SHRIKES 159 



The Black-breasted Tit {Parus afer) ranges through the 

 South-western and Central portions of Cape Colony, and has 

 the crown, throat, cheeks and centre of breast black, the 

 back brownish, and *the under-parts pale fawn ; it is re- 

 placed north of the Orange Eiver by the Grey Tit (P. cmera- 

 scens), which differs from the preceding species in being grey 

 both above and below. 



The Black Tit (P. niger) is black all over except certain 

 wing feathers, &c., which are tipped with white. It is found 

 from the Eastern Cape Colony northwards to Mashonaland, 

 and thence Westward to Ngami, Damaraland, and Benquela. 



The Black Tit is a noisy little fellow, whose call is a deep 

 churr-churr-churr. Its food is exclusively of an insectivor- 

 ous nature. It nests in small holes in trees, the nest being 

 composed of a few feathers, bits of moss, and cast snake 

 sloughs. This bird is a favourite host of the Honey-guides. 



The Tits usually nest in holes in trees, occasionally in 

 cavities in rocks, laying white eggs sparsely marked with 

 pale red. 



SHRIKES 



The Shrikes (Family Lanidce) are well represented in 

 South Africa by three sub-families with eleven genera. 



The handsomest member of the family is perhaps the 

 Long-tailed Shrike {Urolestes melanoleucus), in its garb of 

 glossy, black and pure white, and very long tail. Total 

 length, 15 to 18 inches, whereof the tail measures from 10 to 

 13 inches. 



It is fairly common in the Transvaal Bushveld, doing a 

 great deal of good by devouring locusts, grasshoppers and 

 other insect-hfe. It builds a large rough cup-shaped nest 

 in a bush, and lays three or four eggs, generally of a creamy 

 pink colour marked with dots and streaks of various shades 

 of brown and grey. 



