PSITTACIBJU. 



217 



denly disturbed or alarmed. Their food consists of 

 berries and large berry-like seeds. 



This bird does not make any nest of its own, but 

 takes possession of nests belonging to other birds, es- 

 pecially Philetcerus socius and Plocepasser mahali. I 

 cannot say whether it forcibly ejects the rightful owners 

 of these nests, or merely occupies such as they have 

 abandoned ; but in the case of the first-named species, I 

 have seen the Parrots and the Grosbeaks incubating in 

 about equal numbers under the shelter of the same 

 friendly roof. The egg is pure white, not unlike a 

 Woodpecker's, but more elongated. The irides are of 

 an intensely dark brown ; the legs blue, with the faintest 

 tint of green ; the bill is greenish white. 



Measurements of a male and a female : — 



Male. 



in. lin. 



6 8 

 4 1 



Entire length G 10 . . . . 



Leng'tli of folded wing ...41.... 



„ tarsus 07 07 



„ middle toe . . . Not recorded 13 



„ tail 20 21 



bill 00 07 



CAPITONID^. 

 260. Pogonorhynchus leucomelas (Bodd.). 



Barbican. 



Black-throated 



Laimodon leucomelas, Layard's Cat. No. 463. 



Laimodoii imidentatus, Layard's Cat. No. 464. 



Poyonias leucomelas, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 405. 



Poffonorhynchas leucomelas, Sliai-pe's Cat. No. 135. 



„ „ Marshalls' Mon. of tlie Capitonidte, 



pi. a-i. 



