NOTES FROM NATAL. 253 



River and Weston (Mooi River) in November ; it was common at 

 Richmond Road, near Pietermahtzburg, and at Durban, in 

 December. 



Laniarius ritbiginostts, Sund., Ruddy-breasted Bush Strike. — 

 Butler obtained two specimens in a kloof on the Drakensberg, 

 near Newcastle, in August, but it does not seem to be common 

 in that part of the country. A female obtained by Reid in the 

 bush, near Durban, on the 12th August. 



Laniarius ferrugineus, Cuv., Greater Puff-backed Shrike.— 

 Butler procured a few on the Drakensberg, near Newcastle. It 

 is not very common, and strictly a woodland species, frequenting 

 the densest bush. It is very shy, keeping out of sight as much 

 as possible, and is usually found singly, except perhaps in the 

 breeding season. A male shot in the " Town " Bush, near 

 Pietermaritzburg, by Reid, on the 31st August. " The note is 

 loud and rich, and not unlike some notes of the Indian Magpie, 

 Denclrocilta rufa. Male : legs and feet light greyish plumbeous ; 

 bill dark blackish plumbeous, horny white on the terminal two- 

 thirds of the upper mandible ; iris blackish brown " (B). 



Laniarius cubla (Lath.), Lesser Puff-backed Shrike.— An 

 example of this was obtained near Ladvsmith, in August, by 

 Serjeant Williams, of the Welsh Regiment, and examined by Reid 

 on the 19th of that month. Butler procured one also near 

 Newcastle, in a kloof on the Drakensberg, in August, but it is 

 not common according to our experience, and belongs to the 

 forest tracts. Iris brilliant orange or golden yellow; legs and 

 feet lavender ; bill black " (B). 



Laniarius gutturalis, Miiller, Backbakiri Shrike. — Extremely 

 common in the neighbourhood of Newcastle. Also numerous at 

 Colenso, where it was nesting in November, and at Ladysmith. 

 Not observed at Pietermaritzburg, though doubtless occuring 

 there. A shy bird, though betraying its presence by its loud and 

 not unmusical notes. Both male and female have the black 

 collar in adult plumage. The eggs are lovely, but lose their 

 beautiful colouring sadly when incubated; they are accurately 

 described by Layard in his first edition. Both birds take part in 

 sitting. Iris dark brown; bill blackish horn colour; legs and 

 feet lavender colour, or plumbeous grey " (B). 



Telephonus longirostris, (Swains.), Long- billed Bush Shrike.— 

 Common in the bush between Durban and the Umgeni River, 



