30 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor).— A few specimens 

 were seen and one secured amongst some trees in an open 

 patch, the okl site of some buildings that existed when the 

 salt was being worked. 



Red-backed Shrike (Lanms coUvrio). — A very common 

 bird, especially in the vicinity of deserted homesteads. 



Long-tailed Sln-ike {Urolestes melanoleiicns). — A very 

 common bird and found breeding during November. The 

 young birds assume their long tail-feathers before they leave 

 the nests, and subsequently they can be distinguished from 

 their parents only by the glossier a})pearance of the feathers. 

 The family parties are very noisy when the nest is deserted, 

 the neighbourhood ringing with their loud, metallic, whistling 

 notes. Five eggs comprise the normal clutch, and in 

 different clutches there is a considerable difference in the 

 size of the eggs, three measuring 26-27x19-8-20, 24-5- 

 2G-5 X 19-19-5, and 28-5-29-5 x 19-5-20 mm. 



Drongo (Dicrnriis afer). — Several nests with young and 

 one with a single partly incubated egg were found during 

 November. This single egg is pale pink with darker pink and 

 some pale coloured markings, and measures 24:-5x 17-7 mm. 

 The series of clutches in the Transvaal Museum collection 

 shows considerable variation in size as well as colour : those 

 from Albany district, and a single egg from Potchefstroom, 

 are largest, measuring over 2G X 19 nun. 



Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus). — Decidedly rare, 

 but sometimes found in the larger trees of the pan. 



"Wattled Starling (CVm^o/>/(ora caruncalata). — Small parties 

 were sometimes seen. 



Plum-coloured Starling {Cinni/rlc/nclus verreau.ri). — A 

 ])art,y with three very young ones, apparently just out of 

 the nest, was observed in November. It is not so common 

 in the bushvfdd as on the Magaliesberg, where there is a 

 more constant suj)ply of the berries and wild figs upon which 



