ie 
SAXICOLA GALTONI. 235 
The present species may be distinguished from the other 
members of the genus by its rufous upper tail-coverts and tail- 
feathers, which are conspicuous even in flight. We have found it 
during the summer months about stones in rocky places. It is 
abundant round the “ Lion’s Head,” at an elevation of about 1500 
feet, nesting in crevices, and the young bird is speckled exactly 
like a young robin. They have a habit of perching on the summit 
of stones and rocks, opening and shutting their wings and tails. In 
flight they resemble the Wheatear, and flit from stone to stone. 
A pair or two frequent every farm-house in the colony, and are 
accused of picking the grease out of the cart-wheels ; hence their 
colonial name of “ Speckvreter.” They nest in old walls and banks, 
and under stones, laying a foundation of small stones and gravel, 
and lining with hair. The eggs, four in number, are undistinguish- 
able from those of the next species. Mr. Atmore writes that at the 
Oliphants river one made its nest in a hair broom standing in a bed- 
room, and brought off her brood ! 
We presume that this is the species recorded by Grill as 8S. 
sperata, procured by Victorin at the Knysna in April. We have 
received it from Hland’s Post from Mr. T. C. Atmore, and at Port 
Elizabeth Mr. Rickards says it is called the “‘ Day-breaker,”’ and is 
very common, frequenting roofs of houses in the town. Mr. T. E. 
Buckley procured a specimen in Natal on the 5th of June, 1873, 
and says that he observed it in the Matabili country, hopping about 
a cattle-kraal like a Robin. Mr. Andersson writes:—‘“ This is 
the most common Sawicola with which I am acquainted both in 
Damara and Namaqua Land, from whence it ranges southward 
along the west coast as far as Table Mountain. It is very familiar 
in its manners, and will fearlessly approach human habitations, 
which it not unfrequently enters by the doors and windows. It 
invariably perches on low bushes, whence it watches for passing 
insects, which it usually seizes on the wing, though it occasionally 
descends to the ground for a similar purpose. Like all the birds of 
this family it is very restless, now flapping its wings, then raising 
and expanding the tail or alternately raising and depressing its 
whole body. It makes its nest on the ground, laying three or four 
eggs, which are either greenish-grey spotted with brown, or nearly 
white spotted with brown and grey. The iris is very dark brown, 
and the bill, legs, and feet are ‘black.” Senor Anchieta has also 
procured this species in Benguela. 
