284 ISIr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 



found, insects of all kinds, from a fly to large grasslioppers, 

 and often young birds, and on one occasion a frog, having 

 been seen impaled on any convenient tliorn-trce or some- 

 tiuies on barb-wire fences. The call is harsh and loud, and 

 the flight graceful, low, and undulating. It apparently 

 breeds early, as eggs and fledged young birds were taken in 

 September. I took the nest containing tliree eggs on the 

 24.th of September, 190.3, near Cape Town; it was composed 

 of twigs of a common herbaceous plant interspersed with rag 

 and string, and lined with fine grass and fibre ; it was placed 

 in the fork of an apple-tree some twelve feet from the 

 ground in an orchard. 



The soft parts are: — Irides hazel; bill, legs and toes 

 black.] 



187. Lanius collurio. 



Tv. Woodbush, Dec. (1) ; Turfloop, Mch. (3) ; P. Beirn, 

 Dec, Jan. (4). 



[I have not seen the Red-backed Shrike elsewhere than 

 in the two localities where specimens were secured. In 

 the Beira district it was very plentiful. It is usually 

 observed sitting on stumps or posts of fences ; it is very 

 silent and by no means wild.] 



189. NiLAUS BRUBRU. 



Tv. Klein Letaba, Aug. (3). 



[This species was only observed in the " bush- veld " of 

 the North-Eastern Transvaal, where it was not common, 

 being only occasionally seen searching for insects among the 

 branches and foliage of the Mopani trees. 



The soft parts are : — Irides rich brown ; bill, upper man- 

 dible blackish slate-coloured, lower paler slate-coloured ; legs 

 and toes slate-coloured.] 



191. Telephonus senegalus. 



Z. Umfolosi Station, Aug. (2) ; Ngoye Hills, Oct. (1) ; 

 Tv. Klein Letaba, Aug., Sept. (4); Woodbush, Jan., 

 June (3); Turfloop, Mch. (1); Legogot, May (1); 

 P. Coguno, June, Aug. (3) ; Bcira, Dec, Feb. (2) ; Masam- 

 beti, Oct. (1). 



