by Mr. Claude Grunt in South Africa. G97 



N ortli-Easteru Transvaal and the Inlianibane, Beira, Goron- 

 goza, and Tete districts of Portuguese East Africa. In cry, 

 flight, and habits it cannot be distinguished from /. viridis, 

 and, like that species, iuiiabits only forest or well-timbered 

 countr}'. I have never succeeded in huding the nest, 

 although I have cliopped out holes in trees where I have seen 

 birds enter or emerge. The soft parts are similar to those 

 of /. viridis. 



384'. EniNOPOMASTES cyanomelas. 

 Tv. Woodbush, May (1). 



Rhixopomastes cyanomelas schalowi. 



Reichenow, Vug. Afr. ii. p. 347. 



P. Coguno, Aug. (3) ; Beira, Dec. (1) ; Tete, Aug. (I). 



Tlie birds from Portuguese East Africa should be referred 

 to Schalow's Scimitar-bill *, distinguished by its longer tail 

 with much lai-ger white spots. This subspecies was first 

 detected in South Africa by Svvynnertou ('Ibis,' 1908, 

 p. 39.2), There are several other exam})les in the British 

 jNluscum, viz., from the jNIakalaka country [BrudsJiuw), 

 Hunyani River {Ci'ark), and Port Chiquaqua {Suwerby), all 

 in Rhodesia, referable to this form. It is not mentioned in 

 Gunning and Haagner's recently published ' Check-list of 

 South-African Birds.' 



[Only in the Inhambane, Beira, Gorongoza, and Tete 

 districts of Portuguese East Africa have I noted this species. 

 It was not common anywhere except in the Inhambane dis- 

 trict, where a good many were noticed. It is always in pairs, 

 and can often be seen examining tiie topmost branches of 

 tall trees, never remaining long, and continually moving on 

 from tree to tree. 



It has a single clear loud cry, like a sharp whistle, which 

 is apparently the call-note. It is very wary, and is not easily 

 obtained. I could discover nothing of its breeding-habits. 



The soft parts are : — Irides deep brown ; bill, legs and 

 toes black.] 



* Shinopomastus schaloici Keuniaion, J. f. Orn. KCO, p. 221 [Muacza, 

 German E. Afr.]. 



