Birds of Alhanij JHvinon, Cape Colony. 103 



The shell is rather glossy and with faint traces of transverse 

 graining. It measures 24 x 15*75 mm. 



170. Indicator sparrmani, Steph. Sparrman^s Honey- 

 Guide. 



Not common. An egg was taken from a nest-hole of 

 Irrisor viridis (vide Plate IV. fig. 3). For further notes see 

 'Ibis,' January 1901. 



[One egg from Grahamstown is of a regular " oval " shape, 

 pure creamy-white with a mere tinge of lavender-bufif. The 

 surface of the shell is like " smooth marble," of an extremely 

 fine grain and only slightly glossed. It measures 25 X 

 19-5 mm. Fig. 18, Plate III. (H. G.)] 



171. *Indicator major, Steph. Yellow-throated Honey- 

 Guide. 



Common. Utilises the nest-hole of Spreo hicolor usually as 

 a repository for its egg. It seems to us that all the Honey- 

 Guides break the eggs of the foster-parent to make room for 

 their own, icherever possible. Figs. 2nd row, Plate IV., show 

 how a clutch of Spreo hicolor was smashed up. They are 

 very persistent in " commandeering " the nest-holes of other 

 birds, as they are generally fiercely attacked by the foster- 

 parents. When they do not succeed in breaking the eggs, 

 the young bird, which, as we have shown in this Journal, 

 pp. 1 to 5, is furnished with a strong pair of hooks, very 

 probably ejects its foster-brethren while the old birds are 

 away foraging for the ravenous young. There is a specimen 

 in our collection. 



172. *Indicatok variegatus, Lesson. Scaly - throated 

 Honey-Guide. 



Scarce. 



173. Indicator minor, Stephens. Lesser Honey-Guide. 

 Fairly common. An egg was taken from a nest-hole of 



Lyhius torqiiatus (see figs. 4th row, Plate IV.). 



174. Lybiustorquatus (Dumont). Black-collared Barbet. 

 Fairly common. 



