SPREO BICOLOR. 429 
The exquisitely coloured males arrived first and seemed to associate 
but little with the sombre females, from which they differ so 
marvellously in appearance. Anchieta has recorded the present 
species from several parts of Mossamedes and Benguela, and has 
also found it in Angola proper. 
From Natal Mr. Ayres writes :—“ Small fruits form their principal 
diet, although they sometimes feed on flies and the winged females 
of the white ant, rising and taking them on the wing, similar to the 
Flycatchers. In fact, almost every bird and beast that I know will 
occasionally feed on these insects, which in the spring of the year 
swarm out by millions, when hawks, dogs, cats, toads, &c., &., all 
feast alike.’ Mr. Oates found the stomach containing “ remains of 
insects, and a number of large white berries, and sticky yellow 
matter with the berries, the latter said to grow on trees, and 
to be used for bird-lime. In another bird the stomach contained 
a few remains of small insects, but principally a quantity of 
vegetable matter like fine grass.” 
The male of this bird is easily recognized by its beautiful puce 
colour above, and white belly. The irides are said by Mr. Andersson 
to be light chrome yellow, bill black, the legs brownish, and the toes 
the same but browner. The female has the upper parts dark brown, 
mottled with reddish brown, chiefly on the head; under parts white 
marked with longitudinal dark brown. ‘Total length, 6 inches ; 
wing, 3°9; tail, 2°5. 
This species differs from the common P. lewcogaster, from Western 
and North-eastern Africa, by the white on the outer tail-feather. 
Fig. Bocage, Orn. Angola, pl. v. 
412. Spreo Brconor, Gin. Common Spreo. 
Juida bicolor, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 172. 
The Common §Spreo is found throughout the colony, frequenting 
places about which cattle are accustomed to graze, for the purpose 
of feeding on the insects which congregate upon their dung. They 
also constantly perch on the cattle, to rid them of the parasites with 
which they are infested. 
They assemble during our winter season in small flocks, flying 
thickly together, and uttering loud and repeated chirps. At the 
breeding season they separate into pairs, and retire to rocks or 
houses to build, forming their nests of sticks, small roots, and fibres, 
in holes and crevices, and laying four or five lovely light-blue eggs, 
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