242 PARUS AFER. 



In Benguela Anchieta has collected specimens at Caconda 

 and Quindumbo, and informs us that it is known respectively 

 at these two places as " Caxitico " and " Calncondonjobe " ; 

 there is one of Monteiro's collection from Benguela in the 

 British Museum. 



To the south of the Cunene Chapman found it scarce in the 

 Lake region and Damaraland, and Andersson also mentions it 

 as found sparingly distributed throughout the country from 

 the Okavango river and Lake Ngami southward into Cape 

 Colony. 



In this last district specimens have been collected by 

 Mr. Butler near Cape Town. Layard received it from Beaufort 

 "West, and frequently saw the species during his journey from 

 Nel's Poort to the Swartzberg. Atmorehas collected specimens 

 at Swellendam and near Hopetown. Ortlepp has sent others 

 from Colesberg, where it is called " Slangwyte " by the Dutch 

 colonists, and Layard records it from Kuruman and writes : 

 " At Nel's Poort we obtained several nests in the crevices of 

 an old brick tank or bath, which was constantly used by 

 members of the household. The entrances to these nests were 

 very small and tortuous, leading to the back of the brickwork, 

 which we had to remove before we could secure the ees's. 

 The nests were large masses of dried bents of grass and 

 feathers. At the Berg river we found them breeding in 

 September in holes of trees. The eggs were pure white with 

 red specks, principally at the obtuse end." These last- 

 mentioned nests were composed of hair, wool and feathers. 

 Atmore found the species at Swellendam nesting in hollow 

 trees, and he took twelve eggs out of one nest. With regard 

 to their habits, Stark writes : " Although, like most of the 

 family, this Tit shows a certain partiality for trees and bushes, 

 when they are present, it frequently inhabits very arid and 

 desolate localities, covered only by a thin growth of Karroo 

 scrub. Here they hunt over the stones and rocks in search 



