WARBLERS THRUSHES 15 



three eggs of a white ground colour blotched with light 

 and dark sepia-coloured markings. It is a neat, active 

 little bird and a true friend of the agriculturist, existing 

 almost exclusively upon insects. 



WARBLERS. 



The Warblers (Sylviida) are a large group of more or 

 less dull-coloured little birds, and difficult of correct 

 identification. They are also true friends of the farmer, 

 but the few species we shall notice will be referred to 

 in other chapters. 



THRUSHES. 



The family of Thrushes, Chats, &c. (Turdidce) is a 

 large one, and South Africa possesses a number of useful 

 species, including amongst them some of our best known 

 birds. 



First in order of classification comes the Ground- 

 scraper Thrush (Turdus litsipsirupa), a bird with a pale 

 brown back, and whitish underparts sprinkled with large 

 pear-shaped spots of black. This bird is scarce and local 

 in some regions, although we found it not uncommon on 

 the Modder River, Orange River Colony. It is fairly 

 common in German South- West Africa. Major Sparrow 

 describes the egg as of a pale blue ground colour speckled 

 with light and dark brown. It lays during the months 

 of September to November. 



The best known species of Thrushes in this country 

 are the Cape Thrush (T. olivaceus) and its " up-country " 

 representative, the Orange-billed Thrush (T. cabanisi). 

 They are of a general slaty-olive tint on the back ; 

 whitish throat streaked with rufous and black ; sides of 

 body and belly orange-rufous ; length about 9j inches. 



