in Zululand, ivith Notes on its Birds. 413 



the legs, and soon die. This Crow has a variety of notes, 

 and is often seen perched upon a dead branch croaking to 

 itself: it is said to be capable of being taught to talk. It 

 separates into pairs during the breeding-season, and makes 

 a large nest of sticks in a water-boom or other tree, which it 

 uses year after year. 



One of the most beautiful of South-African birds that we 

 had not hitherto come across was the '' Glossy Thrush " 

 {PhoUdmtges verreauxi). It is one of the Glossy Starlings, 

 and flies high, going about in small flocks. Its lovely violet 

 colour, with snow-white belly, makes it very striking. The 

 female is very different in plumage, being a brown-spotted 

 bird. The iris is yellow. 



After a sojourn of three months near the valley of the 

 Umhlatoosi we left : returning to Eschowe we spent a few 

 days butterfly-collecting and visiting, and then, having taken 

 in a new stock of provisions in our cart, and having had the 

 latter repaired and the axle lengthened, we started for the 

 Umfolosi. The road crosses the Umhlatoosi at a point 

 higher up than that where we had been previously; the 

 valley here was very dry, and grass for the oxen was rather 

 scarce. The drift is good, a weir having been made across, 

 and near by is a roadside house for travellers. We rested 

 here for Sunday : this was an exceedingly hot day — the 

 hottest we have had this summer (Jan. 27), and was followed 

 by a hot night ; but we have reason to be thankful that these 

 latter do not occur often, as they are so enervating. On the 

 far side of the river the country rises very abruptly, and we 

 had to ascend by a long and steep pull, almost too much for 

 the oxen. Arrived at the top, we outspanned near a Swedish 

 Mission Station. We were now amongst high grassy hills 

 bare and bleak, and if it had not been for the hospitality of 

 Mr. Fristed, we should have been badly off in such an 

 exposed situation, as a thick, cold, misty rain came on, 

 making the roads slippery and impassable for a day or two. 

 Elevated though this country is, horses do not thrive here 

 on account of the rankness of the grass. Our next halting- 

 place Avas Melmoth, a small village situated in the open 



