LUSCINID^. 115 



Genus PARISOMA, Swainson. 

 Bill very short, straight, considerably compressed ; upper 

 mandible arched from the base, and notched ; lower thick ; 

 gonys ascending ; rictus with a few weak bristles ; lateral 

 toes equal. 



213. Parisoma Rufiventer ; P- Suhcoeruieum, 



Gmel. ; Le Grignet, Le Vail., PI. 126. 

 5 Above, dark dull greenish-grey, browner on the wings, 

 and black on the tail, the two outer feathers of which are 

 tipped and edged with white ; under parts ash- coloured ; 

 throat whitish, speckled with long dark ash-coloured spots ; 

 vent deep rufous ; edges of the wings white. 9 wants the 

 rufous vent. Length, 6" ; wing, 2" 9'" ; tail, 2" 8'". 



Le Vaillant states that this bird is very common on the banks of the 

 " Gourifcz." and " Brak " Eivers, dwelling among the mimosas in 

 small flocks, and incessantly traversing the branches in their search 

 after insects, and the eggs and larvae of Lepidopfera, which form their 

 principal food. I have received specimens from the Cedar Mountains, 

 in Clanwilliam, and from the neighbourhood of " Eiebeeks Easteel," 

 in Malmesbury, through the kindness of Mr. Eussouw ; also from 

 Swellendam, Colesberg, and Kuruman ; and Mr. Andersson brought 

 it from Damaraland. Mr. Atmore tells me he finds it plentifully in 

 the Bosjesveldt ; and I saw it in great abundance in the Karroo, as far 

 as Nel's Poort. Le Vaillant's description of their habits is correct. 

 While hunting, they utter a clear piping whistle. 



214. Parisoma Layardi, Hartiaub. ibis. Vol. 



IV, p. 147. 

 General colour above, cinereous, with a tinge of green ; 

 central tail-feathers approaching to black; the two outer 

 more or less white on their tips and outer edges ; under sur- 

 face, whitish-grey, darkest on the flanks, and mottled on 

 the throat ; wing-feathers edged with white ; bill and legs 

 dark. Length, 5" 3'" ; wing, 2" 6'" ; tail, 2" 9'" ; tarsus, 

 10'"; bill, 7'". 



This bird was received from Mr. Eussouw, who obtained it in 

 Zwartland, in the Malmesbury division. According to his^ account, 

 the irides are white. I also procured this species at Nel's Pooft, 

 about the mountains. In its habits it resembled P. Bufiventer, for 

 which at first we mistook it. It is difficult to shoot, as it creeps about 

 dense bushes, and on being hunted, conceals itself in the thickest 

 parts and remains perfectly still. My friend, Mr. Henry Jackson, 

 calls it the " Mocking Bird/' from its habits of imitation, and informs 

 me that it makes a cup-shaped nest in a bush, and lays three eggs, 

 which are pure white, blotched chiefly at the obtuse end with greenish- 

 brown and faided purple spots : axis, 9'" ; diam., T". 



