168 DENIZENS OP THE FOREST 



The Southern Grey-headed Bush Shrike {Malaconotus 

 hypopyrrhus) is a large bird of a greenish colour on the upper 

 surface, blue-grey head and yellow imder-parts, the upper 

 chest has a band of tawny orange traversing it. Length, 9| 

 inches. This bird ranges from Grahamstown in the Cape 

 through Natal to Zanzibar, East Africa. To the Cape Dutch 

 it is known as the Spook-vogel. 



It is more like the Kskal in its habits and pugnaciousness, 

 and like it this Bush Shrike attacks" other birds. 



The eggs, taken by H. Millar, were creamy marked with 

 grey and brown irregular spots. 



The genus Nicator is represented within our limits by but 

 one species, the Zambesi Green Shrike (JV. gularis), which 

 does not interest us further as it is scarce in South Africa, 

 although extending from the border of Somaliland to Zulu- 

 land, whence the Woodwards record it. Swynnerton found 

 it in Gazaland, while Sheppard took its eggs near Beira. 



The genus Lanioturdus with also but one species does 

 not concern us either. 



The last Sub-family, Prionopince, contains but two genera 

 with three species, Sigmodus retzii, S. tricolor, and Prionops 

 talacoma, which are all scarce birds within our limits. 



BABBLERS 



Of the Family Crateropodidce our first genus is Crateropus 

 with five species, only two of which, however, need concern 

 us here. Jardine's Babbler {C. jardinei) is a grey-brown 

 bird with streaky head and breast. Length, 9 inches. It 

 ranges from Central Natal and the Transvaal northwards to 

 the Zambesi. It is a noisy bird, its harsh chattering cry 



