hy Mr. Claude Grant in Suuth Africa. 723 



? imm. Irides paler brown ; bill horn-coloxircd, all the 

 bare skin dusky; legs and toes much browner. 



S juv. Irides as in imm. ? ; bill horny white ; legs and 

 toes brownish flesh-coloured.] 



435. Geocolaptes olivaceus. 

 Tv. Zuurbron, Apl. (1). 



[Since the close of the Central Cape Colony trip I have 

 only observed this fine Woodpecker in the mountains of 

 Namaqualand and in the mountainous country to the east 

 of Wakkerstroom, South-Eastern Transvaal. Its loud 

 resounding cry, not unlike the alarm " whistle " of the Klip- 

 springer (Oreotragus saltator), at once betrays its presence. 

 It spends most of its time searching the crevices of the rocks 

 and boulders for insects, which it captures with its long 

 flexible tongue. It can often be seen clinging to the flat 

 surfaces of the great rocks, being easily able to hold on to 

 any slight inequality. Its flight is very swift and straight, 

 the cry being uttered both on the wing and when settled. 

 Since the trip referred to above, I have been able to supple- 

 ment the notes on the breeding-habits of this bird. I find 

 that it invariably nests in sandy banks, generally those of 

 dongas and spruits at the base of kopjes and mountains; 

 the nesting-hole does not go in to any very great depth — 

 usually some three to four feet, with a slight upward ten- 

 dency, ending in a cavity in which the eggs are deposited on 

 the bare earth. Often the hole, after going in for some 

 few inches, is turned abruptly to the right or left, and where 

 a pair have decided to nest, a number of smaller or greater 

 excavations can be seen where the birds have tested the bank. 



The soft parts of the adult are : — Irides yellowish white ; 

 bill black ; legs and toes ashy grey.] 



436. Campothera notata. 



CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1). 



[" Hout-Kopper" of the Cape Dutch. The KnysnaAYood- 

 pccker was only observed in the Knysna district of Capo 

 Colony, and I did not commonly see it there. In cry and 

 habits it much resembles C. abingdoni. 



