i ; 
CRATEROPUS KIRKIT. 213 
almost incessantly in motion; and from their being generally 
associated in great numbers, the noise occasioned, partly by their 
flitting from one stem to another or climbing, and partly by the 
harsh cries they uttered, more especially on the appearance of 
danger, rendered even a temporary residence in the vicinity of their 
haunts quite disagreeable. Though they evidently preferred, as 
resorts, the situations described, yet, where reeds did not occur, 
they were occasionally found among the brushwood remote from 
rivers; and in these positions they also displayed an extremely 
restless disposition; scarcely were they observed to enter a bush or 
thicket before they were seen leaving it from the opposite side, for 
an adjacent one. Though such was their common practice, there 
were times when they appeared less disposed to hasty changes, and 
when they were to be noticed, not simply following a tortuous 
course, but even ascending and descending among the branches ; 
nay, even visiting the ground below and around the bushes. As 
far as we had opportunities of judging, they feed exclusively upon 
insects ; and those which were killed when among the reeds, seemed 
to have committed great havoc upon the larve of Gryllide, &c. 
while those obtained among the brushwood appeared principally to 
have fed upon coleopterous insects.”” 
Above, olive-brown ; feathers of the head dark brown, edged with 
greyish-white, imparting to the bird a scaled appearance; chin, 
throat, breast, and anterior portion of belly, ashy-brown, marked 
with elongated white spots; posterior portion of belly and vent, 
yellowish-grey, tail, dark-brown; centre pair of feathers strongly 
tinged with grey; all crossed by dark-brown bars, only visible if 
held in certain positions; “bill, black ; tarsi and feet, dusky ; iris, 
bright reddish-yellow” (Ayres) ; “bill and feet, black; iris, dark 
red” (Buckley). Length, 10’; wing, 4” 6”; tail, 4” 3”. 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pl. 6. 
195. CRrareRoPus KIRKI, SHARPE. Kirk’s Babbling-Thrush. 
Dr. Kirk, who identified this species as Crateropus plebeius of 
Riippell, says that it was common in long grass near rivers in the 
Zambesi country. He writes as follows :— Found in flocks of five 
or six. A noisy bird in the reeds, buta fine songster when perched on 
the Borassus-palms in the early mornings during the rainy season.” 
ee ee ee — 
