4 11 
by Mr. Claude Grant in South Africa. 
307. Saxicola monticola. 
CC. Klipfontein, Apl., May, June (7) ; Tv. Wakker- 
stroom, Apl. (I). 
There are seven males and one female of this remarkable 
Chat in the collection. Of the seven males, two dated 
May 8 and June 18 are in what I have termed stage 3 
in the f Birds of South Africa/ i. e ., black with white 
shoulders and abdomen ; another pair of males, dated 
April 5 and 29, are in stage 5, in which the crown is grey 
and the white of the abdomen is not nearly so conspicuous— 
in fact, it appears to be gradually wearing off ; finally, three 
males, dated Klipfontein, April 17 and 24, and Wakker- 
stroom, April 11, are in stage 6—grey with white shoulders, 
—and in one of these there are a few black feathers on the 
breast, which seem to be disappearing. I fear that these 
examples do not throw much more light on the plumage- 
changes of this interesting species. 
[This Chat was common in Namaqualand, but wild, 
and it was not seen again till Wakkerstroom was reached, 
when a single pair was met with, the male being secured. 
It was usually observed in pairs, and frequented the rocky 
sides of the hills and mountains. The call is a clear whistle 
and the flight is swift. It is somewhat wary and difficult of 
approach. 
The soft parts are:—Irides dark brown ; bill, legs and 
toes black,] 
308. Saxicola pileata. 
CC. Klipfontein, Apl., May, June, July (13) ; Durban 
Ed., Mch. (1) ; Tv. Woodbush, June (6). 
The examples from the North-Eastern Transvaal are inter¬ 
mediate between this, the typical form, and S. p. livingstonii. 
The white on the forehead is more restricted, but the black 
band is of much the same breadth as in specimens from 
Namaqualand. It seems to me best to refer these birds to 
S. pileata. 
[This Wheatear was very common in Namaqualand ; but 
only an occasional individual was seen in the Cape Penin¬ 
sula, and it was not observed elsewhere, except at Woodbush. 
