that date has entirely confirmed the correctness of our supposition.
0. aurantius appears to he a more eastern bird than O.frenatus,
with a different range. Our first examples were sent to us by Mr.
J. O’Reilly, from the neighbourhood of Graaf-Reinet, and Major
Bulger obtained it near Windvogelberg. Mr. T. C. Atmore also
procured it near Eland’s Post, and Mr. Eyton’s collection contains
a pair said to have been sent from the vicinity of Port Natal.
Mr. O’Reilly writes as follows:—“ Graaf-Reinet, January 2nd,
1863. Inhabits rocks in high mountain ranges. Scarce ; very shy
and cunning, usually frequenting places assimilating to its plumage.
Continually on the hop, and seldom takes wing; when it does so,
flies but a short distance. Always on the watch, seldom showing
much more than its head above the stones. Pound about Graaf-
Reinet all the year round, and in pairs. Pood consists of small
insects of any sort; drinks in the evening. Note, a sharp chirp,
particularly when surprised. Breeds in December. Nest built of
grass and rock-mosses, in crevices among rocks. Eggs, three to
four, green, with brown speckles.”
Head and shoulders above, ashy-grey, streaked with black; back
and rump brick-red; tail graduated, black, each feather, with the
exception of the two central, tipped with white; this colour extending
farther up each feather, until it attains its maximum in the short
outside pair; throat jet-black, with a white band extending from
the lower mandible to the breast; another smaller white line passes
from the nostril over the eye, and terminates a little beyond i t ;
breast and belly, a fine clear orange-rufous, or burnt sienna; wings
black, each feather more or less edged with ashy-grey; a white bar
extends across the wing; the plumage very lax and decomposed,
particularly over the rump. Length, 8" 9"'; wing, 3" 7'" ; tail, 4 ;
bill, 9"'; tarsus, 1 " 8"'.
202. C m it o p s py c n o py g iu s . Damara Rock-Babbler.
The original specimen of this bird was sent home by Mr.
Andersson in 1852, and was described by Messrs. Strickland and
Sclater as Sphenceacus pycnopygius. A second specimen shot by
Tnm on the Omaruru river was made the type of the editor’s species
Ohcetops grayi. It was again described by Professor Bocage as
Drymceca anchietce, so that for so rare a bird it has rather an
extensive synonymy. The last-named example was procured by
Anchieta at Biballa in Mossamedes. Mr. Andersson’s notes on
the species are herewith extracted from his “ Birds of Damara
Land.” “ The only places where I can recollect having caught a
glimpse of this rarely seen Rock-Thrush are the Kaaru River,
Ongari Ombo, near Jacongana, Okamalute, and, lastly, the Omaruru
River, where I obtained one specimen on October 30th, 1866,
which I found hopping about amongst some stones thickly overgrown
with bush and coarse grass, and strewn with decaying wood.
As soon as the bird perceived that it was observed, it immediately
slipped into the thickest part of this tangled bush, and for some
time I thought I had lost i t ; but after pelting it with stones it flew
out and settled on the lower branch of a small acacia. I found,
when shot, that its bill was very dirty, from which I infer that it
seeks much of its food on the ground; its stomach contained only
small whitish ants (not termites); its flesh was light coloured, and
excellently flavoured. The iris was dark brown; the upper mandible,
dark horn colour, the lower livid lead colour,; the tarsi pale
brown, the toes a shade or two darker; there was a space under the
eye quite naked; the tail when closed was of equal breadth throughout,
but was cuneated when expanded.”
This species is distinguished at a glance from the other members
of the genus by its small size and white throat and chest, the sides
of the breast being spotted with black. Total length, 6-8 inches;
culmen/0-7; wing, 2‘8; tail, 3'0; tarsus, 0‘85 ; middle toe, 07.
Fig. Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1869, pi. 14.
203. M onticola r u p e s t r is . Cape Rock-Thrush.
Petrocincla rupestris, Layard, B. S. Afr., p. 129 (1867).
This is the largest of the three South African Rock-Thrushes, and
is to be distinguished not only by its greater dimensions, but by its
brown back.
We have seen it at Kalk and Simon’s Bays, and on Table
Mountain, and have received it from Swellendam, Beaufort, Coles-
berg, Graham’s Town and Eland’s Post. Viet or in mentions bis
having obtained it in the Knysna district, in August, and Mr.
Rickard has found it both at Port Elizabeth and East London. Mr.
T. E. Buckley says that it was common in Natal, “ where it may be