CRATEROPUS BICOLOR. 211 
frequently found among low bushes on the dry plains, whilst the 
last-named species is rarely found away from vleys and rivers. The 
stomachs were full of black ants and small seeds.”” We have 
recently seen specimens of this Babbler from the Victoria Falls, 
Zambesi. 
The following interesting note is given by the late Mr. Andersson : 
—This species is common throughout Damara and Great Namaqua 
Land, and is also found in the Lake-regions; it always occurs in 
flocks of many individuals, and creeps and glides through the mazes 
of tangled wood and dense thickets with amazing ease and celerity. 
When alarmed, it flies slowly from tree to tree, its flight being 
feeble. It climbs excellently, and also seems equally at home upon the 
ground. I was fortunate enough to fall in witha nest of this species 
on the 15th of October, 1866 ; and, considering how common the bird 
is, I wonder that I have not met with more nests; this one contained 
three eges, in every way very similar to those of Orateropus 
melanops. ‘The nest was situated in a fork on the very top of a 
small anna tree, some ten or twelve feet from the ground; it was 
composed externally of fine twigs and coarse grasses, and was lined 
with somewhat finer grass; it was circular, deep, and very compact. 
Icould both see and hear the parent bird whilst we were robbing 
the nest; but it- did not come near or appear very solicitous. On 
the 11th of December, 1866, I observed a family of these birds, 
consisting of an old pair and their young, hopping about in an anna 
wood, almost as carelessly and fearlessly as Robins. One of them, 
evidently the female, led the way, followed by the young, which 
uttered a querulous, subdued note. In the young birds the tail and 
wings are of somewhat the same colouring as those of their parents ; 
but the body differs much from the colour of the adult bird, being 
grey or brownish-grey, instead of white.” 
General colour, white; with black wings and tail, bill, and legs; 
feathers of the back very thick and fluffy; tail rounded ; “bill and 
feet black: iris reddish-orange” (7. EH. Buckley). Length, 10”; 
wing, 5”; tail, 4” 7”. 
_ A second specimen killed by Mr. Buckley on the 31st of July, 
1873, had the iris “light yellow.” The one with the orange iris was 
shot on the 16th of October of the same year, so that the colour of 
the eye varies, probably with age. 
Fig. Jard. Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. L. pl. 3. 
P2 
