SAXICOLA LEUCOMELENA, 247 
pair of birds: They build in my kraal walls, and no sooner are their 
eges taken than they set to work to make a new nest in a fresh 
place, finish it, and lay their eggs in a very short time.’ Eggs of 
this species are light bluish green, rather closely speckled with red- 
brown, chiefly at the obtuse end. Axis, 12”; diam. 8”. Mr. 
Ayres observes :—“ This bird I shot in the Free State of Transvaal, 
but I also saw one on the banks of a small stream near the Tugela 
in Natal. It appears to be solitary in its habits, frequenting the 
steep banks of rivers, and is very shy and scarce. The stomach of 
the one I obtained was well filled with insects.” Later he writes :— 
“These Chats are to be found in many localities in the open 
country of the Transvaal, frequenting rocky situations. Their nests 
are generally placed in crevices within a few feet of the ground; 
but at some of the farmhouses they may be seen having taken 
possession of an unfinished Swallow’s nest under the eaves, where, 
if not interfered with, they become exceedingly tame. Though 
sombre in colour, they immediately attract the sight by frequently 
spreading the tail, and showing its snow-white feathers. They are 
also frequently to be found amongst the ant-hills which are so. 
abundant in the Transvaal.” Mr. T. EH. Buckley found them very 
common in the *‘ High Veldt” portion of the Transvaal. 
As we have been unable to distinguish the sequence of plumages 
in this species, we copy the full description of the male given by 
Messrs. Blanford and Dresser :—“ Adult male. Shoulders, rump, 
abdomen, lower breast, upper tail-coverts, and the basal portion of 
all rectrices, except the central pair, white; a narrow streak from 
the base of the bill to above the eye grey, or mixed white and 
black; remainder of plumage black; quills and greater coverts 
brownish black, and the thigh-coverts the same, and some black is 
mixed with the white of the under tail-coverts. On the pair of 
rectrices next to the central pair the white extends about half-way 
from the bases ; on the other rectrices only the tip is black, but this 
colour extends on the outermost pair some distance up the outer 
web. Culmen, 0°9; wing, 4°25; tail, 2°85; tarsus, 1:25. 
Fig. We Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. pl. 184, fig. 2. 
234. SAXICOLA LEUCOMELENA. Barchell’s Wheat-ear. 
Mr. Andersson writes concerning this species: — “This fin 
