38 Mr. P. A. Sheppard on Birds collected and 



prefer, and also a hole at the end of a horizontal branch near 

 the top of a tree. A pair are building here near the house ; 

 the male keeps constantly in close contact with the tree, 

 settling on the highest branches, where he keeps up a con- 

 tinuous and monotonous chattering, darting off wildly at 

 intervals for a short distance and returning again, often to 

 the same branch. The female is seldom seen, and seems to 

 remain in the hole for hours at a time, but, in this particular 

 case, may be sitting. On the 15th November I found two 

 eggs in a hollow tree, about 20 feet from the ground. The 

 female flew from nest, which I shot. Eggs pure white and 

 slightly incubated. 



Later on in the season they can often be seen in small 

 parties late in the evening, searching for insects on the wing, 

 when they keep up a constant chattering, as is their custom. 

 I have never once seen them approach the ground. Their 

 flight is very erratic and sometimes very swift. They are 

 not by any means shy, and generally easily shot. 



114. EuRYSTOMUS GLAUCURUS (St. MiilL). Madagascar 

 Cinnamon Roller. 



A male in not fully adult plumage was procured at Manga, 

 near Beira, on the 31. 3. 06, and kindly identified for me by 

 Mr. Haagner, of the Tvl. Museum. This is a new record for 

 South Africa. 



115. Merops pp:rsicus, Pall. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. 

 Very numerous here during the earlier part of the summer, 



arriving in September. Last year I observed 30 or 40 on 

 Sept. 12, their first appearance in the district. They are 

 particularly fond of mangrove-tree swamps, and during their 

 stay may be seen every evening in hundreds roosting and 

 flying over these trees in front of the town of Beira. 



116. Merops nubicoides, Des Murs & Puch. Carmine- 

 throated Bee-eater. 



Very scarce and only seen passing south in November and 

 December. Mr. C. H. B. Grant procured a few specimens 

 at M'Zimbiti, and also within six miles of Beira. I saw four 

 last December at M'Zimbiti. 



