Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 397 



from the tops of the mountains to the lowest dales this incon- 

 spicuous little fellow is to be found. 



So far as I know, I have never met with it near Potchef- 

 stroom^ though a specimen obtained at a distance of fifteen 

 miles from thence has been recorded in ' The Ibis ' for 1877, 

 p. 343. 



Saxicola leucomel^na, Burch. BurchelPs Wheatear. 



Male, shot June 22rd. Irides dusky ; bill, tarsi, and feet 

 black. 



This is a very local species about the Magaliesbergen. I 

 found half a dozen of these Wheatears on the Hex river, 

 amongst some rocks, about ten miles from Rustenburg ; these, 

 and one or two others amongst some rocks near Eland^s river, 

 were all I came across during my stay in the Rustenburg 

 district. 



[In ' The Ibis ' for 1878, at pp. 291 to 294, 1 described four 

 Wheatears sent by Mr. Ayres, which all appeared to be re- 

 ferable to this species. The specimen now sent agrees in 

 the distribution of its colours with the third example described 

 as above, except that the black centres to some of the fea- 

 thers on the white shoulder-spot are smaller and less con- 

 spicuous ; the dark portions of the plumage are also less black 

 and more tinged with brown, very much resembling the cor- 

 responding parts in the fourth specimen described by me last 

 year. The bird now sent was moulting when killed ; and a new 

 central rectrice is of a much deeper black than the adjacent 

 ones, which are old and apparently faded ; the same circum- 

 stance is also observable in the tertials of both wings. — 

 J. H. G.] 



Oriolus larvatus, Licht. Masked Oriole. 



Male and female adult, shot 22nd July and 3rd August. 

 Irides crimson ; bill flesh-colour ; tarsi and feet pale dusky 

 ash-colour. 



A younger female, shot 22nd July. Irides reddish brown ; 

 bill black; tarsi and feet as in the adult. 



This Oriole is not uncommon in the wooded parts of the 

 Rustenburg mountains, but is somewhat shy and wary. 



