TUKDID^. 131 



Centre feathers, which are coloured like the back ; the outer 

 webs of the two outer feathers, and some portions of the rest, 

 are also similarly coloured ; under parts red, as in the tail ; 

 iris light-brown. Length, 7" 3'" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 3" 8'". 



This bird — which, from its singular cry, has acquired the name by 

 which it is known to the colonists — is common in the Knysna district, 

 but is very diflBcult to procure, owing to its shy, retiring habits, and 

 the thickets in which it lives. Its loud call may be heard on every 

 side of the traveller, but not a single bird will show itself, and I only 

 procured the few specimens which I did obtain, by remaining quiet in 

 one spot and imitating their cry until one came within range ; then the 

 difficulty often was to avoid blowing the bird to pieces, as the thickets 

 are usually so dense, that the bird was almost within reach of viy gun- 

 barrel ere I saw it. 



It feeds upon worms and insects, and has the general habits of a 

 thrush. Le Vaillant says he found it also in KaiFraria. 



246. Bessonornis Signatus ; Gossypha Signatu, 



Sundev., Ofvers. Kongl. Vet. Ak. Forhandl. 

 Yellowish-brown ; beneath white ; a white stripe, bordered 

 with black, extends from the nostrils over the eye ; tips of the 

 tail-feathers and spot on the wing white. Length about 7''. 

 Kaffraria (Wahlberg). Non vidi. 



247. Bessonornis Natalensis ; Cossypha Nata- 



lensis, Smith, Zool. S. A., PI. CO. 

 Head and neck, orange- biown ; back and wings lavender- 

 purple ; posterior part of the back, rump, upper tail-coverts, 

 inner vane of the outermost tail-feather of each side, and the 

 four next to it, orange-yellow ; under parts, bright gallstone- 

 yellow. Length, 7" 6'" ; wing, 3" 6'" ; tail, 3' 3'". 



Dr. A. Smith procured a single specimen of this bird in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Port Natal. It was shot close to the edge of an extensive 

 forest, and was said by the natives to be a shy bird, generally observed 

 in trees, though often seeking its food on the ground. It does not, 

 that I know of, extend into the Cape Colony ; and no specimen has 

 ever fallen under my notice. 



248. Bessonornis PhoeniCUrUS, Gmel. ; Cos- 

 sypha Pectoralis, Smith, Zool. S. A., PI. 48, letter-press ; 



Turdus Phoenicurus, Vieil., Cuv., Vol G, p. 377 ; 



Saxicola Superciliaris, Licht., Cuv., Vol. 6, p. 438 ; 



Le Janfredric, Le Vail., Pi. Ill ; Petrocincla Super- 



ciliosa, Swain. 

 Above, cinereous brown, inclining to rufous on the back and 

 shoulders ; rump deep rufous ; wings and two centre feathers 



