TURDID^.' 1 37 



moderate ; the lateral toes unequal, the outer one slightly 

 united at the base ; the hind toe long, strong, and armed with 

 a prominent claw, 



258. Criniger Importunus ; Trichopkorus im- 



portunus; Turdus Importunus, Vieil., Ency. Meth., 

 p. 662 ; Cuv., Vol. 6, p. 378 ; L'Importun, Le Vail., 

 PI, 106 ; Boschvogel of Colonists ; Turdus Glamosus, 

 Steph. ; Andropadus Veciferus et A. Familiaris, 

 Swain. ; T. Brachypolioides, Jard. 



General colour, uniform dull olive -green ; lightest on the 

 under side ; feathers of the wings and tail edged with yel- 

 low; some thin, long, hair-like bristles protrude from the 

 back of the head ; eye very pale yellow. Length, 7" 9'", ; 

 wing, 3" 9'" ; tail, 3" 9"'. 



" L'lmportun " of Le Vaillaat is not very rare iii tlie neigkbourliood 

 of Cape Town, but does not manifest its presence by its importunity, 

 as indicated by that author. I have generally found it in thickets, 

 moving quietly" about in search of insects, and darting upon them 

 while at rest. I have sometimes, but rarely, seen it on the ground, 

 scraping among dead leaves. 



Le Vaillant found it very plentiful from Duivenhok's River to 

 Algoa Bay ; and Messrs. Atmore and Cairncross have sent it from 

 Swellendam. Le Vaillant states that it builds on branches of large 

 trees, and lays four or five eggs, marked with olive-colour. It has a 

 clear, shrill, single piping note, and will readily come to any one who 

 knows its call and can imitate it. 



259. Criniger Plaviventris ; Trichophorus Fia- 



viventris, Smith, Zool. S, A., PI. 59. 

 Upper parts of head, back, rump, and tail, olive-brown ; 

 outer vanes of some of the qaill- feathers slightly edged with 

 green ; chin and throat, pale straw- yellow ; breast and flanks, 

 greenish-yellow ; centre of belly and vent, yellow ; bill, legs, 

 and toes, a dark horn-colour. Length from point 'of bill to 

 tip of tail, 9" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 4" 2'". 



Inhabits the country near Port Natal ; is entirely confined to 

 thickets, among which it searches for insects, never descending to the 

 ground.— Dr. A. Smith loc. cit. 



Genus PYCNONOTUS, Kuhl. 



Bill more or less short, and broad at the base, with the 



culmen curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 



emarginated ; the gonys short and ascending ; the gape 



furnished with a few short, weak bristles ; the nostrils basal, 



