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240 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
becomes stronger on the flanks and vent; centre tail-feathers all 
dark-brown, the basal half of the rest white. Length, 6” 9’”; tail, 
Oo Le 
Fig. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. pl. 181. 
926. SaxIcoLA BIFASCIATA. Buff-streaked Chat. 
The range of this bird is rather restricted, and it appears to be 
peculiar to South Africa. Mr. Ortlepp has procured it at Colesberg, 
and Captain Bulger at Windvogelberg, while our friend Mrs. Barber, 
as noted below, says that they are plentiful in high situations all 
over the eastern province. Mr. T. C. Atmore forwarded us a nice 
series of specimens from the neighbourhood of Eland’s Post and 
Queenstown, and we ourselves shot some near Grahamstown. Mr. 
Buckley writes :—‘ I saw several of these birds near the foot of the 
Drakenberg, where they were breeding. Their habits and haunts 
are like those of our Stonechat, as far as I had the opportunity of 
observing them.” Mr. Ayres states that he obtained this species 
near the Upper Mooi river in Natal, but found them more plentiful 
on the Drakenberg in the Transvaal Republic, frequenting rocky 
hills and feeding on insects. Mr, F. A. Barratt observes :—“I pro- 
cured a male ona journey from Potchefstroom to Lydenburg ; it 
was flitting about the stones on a hill-side near Wittewater Rand. 
I have since seen it between Potchefstroom and the Orange Free 
State, always on elevations, and never on the plains.” 
In a letter dated “‘ June 22nd, 1865,’ Mrs. Barber sends us the 
following account of the habits of this fine Chat :—“ These birds are 
dwellers amongst rocks, and frequent rocky mountains and hills, 
old stone-kraals, &e. They build their nest under shelving rocks, 
near or upon the ground, and sheltered by spreading ferns or long 
grass; and their eggs are usually three in number. The male is 
fond of placing himself on some high projecting rock, and of making 
himself conspicuous by chirping away in a cheerful voice, either to 
annoy a rival or amuse his mate: he is also fond of opening and 
shutting his wings, ‘bowing and scraping,’ &c., and I haye no 
doubt ‘thinks no end of himself.’ The female is a very quiet, 
retiring little body. These birds (the males) possess the power of 
mocking other birds and animals. When we were living in the 
district of Graaf-Reinet, I had a beautiful spotted Merecat, a tame 
