CHATS 17 



brown, those of the Sentinel Rock-Thrush being smaller 

 than those of its larger congener. 



The nest is a saucer-shaped structure of sticks and 

 roots, lined with fine rootlets and hair, and is usually 

 situated in a hole or crevice, or on a ledge under a rock. 



They have a loud, lively song, and are chiefly insect 

 feeders, devouring large numbers of beetles, ants, plant- 

 bugs, &c., varied by a few fruits and seeds. 



One other fairly common species may be noted, the 

 Short-toed Rock-Thrush (M. brevipes), from the Western 

 region, ranging from Upington on the Orange River to 

 Southern Damaraland and the Transvaal. It resembles 

 M. explorator, but has a shorter toe. Little is known 

 of its habits. 



CHATS. 



A very familiar bird is the Ant-eating Chat (Myrme- 

 cocichla formicivora) , in its sombre plumage of sooty- 

 brown, and conspicuous white wing patches as it flutters 

 in the air with its feeble flight. 



It is fairly common throughout, although rather locally 

 distributed in some parts. It is commonest on stretches 

 of veld covered with ant-heaps, where it may be seen 

 everywhere perched on the "hills", or at the entrance 

 to some meercat or aardvark (ant-bear) burrow. 



The nest is usually in a hole in a burrow or in an 

 excavation in an ant-heap, and the eggs are pure white, 

 usually numbering three or four. 



The Buff-streaked Chat (M. bifasciata) is a handsome 



bird with the top of the head black, forehead and a long 



eyebrow buff-white ; wings, tail, sides of face and neck, 



and throat black ; rest of under surface and rump region 



2 



