2.22 Messrs. 11. B. & J. D. S. Woodward on 



two or tliree, are often met with climbing about the thorn- 

 trees, uttering their extraordinary cry like the long drawn- 

 out mewing of a cat. Indicator minor, the Lesser Honey- 

 guide, was generally solicitous for us to follow it in quest 

 of honey. It has a peculiar chattering cry which it emits 

 when it wants to lead a person to a bees^ nest, and when 

 followed flies on from tree to tree in advance. The 

 natives know the value of this bird, and, when it discovers 

 honey for them, put out a portion for it to eat. The large 

 Red Ground-Cuckoo [Centropus senegalensis) was common 

 everywhere. It keeps to the low scrub and is fond of 

 old mealie-gardens. It seems never to fly high, and if 

 disturbed seeks shelter in the neighbouring bushes,, from 

 which it never strays far. During the summer its cry is 

 constantly heard, especially in damp weather. Its voice 

 resembles the letter o repeated many times, beginning at a 

 high key and falling low. 



The Black Duck [Anas sparsa) used to fly up and down this 

 river. The young birds seem to remain with their parents 

 for a considerable time ; we have seldom seen more than two 

 old Ducks together, but have killed as many as five half- 

 grown birds with one discharge. 



Having explored this neighbourhood and collected a few 

 birds, we ascended the hill, about three miles long, from the 

 summit of which we could trace the Umkusi, as it wended its 

 way towards the north end of St. Lucia Lake, into which it 

 flows. The magistrate pointed us out spots frequented by 

 herds of buffalo and other large game, and said that he had 

 met with lions when hunting below. The zebra is also found 

 here, as well as the rhinoceros. There is one fair-sized 

 "bush^^ up here, but it is steep and stony and does not 

 contain many birds. We got a considerable number of the 

 beautiful Blue Lourie [Corythaix porphyreolopha) , which 

 feeds on wild figs and berries and keeps mostly to the tops 

 of the trees. The Green Lourie {Corythaix nmsopliaga) is 

 much rarer in Zululand, though so common in Natal, This 

 Lourie has a loud croaking cry, which it utters principally 

 at sundown, and flies off" when alarmed Avith a cry not unlike 

 that of a Pheasant. Louries are easilv reared and look verv 



