by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 423 



another male flying over the tops of some trees, but out 

 of shot. The male secured was sitting on a tall tree and 

 was warbling quietly and sweetly to itself, occasionally darting 

 out to catch some passing insect and returning each time to 

 the same pei^ch ; after watching it for some time I shot it. 

 Whether the female was somewhere close by I cannot say ; 

 anyhow, nothing could be seen of her and the shot did 

 not make her reveal herself. 



The soft parts are ; — Irides yellow ; legs and toes pale 

 lemon-chrome.] 



348. Platystira peltata. 



P. Beira, Dec. (1). 



[Only in the Beira district of Portuguese East Africa have 

 I seen this bird, and there I found it in one locality, in a 

 stretch of trees and bushes bordering an intermittent river. 

 Even there it was scarce, and only some four or five birds were 

 observed ; two were shot, but one was so damaged that it was 

 useless for preservation. It is fearless and active in its habits, 

 searching every leaf and branch and uttering every few 

 seconds a sharp " zee " call-note. 



The soft parts of the female secured were : — wattle 

 bright orange; bill black; legs and toes slate-coloured. 

 Irides shot away,] 



319. Batts capensis. 



CC. Table Mt. slopes, Jan., Feb. (6) ; Knysua, Jan., 

 Feb. (6) ; Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1) ; N. Illovo, Nov. 

 (2) ; Z. Sibudeni, Oct., Nov., Jan. (7) ; Tv. Zuurbron, 

 Apl., May (8) ; Woodbush Hills, Dec. (3). 



['^ Gwisisiba" of Zulus. 



A common bird of the woods and forests of the Cape 

 Peninsula, the Knysna district, Natal, Zululand, and the 

 South-Eastern and North-Eastern Transvaal, but not met 

 with in the extensive woods and forests of the Portuguese 

 country. It was generally seen in pairs or family-parties, 

 and frequented the thicker undergrowth, but seldom the 

 larger trees. It is a true Flycatcher in habits and calls. 



2q2 



