705 
by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 
devouring some prey. When disturbed it flies slowly off to 
some other position, and is generally very quiet in habits, 
but is wary and not easily shot. It feeds principally on 
insects such as grasshoppers and beetles. Its cry is loud 
and discordant, but is not often uttered. 
The soft parts of an adult are :—Irides dark hazel; bill 
black; legs and toes brown washed with green.] 
404. Eurystomus afer. 
P. Beira, Nov., Jan. (2) ; Masambeti, Oct. (1). 
[“ Sauri” of natives in the Beira country. 
It was only between Beira and Tete that I saw this 
species, and even there it was local, being commonest near 
Beira. It inhabits forest country, and is generally seen 
sitting on the topmost branches of the large dead trees ; it 
indulges in long circling flights when disturbed—and often 
when not*—calling continuously and loudly all the while, after 
the manner of Coracias caudatus, but I have never noted it 
tumbling to the same extent. It feeds principally on insects, 
and I have seen it dart out and catch locusts on the wing 
after the manner of a Flycatcher. I have observed it both 
singly and in small parties of eight or more; these latter 
may have been old and young or birds migrating. 
The soft parts of an adult are :—Irides brown; bill 
yellow; legs and toes greenish-yellow.] 
Merops superciliosus. 
Beichenow, Yog. Afr. ii. p. 325. 
P. Masambeti, Oct., Nov. (5); Beira, Jan. (1). 
Six eggs taken at Masambeti, Oct. 24. 
This Bee-eater has not hitherto been taken south of the 
Zambesi, so far as I know. It is a common East African 
species, ranging, according to Reichenow, from Shoa to 
Mozambique. The most southern locality mentioned by 
Reichenow is Kissango, north of Mozambique and at least 
700 miles north of Beira. 
The eggs are like those of other Bee-eaters; they average 
IT x *9 inch (i. e. 28 x 23). 
[Only near Beira, where it was plentiful, and up towards 
