Mr. Henry Jackson has sent us eggs of this species, precisely
Qimila.r to those of P. capensis, and writes that “ the nest is a cup,
slightly formed, in a tree.”
General colour, brown, slightly darker on the wing and tail
feathers, the latter pale at the tips; head slightly crested, and black,
as is also the chin and upper part of throat; lower parts brown,
like the back, the breast and belly white, flanks brown; vent,
brilliant citron-yellow; “ bill and legs black; iris dark claret”
(Buckley); “ eyelids black, thick, but not wattled” {Shelley).
Length, 7" f% wing, 8" 9'"; tail, 3" 5'".
Fig. Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1871, pi. vii. fig. 2.
N.B.—Although for the present admitting only two species of
Pycnonotus in South Africa, we do not regard the matter as settled,
for Mr. T. E. Buckley writes under the heading of P. nigricans
(Ibis, 1874, p. 369):—“ There seem to be two sorts, one with a
flesh-coloured cere round the eye;” and Mr. Andersson describes a
bird as common in Damara Land which has the eyes “ rather pale
yellowish-red, and the skin round the eye bright orange” (Cf.
Gurney in Andersson’s B. Dam. Ld. p. 119). The distribution of
the species and their characters must be left, however, to the
naturalists in South Africa to work out from personal observations.
193. C ra t ero pus bicolor. Pied Babbling-Thrush.
Sir Andrew Smith procured this species between the Ky-Gariep
and Kurrichaine. Lieut. H. Trevelyan has recently sent us a
specimen procured not far from King William’s Town.
In the Transvaal Mr. Ayres has obtained it, and Mr. Buckley
writes as follows:—“ Common throughout the north of the
Transvaal into the Matabili country, and first met with at
Eland’s river. The habits of this and of 0. jardinii are similar.
They go in flocks from tree to tree, following each other almost in
single file. When one commences its peculiar sort of chuckling
note, it is followed by the others, the noise increasing until it is
almost deafening. They creep about the bushes with wonderful
care; and if a wounded one gets into a tree, it is extremely difficult
to retrieve it. They have a skimming sort of flight.”
Dr. Exton, who procured it in the Matabili country, also states
.that “ its habits resemble those of G. jardimii, but it is more
frequently found among low bushes on the dry plains, whilst the
last-named species is rarely found away from vleys and rivers. The
stomachs were full of black ants and small seeds.” We have
recently seen specimens of this Babbler from the Victoria Falls,
Zambesi.
The following interesting note is given by the late Mr. Andersson:
—“ This species is common throughout Damara and Great Namaqua
Land, and is also found in the Lake-regions; it always occurs in
flocks of many individuals, and creeps and glides through the mazes
of tangled wood and dense thickets with amazing ease and celerity.
When alarmed, it flies slowly from tree to tree, its flight being
feeble. It climbs excellently, and also seems equally at home upon the
ground. I was fortunate enough to fall in with a nest of this speeies
on the 15th of October, 1866; and, considering how common the bird
is, I wonder that I have not met with more nests; this one contained
three eggs, in every way very similar to those of Crateropus
melanops. The nest was situated in a.fork on the very top of a
small anna tree, some ten or twelve feet from the ground; it was
composed externally of fine twigs and coarse grasses, and was lined
with somewhat finer grass; it was circular, deep, and very compact.
I could both see and hear the parent bird whilst we were robbing
the nest; but it did not come near or appear very solicitous. On
the 11th of December, 1866, I observed a family of these birds,
consisting of an old pair and their young, hopping about in an anna
wood, almost as carelessly and fearlessly as Robins. One of them,
evidently the female, led the way, followed by the young, which
uttered a querulous, subdued note. In the young birds the tail and
wings are of somewhat the same colouring as those of their parents;
but the body differs much from the colour of the adult bird, being
grey or brownish-grey, instead of white.”
General colour, white; with black wings and tail, bill, and legs;
feathers of the back very thick and flufly; tail rounded; “ bill and
feet black: ms reddish-orange” (T. E. Buckley). Length, 10"-
wing, 5"; tail, 4" 7"'.
A second specimen killed by Mr. Buckley on the 31st of July,
1873, had the iris “ light yellow.” The one with the orange iris was
shot on the 16th of October of the same year, so that the colour of
the eye varies, probably with age.
Fig. Jard. Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. L. pi. 3.
p 2