108 BIRDS OF DAM ABA LAND. 



Measurements of a male : — 



in. lin. 



Entire lengtli 7 7 



Leugtli of folded wing 4 4 



„ tarsus 11 



„ middle too 7 



„ tail 3 5 



biU 10 



133. Saxicola pileata (Gmel.). imitative Wheatear. 



Le Traqnet imitaterir, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pis. 181 & 182, 

 Saxicola hottentotta, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Daniar., Conti-. Oni. 



1852, p. 146. 

 Saxicola jnleata, Layard's Cat. No. 192. 



Saxicola hottentottn, Cliapmaa's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 399. 

 Saxicola pileata, Sharpe's Cat. No. 248. 



I have found this species common from Table Moun- 

 tain 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 regions 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 

 frequently seen near cattle and sheep, the Dutch boors 

 have given it the name of " Schaap Wagter " or Shep- 

 lierd ; it has also the more local name of " Nagtgaal" and 

 " llossignol," 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 



