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



times of the year, carefully determined as to sex^ and having 

 the date of capture attached. The following result ensues : — 



No. 1, ^ . Orange-river Mountains, Jan. 31, 1881. 



An adult bird in black plumage with white shoulders, in- 

 termediate between the 3rd and 4th stages, i. e. the head is 

 becoming grey, but the abdomen is still black with a few 

 white feathers here and there. This bird is a '' variety " with 

 grey on the secondaries and tail-feathers. 



No. 2, $ . Three miles from Orange river, March 29, 

 1881. 



A hen bird in full plumage. 



No. 3, S- Same locality, March 19, 1881. 



Intermediate between the 7th and 8th stage. Above grey, 

 clearer on the head and mantle. Shoulders becoming pure 

 white, but the outer coverts of the median and lesser series 

 still grey. Below dingy grey, but clearer on the throat and 

 breast. 



No. 4, (J. Rocky hills. Orange river, April 2, 1881. 



Emerging from the 3rd stage ; the head still glossy black 

 like the back, but the abdomen nearly all white with remains 

 of black. 



No. 5, S • Orange river, June 24, 1881. 



Almost identical with No. 3, having still a good deal of 

 grey above and below, especially on the eyebrows. 



No. 6, ^ . Same place and date as the preceding, and in 

 the same plumage. 



No. 7, ^ . Same place and date as the preceding. 



In the 5th stage. A perfect example of S. griseiceps, 

 Blanford and Dresser. 



No. 8, cJ . Same place and date as the preceding, and in 

 precisely the same plumage. 



No. 9, S . Orange river, July 6, 1881. 



In the 9th stage. 



No. 10, cJ . Orange river, Aug. 19, 1881. 

 In the 5th stage, but with a good deal of black mixed with 

 the abdomen. 



