TSCHAGRA SENEGALA 367 
short flight the tail is frequently expanded, which gives the 
bird rather a showy appearance.” 
In Mashonaland, according to Mr. Guy Marshall, it is 
“‘a, plentiful resident, being generally found in pairs in the 
denser parts of the bush.” Alexander writes from the 
Zambesi: ‘‘ This species takes the place of ZT’. minor, to a 
ereat extent, on the higher reaches of the river from Zumbo 
onward. There is no difficulty in identifying this large Shrike, 
while its habits, too, are somewhat different. Unlike 7’. minor, 
it never sings on the wing, but always when stationary; and 
further it does not on the approach of the breeding-season 
make a ‘whirring’ sound with the wings. It is altogether 
of a more retiring nature. The song, uttered from some 
thicket, is melodious, and might be rendered ‘ tu-tu-tui-tui’ 
constantly repeated.” 
Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton writes from Gazaland: “ Every 
year, it is said, in December, Gungunyana would decree the 
singing of a certain song throughout the land for about six 
_ weeks, and at the end of this period indulge in a great slaying, 
after which the song was not to be sung again till the 
following year. It appears that after one of these annual 
massacres the bird’s song was interpreted by the youngsters 
of the royal kraal as ‘Inkos indiwe uhwa-ita ’ (King, it was 
you who did it). This, combined apparently with a fancied 
resemblance to the tune of the forbidden song, roused the 
chief’s ire and he ordered that for the future every native 
finding an ‘ Umqubane’ (Singuni name for this species) was 
to slay it; a fairly systematic destruction of the bird is said 
to have resulted, but, like the Blue-buck of Chirinda, also 
stated to have been destroyed wholesale by Gungunyana, they 
have since made up for lost time. 
“The nest, which is usually placed in some small tree, a 
few feet from the ground, is somewhat slightly built but strong, 
