on the berries of the “ Persian Lilac/’ and when that tree is in fruit
any number might be shot by a person lying in ambush near. When
feeding, they keep up a continued chattering, and as they usually
go in flocks of ten or fifteen in number, their presence is soon
detected.
These birds conceal their nests so skilfully, that they are rarely
detected, notwithstanding their numbers. It is composed of rootlets,
lined sometimes with hair and feathers, and is generally placed in
the fork of a tree or large bush. The eggs, three or four in number,
are a lovely pale pink, densely spotted and blotched with dark pink
and pale purple, presenting a most beautiful appearance : axis, 1 1 '";
diam., 7It"'.
Yictorin procured the present species at the Knysna, as did
Andersson also. We have noticed that a specimen procured by Mr.
H. Atmore, at George, was smaller than the ordinary Cape examples,
measuring only 3-55 inches in the wing, and 0-8 inch in the tarsus,
but whether this is a sexual difference or indicative of a small race,
we do not know. The range of the species is certainly confined to
the colony, and it probably does not extend beyond the neighbourhood
of Bast London and Port Elizabeth. Mr. Rickard records it as
common near the former place, but not so plentiful at the latter as
the next species.
General colour, brown; the head a little deeper in colour, but not
blackish; wings and tail,-darker brown; under surface of body
brown like the upper; the centre of the belly whitish, washed
with yellow towards the vent; under tail-coverts bright yellow; “ a
dark red wattled eyelid” [Shelley). Total length, 8‘2 inches;
wing, 3-8 ; tarsus, 085.
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. part xxxix.
191. P ycnonotus tr ic o lo r . Black-eyebrowed Bulbul.
After the observations made in the foregoing paragraph it is not
necessary for us to say more than that this, the second species of
Pycnonotus, is to be told by the absence of a wattle round the eye,
the eyelid being simply rather swollen and black, and by its white
breast and belly, the brown chest ending in a tolerably well-defined
line: it is likewise distinguished by its black cap.
This Bulbul is more a bird of the Eastern districts, but we found
it replacing P. capensis at NeTs Poort. Major Bulger sent it from
Windvogelberg, and according to our correspondent, Mr. Rickard,
it is common at East London. To Lieut. H. Trevelyan we are
indebted for a very interesting young bird from King William’s Town,
which we have referred to above. Mr. Moffat forwarded us a
specimen from Kuruman, and Mr. Ortlepp informs us that it is
plentiful near Oolesberg, where it does great damage to ripe fruit,
aud especially figs. Captain Shelley found it very common about
Durban and Pinetown, and a note on the species in Natal, by Mr.
Ayres, is given below. Mr. E. 0. Buxton also tells us that when
in the last-named colony he procured it on the Mooi River. Mr.
Ayres has collected specimens in the Transvaal and here also Mr.
Buckley found it l< common throughout the country.” It was in
Dr. Exton’s Kanye collections, and also in Mr. E. A. Barratt’s from
the Lydenberg district. Dr. Kirk says that it is one of the commonest
birds in the Zambesi country, and is <c a good songster,
though not equal to Gvdteropus hxvkviF Mr. Andersson procured
two specimens in South Western Africa, one at Ovvaquenyama in
Damara Land, and the other at Ondonga, which may be referred to
this species, and Anchieta has sent it from Humbe on the Rio
Cunene, and from Capangombe in Mossamedes, as well as from
several localities in Angola, whence the bird was first described by
Dr. Hartlaub. It certainly ranges as high as the Congo on the
western side, and as far as Mombas on the eastern coast.
Mr. Ayres o b s e r v e sT h e s e birds live, entirely on fruits and
berries, and are very destructive in our garden, devouring indiscriminately
bananas, loquats, peaches, papaws, Cape gooseberries,
and all other soft fruits. They are very numerous; they build
generally m a fork of a tree, towards the top, and lay from three to
five eggs. These birds often get intoxicated by eating fruit that is
over-ripe and has undergone fermentation, more especially the Cape
gooseberry; and when in this drunken state are easily caught, as
they can fly but a few yards at a time,_ and then not straight, soon
tumbling to the ground. The berries of the Syringa trees have the
same effect on them, as also the fruit of the Banyan fig. Other
lrds that live on these fruits become intoxicated in the same way.
H hawk, or other bird of prey, makes its appearance, these
ulbuls begin to chatter at a furious rate; and if he settle, a lot of
them will frequently mob him I but the hawk, I have observed, takes
no notice of them.”
P