60 Mr. E. C. Taylor — Egypt Revisited. 



56. Saxicola lugens, Lichtensteiu. Mourning Chat. 

 This is the most abundant of all the Chats near Cairo in the 



winter; I procured several there in January, quite close to the 

 city. It becomes less numerous south of Siout. This species 

 affects rocks and deserts, avoiding cultivation. There is no 

 difference in plumage between the sexes, and they are nearly 

 always seen in pairs. 



57. Saxicola isabellina, Riippell, Atl. t. 34. fig. h ; S. 

 saltator, Menetr. Menetries's Wheatear. 



This large, stout species is resident throughout the winter, and 

 abundant all the way from Cairo to near Assouan. It frequents 

 the patches of short burnt-up grass at the edge of the desert. 

 The sexes are alike in plumage. This species is figured by Dr. 

 Bree (Birds of Europe, ii. p. 136). 



58. Saxicola homochroa, Tristram, Ibis, 1859, p. 59. 



In the month of January I came upon a pair of these small 

 Chats in the desert near Cairo, and shot one of them. I never 

 saw the species on any other occasion ; so I suppose it is rare. 

 It is very like S. isabellina in miniature. 



59. Saxicola deserti, Riippell. Desert-Chat. 



Resident through the winter, frequenting the edge of the 

 desert, like S. isabellina. Less common near Cairo than further 

 south. The sexes are alike in plumage, which in distribution 

 of colour reminds one of S. stapazina. The black feathers of the 

 throat are tipped with grey in the beginning of February, but not 

 at the end of March. 



60. Saxicola, sp. indet. 



Among a small collection of bird-skins, on board a boat that 

 I visited on the Nile in March, I saw a Chat that at once struck 

 me as new. A few days afterwards I shot an immature example 

 of evidently the same species, which I am convinced is new to 

 science. As I have only an immature specimen I refrain from 

 attempting a diagnosis. The species very closely resembles S. 

 jMlothamna, Tristram (Ibis, 1859, pp. 58 and 299, pi. ix.), but 

 differs from it in having the tail-feathers v:hite, broadly tipped 



