212 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



lumping together of two or three species that have hitherto been 

 regarded as distinct. Butler adds the following notes on its 

 nidification : — 



(!) "Found a nest on the 10th September, near Newcastle, 

 containing two fresh eggs, and the fragments of another that had 

 been broken. It was built on the side of a hill under a slab of 

 rock overlooking a running stream about twenty yards below, 

 and consisted of fine dry grass, roots, &c, neatly put together, 

 and well lined with sheeps' wool, horse and cow hair, &c, the 

 whole being supported by a strong embankment of short pieces 

 of coarse stems, grass-fibres, roots, lumps of dry earth, &c, 

 matted together, and extending some eight or ten inches from the 

 edge of the nest, so as to suit the slope of the ground. Eggs 

 pale green, well marked with chestnut-red and with a few faint 

 purplish markings as well, chiefly at the large end, forming a 

 conspicuous confluent cap." 



(2) " Another nest, under a ledge of rock, October 1st, con- 

 taining three fresh eggs. The nest was similar to the one described 

 above, consisting of moss and dry grass, well lined with cow-hair, 

 wool, &c, but the eggs were more richly marked. After taking 

 the eggs I threw the nest on the ground, and two days afterwards 

 I noticed the old birds removing the debris to a fresh site under 

 another rock, about twenty yards off. On the 12th October 

 I returned to the spot, and found the nest finished and containing 

 three slightly incubated eggs, which I took." 



Pratincola torquata (Linn.), South African Stonechat.— 

 Universally distributed and very abundant. Butler thus describes 

 the nidification: — "Snared a hen bird on the nest, 11th Sept. 

 The nest, which was placed under a tussock of grass on a bank 

 overlooking a stream, was a neatly built structure, composed 

 principally of dry grass, and lined with rats' fur, cow-hair, and a 

 few feathers, being prolonged on the outer side for six or seven 

 inches, so as to form a sort of embankment to suit the slope of 

 the ground. Eggs three, fresh, pale green, somewhat faintly 

 marked with light chestnut or fawn-colour, the markings being 

 confined chiefly to the large end, forming a cap or zone. Two 

 more nests, precisely similar, on the 14th of the same month and 

 the 22nd October respectively, one containing five fresh eggs, the 

 other three fresh eggs." 



(To lie ciiiumued.) 



