remove before we could secure the eggs. The nests were large
masses of dried bents of grass and feathers. At the Berg River we
found them breeding in September both at Mr. Kotze’s and Mr.
Melck’s in holes of trees. The eggs were pure white with red
specks, principally at the obtuse end. We have unfortunately
omitted to record their measurements, but if our memory serves us
rightly, they were much more round than oval and broad for their
length. The nests were composed of hair, wool and feathers. Mr.
Atmore says that they are common near Swellendam in m im o sa ,
thickets, nesting there in hollow trees : he mentions his having seen
twelve eggs in one nest, “ which certainly required all the fur of a
hare to make it.” Mr. Ortlepp sends it from Colesberg, where he
says it is called “ Slangwyte ” by the Dutch colonists. We have
also received it from Colesberg and from Kuruman. Our friend Dr.
Exton has kindly given us a specimen procured on the Modder River
near Bloemfontein, and Mr. T. C. Atmore shot it near Hopetown.
During his journey to the Matabili country Mr. T. E. Buckley met
with the species in Bamangwato and again in Matabili-land. In the
Transvaal, writes Mr. Ayres, “ these birds are sparsely scattered
along the rivers, frequenting scrub and low bush, feeding upon insects,
and creeping about the roots and low branches in search of their
food: their flight is not prolonged, and their notes are harsh.” Mr.
Andersson states that this Titmouse is [“ found sparingly in all the
regions between the Okavango towards the north, Lake N’gami
towards the east, and the Orange River towards the south, and it
also occurs in some parts of the Cape Colony.”
Adult male.—General colour above grey, the least wing-coverts
uniform with the back : wing-coverts black, all broadly edged with
white, the margins to the primary-coverts much narrower: quills
dark brown, externally narrowly margined with ashy whitish,
broader on the secondaries, which are also blacker: upper tail-
coverts and tail-feathers black, the latter with narrow apical tips of
white, the outermost white for the whole of the outer web : crown
of head glossy black including the lores and sides of the crown,
forming a cap: on the nape a distinct nuchal patch of white : a band
drawn from the base of the bill below the eye and occupying the
ear-coverts, pure white: under surface of body grey, the cheeks,
entire throat, and foreneck glossy black, extending down the middle
of the breast, this black throat bordered by an indication of ashy
whitish, extending from the white ear-coverts down to the breast,
the centre of the abdomen, thighs and under tail-coverts ashy
whitish: under wing-coverts whitish, the quills below brown with
whitish edgings along the inner web : “ bill black : feet lead-colour:
iris dark hazel” (Buckley). Totallength, 5-5 inches; culmen, 0'5;
wing, 3T5 ; tail, 2 '4 ; tarsus, 0‘5.
Young.—Ashy brown where the adult is blue-grey, the wings and
tail brown, the white edgings only slightly developed : crown of
head brownish black: sides of face and sides of neck dull whitish,
the sides of the body light ashy brown, paler in the centre of the
abdomen : throat and chest dull black.
Fig. Le Vail. Ois. d’Afr. pis. 138, 139, fig. 2.
317. P abus n ig e e . Southern Black-and-White Titmouse.
Parus leucogpterus, Lavard, B. S. Afr. p. 113 (nec Swains.).
Le Vaillant found this species in the eastern districts of the colony.
We have received it from Beaufort, Kuruman, and met with it ourselves
near Grahamstown. Mr. Rickard has procured it on one
occasion near East London and Mr. T. G. Atmore records it as not
very uncommon in the neighbourhood of Eland’s Post. Captain
Shelley procured specimens both at Durban and Pinetown in Natal,
and Mr. Thomas Ayres writes :—“ I have discovered a nest of these
birds containing one egg and four callow young. The old bird had
evidently taken possession of a deserted Woodpecker’s nest. The
hole was in a perpendicular and decayed bough of a large tree, about
twenty feet from the ground; it was about a foot in depth, and
there was a very little fine grass at the bottom, on which the egg
and young birds were placed. I was obliged to cut and break the
front of the bough to get at the contents of the nest; and the old
birds showed their dislike to my proceedings by their chattering
cries and uneasy manner. On leaving the nest I repaired the hole
as well as I could, and left the little ones safe inside; but passing
the place in about a week, I again climbed the tree and found the
nest cold and deserted.” Mr. T. E. Buckley, during his journey
into the Matabili country, shot a male bird in Bamangwato on the
18th of October, 1873. Mr. Andersson observes:—“ This Tit is to
be met with, though more sparingly than P. afer, in Damara Land
and in the neighbourhood of the Okavango River and of Lake
N’garni: it is, however, more frequent in the last two districts than