138 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA, 



and placed in a groove, with the opening oval and exposed ; 

 wings moderate and rounded, with the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth quills nearly equal and longest ; tail moderate and 

 rather rounded ; tarsi as long as the middle toe, and rather 

 strong, with the front covered with an undivided scale ; toes 

 moderate, the lateral toes nearly equal, the hind toe rather 

 long, strong, and armed with a long curved claw. 



260. Pycnonotus Capensis, Gmei.; Turdus 



Capensis, Gmel. ; Le Brunei, Le Vail, PI. 105; 

 Briss. Orn.,-III, t. 27, f. 3. 



ABOVE, entirely of a rich hair-brown ; slightly darker on 

 the forehead and round the eye and ears ; eye-lids sur- 

 rounded by a white fringe ; under parts light ; the edges of 

 the feathers being still lighter, give a scaled appearance. 

 Vent, light citron-yellow ; edge of shoulder white. Length, 

 1" &" wing, 3" 9"'; tail, 3" 6'". 



These birds are found in great abundance in tke neighbourhood of 

 Cape Town, and indeed throughout the whole colony. They migrate 

 according to the fruit season, and are especially partial to figs and 

 grapes. They also feed largely on the berries of the " Persian Lilac," 

 and when that tree is in fruit, any number might be shot by a person 

 lying in ambush near. When feeding, they keep up a continued 

 chattering, and as they usually go in flocks of ten or fifteen in number, 

 their presence is soon detected. 



These birds conceal their nests so skillfully, that they are rarely 

 detected, notwithstanding their numbers. It is composed of rootlets, 

 lined sometimes with hair and feathers, and is generally placed in the 

 fork of a tree or large bush. The eggs, three or four in number, are 

 a lovely pale pink, densely spotted and blotched with dark pink and 

 pale purple, presenting a most beautiful appearance : axis, \l" f ; diam., 

 la 



261. Pycnonotus Nigricans, Vieii. ; Guv, Vol. 



6, PI. 389; Turdus Levaillantii, Tern.; Turdus 

 Capensis, Lath., PI, Enl., 317 ; Ixos Xanthopygius, 

 Ehrenb. ; Le Brunoir, Le Vail., No. 106, f. 1. 



GENERAL colour, brown ; slightly darker on the wing and tail 

 feathers ; the latter pale at the tips ; head slightly crested, 

 and black ; as is also the chin and upper part of throat ; 

 eye-lids surrounded by a red fringe ; lower parts brown, 

 like the back, fading into white on the belly ; vent, brilliant 

 citron-yellow. Length, 7" 9'" ; wing, 3" 9'" ; tail, 3" 5"'. 

 Le Vaiilant procured this species in Namaqualand, particularly after 



