i he 
COLIUS. CAPENSIS. 553 
not uncommon in gardens during the fruit season, ranging about in 
small families of six or eight individuals. They fly with a rapid, 
though laboured flight, generally at a lower level than the object at 
which they aim, and on nearing it rise upward with a sudden abrupt 
curve. They creep among the branches like Parrots and hang 
suspended, head downwards, without inconvenience; indeed, it is 
said that they invariably sleep in this position, many of them 
congregated together in a ball.* They breed in the centre of a bush 
or tree, making a structure of sticks and fine roots lined with wool, 
laying three or four eggs, somewhat rounded at each end, of a dull 
white colour, sometimes streaked with a golden brown; axis, 10’” ; 
diameter, 8’. 
In habits, the three species closely resemble each other; and at 
the Kynsna, where they are all to be found, we frequently shot them, 
and could not distinguish which we had obtained until we picked 
them up. 
Mr. Ayres writes from Natal:—“These birds are entirely 
frugivorous. They live in companies, and are by no means so 
common as O. striatus ; but their habits are very similar to those of 
that species, except that they are more shy, and take wing more 
readily. In this Coly the tarsus acts apparently like a heel, being 
quite rough from constant use in climbing.” In the Transvaal, the 
same gentleman observes: ‘“‘I met with these Colies in pairs in 
February, in Lat. 27° 30’ and long. 26°; but found no nests. They 
do not occur about Potchefstroom.” Mr. Barratt shot specimens on 
the Vaal River, but did not observe it at Macamac. He states that 
he has also received it from Marico. Mr. Andersson writes as 
follows :—“ This species is somewhat widely diffused over Great 
Namaqua Land and Southern Damara Land, through a portion of 
the Lake-country, and in the valley of the River Okavango. It is 
gregarious in its habits, being found in flocks by day and also when 
roosting at night. Its flight is short and feeble, seldom extending 
beyond the nearest bush or tree, on reaching which it usually 
perches on one of the lower branches and then gradually glides and 
creeps upwards through the foliage, using both bill and feet for that 
purpose. It is essentially a fruit-eating bird; but I believe, when 
hard pressed for its regular food, it does not despise insects and the 
young shoots of plants. Its flesh is palatable. On September 26th, 
* Mr. Atmore says he once fired into a cluster and killed twenty-five! 
