LUSCINID^. Ill 



hills, it usually perches. It seeks its food on the 

 ground, watching for insects from its elevated perch ; and 

 when these are observed, descending at once upon them 

 and quickly returning to its post of observation. Its 

 flight is straight, and it moves its short wings with 

 extraordinary rapidity ; but it does not go far at a time, 

 and I never found any difficulty in approaching it. 



[Specimens of this bird from Damara Land were found, on 

 comparison, to be a little smaller than an example obtained in 



Natal. ED.] 



MOTACILLIRE. 



137. Motacilla capensis, Linn. Cape-Wagtail. 



La Lavandi&re brune, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pi. 177. 

 Motacilla capensis, Layard's Cat. No. 219. 

 Sharpe's Cat. No. 697. 



This is rather a local bird in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land, but is found somewhat numerously in 

 moist and humid localities, and is also at times pretty 

 freely met with on the sea-shore. It occurs sometimes 

 in pairs, and sometimes in small flocks. It captures its 

 prey both on the wing and by running along the ground, 

 frequently following in the wake of cattle and picking 

 up such small insects as may chance to be thus dis- 

 turbed. 



The nest of this Wagtail is found in a variety of situa- 

 tions, and is composed of tendrils and soft pliable plants. 

 The eggs are three to four in number, and are generally 

 of a yellow-drab tint, profusely speckled with obscure 



