714 Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 



Only in the Ntambana Hills^ novtli of the Hluhluwe Stream 

 in Zululaud, Legogot, and the Inhambane, Beira, Goroiigoza, 

 and Tete districts of Portuguese East Africa have I observed 

 this little Kingfisher. It seems very partial to clearings and 

 native gardens, where it is seen perched on the lower brancli 

 of a dead tree^ keeping a sliarp look-out for its prey^ which 

 consists mainly of coleopterous insects. I have observed it 

 also in parts quite remote from any water, and it is usually 

 solitary, although at Beira it was in pairs ; as this was, how- 

 ever, in the wet summer season it was probably breeding, 

 but I was quite unable to locate any nests. In the early 

 morning and late afternoon, seldom during the middle of the 

 day, it can be seen perched on the topmost brancli of a tree 

 and giving forth a loud continuous "trill,"'^ while sitting 

 bolt upright and regularly opening and shutting the wings to 

 their fullest extent, so as to make it appear as though the 

 movement of the wings had greatly to do with the " song '' ; 

 and from this peculiar habit I have always called it the 

 "concertina bird/' I believe that it is only the male which 

 '^ sings,'' but I have not been able to conclusively prove the 

 fact. Tbis is one of the earliest birds to rise in the morning:, 

 and I have heard it trilling before the first streaks of dawn. 

 The flight is fast and straight, but never long sustained. 



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

 mandible dark purple, lower red ; legs and toes red, darkest 

 on the upper surface.] 



423. COLIUS STRIATUS. 



CC. Durban Bd., Mch. (1); Knysna, Feb. (1) ; Pletten- 

 berg Bay, Feb., Mch. (2). 



423 a. COLIUS STRIATUS MINOR. 



Beichenow, Yog. Afr. ii. p. 203. 



Z. Jususie, Jan. (1); Umfolosi Station, July (2); 

 Hluhluwe Stream, Aug. (4); Tv. Woodbush, June, Dec. 

 (3) J Legogot, ApL, May (2) ; P. Coguno, June, Aug., 

 Sept. (3). 



Beichenow distinguishes a subspecies from East and 

 South-East Africa, extending south to Natal, by its smaller 



