during a journey to the Matabili Country. 371 



Common throughout the colony of Natal as well as the 

 Ti'ansvaal, sitting about on the small ant-heaps. It resembles 

 Saxicola monticola in its habits. 



Saxicola monticola, V. 



a, ? . Natal, May 21, 1873. 

 BiU and feet black. 



b, ^. Transvaal, June 16th, 1873. 

 Bill and feet black ; iris light brown. 



Very common throughout the " High Veldt " portion of 

 the Transvaal. They sit in pairs on the small ant-hills, and 

 have a habit, the male more especially, of soaring a short dis- 

 tance and then dropping quite suddenly, sometimes on to 

 the ground, at others to within a short distance, and then 

 skimming along a considerable way. During the breeding- 

 season, as well as during summer or winter, the pair were 

 generally to be seen sitting together. 



Saxicola leucomel^na, Burch. 



a, S- Natal, May 22nd, 1873. 



Beak black ; legs black ; iris dark hazel. 



Saxicola familiaris, Steph. 

 S. Natal, May 22nd, 1873. 



I believe I observed this bird in the Matabili country, 

 hopping about our cattle-kraal like a Robin. 



Saxicola pileata (Gm.). 

 ^ . Newcastle, Natal, June 5th, 1873. 

 Beak and legs black ; iris dark hazel. 

 I found a good number of these birds one day, but those I 

 procured were all males. They have a very pretty song. 



Saxicola bifasciata, Temm. 



(J . Natal, December 20th, 1873. 



Beak and legs black ; iris dark hazel. 



I saw several pairs of these birds near the foot of the 

 Drakenberg, where they were breeding. Their habits and 

 haunts are hke our Stonechat, as far as I had the opportunity 

 of observing them. 



2 D 2 



