (Lesser Puff-backed Bush- 

 Shrike.) 



Not uncommon, but preferring the taller trees, among 

 which the loud ''tk, whi-w " of the male is a very familiar 

 sound. It hunts energetically for insects among the leaves, 

 also catching them on the wing; and, unlike Mr. Ayres, 1 

 have found it very far from shy or retiring in its habits. 

 It makes a loud and characteristic whirring noise when 

 flying. 



51. Malaconotus BLANCHOTi. (Blauchot's Busli-Slirike.) 

 A single specimen of this shy bird has been shot by 



Mr. Swynnerton, and only one pair was met with by 



