106 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



saxicola (G. CinereaJ is abundant here ; and, by the way, how well this 

 class of birds obeys the geology of the country : wherever there is 

 karroo soil you find them. The same also with the ' Zalkoentje ' 



country, but never in karroo soil ; for instance, they are plentiful here, 

 and proceeding northwards "they do not occur in the fifty miles of 

 karroo you pass over on the way to Cango ; but in that narrow valley 

 they are again plentiful." 



195. Saxicola Monticola, Viein. (Smith, Zooi., 



S. A., No. 185) ; & Alpina ; Vitiflora Rupicola, Boie ; 

 Le Traquet Montagnard, Le Vail, No. 184, Fig. 2, 

 and Cuvier, Vol. 7, p. 437 ; Motacilla Maderaspatana, 

 Gmel. apud Guv., Yol. 7, p, 475, nee Shaw, Vol. 10, 

 p. 548. 



ADULT, entirely black, except belly, shoulders, and the edges 

 of tail-feathers, which are white. When young, nearly all 

 the feathers, which when adult are black, are cinerous. 

 Length, 7" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 3". 



Le Yaillant found this bird inhabiting the mountains of Namaqua- 

 land, and never descending into the plains, except compelled by great 

 drought. He describes them as very shy and difficult of approach, 

 hiding themselves in holes or inaccessible precipices. 



Mr. Andersson brought specimens from Damaraland ; I have received 

 a few from Kuruman, and from Mr. Atmore, who procured them about 

 Traka ; and also found it myself at JN"eFs Poort. Le Vaillant's account 

 of their habits is substantially correct. I only found them among the 

 rocky mountain sides, breeding in the holes and crevices. 



196. Saxicola Albiscapulata. (Briss.) Neue 



Wlrbelth (1835), p. 72, I. 26, fig. 1 ; Thamnolacea 

 Albiscapulata, Bp. Consp., p. 302 ; Thamnolcea Cinna- 

 momeiventiris, Lafr. 



d GENERAL plumage throughout glossy-black ; rump, belly, 

 and vent deep rufous; shoulders white. Length, 8J"; wing, 

 4J" ; tail, 4" 7'". 



p Wants the white patch on the shoulder, and is alto- 

 gether much duller in colour and smaller in size. 



Sent from " Highlands," near Graham's Town, by Mrs. Barber. 



197. SaxiCOla Rufiventer, Swain., An. in Menag., 



p. 293. 



GREY-BLACK ; rump, tail-coverts, and body beneath, chesnut ; 

 tail rounded, and somewhat lengthened. Length, 7" 3'" ; 

 wing, 4" 3"'. 

 " Inhabits South Africa." Dr. BurchelFs Coll.'' Swainson loc. cit. 



