by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 713 



[This species has been observed iu Natal, Zululand, and 

 the Eastern and Northern Transvaal. In the Portuguese 

 country to the east and north its place is taken by 

 H. orientalis, though specimens from Inhambane and Legogot 

 (E. Transvaal) intergraduate bet^Yeen the two. Therei'ore, 

 where these species meet they interbreed, and specimens from 

 such localities would shew characters of both. 



This bird is fond of well-wooded country, and is usually 

 observed perched on the lowest branches of trees, often 

 along shaded rivers and dry dongas. It feeds principally on 

 insects and probably on freshwater Crustacea, but I have 

 never seen it take fishes. It has a loud harsh cry, the 

 alarm-note being different from the call ; the flight is fast and 

 straight, the alarm-note being uttered as it leaves its perch. 



The soft parts of an adult are : — Irides brown ; bill, legs 

 and toes red. In the young the bill is reddish-brown, 

 more brown than red, and the legs and toes dark brown 

 tinged with pale red.] 



419. Halcyon albiventris orientalis. 



P. Masambeti, Oct., Nov. (2-4 nestlings) ; Beira, Jan. 



(0- 



[Only in the Beira district of Portuguese East Africa 

 have I observed this species. In cry and general habits it 

 exactly resembles H. albiventris. It breeds during the wet 

 season, and I found the nest at Masambeti, near Beira, at 

 the end of October. The nesting- hole was situated in the 

 bank of the Masambeti stream under an overhanging bough, 

 and ran in about four feet with a slight upward tendency ; 

 from a cavity at the end I took four young birds : both the 

 adults were caught with a grass noose at the entrance. 



The soft parts of the adult are similar to those of 

 H, albiventris.'] 



420. Halcyon chelicuti. 



Z. Ntambana Hills, Aug. (1) ; Tv. Legogot, Apl. (1) ; 

 P. Coguno, Aug., Sept. (4) ; Masambeti, Nov. (1) ; Beira, 

 Dec. (1) ; Tambarara, June (1); Tete, Sept. (1). 



[" Nongwosoya " of the Zulus. 



