104 Mr. B. Alexander— An Ornithological 
148. IsPIDINA NATALENSIS (Smith). 
Not often noticed, and more retiring by nature than the 
preceding species, frequenting thick places near the river. 
An adult female obtained on January 10 had the breeding- 
organs largely developed. 
149. Halcyon fallidiventris (Cab.). 
Common. Both adult and immature specimens obtained. 
150. Halcyon orientalis (Peters). 
Towards the end of November, the time of pairing, these 
Kingfishers become very noisy, and much rivalry exists 
among the males on account of the females. The following 
observation is from my notebook:—“Nov. 26. Observed 
three Kingfishers ( H . orientalis). They were making a 
great noise, two males courting the one female. The 
males frequently uttered shrill notes, followed by a loud 
running chatter, which resounded among the trees. Now 
and again one of them would face the female and spread 
out his wings to their full extent, and then, as if to show 
off their beauty, he would quickly turn his back upon 
her, the wings all the while fully outstretched, the beautiful 
blue wing-bands showing out to advantage, and the next 
moment he would face her again. This movement was 
repeated without intermission, as if the bird was on a pivot.” 
Adult £ . Total length (measured in flesh) 11 inches; 
wing 4-1 ; culmen 1*8; tail 2‘9. Iris brown; bill, legs, and 
feet coral-red. 
Adult ?. Total length (measured in flesh) 9 inches; 
wing 4; culmen T8 ; tail 2*8. Colours as in male. 
151. Halcyon chelicutensis (Stank). 
Well distributed. 
152. Colius striatus (Gm.). 
Found on the lower reaches of the river from Tete down¬ 
ward; beyond that town its place appears to be taken by 
C. erythromelon. These birds frequent in bands the thick 
tops of tall bushes, and they so entangle themselves in the 
maze of twigs that they often find it a matter of great 
