580 ^Ir. B. Alexander — An Ornithological 



Red-backed Shrike frequently fell a victim to our guns, greatly 

 to our disgust on finding ourselves so thoroughly deceived. 



64. NiLAus NiGRiTEMPORALis Rciclien. 



By no means common. Our four specimens were obtained 

 on high ground clothed with the tree Copaifera mojjane. A 

 male obtained on October 7 had breeding-organs much 

 developed, while on December 31 a nestling was procured. 

 The call-note is a loud whistle. 



Adult ($ . Total length (measured in flesh) 5*9 inches. 

 Bill dark lead-colour ; iris hazel ; legs and feet slate. 



65. Laniarius mosambicus (Fisch. & Reichen.). 



From Tete onwards this species is well distributed along 

 the river, for hardly a day passed vvithout our hearing its 

 clear- drawn piping notes. This Shrike abides in reed-beds, 

 belts of fish-cane, and also frequents open land that is inter- 

 spersed with clumps of thick bushes. When we first ob- 

 served this species at the beginning of August breeding had 

 not commenced, and it was then very shy and difficult of 

 approach ; in fact it was more often heard than seen. The 

 call- note is peculiar, very gruff, and might be likened to the 

 croak of the bull-frog, while it is at the same time ventri- 

 loquial. In the pairing-season, when seeking a mate, this 

 species makes continual use of this note, which it utters from 

 the top of some high tree. At almost regular intervals the 

 note is given out in the same strain, becoming, however, 

 more frequent and loud when the bird receives an answer, 

 which may often come from a considerable distance. 

 When the breeding-time arrives the different pairs resort to 

 reed-beds and thick places, and with this coming of their 

 breeding activity they lose a great deal of their shyness, and 

 may frequently be observed stealing with low measured 

 flight from one thick refuge to another. On approaching a 

 resort the male will immediately utter his gruft' frog-like 

 croak to the female, who answers him with a similar note, 

 but wheezy in strain and rather long-drawn. The ventri- 

 loquial croak of the male is often uttered as a safeguard 

 against danger in order to conceal his exact whereabouts. 



