714 
Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
Only in the Ntambana Hills, north of the Hluhluwe Stream 
in Zululand, Legogot, and the Inhambane, Beira, Gorongoza, 
and Tete districts of Portuguese East Africa have I observed 
this little Kingfisher. It seems very partial to clearings and 
native gardens, where it is seen perched on the lower branch 
of a dead tree, keeping a sharp look-out for its prey, which 
consists mainly of coleopterous insects. I have observed it 
also in parts quite remote from any water, and it is usually 
solitaiy, although at Beira it was in pairs ; as this was, how¬ 
ever, in the wet summer season it was probably breeding, 
but I was quite unable to locate any nests. In the early 
morning and late afternoon, seldom during the middle of the 
day, it can be seen perched on the topmost branch of a tree 
and giving forth a loud continuous “ trill,” while sitting 
bolt upright and regularly opening and shutting the wings to 
their fullest extent, so as to make it appear as though the 
movement of the wings had greatly to do with the “ song ”; 
and from this peculiar habit I have always called it the 
“ concertina bird.” I believe that it is only the male which 
“sings,” but I have not been able to conclusively prove the 
fact. This is one of the earliest birds to rise in the morning, 
and I have heard it trilling before the first streaks of dawn. 
The flight is fast and straight, but never long sustained. 
The soft parts of an adult are :—Irides brown; bill, upper 
mandible dark purple, lower red ; legs and toes red, darkest 
on the upper surface.] 
423. Conus STRIATUS. 
COe Durban Rd., Mch. (1); Knysna, Feb. (1) • Pletten- 
berg Bay, Feb., Mch. (2). 
423 a. Colius strutus minor. 
Reichenow, Yog. Afr. ii. p. 203. 
Z. Jususie, Jan. (1); Umfolosi Station, July (2); 
Hluhluwe Stream, Aug. (4); Tv. Woodbush, June, Dec. 
(3); Legogot, Apl., May (2); F. Coguno, June, Aug., 
Sept. (3). 
Reichenow distinguishes a subspecies from East and 
South-East Africa, extending south to Natal, by its smaller 
