86 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : I am unable to give any 

 character by which the eggs of the Desert Wheatear 

 may be distinguished from those of the Black-throated 

 Wheatear (possibly they are a trifle paler and the spots 

 larger) and other allied species. 



Famil)' TURDID^. Genus Monticola. 



Sub-family TURDINAt. 



ROCK THRUSH. 



Monticola saxatilis {^Linnceus). 



(British : Very rare abnormal spring migrant.) 



Said to be Double Brooded. Laying season, April to June. 



Breeding area : Southern Palaearctic region. The 

 Rock Thrush breeds in Eastern France, Southern 

 Germany, the Spanish Peninsula, Switzerl md, Austria, 

 Turkey, Greece, Southern Russia, Asia Minor, Persia, 

 Turkestan, and Southern Siberia as far as the Baikal 

 area, South-east Mongolia, and Northern China. South 

 of the Mediterranean it breeds somewhat sparingly in 

 the mountain ranges of the Atlas. 



Breeding habits : The Rock Thrush is a somewhat 

 early migrant, reaching many of its more northerly 

 breeding places during the first half of April. The 

 favourite haunts of this bird are mountain slopes covered 

 with boulders and loose stones, and studded with stunted 

 trees ; ruins, vineyards, and wild ravines up to a consider- 

 able elevation, quite up to the region of pines. Like its 

 near allies the Redstarts, the Rock Thrush probably 

 pairs for life ; it is known to migrate in pairs, and to 

 arrive at its old breeding places in pairs. This species 

 is not gregarious during the breeding season, although 



