46 Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton on the 



as many as forty individuals, diligently searching the Leonotis- 

 cluraps for food, and, when temporarily tired of insect- 

 huntiufr, chasing each other abont amongst the branches of 

 the trees. Their note, frequently uttered, was a mournful 

 swallow-like '^ Chiw ! " They were very tame and I several 

 times watched one draw two or three larvae in succession 

 from the Leonotis-hr 2ici^, generally perching below and 

 probing all round with its bill. In November in the same 

 locality I saw very few of these birds ; much of the grass 

 had been burnt, and the Xeowo^is-clumps were no longer 

 attractive. I have never seen such large flocks in the higher 

 country, where, however, parties of a dozen individuals are 

 common enough. I have also shot this species in the Chikam- 

 boge Valley. 



Bill black, base of gonys bluish white ; irides light brown, 

 tinged with either yellow or grey ; feet blue-grey, but 

 variable, usually light or even quite pale, but occasionally 

 dark. Eight birds were measured, averaging in the flesh 

 4"35 inches each, maximum 46. 



68. Pauus ciNEKAscENs PARViROSTRis. Northern GrcyTit. 

 Parus parvirostris Shelley, B. Afr. ii. p. 243. 



Rh. On September 27th, when camping on the Haroni 

 River, I shot one of a pair of these birds which were flying 

 from one Brachysteyia to another and searching for insects 

 in the tender red foliao;e. It measured 5*4 inches in the flesh. 



69. Parus nicer. Black Tit. 



Rh., P. The only places at which I noticed this Tit in 

 the low veld were on the Lower Umswirizwi (1000 h.) in 

 November, and in the Brachysie(/ia-\\ oods bordering the 

 Madanda forests, near Arucate, at perhaps 400 feet, where I 

 shot the female of a pair which were calling to one another 

 with a harsh note. The stomach contained a beetle and the 

 remains of fruit. Three birds measured gave an average of 

 6*34 inches in the flesh. 



70. Lanius humeralis. Northern Fiscal Shrike. 

 Chindao : " Mutungadzorera '^ (or " -dzaora "), meaning 



'•' impaler of ' gamey ' food." '' Laksman " of local Dutch. 



