uncommon in Damara Land, and tlie parts adjacent to the north and
east, extending to Lake N’gami.” It lives in small flocks, probably
consisting of entire families, which frequent trees, chiefly of the
larger kinds, and examine them most assiduously in search of
insects and their larvae, which they extract from crevices in the
wood and from beneath the bark. These birds climb like Woodpeckers;
and their long tails come into constant contact with the
rough surface of the trees, by which the tail-feathers are much
injured. When they have finished their examination of one tree
they move to the next convenient one, but not altogether, as a short
interval generally elapses after the departure of each individual.
The moment flight is decided on, they utter harsh discordant cries
or chatterings, which are continued until they are all safely lodged
in their new quarters. These harsh notes are also heard when they
conceive themselves in danger from either man, beast, or bird; and
they thus often betray their presence/’
Senor Anchieta has forwarded this species from the Cunene River
as well as from Huilla, Quillengues, and Capangombe in Mossamedes.
Mr. Sala has also procured it on the Rio Dande in Angola, and it is
found both in Western and North Eastern Africa.
General colour black, glossed with green on the head, back, and
under parts, and blue on the throat, purple on the wings and tail,
and bronzed on the shoulders; tail lengthened and graduated; all
the feathers, except the two centre ones, spotted with white near the
tips; wings barred with white ; belly and vent dull black; bill more
or less curved, bright coral-red, as are also the legs; iris very dark
brown. The bill differs in length and curvature with age and sex.
Length to base of tail, 7 inches; wing, 7‘0 ; tail, 10’0.
Fig. Levaifl. Promer, pis. 1-3.
1 2 6 . R h i n o p o m a s t e s c y a n o m e l a s . Scimitar-billed Wood-Hoopoe.
The present bird is not found within the Colony, but it was
brought from Kuruman by Mr. R. Moffat, and from Colesberg by
Mr. Ortlepp, who writes :—“ They are found in pairs or small flocks
in wooded places. They float gracefully with expanded tail and
wings from bush to bush in search of their insect prey. Should a
small grasshopper be espied on the ground they descend rapidly,
secure it, and fly up to the nearest bush to devour it.” Mr. T. C.
Atmore procured it in Griqua-land in April, 1871. Mr. Ayres
o b s e r v e s “ These Hoopoes are very scarce in Natal, mostly frequenting
the inland thorn-bushes, though occasionally found near
the coast. They are always found either singly or in pairs, not in
families like I. erythrorhynchus, and may be seen creeping about
the thorn-trees, picking beetles and other insects from the crevices
of the rough bark. The hen bird sent by me to London was busily
engaged upon a swarm of white ants, which had worked their way
up on the surface of a tree.” Mr. E. A. Barratt has a specimen
from the Marico district. Dr. Exton met with the species at
Kanye, and Mr. T. E. Buckley says it was fairly common through
the ~Rnmn.ngwa.to and Matabili countries; Dr. Kirk also gives a note
on its occurrence in the Zambesi:—“ A noisy chattering bird, found
in bush-country and forest, commonly near rivers. In its flight it is
peculiar, rising suddenly, and again descending more slowly while
it flies along. Occurs in flocks of about twelve, which, on settling
in a bush, run quickly up the branches and round the stem in search
of insects.”
Mr. Andersson writes as follows:—ff This species is sparingly
found throughout Damara and Great Namaqua Land, but more
rarely in the latter than in the former country; it is also met with
on the Okavango and Teoughe Rivers and about Lake N’gami. It
partakes much of the habits of the true Creepers, attaching itself to
trees and examining them in a similar manner, but sometimes with
this difference, that, after settling on a tree or stump (which it generally
does about half-way up), it carefully examines it in a downward
direction, and with its head downwards, thus seeking for its usual
food, which consists of ants and other insects with their larvse;
having reached the base of the tree or stump, it moves onwards to
another, in a similar manner to that adopted by the preceding
species. These birds are usually observed in pairs; but occasionally
a solitary individual may be seen perched on the topmost bough of
.a lofty tree, uttering peculiar and plaintive notes.” According to
Mr. Monteiro it is not uncommon in Benguela. Senor Anchieta has
forwarded it from the Cunene River and from Capangombe in
Mossamedes.
Adult male.—Above dull glossy violet with slight steel-blue
reflexions, the forehead inclining to green, the upper tail-coverts
also slightly greenish; wing-coverts violet, with very little steel-blue,
the inner primary-coverts pure white, forming an alar spot; quills