NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Eastern Cape Grass Bird {Sphenoeacus iiiteruiedius). 

 (Vol. II., p. 23.) 



Description. — Male : rufous on crown and ear coverts. 

 Centre of crown streaked with black in the centre. Back 

 whitish streaked with black, merging into chestnut on the 

 lower back and upper tail coverts. Tail feathers rufous with 

 black centres. Eyebrows white. Black streak on either side 

 of the throat. Under parts reddish-buff ; deepest at the sides. 

 Iris red-brown. Upper part of bill dark brown ; lower paler. 

 Legs dark brown. 



Total lengthy 8.7 ; wing, 2.7 ; tail, 4.3. 

 The female has a shorter tail than the male, and is slightly 

 smaller. 



Distribution. — Eastern parts of Cape Province. 



Habits. — This bird frequents the patches of heath, low 

 shrubs, and long grass on the veld and hillsides. 



Cape Rock Thrush {Monticola mpestris). (Vol. II., 

 p. 26.) 



Description. — Male : head and neck slaty-blue. Back 

 reddish-brown, the centre of each feather darker. Rump, 

 upper tail coverts, and lower part of body chestnut-red. Two 

 centre tail feathers brown with chestnut bases, the rest of the 

 feathers chestnut, the outer ones edged with brown. Iris 

 brown. Bill and legs black. 



Total lengthy 9.10 ; tail, 3.25 ; wing, 4.55. 

 The female differs in the head and neck being coloured like 

 the back instead of slate-blue, as in the male. 



Distribution. — Cape Province, Orange Free State, Trans- 

 vaal, Zululand, Natal. 



Habits. — This thrush inhabits rocky localities and may be 

 seen flying from rock to rock. It is widelv distributed, being 

 found on the rocks at the seashore, and on high krantzes and 

 stony mountains. It nests in a crevice in the rocks or under a 



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