343 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on Saxicola monticola. 



" i. Imm. sk. South Africa (£J. L. Layard). R. B. 

 Sharpe, Esq." 



Marked by Blanford and Dresser " S. monticola^. % ," and 

 there can be no doubt that it is an adult female of this 

 species. 



" c, d. Ad. sk. Colesberg [Ortlepp) . R. B. Sharpe, Esq." 

 Spec, c is a male, according to B., F., & R. intermediate 

 between the 6tli and 7th stages. It has the head and upper 

 parts dull grey, the shoulders becoming white, while under- 

 neath it is dull grey. 



Spec, c? is a male in 4tli stage, but not quite complete on 

 the belly, which is black with plentiful traces of white. 



"e,f. cT ad. sk. Potchefstroom, Feb. 1878 {JV. Lucas). 

 R. B. Sharpe, Esq.'' 



Two males in 4th stage, but the white belly not yet free 

 from the preceding black-bellied stage. 



'' g. Imm. sk. Potchefstroom^ Dec. 1876 {W. Lucas). 

 Dr. Exton.'' 



The sex was "uncertain," according to Mr. Lucas; but 

 there can be no doubt of the bird being an adult female 

 in breeding-plumage. 



" h. ^ ad.; i-n. Imm.sk. Potchefstroom, Jan. 1877 [W. 

 Lucas) . Dr. Exton." 



A most interesting series^ all being in change of plumage. 

 The adult male is moulting from the 4th stage to the 5th. 

 A second bird is evidently an adult female. Another is a 

 young male moulting from the 2nd to the 3rd stage. 



Three specimens are marked by Mr. Lucas as having been 

 shot ''from the same kraal" on the same day (Jan. 4, 1877). 

 They are all young males, just passing from the 1st stage 

 into the 2nd or white-shouldered stage. 



Saxicola monticola, Seebohm, Cat. B. v. p. 380. 

 "a. Imm. sk. S. Africa [E. L. Layard). R. B. Sharpe, 

 Esq." 



Apparently a young female. 



