110 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



205. Myrmecocichla Formicivora, Hart- 



laub., Orn. W. Af., p. 65 ; Saxicola Formicivora, 

 Vieil, Nat. Die. d'Hist. Nat. XXI, p. 421 ; Saxicola 

 Leucoptera, Sw., An. in Menag., p. 292 ; Le Four- 

 millier, Le Vail., PI. 186; Cuv., Vol. 1., p. 437. 



Generally of a sombre-brown colour ; paler on the belly 

 and under the tail ; the throat is clouded with reddish, the 

 same colour bordering the feathers of the front of the neck 

 and chest ; a prominent white patch adorns the shoulders of 

 the male ; the wing-feathers have also white webs. The 

 female wants the white shoulders, and is of a deeper brown . 

 Length, 7" 6'" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 3". 



Le Vaillant found this Saxicola near the Sunday and Zwartkop 

 Rivers, not far from Algoa Bay ; where I also observed it in abun- 

 dance during a flying visit to that locality. He says it perches on high 

 trees. I only saw it on the ground (but, then, there were no trees for 

 it to perch upon), or on the nests of the white-ants. It appeared to 

 have the same habits as S. Pileata. Several specimens have been 

 sent to me from Colesberg and Kuruman. 



Le Vaillant found their nests in holes or under rocks. Eggs white. 



206. Saxicola Nigra, Vieill. ; Myrmecocichla 

 Nigra, Ency. Meth., p. 489 ; Le Traquet Comman- 

 dfiur, Le Vail., PI. 189 ; Cuv., Vol. 1, p. 437 ; Lath. 



Gen. His., Vol. 7, p. 96 ; Hart. Orn. W. A£, p. 65. 



General colour black, with light rose-coloured epaulettes. 

 Length, 7". 



This species was found, according to Le Vaillant, congregating in 

 small families (consisting of an old pair and their young ones), and 

 feeding upon termites. It was first discovered on the eastern side of 

 the colony, extending from the 28th degree of south latitude as far as 

 the tropic, and only residing there during the breeding season. He 

 never found their nests, but believes they build in holes and caverns. 

 Sundevall states that it is not South African, but from Malimba, on 

 the East Coast. Hartlaub, however, has it from the West Coast, and 

 it may therefore sometimes approach the extreme northern limits of 

 Le VaUlant's collecting ground. 



Genus PRATINCOLA, Koch. 

 Bill short, with the gape broad, and furnished with short 

 bristles ; the culmen slightly curved, and the sides com- 

 pressed to the tip, which is rather emarginated ; the gonys 

 long and ascending ; the nostrils basal, lateral, in a small 

 membranous groove, with the opening rounded, and partly 

 hidden b}' the frontal plumes ; wings long and rounded, with 



