Mashonaland Birds. 
229 
24. Saxicola pileata. (Capped Wheatear.) 
This Wheatear is plentiful as a migrant in our winter, 
arriving from the south in the end of May or begin¬ 
ning of June, nesting early in September, and departing 
southward about November. It frequents open country, 
sitting on termite-heaps or low bushes, but I have occa¬ 
sionally observed it on trees in the bush. The male is a 
delightful songster, usually singing as he hovers on quivering 
wings a few yards from the ground ; he is fond of displaying 
himself before the female, running round her, bowing and 
scraping, drooping his wings and spreading his tail so as to 
show his pure white rump. This species breeds in holes in 
termite-heaps, and the food consists principally of ants and 
small beetles. 
25. Pycnonotus layardi. (Layard’s Bulbul.) 
Everywhere abundant, feeding on fruits and berries of all 
kinds, and being especially fond of the wild fig. Besides 
mobbing Hawks, as noted by Mr. Ayres, these birds will 
also worry tree-snakes, gathering round them and making a 
great din, just as fowls will do. The eggs are three in 
number, of a pinkish-white colour, variegated with large 
blotches of rich purplish brown and iron-grey, which are 
denser at the thick end. The size is variable, as may be seen 
from the following selected measurements :— 21 x 17, 27 x 18, 
24 x 18, 25 X 17 mm. 
26. Cossypha heuglini. (Heuglin’s Chat-Thrush.) 
Obtained by the Jameson expedition on the Umfuli river. 
I have not infrequently caught glimpses of birds of this 
genus, and probably this species, -in the dense thickets along 
some small streams near Salisbury, but they are very wary, 
and I have so far failed to obtain one. 
27. Thamnol,ea cinnamomeiyentris. (White-shouldered 
Bush-Chat.) 
This is a somewhat scarce and very local species, being 
only found among the picturesque kopjes of granite boulders 
so characteristic of many parts of Rhodesia. It is a sprightly 
