150 BIRDS OF SOUTH ArRICA. 



287. Muscicapa Ochracea, Spar. ; Cuv., Vol. i, 



p. 363. • 



Neck and chest, ashy-ferrugineous; feathers lanceolate ; wing 

 and tail, ashy-black ; head and back, brown ; ears ciliated 

 with long feathers ; belly yellow-brown. 



A doubtful species. Supposed by Sundevall to be Meliphagius Atu- 

 tralicB of Australia. 



288. Musicapa Tectes, Gmei.; Om. ii, t. 39, £ 



1 ; Cuv., Vol. 1, p. 343 ; If, Borbonica, Briss. 



Brown, dotted with red ; beneath reddish ; throat whitish ; 

 quill and tail feathers, brown-edged ; the latter red-tipped. 



Said by Cuvier (loc. cit.) to be a nati'se of South Africa ; but is from 

 the Island of Bourbon. 



289. TodUS LeUCOCephalUS, PaUas ; Le Capu- 

 chon Blanch, Le Vail., PI. 159. 



Black, with white head and neck ; head crested. Length, 

 about 4i". 



Le Vaillant says be found these birds only amongst the rocks and 

 on the lofty mountains of the country of the Houzouanas. They are 

 difficult of approach, being very suspicious. He learnt nothing of 

 their habits, and could not find any nest. The stomachs of those ex- 

 amined contained nothing but insects. After all this account of Le 

 Vaillant, the bird proves to be a South American species ! ! 



290. Muscipeta Azurea, Vieii. ; LAzurous, 



Le Vail., No. 158 ; Cuv., Vol. 1 ., p. 331. 



Upper parts, shining azure-blue ; male, below orange, with 

 white vent ; female, below all white. 



Le Vaillant, who states he found this species in Namaqualand, says 

 the natives told him these were '' birds of passage." They feed only 

 upon spiders and caterpillars. The nest was placed in a fork of a 

 mimosa, strongly fastened to the neighbouring branches. It was 

 beautifully rounded, and very deep, made of the stalks of creeping 

 plants. It had no soft lining, not even moss. Eggs, five or sis ; olive 

 green, dotted with red, chiefly at the large end, where the spots forni a 

 complete circle. Sundevall denies that such a bird exists in South 

 Africa. 



291. Muscipeta Madagascariensis, Gmei ; 



Cuv. Vol. 1, p. 330 ; Brisson, ij., t. 24, f 5. 

 Olive ; throat yellow ; crop and chest, yellowish. 

 South Africa. — Cuvier (loc. cit.) ; but is a Madagascar bird. 



