hij Mr. Claude Grant in Sou/h Africa. 739 



483. SCHIZORHIS COXCOLOR. 



Tv. Kleiu Letaba, July, Aug., Sept. (8) ; P. Tete, 

 Aug. (1). 



[" Go-away " bird of the Colonists ; " Nkwenyane " of 

 the Machangaans and ]Machopees. 



I first saw this Lourie in Zululand, north of the Hluhluwe 

 Stream, where I noted it in threes and fours in the thorn-trees, 

 but it was so wary that I was unable to secure specimens. 

 I subsequently met with it in the Eastern and the North- 

 Eastern Transvaal, and in the Inhambane and Tete districts 

 of Portuguese East Africa. It frequents " bush-veld," and I 

 liave only once observed it on the high veld proper, and that 

 Avas on the Pietersburg-Klein Letaba road, where a few 

 were seen in the thorn-trees along the edge of the Berg. 

 It appears to be somewhat local ; for instance, it is not 

 found south of the Hluhluwe Stream in Zululand, and in 

 the Inhambane District it is confined to the valleys of the 

 Inyasuni and Yamatemda Pcivers, Avhere the country is more 

 or less open, and is not met Avith either in the Beira or 

 Gorongoza districts of the Portuguese country, although 

 common around Tete. It is usually found in companies of 

 about half a dozen flopping about in the trees, feeding on the 

 berries and fruit or lazih^ Ayi^ig from tree to tree. It has a 

 loud drawn-out cry of " kAvay," sometimes singly, sometimes 

 doubly repeated. Although Avary and keeping out of shot as a 

 rule, it is most inquisitive, and Avill accompany a man for long 

 distances, either on one side or more often in front, perching 

 on the tops of trees and giving vent to its aggraAating cry, 

 jerking up the tail and continually raising and depressing 

 its crest. From this habit it has earned a bad reputation 

 among hunters, as it Avarns the game of the apjjroach of 

 danger, the cry sounding as tliough the bird Avas calling to 

 the game to "go away.''^ The natives also attribute this to 

 the bird, and I have seen them strike olV in another direction 

 because of its persistence in keeping in touch Avith them; 

 I have myself bloAvn the bird to pieces Avith a rifle-ball in 

 j)ure exasperation. 



The soft parts are : — Iridcs hazel : bill, legs and toes black.] 



