on the Coast of South Africa. Gl 



variety of birds, such as Saxicola sinuala, S. pileata, and 

 Thamnobia coryjihcea, this latter species being very common ; 

 when frightened it only flies for a short distance, often 

 avoiding further pursuit by running. Its habits reminded 

 me of Aedon galactodes as I have observed them in Egypt ; 

 especially when on the ground, it has the habit of suddenly 

 stopping and flitting up its tail as it watches an intruder^ and 

 in all its movements is very active and restless. I also saw 

 a few specimens of Megalophonus apiatus, which would rise 

 much like a Pipit, and fly for only a short distance close over 

 the brushwood, rarely running when on the ground. Of 

 game there was very little beyond a few small hares ; and I 

 met with one fine covey of Francolinus afer, of which I killed 

 three. 



The country from Capetown to Stellenbosch is flat, covered 

 with stunted bush about two feet high, while towards the Paarl 

 it becomes more hilly. During my stay in these parts I was 

 much struck by the regular hours kept by the Swifts ; each 

 morning about 8 o^clock they first appeared, often in con- 

 siderable numbers, retiring as suddenly again at 10. What 

 they do with themselves during the remainder of the day I 

 am unable to say, though probably they retire to the crevices 

 in their mountain homes during the heat of the day to digest 

 at leisure the breakfast they have so hurriedly partaken of. 

 They appear again, but generally in less numbers, in the 

 afternoon. 



On the 24th I was rewarded for a hot walk up the Paarl 

 mountain by making a fair bag of small birds and being able 

 to observe several species which I had not previously seen. 

 Cossypha caffra and Thamnobia coryphcea frequently flitted 

 across the path in front, or ran beneath the low bushes, erect- 

 ing and fanning out their tails at intervals, while Laniarius 

 gutturalis skulked cunningly away to the thickest neighbour- 

 ing shelter. Fringillaria capensis, another very common bird 

 throughout the colony, might generally be seen in pairs 

 perched upon the crest of some large mass of rock. Saxicola 

 familiaris was extremely abundant and tame, running from 

 beneath a bush, where it had taken refuge, to the summit of 



