290 BIRD-PARASITES 



Albany Divisions of Cape Province and at Modderfontein 

 and Waterval North, Transvaal. At the latter place they 

 were exceedingly common in February amongst the thorn 

 scrub about two miles from the Aapies Eiver, often indulging 

 in a harsh, laughing cry. They go about in pairs and feed 

 largely on hairy caterpillars, and various insects. This bird 

 lays a white egg. In this connection we give an illustration 

 of a Sombre Bulbul at nest ; this nest contained four cuckoo 

 eggs, besides the two marbled eggs of the rightful owners, 

 who were flitting about excitedly in the vicinity of their 

 over-loaded nest. Close by were three Cuckoos (Coccystes 

 Jvypopinarius, C. serratus, and Cuculus clamosus), and judging 

 by the various shapes and sizes of the cuckoos' eggs we have 

 no doubt that all three birds had utilised the one small 

 nest. We also on two occasions took the egg of this cuckoo 

 from the nest of the Yellow-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, and 

 one from the nest of the Cape Bulbul. 



There is another rarer species (C. coffer), resembling the 

 preceding bird rather closely, being however a little larger, 

 and having the slate-grey of the previous replaced by white. 

 Nothing is known of its breeding habits. 



The Black-crested Cuckoo (Coccystes serratus) is black 

 glossed with green above and below, relieved only by a white 

 band on the wing. 



It also lays a white egg, and uses the nests of various 

 birds as a repository. The Cape Bulbul (Pycuonotus capensis) 

 is, however, the usual host according to Atmore. We took an 

 egg from the nest of the Bed-faced Mouse- bird. 



