160 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



o 313. Prionops Talacoma, Smith; Zooi. s. A, 



PL 5. - 



HEAD, light pearl-grey ; cheeks white, margined behind 

 by a black crescent ; neck, and under parts, pure white ; 

 back and wings, glossy, greenish-black, with a white strip 

 along the latter ; two outer tail-feathers pure white ; all the 

 tail-feathers broadly tipped with white ; bill black ; legs 

 pale yellow. Length, 8" ; wing, 4J* ; tail, 3" 10'". 



Dr. Smith first met with this species about 25 south latitude, in 

 Jloeks of six or eight individuals, frequenting low bushes, or hunting 

 the ground for insects. Termites seem to form a favourite prey. 



Genus TELOPHONUS, Swainson. 



Bill more lengthened than in Lanius, slightly hooked ; the 

 tooth smaller ; wings very short and rounded ; tail length- 

 ened, graduated ; lateral toes free ; the inner very slightly 

 shorter than the outer. 



o 314. Telophonus Trivirgatus, Smith, Zooi. s 



COLOUR above, light hair-brown, tinged with yellow ; below, 

 lighter wood-brown ; wings, reddish-orange ; tail, dark- 

 brown, inclining to black ; the two middle-feathers ap- 

 proaching the colour of the back ; three outermost more or 

 less tipped with white. Length, 7J" ; wing, 3" ; tail, 4". 



Dr. Smith procured one specimen of this bird to the north-east of 

 Kurrichane, between 24 to 25 south latitude. We have received it 

 from Kuruman, from Mr. Moffat ; and Mr. Anders son brought it from 

 Damaraland, where it appears to be not uncommon. 



315. Telophonus Erythropterus, 



Nat. Lib., Vol. 11, p. 255 ; L. Rutilus, Lath., var. 7; 



Le Tchagra, Le Vail., PL 70 ; PL Enl, p. 479, f. 1 ; 



Cuvier, Vol. 1, p. 271 ; Lanius Erythropterus, Shaw, 



Genl. ZooL, Vol. 8, 2, 307 ; Lanius Coronatus, Vieil. 

 ABOVE, brown ; beneath whitish ; wing-covers and quills 

 (externally), rufous ; crown, and stripe through the eye, 

 black : sides of the head with a broad whitish stripe. Length, 

 8J" ; wing, 3" 4'" ; tail, 3" 10'". 



Le Vaillant states that it lives only in the thickest brushwood, and 

 densest foliage, such haunts being most productive of its favourite 

 food, which consists of the larvae and pupse of different insects. Its 

 eggs, five in number, are marked with brown. 



I have received this bird from Damaraland, Swellendam, and 

 Colesberg. It is very common at Nel's Poort and Zoetendals Vlei, 



