96 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



head, extending on either side of the head in the shape of 

 a pronounced white eyebrow, running right on to the 

 temporal region of the head. 



It is found from the Orange River northwards, and lays 

 three to five eggs of a white ground colour, spotted with 

 brown. 



The Sub-family Malaconotidce contains some very well- 

 known birds, such as the Bush-Shrikes (Telephonus). 



The best known species is the Black-headed Bush- 

 Shrike (T. senegalus), known to the Zulus as the 

 "Inqupan." It extends from Port Elizabeth eastwards 

 to Zululand and the Transvaal, and from Mashonaland to 

 Northern Damar aland. 



It usually lays three eggs of a white ground colour, 

 marked with pale purple and reddish-pink. 



The Tchagra Bush-Shrike (T. tcliagra) is . a little 

 smaller, and differs also in having a rufous crown instead 

 of the black crown characteristic of T. senegalus. It lays 

 three eggs of a creamy-white colour, irregularly marked 

 with pale lavender and purplish-brown streaks, which 

 are in some specimens sparsely, in others thickly, 

 distributed. 



Both these birds are beautiful whistlers indeed to 

 such an extent is this developed that one not accustomed 

 to the bird would mistake their call for the whistle of 

 a human being. They are fond of bushy country and 

 are friends of the agriculturist, devouring large quantities 

 of insects, although they also eat berries and other 

 vegetable matter. 



A still smaller species is found in the Transvaal, 

 Bechuanaland and Damaraland, extending to Angola 

 and the Upper Zambesi Valley. This is the Three- 



