•>^ Plumage of the Monntain Chat. 



quite as common as the black birds, and, curiously enough, 

 as a rule much tamer than either the latter or the birds in 

 intermediate plumage. 



The weak spot in my theory is that, so far, I have not 

 succeeded in finding a male changing direct from the first 

 black plumage into the grey plumage ; but, on the other 

 hand, such moulting birds as I have met with have been 

 changing into a plumage exactly similar to the previous 

 one, after allowing for the old feathers being worn and 

 discoloured. 



I advance the above theory for what it is worthy and am 

 quite ready to admit that I may be wrong. The only way I 

 can think of settling the question is for some of our Members, 

 who have the time and opportunity, to get young birds of 

 this species and try and rear them in captivity, and make 

 careful notes on the changes of plumage. This should not 

 be difiicult, as the Mountain Chat is a hardy bird and should 

 make an attractive inmate for the aviary. 



I would note here tliat S. monticola only moults once in 

 the year, viz. in autumn, and therefore those who wish to 

 collect specimens and get a correct idea of their plumages 

 should shoot them in the early winter, as in the spring and 

 sunnner the jdumage becomes so worn and abraded that it is 

 hard to get a good idea of the original colour. 



The following are some of the principal plumages as 

 observed by me : — 



1. Brownish black, with white rump and base of outer 



tail-feathers, females and young males ; but I shot a 

 young male, hardly fledged, wiih white shoulders, this 

 skin is now in the Transvaal Museum. 



2. Black with white shoulders : in this plumage there is 



usually a more or less distinct shade of grey on the 

 crown and nape, when in good plumage. Common. 



3. Black with white shoulders. The crown and nape pale 



grey, contrasting strongly with the jet-black of the 

 rest of the plumage. Scarce. 



JS^ote. — The form in which the crown is xcliite does 

 not occur in these parts. This form was formerly 



