BRADYORNIS ATER. 405 
33 by 33, and 3% by x. Considering the size of the bird, the 
egg is small and delicate; it somewhat resembles that of Motacilla 
capensis. 
This Wood-Shrike is easily recognizable by its black upper 
surface and white under surface. 
Adult male.—General colour above glossy black, all the feathers 
with ashy grey bases; wing-coverts black hke the back; quills 
black, the inner primaries white at the base of both webs, forming a 
large alar speculum, the outer secondaries white along their outer 
margin, forming a longitudinal bar down the Wing; two centre tail- 
feathers black, all the other feathers white, with a black terminal 
band, the base of the inner web also dusky blackish; lores, sides of 
face, and sides of neck black ; cheeks and under surface of body 
dull white, the flanks greyish; under wing-coverts white, the quills 
black below, white at the base of the mner webs; “ bill and feet 
black ; iris dark hazel” (7. HE. Buckley). Total length, 7 inches; 
culmen, 0°55; wing, 3°6; tail, 3:2; tarsus, 0°95. 
Adult female.—Brown where the male is black, the alar speculum 
not so distinct, and the outer edges of the secondaries also not so 
broadly white, the white on the onter tail-feathers also not so 
extended ; under surface of body dull ashy white, the under wing- 
coverts whitish, with brown bases; greater series of under wing- 
coverts brown, edged with white. Total length, 6°5 inches; wing, 
4-5; tail, 3-2; tarsus, 0°95. 
Fig. le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. II, pl. 74. 
388. Brapyornis ATER, Sund. Southern Black Wood-Shrike. 
This species does not come further south than Natal, where 
Mr. Ayres believes that it breeds. It is also found in the Transvaal, 
where, however, it is not very common. Mr. Ayres has met with 
it near Rustenberg, and it extends to the Zambesi, as Dr. Kirk 
shot a specimen at Shupanga. In 1877 the editor separated the 
Damara Black Wood-Shrike from the present species under the 
name of Bradyornis diabolicus, chiefly on account of the ashy black 
aspect of the under surface of the wing, the inner webs of the 
quills being light ashy, whereas in the Natal bird the quills 
are deep black below. Since that time Mr. Gurney has carefully 
compared a Transyaal specimen with the type of B. diabolicus, and 
considers that they cannot be separated. 
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