LANIIDJ2. 141 



flocks, which, when disturbed, moved leisurely to the 

 nearest tree, rarely all at once, but one or two individuals 

 at a time, chattering incessantly whilst moving. These 

 flocks frequent indiscriminately bush and forest, hopping 

 about amongst the branches and foliage in search of 

 insects. The flight of this species is straight, with a 

 short, rapid, and quivering motion of the wings. 



The iris is brown, the bill black horn-colour, the legs 

 and toes livid brown. 



[In the very rare Catalogue of the South-African Museum, 

 loc. cit., the following remarks occur with reference to this 

 species : — " Owing to this bird being remarkably shy, specimens 

 were at first procured with difficulty by the Expedition, though 

 small flights of them were frequently observed; subsequently, 

 however, it was remarked that where one chanced to fall wounded, 

 its companions continued hovering about and approaching it 

 until it was removed. This suggested the plan of fixing one 

 with a string by way of decoy; and a concealed hunter was thus 

 sometimes enabled to kill ten or twelve in succession without 

 having occasion to move from his hiding-place." — Ed.J 



178. PrionopS talacoma, Smith. Smith's Helmet-Shrike. 



Prionops talacoma, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 5. 

 „ „ Gumey, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. ,3. 



„ „ Andersson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 5. 



„ „ Layard's Cat. No. 313. 



^j „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 395. 



„ „ Sharpe's Cat. No. 470. 



I did not observe this interesting bird until I had 

 passed Omanbonde, in the twentieth degree of south 

 latitude. It is always seen in flocks of from half a dozen 

 to a dozen individuals, which frequent secluded spots. 



