SAXICOLIN.F-. 131 



489. Saxicola picata, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XVI., i;U— Blytii, Cat. 75— Hoksf., Cat. 439. 



The Pied Stone-chat. 



Dcscr. — AVhole head, neck, and upper breast, back, and winn-.s, 

 black ; the rump, upper tail-coverts, and all the lower parts from 

 the breast, white; tail white, except the terminal two- thirds of the 

 two central fe;ithers, and the tips of the others, which are black. 

 Length 6^ to 6i inches ; wing 3| ; tail 2| ; bill at front \ ; tarsus 

 1. Bill and legs black. 



This species has the black somewhat deeper, and the white purer 

 than in the last, of which it has much the size and proportion. 



The pied Stone-chat has only been found in the Upper Provinces 

 of India, and in Sindh; also in Afghanistan. Adams observed it in 

 Sindh, frequenting gardens, and also in the Punjab. It is probably 

 only a winter visitant. 



The next bird is very similar, but difters in having the head 

 white instead of black. 



490. Saxicola leucomela, Pallas. 



Motacilla, apud Pallas — Blyth, Cat 976 — IIorsf., Cat. 438. 

 The white-headed Stone-chat. 



Descr. — Crown of the head greyish white ; the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, and all the lower parts, fi'om the top of the breast* 

 white ; rest of the upper part, neck, and breast, black ; tail black, 

 Avith the base of the central feathers, and all the lateral ones, white ; 

 the outer-most tipped Avith black, and part of tlie outer-web also 

 black. Young birds have the white cap more or less tinged with 

 dingy greyish brown. 



Bill and legs black ; irldes dark brown. Length 6^ inches ; wing 

 3f ; tail 2| ; bill at front barely ^ ; tarsus 1^. 



This bird differs somewhat from Temminck's S. leucomela, (S. 

 lugeris of Lichtenstein), found in the South of Europe and North 

 Africa, which, is said to have the lower abdomen and under tail- 

 coverts rufous. Our bird has been found iu the Upper Provinces 



