82 Mr. E. Lort Phillips 07i Birds 



never seen one before^ though both C. habessinicus and 

 C. albiventris were exceedingly numerous. 



39. CiNNYRis ALBIVENTRIS (Strickl.) ; Shelley, Mon. Sunb. 

 p. 233, pi. Ixxiii. 



This exquisite Sun-bird is common both on the hills and 

 on the plains, "svhere it may be seen in company with its 

 dowdy little mate wherever the mimosa is in blossom or the 

 aloe hangs its crimson and yellow bells. It is very fearless, 

 and does not seem to mind being watched in the least. 



40. Textor dinemelli, Horsf. ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 409. 

 Only seen along the foot of the Goolis range, where it 



was breeding in small colonies in March and April. The 

 nests are huge clumsy affairs placed at the extremity of the 

 boughs of the taller mimosa trees and look like flat masses 

 of the sharpest thorns; the entrance, hoAvever, is from below, 

 and the interior is lined with soft grasses. The eggs are 

 pale blue, dotted with dark brown spots. 



41. BuPHAGA ERYTHRORHYNCHA, Stanley; Shelley, Ibis, 

 1885, p. 410. 



Somali name " Hoorie," 



As soon as the camping-ground has been reached and the 

 camels turned out to graze, these noisy plagues put in an 

 appearance, and, swooping down upon the tired beasts, com- 

 mence a systematic hunt all over their bodies for ticks &c,, 

 running with the greatest ease over the backs and under the 

 bellies of the camels, which, far from appeariug pleased at 

 their attentions and at being rid of their disgusting parasites, 

 try to knock the birds off, wherever they can reach them with 

 their long necks. The movements, and the facility with which 

 the birds run up and down the camels^ sides, remind one 

 of the Woodpecker, and, like the latter, who always tries to 

 keep a tree-trunk betM'cen himself and the observer, they will 

 also, on the near approach of man, run round to the further 

 side and peep at him over the ridge of the camel's back. 

 The natives detest them, declaring that they not only worry 

 the feeding camels, but also aggravate their sores and, 



