1869.] ON THE HABITS OF MYRMECOCICHLA FORMICIVORA. 637 
has large and strong tarsi and a rather elongated bill, and appears 
to belong to a group which embraces S. anthoides, S. humicola, S. 
orbignit, and their allies. These birds have also twelve rectrices in 
their tail. For the former group the name Leptasthenura (proposed 
by Reichenbach for S. egithaloides) may be used ; the latter section 
does not seem to have yet had any generic name applied to it, unless 
it be possible to employ for it Asthenes of Reichenbach. 
Besides the skin in my collection, I have only seen one other 
example of this species, which was received by Mr. Gould from Loxa 
in Ecuador along with other birds, and is now in the collection of 
Salvin and Godman. 
9. Note on the Habits of Myrmecocichla formicivora, as 
observed near Windvogelberg, S. Africa. By G. E. 
Buterr, F.L.S., F.R.G.S., C.M.Z.S8., &e. 
The ‘ Mocking-bird,” so called (Myrmecocichla formicivora, 
Vieill.), is common about Windvogelberg*; but I do not remember 
having seen it elsewhere at the Cape. Its plumage is of a very 
unpretending description, being much the colour of dark smoke, 
excepting a white patch on the wings, which shows very distinctly 
when it flies. On the 31st August, 1863, I saw several of them 
hopping about and chirping amongst the grass. One, mounted 
on the summit of an ant-heap, delighted me with a very sweet, 
though rather feeble, song, which I then heard for the first time. 
He jerked his tail violently up and down during the performance. 
Subsequently, on the 6th September, I heard my friend the ‘‘ Mock- 
ing-bird” singing loudly a long continuous song, of which the 
principal part resembled the words “ Peter-wee-wee-Peter.”” I had 
had no idea that his lungs were so powerful, his usual note being 
rather weak and inandible, excepting at a short distance. I had been 
told by a brother officer that these birds formed their domiciles in 
holes in the large ant-heaps of the country ; and on the 5th Novem- 
ber a nest, containing the female and four young ones, was brought 
to me by one of the men of the detachment, who found it in a hole 
in the ground—a small hole, he said, into which he could scarcely 
get his hand, inside another larger one, one of the many kinds 
of burrow so common on the Cape flats. The nest was shallow, cup- 
shaped, and loosely made of grass. We put the whole concern into 
a large cage, and left it for a time—within sight, however, of where 
we were sitting. The old bird did not appear to be much frightened, 
though she sat perfectly still upon one of the perches of the cage, 
seemingly in great astonishment. Thinking that, perhaps, she might 
come back and feed her young, if I let her go, I opened the cage- 
door, and presently she hopped out on to the wall close by, and began 
to chirrup ; she then flew away, and we saw no more of her. We 
* See, for list of other birds observed here, P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 21. 
