Mr. Swynnerton on Mixed Bird-parties. 351 



Weaver, Sycoh'utm stictifrons, a bird that is largely insec- 

 tivorous and a close searcher, was several times heard. The, 

 Sunbird was picking small insects off both the upper and 

 under sides of the leaves, sometimes perched on or hanging 

 from the twig, at other times hovering in the air in front of 

 the object desired. . . ." 



The above description is of a very typical though incom- 

 plete mixed party of the forest. Probably still higher in 

 the foliage and unseen by me on that particular occasion 

 Avould have been the small Warblers, tliat are so commonly 

 attached to these parties. A full list of the birds seen 

 composing the forest-parties in Chirinda is roughly as 

 follows : — Dicrurus ludivigi (Smith), usually a pair to a party; 

 Sycobrotus stictifrons (Fischer & Reichw.), Phyllastrephus 

 milanjensis Shelley, Batis capensis erythrophthalma Swyn., 

 Trochocercns albonoiatiis sivynnertoni Neum., Trochocercus 

 bivittatus Reichw. (rare), and Graucalus casius (Licht.), a 

 pair or occasionally two pairs of each ; Cinnyris olivacinus 

 Peters, and Cmnpothera abingdoni (Smith), occasionally a 

 pair; Smithornis capensis (Smith) , occasionally, and Erithacus 

 sivynnertoni Shelley and Tarsiger stellatus (Vieill.) (somewhat 

 rarely, I think, and probably usually only for a limited 

 distance) ; Apalis chirindensis Shelley, and PhylJastrephus 

 capensis (Swains.), in small or large parties — the numerous 

 very small birds usually seen in the higher branches include 

 the former species, also Zusterops anders^oni Shelley (in large 

 or snaall parties), Chlorodyta neglecta Alexander, Cryptolopha 

 ruficapilla (Sundev.), and, I believe, Phylloscopus trochilus 

 (Linn.), when with us. Finally there is the mainstay of the 

 party, Phyllastrejjhus flavistriatus (Sharpe), present often 

 in very great numbers. All these birds except the Drongos 

 and Flycatchers are searchers. 



On the outskirts (and for a very short distance into the 

 forest) and in smaller, lower, or somewhat less dense forest- 

 patches, as also often on the tree-tops and in open places in 

 Chirinda itself, the following species attach themselves to 

 these parties : — Dryoscopus cubla (Shaw), Laniarius bertrandi 

 Shelley, L. olivuceus (ShaAv), L. rnanningi Shelley, Apalis 



