LUSCINHXE. lOo 



as follows : Saxieola Spectabilis <5 , 9. These birds are dwellers 

 amongst rocks, and frequent rocky mountains and hills, old stone- 

 kraals, &c. They build their nest under shelving rocks, near or upon 

 the ground, and sheltered by spreading ferns or long grass ; and their 

 eggs are usually three in number. The <5 is fond of placing himself 

 on some high projecting rock, and of making himself conspicuous by 

 chirping away in a cheerful voice, either to annoy a rival or amuse his 

 mate : he is also fond of opening and shutting his wings, " bowing 

 and scraping,'* &c., and I have no doubt " thinks no end of himself." 

 The (J) is a very quiet, retiring little body. These birds (the $>&) 

 possess the power of mocking other birds and animals. When we 

 were living in the district of Graaff-Reinet, I had a beautiful spotted 

 Merecat, a tame one : it was very fond of me, and was my companion 

 in all my walks. These little animals have a peculiar bark, and pro- 

 duce a great variety of sounds with their pretty little voices : and these 

 mocking-birds would imitate all the sounds that my pet made very 

 accurately. I have also heard them mocking robins and sugar-birds, 

 but they seldom use this power. We will get you some more speci- 

 mens. I was surprised to hear that they were new very much so, 

 for they are common all over the Eastern Province, excepting near 

 the coast. They prefer high situations. There are always five or six 

 of tkeni here : they sit upon the garden wall and upon the top of our 

 house. A few days ago there was one sitting upon the gable-end of 

 our stable, making a terrible row : a quiet old rock-thrush that be- 

 longs to the place, feeling disgusted with his noise, went up to him 

 and gave him a smart peck, which sent him flying ! ! We never 

 shoot birds that take up their abode with us, so we see all their odd 

 ways." 



194. Saxieola Cinerea. (Vieii.) Smith, Zooi. s. 



A. ; Le Traquet Tractac, LeVaiL, PL 184 ; S. Levail- ' 

 lantii, Smith. 



GENERAL colour, ashy grey ; lighter on the lower part of 

 the back, and becoming quite white on the rump ; breast 

 and throat grey ; rest of the under side white ; tail with a 

 white patch, which extends from near the point of the out- 

 side feather, across each of the others, to the base of the 

 centre feathers, in the shape of a triangle ; some of the 

 wing-feathers are bordered with white ; iris black. Length, 

 about b'" ; wing, 3* V" ; tail, 2" 10"'. 



Le Yaillant found this wheat-ear in the province of Outeniqua, 

 perching on bushes, always on the 'move from one to another, and very 

 wary. In flying they expanded the tail, exposing the white mark ; 

 they also had the habit of opening and closing the wing, so peculiar 

 to the wheat-ears. 



They build at the foot of bushes on the ground. The female lays four 

 bluish-green eggs, minutely speckled with brown, the specks sometimes 

 forming a ring at the obtuse end : axis, II"'; diam., 8'". I found 

 them abundantly at Nel's Poort, nesting in November. Mr. Atmore 

 writes of them as follows :" Blanco, Sept. 10th, 1864. The rock- 



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