LUSCINIDJS. 107 



I suspect this is nothing more than the p of S. Albiscapulata, Briss., 

 the preceding species. 



198. Saxicola Inftiscata, Sm., z. s. A, PI. 28. 



GENERAL colour, rusty-brown ; chin and throat of a dirty 

 white ; under parts grey, more or less tinted with yellowish- 

 brown ; wing and tail-feathers with a dash of umber-brown 

 about them ; and they and the wing-coverts are more or less 

 edged with dirty white ; tail square ; iris black. Length, 

 7*6'"; wing, 4" 9'"; tail, 3" 6"'. 



" This is the largest and rarest of the South African Saxicolce. It 

 appears to be principally, if not entirely, restricted to the districts 

 between the Oliphant and Orange Rivers, and seldom occurs far from 

 the sea coast. It selects sterile tracts, which are thinly covered with 

 brushwood, for its habitats, and in these situations it is so extremely 

 watchful, that even weeks of incessant toil will scarcely secure the 

 collector a specimen. It seeks its food, which consists of insects, upon 

 the ground ; and while on it, as well as when perched, it raises and 

 depresses its half-extended wings, after the other species of this genus." 

 Dr. A. Smith, loc. cit. 



I have received it from Kuruman ; and Mr. Atmore found it sparsely 

 at Traka. 



199. Saxicola Sperata. (Linn.) Guv. Vol. 6, p. 



437 ; the Sibyl Warbler, Latham ; Le Traquet 

 Families Le Vail., No. 183, f. 1, 2 ; Sundev. Obser. 

 on Le Vail. Ois. d'Af., p. 44.; Speckvreter of Colonists. 



GENERAL colour above, rufous-brown ; below lighter, inclining 

 to grey on the throat, and rufous on the flanks and vent ; 

 rump bright rufous, as are all the tail-feathers, with the 

 exception of the two centre ones, which are, as are also the 

 wing-feathers, dark-brown, narrowly edged with rufous ; the 

 others are broadly tipped with dark-brown, the shafts are of 

 the same colour. The ear-tufts are more rufous than the 

 neck, and being silky, show rather plainly. Length, 6f" ; 

 wing, 3i" ; tail, 2" 8'". 



Received from Colesberg. I have generally found this species, or a 

 variety (for all those procured here are smaller than the Colesberg 

 specimen), during the summer months, about stones in rocky places. 

 It is abundant round the " Lion's Head," at an elevation of about 1500 

 feet, nesting in crevices, and the young bird is speckled exactly like a 

 young robin. They have a habit of perching on the summit of stones 

 and rocks, opening and shutting their wings and tails. In flight they 

 resemble the wheat-ear, and flit from stone to stone. 



From Le Vaillant's description of its habits, which I believe to be 

 much over-coloured, I certainly think this is his Traquet Familier. A 



