IOC BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



saxicola (C. Cinerca) is abundant liere ; — and, Jay tlie way, how well tliis 

 class of birds obeys the geology of the country : wherever there is 

 karroo soil you find them. The same also with the ' Kalkoentje ' 

 Anthus (Certhilauda) Ca2)ensis, which is found in every patch of grass 

 country, but never in karroo soU ; for instance, they are plentiful here, 

 and proceeding northwards they do not occur in the fifty miles of 

 karroo you pass over on the way to Cango ; but in that narrow valley 

 they are again plentiful." 



195. Saxicola Monticola, vieiii. (Smith, Zooi, 



S. A., No. 185) ; S. Alpina ; Vitifiora Rupicola, Boie; 



Le Traquet Montagnard, Le Vail., No. 184, Fig. 2, 



anS Cuvier, Vol. 7, p. 437 ; Motacilla 3Iaderaspatana, 



Gmel. apud Cuv., Vol. 7, p, 475, nee Shaw, Vol. 10, 



p. 548. 



Adult, eutirely black, except belly, shoulders, and the edges 



of tail-feathers, which are white. When young, nearly all 



the feathers, which when adult are black, are cinerous. 



Length, 7" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 3". 



Le Vaillant found this bird inhabiting the mountains of Namaqua- 

 land, and never descending into the plains, except compelled by great 

 drought. He describes them as very shy and difficult of approach, 

 hiding themselves in holes or inaccessible precipices. 



Mr. Andersson brought specimens from Damaraland ; I have received 

 a few from Kuruman, and from Mr. Atmore, who procured them about 

 Traka ; and also found it myself at Nel's Poort. I* Vaillant's account 

 of their habits is substantially correct. I only found them among the 

 rocky mountain sides, breeding in the holes and crevices. 



196. Saxicola Albiscapulata. (Briss.) Neue 



Wirbelth (1835), p. 72, I. 26, fig. 1 ; Thamnolacea 

 Albiscapulata, Bp. Consp., p. 302 ; Thamnolma Cinna- 

 TYiomeiventris, Lafr. 



<5 General plumage throughout glossy-black ; rump, belly, 

 and vent deep rufous; shoulders white. Length, 8|"; wing, 

 4i"; tail, 4" 7'^ 



p Wants the white patch on the shoulder, and is alto- 

 gether much duller in colour and smaller in size. 



Sent from " Highlands," near Graham's Town, by Mrs. Barber. 



197. Saxicola Rufiventer, Swain., An. in Menag., 



p. 293. 

 Grey-black ; rump, tail-coverts, and body beneath, chesuut ; 

 tail rounded, and somewhat lengthened. Length, 7" 3'" ; 

 wing, 4" 3'". 

 • " Inhabits South Africa." — Dr. Burchell's Coll.'' Swainson loc. cit. 



