Mashonaland Birds. 229 



24. Saxicola pileata. (Capped Wheatear.) 



This Wheatear is plentiful as a migrant in our winter, 

 arriving from the south in the end of May or begin- 

 ning of June, nesting early in September, and departing 

 southward about November. It frequents open country, 

 sitting on termite-heaps or low bushes, but I have occa- 

 sionally observed it on trees in the bush. The male is a 

 delightful songster, usually singing as he hovers on quivering 

 wings a few yards from the ground ; he is fond of displaying 

 himself before the female, running round her, bowing and 

 scraping, drooping his wings and spreading his tail so as to 

 show his pure white rump. This species breeds in holes in 

 termite-heaps, and the food consists principally of ants and 

 small beetles. 



25. Pycnonotus layardi. (Layard's Bulbul.) 

 Everywhere abundant, feeding on fruits and berries of all 



kinds, and being especially fond of the wild fig. Besides 

 mobbing Hawks, as noted by Mr. Ayres, these birds will 

 also worry tree-snakes, gathering round them and making a 

 great din, just as fowls will do. The eggs are three in 

 number, of a pinkish-white colour, variegated with large 

 blotches of rich purplish brown and iron-grey, which are 

 denser at the thick end. The size is variable, as may be seen 

 from the following selected measurements : — 21 x 17, 27 x 18, 

 24x18, 25x17 mm. 



26. Cossypha HEUGLiNi. (Heuglin's Chat-Thrush.) 

 Obtained by the Jameson expedition on the Umfuli river. 



I have not infrequently caught glimpses of birds of this 

 genus, and probably this species, in the dense thickets along 

 some small streams near Salisbury, but they are very wary, 

 and I have so far failed to obtain one. 



27. Thamnol.ea ciNNAMOMEivENTRis. ( Whitc-shouldcred 

 Bush-Chat.) 



This is a somewhat scarce and very local species, being 

 only found among the picturesque kopjes of granite boulders 

 so characteristic of many parts of Rhodesia. It is a sprightly 



