24 Mr. G. C. Shortridge 07i the Birds collected 



35. CiSTicoLA SUBRUFICAPILLA. (Grey - backed Grass- 

 Warbler.) 



(Stark, voL ii. p. 151.) 

 One specimen seen 26.9.03. 



36. TuRDUS CABANisi. (Cabanis's Thrush.) 

 (Stark, vol. ii. p. 177.) 



Not common : female obtained 22.9.03. 



37. Myrmecocichla formicivoea. (Ant-eating Chat.) 

 (Stark, vol. ii. p. 186.) 



Fairly plentiful : a very weak flyer ; if wounded it can 

 run very swiftly and will frequently make its escape down an 

 ant-bear hole. 



38. Pratincola torquata. (South African Stone-Chat.) 

 (Stark, vol. ii. p. 190.) 



Rare around Hanover : a single pair only seen. Male 

 obtained 4.9.03; female 17.9.03. 



39. Saxicola monticola. (Mountain Chat.) 

 (Stark, vol. ii. p. 194.) 



Frequents kopjes : very plentiful ; rather wild, going 

 about in pairs. I did not stay long enough at Hanover to 

 determine accurately the plumage-changes of the males. I 

 found, however, all the forms pairing with females. They 

 undoubtedly change from black to grey, but I believe that 

 the white shoulders and underparts are peculiar to individual 

 birds which develop during the black stage ; others never 

 obtain this coloration, although intermediate forms with more 

 or less white shoulders are common. The females also vary 

 as to the amount of white on the tail-feathers. The following 

 list of specimens obtained may be instructive : — 



(1) 22.7.03, S (black form : white shoulders). 



(2) 24.7.03, (? (grey: white shoulders). 



(,3) 25.7.03, S (grey: without white shoulders). 



(4) 13.8.03, cJ (black : white shoulders, crown turning 



(5) 20.8.03, (? (grey: indistinct white shoulders). 



(6) 9.9.03, c? (black : white belly and shoulders). 



