410 Messrs. E. B. & J. D. S. Woodward's Journetjs 



sucker {Nectarinia amethystina) is very partial to the 

 mistletoes and other flowering parasites that grow on the 

 mimosa-trees. It is of a very pugnacious disposition. We 

 have found several of their nests hanging from low trees ; 

 these are domed and loosely put together, composed of grass, 

 dead leaves, and cobweb : the eggs are yellowish white. 



A very handsome Honey-sucker is the Cinnyris gutturalis, 

 its bright scarlet chest set oflF by its dark general colour. It 

 is abundant here amongst the aloe-blossoms. 



Three glossy Cuckoos are found here, and their spring 

 call-notes are easily distinguishable from one another. The 

 Emerald Cuckoo [Chalcit.es smaragd'meus) is considered the 

 most lovely of all the Cuckoo tribe. During the months of 

 October and November its well-known pleasing call sounds 

 from all the kloofs and bushes. The female is not so often 

 met with as the male, but we obtained an egg, wdiich is 

 white. The Golden Cuckoo {Chalcites awatus) prefers the 

 thorn-trees, and we heard its soft di-di-didric continually. 

 The large Red-chested Cuckoo [Cuculus solitarius), from its 

 markings, might be mistaken at first sight for a Hawk. Its 

 loud call-note, which, in the spring-time, resounds through 

 the woodlands, resembles the words " whip-whip-whip," and 

 it never seems to get tired of repeating it. The Black Cuckoo 

 (^Cuculus clamosus) utters its loud monotonous cry when 

 perched on the top of some tall tree in the heart of the 

 kloofs. When two birds meet they greet each other with a 

 peculiar chattering not unlike that of the Red-billed Hoopoe. 

 In the " mealie-gardens ^' here were flocks of Kafir 

 Finches [Vidua ardens), two or three males accompanied by 

 a number of brown females. We found a nest in a clump 

 of tall grass, fastened to the stalks ; it was a small domed 

 structure, composed of fine grass, and contained little white 

 speckled eggs. The larger Kafir Finch [Cher a progne), 

 called by the Kafirs " Isakabula," we met with on the 

 highlands. Its enormous tail is rather cumbersome and 

 causes it often to fall a victim to the sticks of the boys, who 

 are fond of decorating themselves with its feathers. The 

 very elegant Whydah Finch ( Vidua verreauxi) we saw here 



