88 Mr. B. Alexander —-An Ornithological 
tliis uncommon little Chat-Thrush, the white patches on their 
shoulders at once riveting the eye, as they journeyed in 
perfect silence from one tree to another. This bird has 
an airy flight and resembles the Tree-Creeper in the way in 
which it flies on to a branch, the tail being pressed tightly 
against the bark, and from continual contact the tail-feathers 
after a time become worn very short. 
Unfortunately, we never met with this interesting bird 
again. Out of this little party we procured an adult female 
which has the feathers of the throat, cheeks, and fore-neck 
wdiite, mottled with black tips. These tips are, however, 
disappearing, and the parts then become entirely white in fully 
adult females. 
Several of the feathers of the fore-neck are entirely white 
on one side of the shaft only, w 7 hile in others the white is in 
the process of gradually extending from the shaft over the 
whole of the remaining brown portion of the feather. A 
single feather on the crown also shows this change. 
This condition of plumage clearly demonstrates that, in 
very old females, not only the above-mentioned parts become 
entirely white, hut also the crown of the head. 
112. Muscicapa grisola (Linn.). 
Frequently observed from November onward. 
113. Muscicapa c^erulescens (Harth). 
Not a common bird, and of a retiring nature, keeping much 
to the monotonous woods of Copaifera mopane. 
The breeding-season is towards the end of November, 
when the feathers become much w r orn, the grey edgings to 
the primaries, secondaries, and tail-feathers, very distinct in 
specimens obtained in August, having disappeared through 
abrasion. 
Adult <$. Total length (measured in flesh) 5’6 inches, 
wing 3T, culmen 0*5. Iris hazel; upper mandible black, base 
of lower light horn-colour • legs and feet dark slate-colour. 
Adult ?. Total length (measured in flesh) 5*4 inches, 
wing 2*9, culmen 0 4. Bill black, soft parts as in male. 
In several of our specimens the low r er mandible is a light 
