244 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
bright cinnamon-brown), the feathers narrowly edged and tipped with 
light yellowish brown. The interscapulars, the lesser wing-coverts, and 
the feathers of the back, brownish red, each edged and tipped with wood- 
brown. Rump and upper tail-coverts pale broccoli-brown, the feathers 
narrowly edged and tipped with light wood-brown. The primary and 
secondary quill-coverts umber-brown, the former narrowly edged, externally 
and the latter broadly edged and tipped with wood-brown. The primary 
and secondary quill feathers brownish red, the outer vanes of primaries, 
towards quills, broadly edged with yellowish brown, towards the tips 
narrowly with wood-brown, the tips the same colour ; secondary quill 
feathers edged externally with a brighter tint of yellowish brown, and 
towards and at tips wood-brown ; tertiary quill feathers umber-brown, 
edged and tipped with yellowish brown, passing, close to the margins, into 
wood-browm ; the inner vanes of all the quill feathers towards base sienna 
yellow. Tail : the two middle feathers yellowish brown, lightest at the 
edges, the outer feathers light brownish red, brightened towards edges 
with yellowish brown, the tips dull wood-brown, and behind them a broad 
bar of umber brown. Chin and centre of belly white ; throat and centre 
of breast ochrev-white ; the sides of the neck and breast, the flanks and 
the under tail-coverts pale hair-brown, tinged with sienna-yellow. Bill : 
upper mandible yellowish brown, shaded at base and near the tip with 
dull chestnut-browm ; lower mandible sienna-yellow, shaded near the 
point with dull chestnut-brown. Tarsi, toes, and claws reddish yellow, 
the latter lightest. Length 150, wing 69, tail 72, tarsus 19 mm.” Adult 
male. 
“ Only one specimen of this species was obtained, and that was killed 
while perched upon some brushwood growing near the edge of a small 
stream to the northward of Kurrichaine. In its habits it resembled the 
species already described and, at the time it was shot, it was moving quickly 
about among the branches apparently in quest of its food, which was 
found to consist of insects.” 
This species is very similar in appearance to C. lais and other members 
of that group, but is much stouter in build, has the upper surface less clearly 
streaked, the back more rufous and less contrasted with the crown, the 
under surface of body less fulvous, and the spots on the tail-feathers much 
larger, more clearly defined, and extending across both webs often to the 
margins on both sides. It is easily recognized in a wild state by its harsh 
and noisy call-notes. 
C. chiniana is found throughout the “ bushveld ” country of South 
Africa, and its range extends beyond the Zambesi to North-Western 
Rhodesia and German East Africa. It is usually found amongst scrub 
near water. At Pretoria it is found sparingly at the “ Fountains,” and 
along the course of the Aapies River, individuals occasionally straying 
into the Zoological Gardens. During the midsummer months the male 
takes up a position on the peak of the tallest tree in the vicinity of its 
nest or the particular locality it resides in, uttering at intervals a harsh 
“ churr churr che-che-che” ; when alarmed, both sexes utter an irritating 
“ churr churr churr,” which they immediately stop when they find 
themselves in danger. During the winter months this species is usually 
