294 
Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
98 against 110 mm. in five males from the Transvaal, and the 
flanks are more distinctly washed with a pale rusty brown. 
[This Babbling Thrush was not observed till the Transvaal 
was reached, but it was commonly seen in the Eastern and 
North-Eastern districts, and in the Inhambane, Beira, 
Gorongoza, and Tete districts of Portuguese East Africa. 
This species is gregarious in habits, usually being found 
in flocks of a dozen or more individuals, and betraying its 
presence by its continual and loud cackling, which when the 
whole flock is calling can be heard at a considerable distance. 
It frequents well-timbered country, where it is partial to the 
thickets and undergrowth, and feeds principally upon insects. 
The flight is low and straight, and only from one sheltered 
position to another. I have not seen it otherwise than in 
flocks, and have not observed it breeding. 
The soft parts are :— 
Irides of two colours, inner ring orange-yellow, outer 
blood-orange ; bill, legs and toes black. 
In the young the irides are greyish yellow ; bill, legs and 
toes blackish horn-coloured.] 
217. Pycnonotus capensis. 
GO. Klipfontein, ApL, May (3) ; Tokai, near Cape Town, 
Feb. (2); Durban lid., Mch., Sept. (6); Plettenberg Bay, 
Mch. ( 1 ). 
The single bird collected at Plettenberg Bay on March 9 
is just finishing its moult, and has the tail-feathers strongly 
graduated; the outer pair are the shortest and do not reach 
beyond the toes, the others are all very regularly graduated 
to the central four, which are equal and of normal length. 
[“ Geelgat 9> of Cape Colonists. 
In Namaqualand, the Cape Peninsula, and the Knysna 
district of Cape Colony only, have I observed this species. 
It is very common in all three localities, and generally 
frequents cultivated lands and the vicinity of homesteads and 
villages ; it does considerable damage to all kinds of fruit 
when in season; at other times it feeds on wild berries and 
probably to a certain extent on insects. Although I have 
