440 
REMARKABLE BIRDS. 
,9, 11 Nov. 
and prevented my bodily feelings from giving way to the powers of 
climate. 
At this place my Ornithological collection received the addition 
of several nev/ birds, and I here met with, for the first time, an inte- 
resting species of Reed Sparroiv *, inhabiting the reeds by the river 
side ; where, though its sweet warbling notes betrayed its haunt, it 
was not always easy to get a sight of it. 
I here obtained the only species of Plotus, found during my 
travels. It was called by the Hottentots, Duyker (Diver), from a 
wonderful faculty it possesses, of swimming beneath the water ; and 
this I was assured it can do for the space of fifty yards or more. 
That beautiful bird the Lanius atro-coccineus was frequently seen 
here, and the Turdus nitens was not rare. A new species of Finch, 
with a scarlet beak, was first procured at this spot ; but was after- 
wards found within the colony. In the males, the four intermediate 
feathers of the tail were very long, and had their sides folded toge- 
ther, so that one feather sheathed the other. 
Lanius forficatusf inhabits the woods ; and is altogether a re- 
markable bird, and easily known by its forked tail and black color, f 
I have several times witnessed instances of its boldness, which sur- 
prized me. Whenever hawks, or ravens, approached its nest, this 
bird flew out upon them with incredible fury ; and, with a harsh 
angry noise, drove them away, actually attacking in the rear, and 
pursuing them to a considerable distance. That a bird of this size 
should have the courage to attack another, so many times larger, 
and that one even a hawk, the terror of the smaller race, was a sin- 
gular fact, but not more extraordinary than the evident fear and 
precipitation with which its enemy hastened to get out of its reach. 
\Oth. Since our arrival at this station, a party of Koras, attracted 
by our provisions, had taken up their abode with us. This morning, 
* Cwruca {Sylvia) — Vhahelle, Ois. d'Afr. pi. 121. f. 2. 
f This seems to be the Drongo of Le Vaill. Oiseaux d' Afrique, pi. 1 66. ; and there 
would be little doubt of it, if in this bird there could have been found any appearance of 
a crest : but nothing of the kind was here remarked in either sex. 
