by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 291 



210. SiGMODUS TRICOLOR. 



P. Masambeti, Oct. (2) ; Beira, Dec. (6) ; Tambarara, 

 May (3); Tete, Ano-., Sept. (3;. 



[I have observed this species only in the Inharabane, 

 Beira, Goroiigoza, and Tete districts of the Portuguese 

 country ; it cannot, however, be considered pk^ntiful, 

 although it is often seen ; it is at all times wary and difficult 

 to secure. It frequents both open and ordinary forest 

 country, keeping more to the tops of the larger trees than 

 does Prionops talacuma, and I have not seen it hunting about 

 in the native clearings. It is never found in such large flocks 

 as that species, being usually seen in parties of six or eight. 

 The call is somewhat different from that of P. talacoma, but 

 when handled it snaps its beak as does that bird, and also 

 when one is only wounded the others will return to see what 

 has happened to their companions ; on one occasion near 

 Beira I secured a whole party of six by carefully keeping 

 concealed. 



I have not seen this bird nesting or even in pairs, but 

 always in flocks, even when with young. 



The soft parts are : — 



Ad. Irides yellow ; wattles round eyes dark tomato-red ; 

 bill tomato-red, tip yellow ; legs and toes pale tomato-red, 

 nails horny, 



hnm. ill changing plumage. Colours as in the adult, but 

 the wattles round eye and bill paler. 



Imm. Colours as in the adult, but wattles paler, and bill 

 paler and more dusky. 



Juv. Irides dark brown, eyelid slightly yellow; bill 

 blackish brown, slightly yellow at gape ; legs and toes pale 

 yellow.] 



SiGMODUS SCOPIFRONS. 



C. Grant, Bull. B. O. C. xxi. p. CG ; Keichenow, Yog. Afr. 

 ii. p. 537. 



P. Masambeti, Nov. (1). 



This species, as noted by Grant, is new to the South African 

 fauna. It has been since met with also by Sheppard (Jouru. 



