234 PARUS NIGER. 



Dr. Fleck found them in the above neighbourhood in small 

 groups. 



In Cape Colony the type of the species was procured by 

 Levaillant in the eastern district. Mr. Layard met with it at 

 Grahamstown and received specimens from Beaufort, Kuru- 

 man and East London. Mr. Atmore found these Tits to be 

 plentiful at Elands Post, and Captain Trevelyan procured 

 specimens at Kingwilliamstown and the Chalumna river. 



In Natal I shot an immature bird at Durban in March, and 

 have since received specimens from Pinetown. The late Dr. 

 Stark writes : "Everywhere confined to the bush and forest 

 districts, and preferring the larger growth of trees as a 

 hunting ground. In the Natal bush it is a common bird, and 

 is constantly met with in small bands of five or six individuals 

 busily hunting about the tree-tops for insects. Its contrasting 

 colours of black and white render it rather a conspicuous bird, 

 aud it frequently attracts attention by its harsh call-note. 

 Eggs of this Tit are white sparingly spotted with pale red, and 

 measure 0*67 x 0"53." 



Messrs. Butler, Feilden and Reid met with a small party in 

 the bushy " donga " near Pietermaritzburg in December. Mr. 

 T. Ayres found them in pairs seeking their food in the upper 

 branches of the trees, and " discovered a nest of these birds 

 containing one egg and four callow young. The old bird had 

 evidently taken possession of a deserted Woodpecker's nest. 

 The hole was in a perpendicular and decayed bough of a large 

 tree, about twenty feet from the ground ; it was about a foot 

 in depth, and there was a very little fine dry grass at the 

 bottom, on which the egg and young birds were placed. I 

 was obliged to cut and break the front of the bough to get 

 at the contents of the nest; and the old birds showed their 

 dislike to my proceedings by their chattering cries and uneasy 

 manner. On leaving the nest I repaired the hole as well as I 



