BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



o 448. Colius Oapensis, Gmei. ; PL Eni. 283, f. i ; 



Colius Carunculatus, Steph.; C. Erytkromelon, Vieil. ; 

 N. Diet. d'His. Kat. VII., p. 378 ; Coliou Quiriwa, 

 Le Vail., No. 258; Colius Quiriwa, Less.; Colius 

 Indicus, Lath. 



UPPER parts, shining bluish-green, inclining to grey ; fore- 

 head reddish-brown ; under surface reddish-browu, with a 

 grey tinge on the breast; vent, and under side of elongated 

 tail-feathers, reddish-brown ; baso of bill, and cere round the 

 eye, a fine coral-red, fading to dirty-yellow in dried speci- 

 mens. Length, 13" 6"' ; wing, 3" 9'" ; tail, 9" 9'". 



Generally distributed in tlie George district, and to the Eastward. 

 It clo^s not appear to frequent the sparsely wooded country west of 

 Swelicndam I saw it abundantly at the Knysna; and Mr. Atrnore 

 obtained nest and eggs at Traka. The eggs resemble those of C. 

 Erythropus in every T, spect. 



449. ColiUS StriatUS, Gmel. ; C. Panayensis, 

 Gmel. ; Tanagra Macroura, Scop. ; Le Coliou Rayd, 

 Le Vail., No. 256. 



ABOVE, cinereous, with a tinge of glossy greenish-brown on 

 the wings and tail, lightest on the head, which is crested ; 

 under part of throat and chest cinereous, minutely striated 

 with brown ; centre of belly dirty-yellow, inclining to rufous 

 on the vent ; inner surface of wing rufous ; tail long, and 

 graduated ; upper mandible black, and much curved ; lower, 

 light horu-colour ; feet horn-colour. Length, 13" ; wing, 

 4 f 10'"; tail, 9"; tarsus, 11'"; bill, 6'". 



Not uncommon in the Karroo. In habits resembling the preceding. 

 Eggs received from Mr. Atmore resemble those of preceding species, 

 bat are rather larger : % axis, li'" ; cliam., 8^'". Its nest is said to be 

 an open, cup-shaped structure, built in a mass of small branches. 

 Several bu-ds are reported to lay in one nest. 



It is not .Uncommon about the Knysna, Caledon, and Worcester, and 

 extends this 'side of the mountain as far as Eerste Eiver, as I found by 

 shooting them in Mr. Lawrence van der Byl's garden. 



The Sixth Family, MUSOPHAGID^E, or 

 Plantain-Eaters, 



have the bill moderate, broad at the base, the culmen much 

 elevated, curved, and the sides much compressed towards the 

 tip, which is strongly emarginated the wings more or less 

 lengthened and rounded ; the tail long and broad ; the tarsi 

 moderate, strong, and covered in front with broad transverse 

 scales ; the toes long, and the outer one sometimes versatile. 



