BARBETS 55 



below which is a broad white stripe. Length, 6J to 

 . 6| inches. 



It is exceedingly common at Aliwal North, Cape Colony, 

 where it frequents the gardens and scrub on the banks of the 

 Orange and Kraai Eivers. We also found this bird not un- 

 common in the Albany kloofs and along the Modder Eiver 

 in the Orange Free State. At Brandfort, Orange Free 

 State and the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory they are 

 quite common amongst the mimosa scrub where their harsh 

 cry — ^something like the blare of a toy trumpet — may be 

 heard at almost any time of the day. 



They breed in holes excavated by themselves in soft or 

 decaying wood — a favourite site being a moderately thick 

 mimosa bough. 



The little Cape Tinker Bird {Barbatula pusilla) is fairly 

 common around Grahamstown. Its yellow and black plumage 

 with scarlet forehead, in addition to its small size — length, 5| 

 inches — is enough to distinguish it from the Barbets. Its 

 range is restricted to the Eastern Cape Colony, Natal and 

 Zululand. 



The Tinker Bird also breeds in a hollow excavated in a 

 decaying bough. In the vicinity of Grahamstown, the 

 vertical bough of a euphorbia is a favourite locality. 



The Yellow-fronted Tinker Bird (B. extoni) replaces the 

 above species in the Transvaal ; we found it not uncommon 

 along the Crocodile Eiver in the Bushveld north of the 

 Magaliesberg (Pretoria District). 



It differs from the Southern variety in the possession of an 

 orange-yellow forehead in place of the red one characteristic 

 of pusilla. 



The Tinker Birds derive their name from their loud metallic 

 call. They feed chiefly on insects, varied by a diet of berries 

 and wild fruit. 



