396 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 



tenburg ; when I was there^ later in the year, I did not meet 

 with this species, and rather think it is more plentiful during 

 our summer than in the winter months. It inhabits dense 

 thickets. 



[Some years since Mr. Ayres sent me a specimen of this 

 Chat-Thrush from Natal, which, by some accident, was not 

 included in my lists of birds received from that colony. — 

 J. H. G.] 



Thamnobia cinnamomeiventris, Lafr. Southern White- 

 shouldered Bush-Chat. 



Male and female, killed 27th May. Irides dusky; bill, 

 tarsi, and feet black. 



This is a very local species : I met with it but once amongst 

 the mountains of Rustenburg ; and that was in a precipitous 

 and well-wooded ravine on the south side of Oliphant^s Nek. 

 There must have been at least a dozen of these birds together ; 

 but I only got two ; one more I killed, but could not find ; 

 they fell amongst deep crevices in the rocks, and were by no 

 means easy to retrieve. After I had fired three or four times 

 they flew further up the gorge, and I saw them no more. 



Myrmecocichla formicivora (Vieill.). Southern Ant- 

 eating Wheatear. 



Female, shot in July. 



This species is common on all the open country near Eus- 

 tenburg, especially on the Town. 



[In both editions of Mr. Layard's work it is stated that 

 the female '' wants the white shoulders ;" but in the present 

 specimen they are present, as in the male. In both sexes 

 this white patch on the ridge of the wing does not quite reach 

 to the carpal joint. — J. H. G.] 



Saxicola galtoni (Strickl.) . Familiar Wheatear. 



Male and female. Irides dusky umber; tarsi and feet 

 black. 



This is a very common species throughout the Rustenburg 

 district, and exceedingly familiar and tame. Two or three 

 pairs may be seen close to evei'y farmstead ; and almost every 

 separate clump of bush along the roadsides holds its pair ; 



