in Zuhdand, tvith Notes on its Birds. 405 



orientalis) which was new to us, we were glad to hasten back 

 to our encampment early next morning. 



Besides our new Barbet aud the "Tinker," was found 

 here the Red-fronted Barbet {Po(jonorhynchus toi'quatus) , 

 a handsome bird, which is very familiar in the bush-country. 

 It is bold and fearless and may often be seen seeking for 

 insects in the gardens round the farmhouses. Like the 

 Woodpeckers, it makes round holes in the trunks of dry 

 trees, where we have found its white eggs, three or four in 

 number. It ought to make a nice cage-bird with its gay 

 plumage, as it is not particular in its diet and feeds on fruits 

 and berries as well as on insects. Amongst the commonest 

 of the birds here were Starlings : the prettiest we have met 

 anywhere is the Green Starling {Lamprocolius phmnicopterus) . 

 The glossy plumage of this bird, which glistens resplendently 

 iu the rays of the sun, and its bright orange eyes, together 

 with its lively and cheerful habits, makes it one of the most 

 striking of South-African birds. We kept one of them 

 that we reared from the nest for a long time. It was 

 quite happy in confinement, and Avould even come down 

 from its perch and alight on the hand in a playful manner. 

 It was a good songster with quite a variety of notes, and 

 would sometimes even enliven the night with a cheerful air. 

 It ate almost anything, but was particularly fond of white 

 ants, which it knocked out of the clay with a sharp blow of 

 its bill. These Starlings fly about in large flocks during the 

 winter season when the berries are ripe, and perching on the 

 branches of a tali tree keep up a lively chorus. The eggs, 

 which are bluish in colour, are laid in the hole of a tree well 

 lined with feathers. We have noticed a peculiarity in the 

 eyes of these birds : when young they are blue like most 

 fledglings, but soon change to a milky white, aud remain 

 this colour for nearly a year, when they change again to the 

 bright orange of the adult bird. Smaller than this bird and 

 more distinctly blue in colour is the Lamprocolins melano- 

 l/aster. Its habits are much the same, but it confines itself 

 more to the bush aud does not go about in such large flocks. 

 It is a fair songster, and its notes are loud and musical. The 



