river on the 8th of December, 1860, and the other, also a male, at
Koy’s Fountain, Great Namaqua Land, on the 18th of June, 1862.
The latter is in winter plumage, and answers to the “ S. griseiceps ”
stage of S. leucomelcena. The British Museum also possesses a pair
of wholly grey birds (males) killed at Koy’s Fountain on the 18th
and 21st of June, 1862, and marked by Mr. Andersson as the young
of the same species. Lastly, there is in the same collection a specimen
with the plumage glossy black, and only a narrow white line
on the head, from the beak to the fore-part of the eye instead of the
white head. It bears a label, “ Male. Aamhoup, June 28, 1861,V
and like all his other Chats, is referred by Mr. Andersson to
“ S. alpina.” This bird bears the same relation to the white-
headed birds of S. anderssoni, that S. cequatorialis does to S. leuco-
melcena, but whether it is only a stage of plumage, or a different
species, we must leave to future observers to discover; as in the case
of Senor Anchieta’s black-headed birds, it is marked a male.,
236. P ratíncola torquata. South African Stone-chat.
Pratíncola pastor, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. I l l (1867).
The ‘ Bontrochie’ is abundant throughout the colony, occurring, as
Captain Shelley remarks, commonly from the CaPe to Durban.
Yictorin procured it at the Knysna in April and again from July to
September, and Mr. Andersson also met with it there. Mr. Rickard
notes it from Port Elizabeth and East London. In Natal both
Captain Shelley and Mr. Ayres have recorded it, and the latter
gentleman says that it is common throughout the Transvaal,
breeding in walls and banks. Mr. F. A. Barratt likewise met with
it at Macamac and we have seen a specimen said to have been shot
in the Zambesi district, though it is not included in Dr. Kirk’s list.
Mr. Andersson writes :—“ This bird is common in Little Namaqua
Land: but, to the best of my recollection, I have never seen it
either in Great Namaqua or in Damara Land, though it is not un-
frequent at Lake N’gami:” from this latter locality we have
examined skins collected by Mr. Chapman. Although not included
in the Damara list, it occurs farther north, as Senor Anchieta has
procured it at Huilla in Mossamedes and also at Caconda in
Benguela.
It inhabits open plains covered with low brushwood, generally
going in pairs, male and female. We found it breeding at the
Berg River in September. The nest was like that of Motacilla
capensis and was placed in a head of rank grass near the river-side.
Eggs three, light verditer blue indistinctly clouded with faint
reddish markings which coalesce and form a ring at the obtuse end:
axis 9'". diam. 7'".
Adult male.—Head and half way down the throat black, sprinkled
with yellow; lower throat and breast rufous; sides of the neck,
shoulders and rump white; belly and flanks pale rufous; eyes dark
hazel. Female le'ss brilliant in colour. Length 5" 6'"; wing 3";
tail, 1" 9"'.
Fig. Le Yaill. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 180.
237. A edon coryphcea, Coryphee Warbler.
Bradypterus coriphceus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 100 (1867).
This bird, which is called by the colonists. £ Bosch-creeper,’ and
‘Katlachter’ (‘ Slang verclicker’ of some), is common throughout
the colony. Yictorin procured it in the Karroo in December and
.rg.nTm.ry, and according to Mr. Rickard it is common at Port Elizabeth.
Mr. T. C. Atmore sent specimens from Hopetown. Mr.
Andersson gives the following note :—“ I do not remember to have
seen this species in Damara Land, but I first observed it in the
central part of Great Namaqua Land, and from thence southward it
became more abundant. It seems partial to low bushes, and may be
seen running along the ground from one bush to another with
wonderful rapidity; it also usually adopts this mode of endeavouring
to make its escape when pursued. The male has a very agreeable
song during the breeding season; it is very brusque in its movements,
and frequently utters a chirping noise, at the same time
elevating and spreading its tail Peacock-fashion over its back. The
food of this species consists of insects and berries.” It frequents
bush-covered land, and well deserves its trivial colonial name, being
always found running about the lower parts of the shrubs, very
rarely flying over the tops of them. It nests also at the foot of a
bush, forming a cup-shaped, rather flat structure, composed of hair,
wool, and bents of dry grass. The eggs are a lovely verditer,
irregularly blotched with brown and usually laid in September.
Axis 9"' j diam. 6'".