134 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



very common, scraping among decaying vegetation for their food. 

 Eggs said to be of this species were brought me from the Interior by 

 Mr. Chapman, in shape and size like those of the thrush, but of a pale 

 spotless blue, covered throughout with minute raised tubercles. 



253. Crateropus Pectoralis, Gmei., ZOOL, is, 



2, p. 200 ; Le Hausse-col Noir, Le Vail., PI. 110. 

 GENERAL colour, black ; under parts pure white, with a black 

 gorget ; tail tipped with white ; bill and legs black. Length, 

 about 10". 



Great Namaqualand, according to Le Vaillant ; but a doubtful species, 

 not seen by any one but himself. 



The Sub-Family, ORIOLIN^E, or Orioles, 



have the bill as long as the head, broad at the base, and 

 compressed on the sides, with the culmen more or less 

 elevated at the base, and curved to the tip, which is emar- 

 ginated ; the nostrils lateral, basal, exposed, and partly closed 

 by a membrane ; the wings long, with the three first quills 

 equally graduated, and the third and fourth longest; the 

 tarsi short and strongly scaled ; the toes moderate, and the 

 lateral toes usually unequal. 



Genus ORIOLUS, Linn. 



Bill the length of the head, broad at the base, with the 

 culmen slightly depressed, and curved to the tip, which is 

 emarginated ; the sides compressed, and the lateral margins 

 straight ; the nostrils basal, lateral, ovoid, exposed, and the 

 opening partly closed by a membrane ; wings long, with the 

 first quill half the length of the third and fourth, which are 

 equal and longest ; tail moderate and rounded ; tarsi short, 

 nearly the length of the middle toe, and covered in front 

 with broad scales ; toes moderate, free at the base, and the 

 outer one longer than the inner ; the hind toe long and 

 strong ; the claws long, strong, and curved. 



254. OriolUS CapensiS, Swain. ; Le Loriot Cou- 

 dougan, Le Vail., Nos. 261, 262 ; 0. Radiatus, Gmel. ; 

 0. Larvatus, Licht., Cat. Dup. Ber. Mus., p. 20. ; 

 Q. Monachus, Wagl., Cuv., VoL 6, p. 397 ; 0. Cou- 

 dougnan, Ternm. ; 0. Melanocephatus, var. Vieill. ; 

 0. Chloris, Cuv. 



GENERAL colour, a dirty, greenish yellow ; head, throat, 

 chin, and breast, black ; back of neck yellow ; wing-feathers 

 black, with whitish edges, and white marks on the shoulders ; 



