158 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



common. I see my first specimen is marked the 26th of 

 February ; I take it this is a resident species, but that its 

 numbers are increased in spring and autumn. 



63. Rock Thrush, Monticola saxatilis (Linn.) 



A spring and autumn visitor. I met with it on migration, 

 and shot two cocks as we were going down the Nile ; the 

 first in the Memnonium, the second at the village of Radam. 

 Is said to be partial to graveyards ; but though I went to 

 many, I never happened to meet with it there. In fact it is 

 much scarcer than the Blue Thrush, of which I have seen 

 as many as four in a day. We never met with an adult 

 male of either. 



64. Black-throated Chat, Saxkola melanoleuca (Giild.) 



The above seems to be the correct specific name, and 

 S. enrymekvna, H. and E. ; and 5. zanthomelcena, H. and E., 

 synonyms. The species is common in Upper Egypt. The 

 first I shot was on March 17th, a very bright clear bird with 

 black throat and wings. Then afterwards I shot four more 

 without black throats (that part being of the same colour 

 as the breast and belly,) which I set down as being the 

 same, but Messrs. Dresser and E. C. Taylor have examined 

 them, and decide that they are the young of the next 

 species, S. stapaziua (L.) ; but as I am not satisfied about it, 

 I shall keep them under the present heading. Probably 

 they were birds bred during the winter season further south. 



65. Eastern Black-eared Chat, Saxkola stapazina 

 (Linn.) ; 5. ampJiileiica, Ehr, 



First seen on the loth of April; not so common as the 

 Black-throated Chat. 



