472 SIGMODUS RETZII 
S. r. tricolor takes the place of the typical form in 
Portuguese East Africa, North-east Rhodesia, Nyasaland and 
German East Africa. The type was obtained by the Living- 
stone Expedition at Tete on the Zambesi. 
S. r. graculinus replaces S. 7. tricolor in British East 
Africa, from the Pangani River, Kilimanjaro and Kavirondo, 
north and east to the lower valley of the Juba River, where 
it was obtained by Erlanger. In the Usambara Mountains 
and about Kilimanjaro forms intermediate between S. r. 
tricolor and this subspecies are frequently met with, as well 
as typical examples of both races. The type of the sub- 
species was obtained many years ago near Mombasa by 
Baron von der Decken. 
Andersson, who collected two examples of this species at 
Oliphant Vlei in Damaraland, writes: “ When encamped in 
the desert a few days journey south of the Okavango, I for the 
first and only time observed this fine Shrike. The flock con- 
sisted of six individuals, an adult male and female and four 
young birds of both sexes, all of which I secured after much 
running and dodging. They were exceedingly wary and 
watchful, always perching on the loftiest and most exposed 
trees, in which respect they differed from P. talacoma, though 
they resembled it in the manner in which they were feeding 
when I first saw them.” 
Ayres gives a somewhat similar account of their habits, 
adding that their flight is heavy and somewhat slow, their 
notes loud, chattering and harsh, and that they feed on insects. 
Swynnerton states that in Gazaland the Chindao name is 
Mariganyama and that they are not infrequent in the open woods 
about Chirinda. He found the note a low and pleasant one 
and syllabled it as “ Turee-whooo.”” Sheppard makes somewhat 
similar observations on the habits of this Red-billed Shrike 
near Beira. He writes: “ Found in wooded districts, but, so 
— 
