LANIIDJE. 141 



flocks, which, when disturbed, moved leisurely to the 

 nearest tree, rarely all at once, but one or two individuals 

 at a time, chattering incessantly whilst moving. These 

 flocks frequent indiscriminately bush and forest, hopping 

 about amongst the branches and foliage in search of 

 insects. The flight of this species is straight, with a 

 short, rapid, and quivering motion of the wings. 



The iris is brown, the bill black horn-colour, the legs 

 and toes livid brown. 



[In the very rare Catalogue of the South- African Museum, 

 loc. cit. } the following remarks occur with reference to this 

 species : " Owing to this bird being remarkably shy, specimens 

 were at first procured with difficulty by the Expedition, though 

 small flights of them were frequently observed; subsequently, 

 however, it was remarked that where one chanced to fall wounded, 

 its companions continued hovering about and approaching it 

 until it was removed. This suggested the plan of fixing one 

 with a string by way of decoy; and a concealed hunter was thus 

 sometimes enabled to kill ten or twelve in succession without 

 having occasion to move from his hiding-place." ED.] 



178. Prlonops talacoma, Smith. Smith's Helmet-Shrike. 



Prionops talacoma, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 5. 

 Gurney, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 3. 



Andersson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 5. 



Layard's Cat. No. 313. 



,, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 395. 



Sharpe's Cat. No. 470. 



I did not observe this interesting bird until I had 

 passed Omanbonde, in the twentieth degree of south 

 latitude. It is always seen in flocks of from half a dozen 

 to a dozen individuals, which frequent secluded spots, 



