78 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



Parisoma ritfiventer, Layard's Cat. M"o. 213. 



„ „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 397. 



Parisoma subcceruleum, Sharpe's Cat. No. 390. 



This species is common in Damara and Great Namaqua 

 Land, but, from its small size and secluded habits, often 

 escapes notice ; it is rather a pretty songster, and utters, 

 at times, varied and singular notes, and occasionally also 

 a clear ringing call rapidly repeated. It is very familiar, 

 active but not rapid in its movements, and careful in its 

 examination of the branches of trees and bushes in search 

 of insects ; it is found singly or in pairs. 



A nest of these birds, taken on the 21st of September, 

 vpas situated in a hedge and composed outside of grass, 

 fine twigs, and tendrils ; internally it v^as lined with hair, 

 and contained two eggs. A second nest, obtained on 

 the 1st of October, was similarly composed externally, 

 but was lined with the softer tendrils of flexible roots ; 

 it contained two eggs, hard sat upon. A third nest, 

 taken on the 29th of November, also contained two eggs. 



The iris in this species is yellowish white. 



97. Parisoma Layardi, Hartl. Layard's Grignet. 

 Parisoma Layardi, Hartlaub, in Ibis, 1862, p. 147. 

 „ „ Layard's Cat. No. 214. 



This species greatly resembles the preceding in its 

 habits, but is not so common ; I have observed it, though 

 very sparingly, in Damara and Great Namaqua Land and 

 near the west coast of the Cape Colony. I have also 

 obtained specimens from the Okavango, which are of a 

 darker and richer hue than those from Damara and 



