from Deelfontein, Cape Colony. 323 



some of the Cape Colony examples are intermediate, I should 

 have considered the dark- and light-throated races to be 

 subspecifically distinct. 



[Not common. Partial to the thick bush, and very active 

 in its ways.] 



70. Pratincola torquata. 



Pratincola torquata (L.) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard^ p. 250 

 (1875-84) ; id. Cat. B. iv. p. 190 (1879) ; Stark, Faun. 

 S. Afr., Birds, ii. p. 190 (1901) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. iv. 

 p. 172 (1903). 



a. $ ad. Deelfontein, Aug. 5, 1902. 



[This Stone-Chat was a very rare bird with us.] 



71. Myrmecocichla formicivora. 



Myrmecocichla formicivora Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 231 

 (1875-84) ; Seebohm, Cat. B. v. p. 35G (1881) ; Stark, Faun. 

 S. Afr., Birds, ii. p. 186 (1901) ; Sharpe, Hand-L B. iv. 

 p. 174 (1903). 



a. c?. Deelfontein, Feb. 28, 1892. 



b-e. cJ ? ad. „ April 29, 1902. 



f,g. <J ? ad. „ May 15, 1902. 



h. S • » Aug. 29, 1902. 



This species has a distinct winter plumage. The breeding 

 birds are rusty brown in hue, as is shown by the specimen 

 killed in February. In April they moult into a much 

 darker plumage, the feathers of the under surface being black 

 with broad brown edges, more or less ashy in tint. This 

 plumage continues through the winter, and by abrasion of the 

 margins becomes much more rusty towards the breeding- 

 season. 



[This Chat was very common, and was generally seen 

 sitting on an ant-hill or on a bush of about the same height. 

 It was a resident bird with us, being met with all the year 

 round, and, when searching for insects, it had a hovering 

 flight, sustaining itself in the air with rapid beats of its wings.] 



72. POLIOCICHLA SINUATA. 



Sa.vicola sinuata Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 236, 818 

 (1875-81). 



