28 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



being much like these of Jardine's Babbler (Crateropus 

 jardinei). 



South Africnn Helmet Shrike (^Prionops talacoma). — This 

 species was only met with once, when a party was found 

 travelling restlessly through open lorest, ahvays on the 

 lookout for insects. 



Brubru Shrike {Nilaushruhru). — This bird was more often 

 heard than seen. Its nest is usually placed in the slanting 

 fork of a white-barked tree, and so small and cleverly con- 

 structed that it is most difficult to find. Very often all 

 there is of a nest is a rim half-an-inch high at the lower part 

 of the fork, with a slight raising at the upper part ; it is 

 very small and only one or two eggs form a clutch. In 

 Pretoria District it lays during the months of October and 

 November, sometimes also in December. The eggs are 

 hardly distinguishable from those of our common Blackhead 

 Sparrow (P. meJanurus), being light greenish white very 

 thickly — rather longitudinally — marked with dull slate-blue 

 and greenish brown ; they measure about 20*5 x IG mm. 



Three-streaked Redwing Shrike [P omatorliynchus australis). 

 — A nest wath one newly hatched young one was found on 

 3rd, and another with three fresh eggs on 18th November. 

 The nest is a thin basin-shaped structure of reddish coloured 

 roots firmly bound together and to the supporting twigs with 

 cobwebs ; an open bush with very few leaves is the site 

 usually favoured, and the nests are very hard to find despite 

 their scanty protection. The eggs are white with splashes 

 and streaks of purplish slate overlaid with red-brown, also 

 in irregular nuirkings ; they measure 21*5-22 x 15'5- 

 l;r8 mm. 



The Black-crowned Redwing Shrike (P. senegahai) was 

 also frequently observed. 



Northern Rufous-bellied Shrike [Laniarius mfiventris 

 hijhridus). — This bird is common in the thick scrub of the 

 pan, but does not appear to occur outside in the more open 



