Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 291 
[The difference in size between the sexes in this species 
appears to be more marked than in some of its congeners.— 
J. H. G.] 
CisTicoLA cuRsiTANS (Frankl.). European Fantail. 
Shot near Potchefstroom, 14th July. 
At this season these birds are to be found frequenting 
swampy ground—in factj among the Snipes; probably insects 
are now scarce in their usual dry haunts in the higher open 
country. 
Aedon P(ENA (Smith). Smithes Chat-Warbler. 
Male, shot 19th February, on the rocky ranges near Pot- 
chefstroom.. 
[This specimen is not fully adult, and is interesting as 
exhibiting some remains of immature plumage about the back 
of the head and neck, the lesser and median wing-coverts, and 
the lower part of the back. On all these parts the feathers 
belonging to the immature plumage are of a very pale fulvous 
tint, edged (and on the wing-coverts also centred) with 
blackish brown.—J. H. G.] 
292. Saxicola pileata (Gmel.). Imitative Wheatear. 
Male,,shot 7th June, in open country near Potchefstroom. 
Stomach contained beetles and other insects. 
Some of these birds are much bothered with ticks, that 
fasten themselves in numbers about the head and ears of the 
bird, which seems quite unable to get rid of them. How the 
bird can live with sometimes as many as twenty good-sized 
ticks sucking blood from its head and ears is a wonder. 
293. Saxicola leucomel^na, Burch. BurchelPs Wheat- 
ear. 
Male and female. Female with a black head, its mate with 
a grey head j sexes ascertained by my brother, by whom the 
pair were shot, near Potchefstroom, in the month of August. 
[So much uncertainty attaches to the variations of plumage 
in this Wheatear that it may be desirable to add a description 
of these specimens, and of two others that were sent with 
them:— 
Male. Wing 4-6 inches, tail 2*5, culmen *6, tarsus 1*2. 
x 2 
