252 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



From this date it was extremely abundant, and was observed 

 constructing its peculiar gourd-shaped nest in the verandahs 

 of houses as well as in the wildest and most remote " krantzes " 

 and ravines. No eggs were taken, though a nest was found, 

 apparently ready for them, on the 11th November. 



N.B. We were disappointed at not meeting with the Black 

 Swallow, Psalidoprocne holomeUena (Sund.), in any part of the 

 colony, as we had fully expected, on the strength of Mr. Ayre's 

 experiences (quoted in the original edition of Layard's book), to 

 find it common. This can hardly be the case, or we must have 

 noticed it. Keid heard of it at Durban as having been seen 

 there on Christmas Day, but did not meet with it himself. 



Lanius collaris, Fiscal Shrike. — Extremely abundant every- 

 where, from Durban to the Transvaal, breeding in thick bushes. 

 Some specimens obtained in the Newcastle district are larger 

 (measuring 10 in.) than usual, and have the under parts pure 

 white ; but they have no claim to rank as anything more than an 

 accidental form. Nests were found containing eggs in Sep- 

 tember, October and November. The eggs are of the ordinary 

 Shrike type, not unlike those of Enneoctornis collurio. Butler 

 shot two specimens carrying small field-mice in their claws like a 

 hawk, and in one instance the mouse, although its head was 

 battered in by blows of the Shrike's bill, was alive. Butler adds 

 the following note : — " Found a nest near Newcastle containing 

 four fresh eggs on the 9th September. It was a massive and 

 well-built structure, placed in an orange tree in a garden, and 

 about five feet from the ground, being composed externally 

 chiefly of the stems of a species of white mildewed-looking hex*b 

 intermixed with strips of rag, string, tufts of sheep's and goat's 

 wool, a few feathers, &c, and well lined with grass roots, feathers, 

 tufts of wool, and a few horse and cow hairs interwoven. Eggs 

 of the usual Lanms type, whitish, with a conspicuous ring or cap 

 of olive-brown and slaty grey confluent markings at the larger 

 end, the markings on the rest of the egg sparse. Another 

 similar nest, containing three fresh well-marked eggs, at Sundy's 

 River on the 10th November. It was in a garden and placed in 

 a fork on one of the outside boughs of an apple tree about eight 

 feet from the ground." (B). 



Lanms collurio (Linn.), Bed-backed Shrike. — Specimens of 

 this well-known bird were obtained by Beid at Blaauw Krantz 



