Bh-ds of Gazaland. 95 



Cliipete forest-patch on the 30th of October, pure white in 

 ground-colour, Avith a median zone of small spots and 

 blotches of purplish grey intermixed with pale blotches and 

 a iew darker spots of a rich reddish brown, almost brick-red, 

 the two ends of the e^^ being comparatively free from spots. 



During the breeding-season especially the bird is a very 

 persistent songster, and its quaint mechanical song may be 

 heard still going on into the evening when it is already 

 practically dark. Both sexes sing in concert or in reply to 

 one another, and if one should be shot the other will con- 

 tinue to sing for two or three minutes, more and more 

 vehemently, until, finally alarmed by receiving no answer, 

 it begins to search for its mate in ever-widening circles w^ith 

 a constantly-uttered short sibilant call. The female sits close, 

 and when she is fiushed both birds will continue to fly about 

 the intruder in great excitement so long as he remains near 

 the nest, always, however, keeping close to one another. 



The stomachs examined have contained flies, beetles, 

 caterpillars, and beetle-larvee, an enormous beetle-grub, 

 swallowed entire, once completely filling a stomach. Eight 

 birds measured averaged 4'7 inches, varying from 4"25 to ;"3. 



In the following figures the average is in each case taken 

 from nineteen specimens measured : — Culmen 0'6 to 0'66 

 inch (type 0-65), average 0-62; wing 2-20 to 2*47 (type 2-4), 

 average 2'35 ; tail T55 to l"7o (type), average T6G ; 

 tarsus 0G7 to 85 (type), average 0"73. 



135. Batis molitor. White-flanked Flycatcher. 



B/h., P. Common throughout Southern Melsetter and on 

 the edges of the bush of the lower Jihu. I have also noted 

 it in the upper Jihu, in the Haroni Valley, and, in the low 

 veld, at the Umtefu Biver and at Inyandta. Five specimens 

 averaged 4*63 inches in the flesh, varying from 4*4 to 5*15. 

 The iris is usually lemon-yellow, but in a female shot on the 

 25th June, 1905, it was mottled over with light green and 

 was bright yellow only immediately round the pupil. A 

 small ichneumon-fly, a large ant, small beetles (including 

 Agrilus sp.), a small wasp, a large wasp, flies, frog-hoppers, 

 and larvse have been contained in the stomachs examined. 



