NOTES FROM NATAL. 211 



Saxicola galtoni (Strickland), Galton's Chat. — One obtained 

 out of a pair seen by Reid, near Lady smith, on August 21st. 



Saxicola pileata (Gin.), Capped Wheatear. — A familiar bird in 

 the vicinity of habitations throughout the district, preferring the 

 more level "veldt" and the society of man to the hill-sides and 

 boulder-strewn " kopjes " patronised by the two succeeding species. 

 Nests about September in rat-holes, frequently choosing one close 

 to a frequented road or path. The sexes are alike in plumage. 



Saxicola bifasciata (Temm.), Buff-streaked Chat. — Plentiful in 

 the neighbourhood of the Drakensberg, at the foot of the slopes, 

 breeding there in considerable numbers. Butler obtained some 

 beautiful specimens in breeding plumage on October 20th. Lieut. 

 Giffard took a nest containing two incubated eggs near Newcastle, 

 on or about the same date. They appear to winter in the same 

 situations, for Reid observed several, and obtained one, at the 

 Ingagane River on June 7th. 



Saxicola monticola (Vieil.), Mountain Wheatear. — Almost as 

 common on the rocky hills as M. formicivora is on the " veldt." 

 Like Monticola explorator, they are very shy on first acquaintance, 

 but soon acquire confidence if unmolested. Their song is pretty, 

 though not very often heard. Many nests were taken in the 

 neighbourhood of Newcastle ; in most cases the complement of 

 eggs was only three ; pale bluish green, spotted with brownish 

 rufous at the larger end ; they measure 0"90 by 0*65 in. The 

 plumage of the male is subject to great variation ; the ordinary 

 type, or rather what we believe to be the first breeding dress, 

 being that given in Sharpe's edition of Layard's work. As the 

 bird gets older the black of the head changes gradually to grey, 

 followed by that of the back and under parts, so that an old male 

 has the greater part of the plumage grey. We saw several in 

 this strikingly handsome plumage paired with the ordinary white- 

 tailed black female ; the latter does not appear to undergo any 

 such modifications of colouring. It seems clear that the grey 

 colour is not, as stated in the first edition of Layard, a sign of 

 immaturity, for no females were ever observed with any grey at 

 all about them ; and, moreover, young birds just out of the nest 

 and barely able to fly, seen on the 26th October, were dull black, 

 without the faintest trace of grey. We suspect that an examination 

 of the series of skins of this species in all stages of plumage, 

 which we have placed in Capt. Shelley's hands, will lead to the 



