Mashonaland Birch. 251 



134. Indicator minor. (Little Honey-Guide.) 

 Common, though rather local. Along the Suro-suro river, 



in July 1894, these birds were so plentiful as to be a regular 

 nuisance with their incessant chattering invitations ; and yet 

 our Kafirs insisted that it was no use following them, as there 

 were no bees there and the birds would lead us away for 

 miles. I recollect having seen this species only twice close to 

 Salisbury, and both times it led us to honey. 



135. Melanobucco torquatus. (Black-collared Barbet.) 

 Fairly common, occurring singly or in pairs in bush- 

 country. It may occasionally be seen sitting on the top- 

 most branch of some dead tree, bobbing its head up and 

 down as it gives vent to its singularly loud cry of ^'^ko korro, 

 ko korro,^' oft repeated. It appears to be entirely frugi- 

 vorous in its diet, and its flight is headlong and swift. 



136. Trachyphonus cafer. (Levaillant's Barbet.) 



I obtained a single specimen of this curious bird among 

 the giant ant-heaps on the Hanyani river in September 1898. 

 It was feeding on the ground and flew up into a low bush ; 

 the stomach contained only termites. Mr. Swynnerton saw 

 another the following day. 



137. CoccYSTES glandarius. (Great Spotted Cucl>oo.) 

 All our Cuckoos are migratory, occurring only during the 



wet season, and generally putting in an appearance from the 

 middle of September to the beginning of October. None of 

 them seem to be plentiful, the present species being perhaps 

 the commonest. It is seen singly or in pairs, and has a 

 harsh chattering cry. Its food consists of locusts, beetles, 

 and hairy caterpillars ; it removes some of the violently 

 urticating hairs of the last by running them through its 

 bill from side to side before swallowing them. 



138. CoccYSTEs JAcoBiNUs. ( Black-and- White Cuckoo.) 

 I have obtained only a single female of this elsewhere 



common species, in February 1899, when, although the bird 

 was by no means in full plumage, the eggs in the ovaries were 

 Avell developed. The stomach contained hairy caterpillars. 



