256



On the Mountain Chat.



edge of the nest 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 where it

forms a conspicuous confluent cap. The eggs measure

•90 x '65.”


According to Messrs. Alwin Haagner and Robert H. Ivy,

the eggs are pale blue-green, sometimes plain and sometimes

-speckled with reddish purple (cf. Sketches of South African

Bird Rife, p. 19).


Mr. G. C. Shortridge (Jour. S. Afr. Oru. U11. vol. I, page

.24) says :—“ Frequents kopjes : very plentiful; rather wild, going

about in pairs. I did not stay long enough at Hanover to

determine accurately the plumage-changes of the males. I found,

however, all the forms pairing with females. They undoubtedly

change from black to grey, but I believe that the white shoulders

and underparts are peculiar to individual birds which develop

during the black stage ; others never obtain this coloration,

although intermediate forms with more or less white shoulders

are common. The females also vary as to the amount of white

on the tail-feathers.”


It would seem that the last word has not yet been said

respecting the changes of plumage in this Wheatear, and therefore

I regret the more that the male should have died so soon after

I received it. Apparently it has not been successfully imported

previously.


I feed the hen upon Trowel’s Improved Cecto with a few

.breadcrumbs and a little yolk of egg, well mixed together and

slightly damped ; also mealworms or other insects, spiders, and,

when obtainable, grapes: later I hope to try the hen with

ripe red currants : but I find insectivorous birds such a tie, that

I expect I shall ere long have to give them up ; they have kept

me at home without a day’s holiday for about twenty-three

years, and therefore I think I have done my duty by them.



