NOTABLE SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS 61 



and has a rather pleasing song, the notes of which 

 the Dutch have likened to " Jan-fredrik-drik-drik- 

 fredrik," and for short '' Jan Fredrik." 



Babblers are a numerous family, Qurnbering, accord- 

 ing to Trimen, thirty-seven species. 



The only orioles are the Cape oriole (0. ca;pcnsis) ; 

 the well-known golden oriole of Europe {Oriohcs 

 galbula), which is occasionally seen in the interior 

 during the rains ; and another very beautiful species, 

 the Oriohos notatus, also rather a scarce bird. 



A notable bird is the musical drongo shrike 

 {DicruTus 7misicus). With a very clear and pleasing 

 voice, this bird possesses great boldness. Not only 

 will it drive birds of its own size from its neighbour 

 hood, but it will fiercely and successfully attack large 

 hawks and falcons. 



Flycatchers and larks comprise twenty-two species, 

 among which the familiar European spotted fly- 

 catcher, and a remarkable white-tailed fly-catcher 

 (Platysteira tm^quata), the largest of its race, together 

 with the Sabota lark {Alauda sahota), and the noisy 

 clapert leeuwerk (so called from the loud clapping of 

 its wings as it rises from the plain in a short flight), 

 the Megalophonus ctjoiafus, are to be noted. No 

 African larks possess the glorious song of the British 

 skylark, or anything approaching it. 



Shrikes are numerous, of eighteen species. Re- 

 markable among them is the Fiscal shrike {Lanius 



