cheeks, chest and sides of the body, the sides of the vent washed
with rufous; under wing-coverts and axillarios dull white, with
dusky bases to the feathers. Total length, G'7 iuohes ; culmon, 0'55;
wing, S’6 ; tail, 2‘9 ; tarsus, 0'9.
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Bur. part ii.
302. U ro l e s t e s melanoleucus, Smith.
South African Long-tailed Shrike.
Lanins cissoides, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 158.
This fine species was discovered by Sir A. Smith originally in
the neighbourhood of the Orange Biver. We have received several
specimens from Colesberg from our valued correspondent, Mr.
David Arnott. It occurs in Natal, and Dr. Exton found it plentiful
from Secheles5 into Mosilikatze's country, and Mr. T. B. Buckley
shot a specimen in the Transvaal in July, 1873, and according to
Mr. Thomas Ayres it is generally distributed throughout the bush-
veldt, but is a somewhat local species. Mr. Andersson writes as
follows:—<c I did not find this species in Great Namaqua Land, but
first met with it in the central parts of Damara Land, from whence
to the Biver Okavango and to Lake N’gami it is not uncommon.
It is found in flocks of a few individuals, which at times create a
tremendous hubbub amongst themselves, especially on the approach
of a bird of prey; and the moment this alarm is sounded, every
little bird in the neighbourhood precipitately betakes itself to a
place of safety. This Shrike usually seeks its food, which consists
of insects, amongst the branches of trees and bushes or on the
ground; but it will also watch for its prey from some elevated
perch. Senor Anchieta has procured it in several localities south of
the latitute of Benguela, and at Humbe on the Biver Cunene; here
it was known to the natives by the name of ‘ Bitocatoca/ ”
Mr. Guillemard, who has recently travelled through a great part of
South Africa, writes iu the Field :—“ Although Layard mentions this
bird as common about Colesberg, I have personally never seen it
further south than the Bhenoster Biver, in the Free State, where,
however, I only procured one specimen.” The localities where the
late Mr. Frank Oates procured it were the Crocodile River, the Ibex
Biver, Tati, and the First Makalaka River on the Zambesi Road.
He procured a brown variety, now in the British Museum, and the
note was said to be different from that of the ordinary black bird.