by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa . 711 
[“ Iguyamtwama” of the Zulus ; “ Dederu” of tlie Ntebis. 
This was one of the commonest Kingfishers in S. Africa, 
and I have seen it in every locality from the Cape through 
East and East-Central South Africa to the Zambesi. It is 
equally common on rivers and streams in wooded and forest 
country and on lagoons and open reedy swamps, where it is 
seen either perched on some overhanging branch or reed 
waiting for its prey, or flying with incredible swiftness and 
appearing like a blue streak. It feeds principally on small 
fishes, besides Crustacea and beetles. I have generally 
observed it singly. It breeds in the banks of the rivers and 
streams, but I have never succeeded in finding an occupied 
nesting-hole. 
The soft parts of an adult are Irides dark brown; bill 
and legs rich tomato-red. In the young the bill is blackish, 
with part of the lower mandible and the extreme tip of the 
upper very pale tomato-red; legs and toes very dark.] 
416. ISPIDINA NATALENSIS. 
M. Illovo, Nov. (3) ; Z. Ngoye Hills, Oct. (2) ; Tv. 
Woodbush, May (1) ; P« Masambeti, Nov., Oct. (2). 
Two clutches of two and three eggs each, taken at 
Masambeti, Oct. 25 and Nov. 11. 
[This little Kingfisher was observed in Natal, the Ngoye 
Hills, Zululand, Legogot, Woodbush, and the Inhambane, 
Beira, and Tete districts of Portuguese East Africa. I did 
not myself see this species in the Northern Transvaal, but 
the dried specimen sent flew against the window of a 
farmhouse in the village of Woodbush and was picked up 
dead by the farmer, from whom I got it. It is usually 
observed on the outskirts of woods and forests, not neces¬ 
sarily near water, perched on some projecting branch or 
bough, whence it darts on its prey, which consists largely 
of spiders and coleopterous insects. I have never seen it 
take fishes. The flight is straight and marvellously quick, 
and the call is sharp and not easily distinguished from that of 
Corythornis cyanostigma. It was found breeding at Masam¬ 
beti, near Beira, and two sets of eggs were taken, on Oct. 25th 
3 R 2 
