22 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



Honeyguide tried to enter the nest, and the instant its 

 intervention was seen the mate of the Barbet drove it away 

 and followed in pursuit. Soon afterwards, in the course of 

 the chase, the first Honeyguide returned to the nest, but its 

 attempt was again frustrated by its pursuer ; then the second 

 one tried again, and was again met by the angry mate of the 

 Barbet. This continued for fully a quarter of an hour, until 

 all four birds were tired and sat panting in the trees near the 

 nest. Eventually, having to continue my search elsewhere, 

 1 shot one of the Honeyguides, and subsequently found that 

 it had a shelled egg in its oviduct, unfortunately broken by 

 the shot and fall. 



Bed-collared Barbet (^Lybius torquatiis). — Fairly common, 

 and found nesting during November. The eggs are white 

 and measure 23-25 X 17-18 mm. ; four eggs comprise the 

 normal clutch. 



Pied Barbet {'Tricholceina leucomelan) . — This common 

 species was found nesting at the same time as the preceding. 

 Three eggs form the usual clutch ; they measure about 

 20-5 X 15-5 mm. 



Exton's Barbet [Barhatula extoni).— -A. few individuals 

 were seen in " Boekenhout ^' trees ; but it is not a common 

 bird and is usually only to be found feeding on certain 

 small berries, to which it is very partial. Its call is 

 apparently similar to that of B. pusilla. 



Trachyplionus cafer. — As I have elsewhere remarked, this 

 species may be quite common in a district and yet one may 

 not be aware of its presence ; and the same nuiy be said of it 

 in the bushveld, where very few were seen. A nest with 

 four fresh eggs was taken from the dead trunk of a tree ; 

 they measure 26-27 x 19*5-20 mm. The birds sat quite 

 near me when I was at the nest, and evinced much alarm l)y 

 setting up a series of harsh grating cries. 



Bennett's Woodpecker (^Dendromvs hennetl'i). — A nest of 

 three eggs was discovered when I was following a Greater 



