from I he ^{m^to'dani JJisfricf. 25 



414. *Alcedo SEMiTOiiQUATA. (llal£ - colkrc J King- 

 fisher.) 



Not uncommon on the small streams and sjjruits, although 

 I have only once seen it in the large river. I did not preserve 

 a specimen. 



41,5. (^ORYTHORNis CYANOSTIGMA. (Malachite Kingfisher.) 

 (a) ? . 20.10.06. Swazieland. 



Rare. Only one specimen seen and obtained by the side o£ 

 a small stream. 



418. Halcyon albiyentris. (Brovin-liooded Kingfisher,) 

 (a) ? . 22.10 06. Swazieland. 



I have only come across one specimen of this Kingfisher, 

 but no doubt they are not so uncommon as they appear. 



423 a. Colius striatus minor. (Natal Speckled Mouse- 

 bird.) 



(a). 6.6.06. Indhlovudvvalilie. 



Common. A great fruit thief. I foinid numbers of them 

 feeding on the wild fig-trees. When disturbed they usually 

 fly into the thickest foliage, where it is most difficult to see 

 them. 



435. GrEOCOLAPTES OLiVACEiTs. (Ground Woodpecker.) 



(a) ? . 24.8.06. Indhlovudwalilie. Iris whitish yellow, 

 tinged with red. In stomach ants and larvas. 



(b) (^ . 23.8.06. Indhlovudwalilie. Iris white, surrounded 

 by a tinge of red. In stomach ants and larvae. 



These birds have a very harsh scraping call when frightened, 

 and when disturbed in their burrows by footsteps above call 

 loudly whilst in their holes. One flock of about six of these 

 birds were inhabiting a rocky kopje on this farm for some 

 months. In the latter part of August, thinking they were 

 breeding, I dug out three or four of the holes they had made 

 in the side of a donga. I found no eggs, however, and I 

 must have caused them to desert the spot, as they were not 

 seen again^ The stomachs of two specimens shot were 

 crammed full of ants and their larvae. In each of the tunnels 



