66 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



climb like Woodpeckers ; and their long tails come into 

 constant contact with the rough surface of the trees, 

 by which the tail-feathers are much injured. When 

 they have finished their examination of one tree they 

 move to the next convenient one, but not altogether, 

 as a short interval generally elapses after the depar- 

 ture of each individual. The moment flight is decided 

 on, they utter harsh discordant cries or chatterings, 

 which are continued until they are all safely lodged 

 in their new quarters. These harsh notes are also heard 

 when they conceive themselves in danger from either man, 

 beast, or bird ; and they thus often betray their presence. 



The bodies of these birds emit a peculiarly powerful 

 and disagreeable odour. 



The bill in this species is sometimes of a black or of 

 a semidark colour instead of red ; the size and curve of 

 the bill also vary somewhat in different individuals ; and 

 the white spots on the wings are more developed in 

 some than in others. The following note was jotted 

 down by me respecting four individuals which were 

 killed out of a flock of five, and which formed a most in- 

 teresting series. One of the four had the bill almost black; 

 two had it half black and half red; and the fourth, 

 which I believe to be an adult, had the bill quite red : 

 all had the legs and toes and insides of both mandibles 

 red. In two the oval white spots which often exist on 

 the first three secondaries were present ; in the others 

 (including the red-billed specimen) only one such spot 

 was discernible ; and among the four were distinctly ex- 

 hibited the two kinds of curve shown in the outlines of 



