412 
Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
It is essentially a ground-bird, and has many actions like a 
Wheatear and others similar to a Robin, while I have only 
occasionally seen it perch on bushes or sticks. It is very 
active, chasing insects like a Wheatear, and often, when only 
wounded, will run down holes. I did not observe it breeding. 
The soft parts are:—Irides deep brown; bill, legs and 
toes black.] 
313. Saxicola familiaris. 
CC. Plettenberg Bay, Mch. (1) ; Jususie Valley, Dec. 
(2); Sibudeni, Nov. (2) ; Tv. Klein Letaba, Aug. (2) ; 
Turfloop, Mch. (2). 
The examples from the Transvaal have the black band 
on the tail-feathers a good deal narrower than those from 
Cape Colony. In this respect they approach S. falkensteini, 
which ranges from the Zambesi Valley northwards. They 
have been distinguished by Reichenow as S. familiaris 
hellmayri; but, as they are obviously only intermediate 
between what can hardly be regarded as more than sub¬ 
species, it does not seem worth while to recognize this 
additional name. 
[This little Chat was noted in Namaqualand, the Knysna, 
Zululand, and the Eastern and North-Eastern Transvaal, 
but, except in Namaqualand, was not common anywhere. 
It is a tame and confiding bird, and can often be seen 
sitting about on heaps of stone, old iron, or wood around 
habitations, whence it makes short flights and runs to 
catch some insect ; where the country is wilder, it frequents 
the rocky sides of the hills. It is an active species, and in 
many ways reminded me of the European Redstart ( Ruticilla 
phcenicurus ). 
The soft parts are :—Irides hazel; bill, legs and toes 
dark brown. 
313 a. Saxicola familiaris galtoni. 
CC. Klipfontein, Apl. (1). 
A single skin of the Familiar Chat from Little Namaqua¬ 
land seems closer to the Great Namaqualand form than to 
that from the Cape. 
