150 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
by Mr. Ayres, but we are not aware of any other occurrence within 
our limits, excepting the specimens obtained by Mr. Monteiro at 
Novo Rodondo in Benguela, and by Senor Anchieta at Capangombe 
in Mossamedes. Their food consists of caterpillars and several species 
of Hymenoptera. Le Vaillant states that they deposit their eggs, which 
are of a pinkish colour, dotted with clear brown spots, in the nests of 
the “ Capoevogel,” “Jan Fredrik” (Cossypha caffra), and other small 
birds. Our friend, Mr. L. du Toit, confirms this statement as regards 
the “Jan Fredrik,” as also does Mr. Fred. Barber, who adds to the 
list the nest of the Cape Canary (Crithagra canicollis). He says the 
egg is of a dark brown colour. 
Adult.—Above greyish, with a slight gloss of oily green on the 
scapulars and secondary feathers, the rump and upper tail-coverts 
darker and inclining to cindery grey; quills brown, barred with 
white near the base of the inner web; tail purplish black, glossed 
with greenish near the base, tipped with white and marked with one 
or two white spots along the shafts of the feathers, the inner web 
also slightly marked with white on its edge; throat clear bluish- 
grey ; fore neck deep ferruginous, with slight indications of blackish 
cross bars; rest of under surface fulvous white, banded with blackish, 
inclining to clear fawn on the under tail-coverts, where the cross 
bars are narrower and more zig-zag in shape; bill horn-black, | 
yellowish at base of lower mandible and along basal edge of upper 
one; feet deep-orange, claws yellowish ; iris reddish hazel. 
Fig. Levaill. Ois. d’ Afr. v. pl. 206, 
186. CvucuLUs cLAMoSUS. Black Cuckoo. 
This Cuckoo, which is a true Cuculus with rounded and swollen 
nostrils, must not be confounded with Coccystes serratus, which has 
oval nostrils and a long occipital crest: its black colour will dis- 
tinguish it from every other species of Cuckoo found in South 
Africa, 
Le Vaillant states that the “noisy Cuckoo” is common about the — 
Sunday and Swartkop Rivers, and throughout Camdeboo, depositing 
its eggs in the nest of the “ Capocier” (Drymeca maculosa). It has 
also been found in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown and was 
sent by Mr. T. C. Atmore from Elands’ Post and the Katberg. Mr. 
Ayres has procured it in Natal and gives the following note :—“ This 
