Birds of Gazaland, Southern Rhodesia. 65 
I have examined a number this season—is placed either, like 
a Nightingale’s, on the ground amongst the dry leaves at 
the foot of a tree or in a depression of the trunk, seldom 
more than three feet from the ground. It is composed 
externally of coarse twigs, leaf-stems, an occasional grass- 
blade or a little moss, and quantities of dry and skeleton 
leaves; most of the material, when the nest is raised from 
the ground, being massed in front. The cup, which is 
2°5 inches in diameter, is lined with roots, fine grasses, &c., 
and the eggs exactly resemble those of the Nightingale, 
being of a uniform olive-brown, with occasionally a few 
darker markings shewing very faintly towards the larger 
end. I have also twice found eggs of a comparatively pale 
grey-green, this again corresponding to an uncommon type 
of the eggs of the Nightingale. In length they vary from 
20 to 25 mm. and in breadth from 14°5 to 17 mm. I once 
found a nest in a thick clump of Dracena, close to the 
trunk of a large tree and about fifteen inches from the 
ground. ‘he bird is shy, usually flying off at an intruder’s 
approach, but on two occasions has allowed me to stand and 
watch it from within a few feet. This species is wonder- 
fully attractive with its large soft eyes and its orange 
and blue plumage. The young, with their mottled black 
-and yellow colouring, are very different in appearance to 
the parents. 
72. CossyPHA HEUGLINI. Hevglin’s Robin-Chat. 
Though not very frequently seen, the results of my 
trapping operations prove this to be by far the commonest 
bird of the wooded kloofs and of the thickets which fre- 
quently border our streams. In Chirinda itself I have only 
twice found it, on both occasions in the same narrow pro- 
jecting spur of forest, near water. The stomachs examined 
have nearly always contained beetles, less frequently seeds, 
occasionally other insects, such as termites and harvesting- 
spiders, and once small bones, apparently of a lizard. The 
notes of this bird are flute-like and remarkably pleasant. 
Its length in the flesh varies from 7:5 to 8°8 inches. 
SER. IX.— VOL. I. F 
