| OCR Text |
Show 1869.] O N T H E H A B I T S O F M Y R M E C O C I C H L A F O R M I C I V O R A . 637 has large and strong tarsi and a rather elongated bill, and appears to belong to a group which embraces S. anthoides, S. humicola, S. orbignii, and their allies. These birds have also twelve rectrices in their tail. For the former group the name Leptasthenura (proposed by Reichenbach for S. cegithaloides) may be used; the latter section does not seem to have yet had any generic name applied to it, unless it be possible to employ for it Asthenes of Reichenbach. Besides the skin in m y collection, I have only seen one other example of this species, which was received by Mr. Gould from Loxa in Ecuador along with other birds, and is now in the collection of Salvin and Godman. 9. Note on the Habits of Myrmecocichla formicivora, as observed near Windvogelberg, S. Africa. By Gr. E. B U L G E R , F.L.S., F.R.G.S., C.M.Z.S., &c. The " Mocking-bird," so called (Myrmecocichla formicivora, Vieill.), is common about Windvogelberg*; but I do not remember having seen it elsewhere at the Cape. Its plumage is of a very unpretending description, being much the colour of dark smoke, excepting a white patch on the wings, which shows very distinctly when it flies. O n the 31st August, 1863, I saw several of them hopping about and chirping amongst the grass. One, mounted on the summit of an ant-heap, delighted m e with a very sweet, though rather feeble, song, which I then heard for the first time. He jerked his tail violently up and down during the performance. Subsequently, on the 6th September, I heard m y friend the " Mocking- bird" singing loudly a long continuous song, of which the principal part resembled the words " Peter-wee-wee-Peter." I had had no idea that his lungs were so powerful, his usual note being rather weak and inaudible, excepting at a short distance. I had been told by a brother officer that these birds formed their domiciles in holes in the large ant-heaps of the country; and on the 5th November a nest, containing the female and four young ones, was brought to m e by one of the men of the detachment, who found it in a hole in the ground-a small hole, he said, into which he could scarcely get his hand, inside another larger one, one of the many kinds of burrow so common on the Cape flats. The nest was shallow, cup-shaped, and loosely made of grass. W e put the whole concern into a large cage, and left it for a time-within sight, however, of where we were sitting. The old bird did not appear to be much frightened, though she sat perfectly still upon one of the perches of the cage, seemingly in great astonishment. Thinking that, perhaps, she might come back and feed her young, if I let her go, I opened the cage-door, and presently she hopped out on to the wall close by, and began to chirrup; she then flew away, and we saw no more of her. We * See, for list of other birds observed here, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 21. |
