380 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
cheeks, chest and sides of the body, the sides of the vent washed 
with rufous; under wing-coverts and axillaries dull white, with 
dusky bases to the feathers. Total length, 6°7 inches ; culmen, 0°55; 
wing, 3°6; tail, 2°9; tarsus, 0:9. 
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Eur. part ii. 
362. UnoLusres MELANOLEUCUS, Smith. : 
South African Long-tailed Shrike. 
Lanius cissoides, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 158. 
This fine species was discovered by Sir A. Smith originally in 
the neighbourhood of the Orange River. We have received several 
specimens from Colesberg from our valued correspondent, Mr. 
David Arnott. It occurs in Natal, and Dr. Exton found it plentiful 
from Secheles’ into Mosilikatze’s country, and Mr. T. E. Buckley 
shot a specimen in the Transyaal in July, 1873, and according to 
Mr. Thomas Ayres it is generally distributed throughout the bush- 
veldt, but is a somewhat local species. Mr. Andersson writes as 
follows :—I did not find this species in Great Namaqua Land, but 
first met with it in the central parts of Damara Land, from whence 
to the River Okavango and to Lake N’gami it is not uncommon. 
It is found in flocks of a few individuals, which at times create a 
tremendous hubbub amongst themselves, especially on the approach 
of a bird of prey; and the moment this alarm is sounded, every 
little bird in the neighbourhood precipitately betakes itself to-a 
place of safety. This Shrike usually seeks its food, which consists 
of insects, amongst the branches of trees and bushes or on the 
ground; but it will also watch for its prey from some elevated 
perch. Senor Anchieta has procured it in several localities south of 
the latitute of Benguela, and at Humbe on the River Cunene; here 
it was known to the natives by the name of ‘ Bitocatoca’” 
Mr. Guillemard, who has recently travelled through a great part of 
South Africa, writes in the Field :— Although Layard mentions this 
bird as common about Colesberg, I have personally never seen it 
further south than the Rhenoster River, in the Free State, where, 
however, I only procured one specimen.” The localities where the 
late Mr. Frank Oates procured it were the Crocodile River, the Ibex 
River, Tati, and the First Makalaka River on the Zambesi Road. 
He procured a brown variety, now in the British Museum, and.the 
note was said to be different from that of the ordinary black bird. 
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