Mr. Layard's 'Birds of South Africa.' 159 



Mr. Layard cites Cehlepyris melanoxantha, Licht., as a syno- 

 nym of Campephaga j^hoenicea (Lath.) ; but, as I have already 

 stated {sujjra, p. 45), I believe that "melanoxantha" is the correct 

 specific name of the Yellow-shouldered Caterpillar-eater of 

 Southern Africa, as ' xanthornoides " is of the distinct Yellow- 

 shouldered species of West Africa. 



The females, and probably the young males also, of Campe- 

 phaga nigra, C. phcenicea and C. melanoxantha appear closely 

 to resemble each other in plumage ; but I am not aware that the 

 female of C. xanthornoides has yet been identified. 



305. Mel^nornis atra (Suudev.). Black Flycatcher. 



As Mr. Layard cites this species with apparently some doubt 

 as to its title to admission into his ' Catalogue,^ I may refer to 

 a specimen recorded by me (Ibis, 1865, p, 268) as having been 

 sent from Natal by Mr. Ayres. This was a female bird, and 

 was believed by Mr. Ayres to have been recently incubating, 

 though he did not succeed in discovering its nest. 



311. Enneoctonus auriculatus (P.L.S. Miiller). Wood- 

 chat-Shrike. 



Mr. Layard remarks of this Shrike that "it is probably not 

 African,^^ which last word I presume should have been written 

 " South-African,^' as the Woodchat is a well-known bird in 

 many parts of Africa north of the Equator. The specific name 

 above given is, I believe, the correct one according to the rule 

 of priority. 



312. Nilaus CAPENSis, Shaw. Brubru- Shrike. 



As Mr. Layard mentions that he has only received this 

 Shrike from Damara Land, it may be desirable to refer to a 

 specimen which was sent to me from Natal (Ibis, 1862, p. 31). 



325. Laniarius boulboul (Lath.). Boulboul-Shrike. 



As it appears from Mr. Layard's investigations that this spe- 

 cies is not known to breed in the Cape Colony, I may refer to 

 Mr. Ayres's remark (Ibis, 1864, p. 351) that in Natal it " builds 

 a coarse, open nest in a low bush or tree.'' 



l\Ir. Ayres also mentions that the notes of this Shrike " are 

 loud and carious ; the male calls first, and is so immediately an- 



