1866.] DR. H. DOHRN ON THE BIRDS OF PRINCE'S ISLAND. 325 



of the latter place and of San Thome assert that there is a deadly 

 hatred between the Grey Parrots (Psittacus erythacits) of Principe 

 and the Kites of San Thome, and that, if ever a Milvus visits the 

 neighbouring island, hundreds of Parrots fall upon him and kill him, 

 and that the Kites take revenge if perchance a Parrot should ven- 

 ture a trip to their kingdom. There must be some family reason 

 for this strange degree of enmity, for they seem to live in tolerable 

 peace together on the coast. 



I observed and collected the following birds : — 



1. Cypselus abyssinicus, Licht. 

 Common in the neighbourhood of the town. 



2. Cotyle eques, Hartlaub, n. sp.* 



Notceo toto cum alis et cauda fuscis ; tectricibus caudce superiori- 

 bus pallidioribus : subtus alba, abdomine subjlavescente ; fascia 

 pectorati lata dorso concolore ; subalaribus albidis ; rectrice 

 extima pallida, apice late albo, macula pogonii interni brunnea 

 notato ; rostro nigricante, pedibus plumbeis ; iride nigra. 

 Long, circa 0*14, rostr. a fr. 009, alee - J2, caudse 006, tars. 

 0-013 m. 



Very rare ; I saw only a few specimens near the sea-shore, and 

 got one female for my collection. 



3. Halcyon dryas, Hartlaub. 



The manner of life of this bird reminded me of our Owls. I often 

 observed them in the daytime sitting motionless on a branch, as if 

 they were fast asleep, in dark shady localities. The small birds 

 strongly dislike them ; I suppose that sometimes their children are 

 not refused by the Halcyones for a meal. As soon as they are dis- 

 covered in their retreat, lots of Nectarines, Zosteropes, &c, are 

 around them and amuse themselves with abusing them ; finally the 

 Halcyon leaves the place with a short shrieking outcry. If not 

 annoyed, he has a soft melancholic tune, which sometimes appeared 

 to me like soft and weeping cries of a child. They usually feed 

 upon big insects ; and I fouud often in their stomach pieces of snails, 

 especially of Columna flammea. 



They live in the woods, in the neighbourhood of small streams. 

 Their name ou the island is " Chocho." 



4. Alcedo ceruleocephala, Gmel. 



* 



Common on the shore ; in a few instances I saw single specimens 

 flying about in the interior of the island. The colour of the young 

 bird is little different from that of old specimens ; the bill is black, 

 and the white spots on the throat and on the sides of the neck are 

 very small. 



This species is as lively as H. dryas is indolent. The native name 

 is " Pica-peixe." 



* Dr. Hartlaub, our first authority for African birds, has had the kindness to 

 send me descriptions of the new species which I collected. — H. D. 



