50 Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton on the 
51. Pycnonotus LayaRpI. Black-capped Bulbul. 
This is one of the most plentiful birds in the country, and 
is not uncommon even in Chirinda. It is an inveterate 
fruit-thief, but it is well to condone some of its mis- 
doings as it also destroys great numbers of insects, and, 
though it has no sustained song, its notes are cheerful and 
pleasant. It will frequently build in a bunch of bananas, 
doubtless with a shrewd eye to the future. 
52. PHyLLosTRoPHUS CAPENSIS. Cape Bristle - necked 
Bulbul. 
This is one of our characteristic forest-birds, going about 
in parties in the denser portions of the undergrowth and 
uttering all the while a harsh croaking note; it is also to 
be found in forest-patches, kloofs, and dense thickets in the 
Jihu and elsewhere. It is distinctly shy, never shewing itself 
if it can avoid doing so, and on the arrival of a party at 
an open ride in the forest the birds will frequently cross it, 
only after much chattering and consideration, one by one. 
A nest which I found in December was placed amongst 
some low trailing branches about three feet from the ground 
on the outskirts of the forest. It consisted of a flimsy and 
untidy cup of small stems, including those of the thorny 
climbing acacia so common in the forest, and the fine stems 
of the “false maiden-hair.’” It was 2 inches in diameter 
(inside measurement) by 1 inch in depth, and was slightly 
strengthened by the addition, outside, of a few dry leaves, 
roots, grass-blades, and a little moss. The eggs, two in 
number, measured 10 lines by 7°5, and were white in ground- 
colour, handsomely blotched with grey and olive-brown, the 
markings being gathered for the most part into a bold zone 
encircling the larger end of the egg. The bird would leave 
the nest at the slightest alarm and slip noiselessly away in 
the undergrowth, but on my finally cutting off her retreat by 
an approach from within the forest, she shewed considerable 
boldness, hopping about and croaking at a distance of a few 
feet. ‘lhe crops examined contained Gumiti-berries, beetles, 
a grasshopper, and other insects. The irides of this species 
