Africa, and Mr. Andersson’s observations on the species are herewith
transcribed:—“ I have only met with this bird in Damara
Land, and that at no very great distance from the sea-coast; it is
not uncommon on the extensive plains bordering on Walvisch
Bay, and seems to be chiefly confined to such localities. It is of a
very friendly, fearless disposition, almost rivalling Saxicola galtoni
in its familiarity with man; it will approach a person to within a
very short distance, and it is no uncommon thing to see it hopping
about amongst the cooking utensils that may chance to be scattered
about a temporary encampment. It spends nearly all its time on
the ground, along which it runs with great swiftness ; but now and
then it may be seen perched on a stone raised a few feet above the
level of the plain. Its flight is a kind of alternate dip and rise, and
never extends far at a time. The food of this species consists of
small insects; its eggs are laid on the ground in a small excavation
sheltered by a stone or bush.
Fig. (tail only), Blandford and Dresser, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 236, fig. 1.
22-5. S axicola p il e a t a . Capped Wheatear.
The “ Schaapwachter.” (lit. The Shepherd), as it is called by the
colonists, is one of the most favoured and favourite birds of the
colony, over the whole of which it extends. He is protected and
petted on account of his own natural sweet notes, and for his great
powers of imitation. Perched on a white ant’s nest, he pours out a
flood of song, ¿haunting long into the darkening twilight, when
other songsters are gone to rest; and the morning light scarcely
suffices to enable you to see the musician, ere he again commences
his mellow notes or imitations. He is a favourite with the farmer
and the shepherd—the master and the man: the good-wife also
casts a kindly eye on him, as he flirts his tail and wings on the mud
wall of her little garden, and thumps her “ young hopeful” who,
unable to resist the tempting shot, is about to “ shy a stone at him.”
I t breeds in the rat-holes, close to the houses, or out in the
fields, in the month of September, and lays four white eggs tinged
with a faint greenish colour, very large for the size of the bird.
Axis 12"; diam. 9". If wounded it retreats into the first hole it
comes to. It runs along the ground with great rapidity, and
seldom alights on bushes—scarcely ever on trees. If frightened
from one stone, it flits to another, and in alighting opens his tail,
so as to show the white patch on his rump. It is usually perched
on an ant-hill, in most cases sees you before you see it, and acts
accordingly!
Mr. T. E. Buckley shot this species near Newcastle, in Natal,
where, he says, he found a good number of these birds one day, but
those he procured were all males. It has not yet been recorded
from the Transvaal by Mr. Ayres, but Dr. Kirk says that it was
common am'ong the rocks of the Murchison Rapids, but was not
observed in other situations. Mr. Andersson says :—“ I have found
this- species common from Table Mountain in the south to the
Okavango in the north, in the neighbourhood of which river it may
be seen at all times of the year, though in Damara Land proper it
only appears during the wet season, and again gradually retreats
to more favoured region's as the dry season returns. In the Cape
Colony it is one of the best known birds, and from its familiar
habits and its being seen near cattle and sheep, the Dutch boors
have given it the name of “ Schaap Wachter,” or Shepherd ; it has
also the more local name of “ Nagtgaal” and * Rossignol,” from a
habit it is said to have of singing by night. It is a very tame bird,
of a most inquisitive nature, and seems to seek the society of man.
The male has a very pleasant and varied song during the breeding
season, and is especially remarkable^ for its strange power of
imitating sounds, such as the notes of other birds, the barking of a
dog, the bleating of a goat, &c.”
Anchieta has likewise procured the species at Humbe on the
Cunene river, where it is called “ Utena ” by the natives, and also at
Dombe in Benguela, where the native name is “ Kissanbondongi.”
According to the arrangement of Messrs. Blanford and Dresser
this Chat belongs to the same section of Saxicola as the foregoing
species, having the wing-coverts and interscapulary region of the
same colour, but it may be distinguished by its white throat and
black crown and breast.
General colour above, rufous-brown; feathers of the wings dark-
brown, edged with the colour of the back; forehead white, this
colour extending in a line over the eye; top of the head black; a
stripe of the same colour extends from the corner of the bill down
the sides of the neck, and forms a broad collar across the breast;
chin, throat, and belly white, the latter tinted with rufous, which