132 BIUDS OF INDIA. 



of Hindostan, during the cold weather only, and is common 

 in Afghanistan. S. au/ila, Temm., is another European species. 



The next group is that of the Wheat-ears, by some separated 

 as (Enanthe. 



491. Saxicola cenanthe, Linn. 



Motacilla, apud LiNNiEUS — Blyth, Cat. 980 — Gould, Birds 

 of Europe, pi. 90. 



The Wheat-ear. 



Descr. — Male, above asliy, with a brown tinge ; the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts white, and a white supercilium ; lores and eye 

 streak black ; wings dusky, edged with brown ; tail with the two 

 central feathers black for the terminal two thirds, the rest white; 

 the outer feathers black tipped ; under surface pale rusty brown, 

 albescent on the belly and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts 

 blackish with white edgings. 



Tlie female is ashy -brown above, wings dusky brown, tail black 

 tipped. In winter the feathers are broadly edged with rufous, 

 most conspicuous on the wing-coverts and tertiaries. 



Length nearly 7 inches, extent 1 1 ; wing 4 ; tail 2| ; bill at 

 front not quite half; tarsus more than 1. 



The Wheat-ear is found, according to the season, over Europe, 

 Korthern Africa, and part of Asia. I got a specimen near Mhow, 

 in the cold whether, and it is known to be found, though rarely, 

 in the Upper Provinces. It is a larger bird than the black-throated 

 Wheat-ear, which it otherwise somewhat resembles, and has a 

 much stronger bill and legs.* 



492. Saxicola deserti, Ruppell. 



Temminck, pi. Col. 359— S. atrogularis, Blyth, J. A. S. XVI., 

 130— Blyth, Cat. 977— Horsf., Cat. 440. 



The Black-throated Wheat-ear. 



Bescr. — Above pale isabelline, greyish on the crown and nape, 

 and a whitish eyebrbw ; rump and upper tail-coverts buffy white ; 



* The name of Wheat-ear is supposed to be an imitation of its call wlieet-jur ,• 

 -but Mr. Blyih considers that the P:nglis]i names of Stout-cliat and Wheat-ear iiave 

 been transposed. 



