134 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Length G inclies ; wing 3^; tail 2|; tarsus |. Bill blackish ; 

 legs black. 



Among the drawings of Sir A. Burnes is one of a Saxicoline bird, 

 procured, in Sindh, which Mr. Blyth identifies with liiippell's bird, 

 which is a native of N. E. Africa and Arabia. 



494. Cercomela fusca, Blyth. 



Saxicola, apud Blyth, J. A. S. XX., 523, and XXIV., 188 — 

 Blyth, Cat. 1907. 



The Brown Eock-chat. 



JDescr. — Above light fuscous brown or rufous olive, tinged 

 with fawn color on the back ; tail dark sepia brown, obsoleteiy 

 banded, as seen in a strong light ; beneath rufescent fawn or dull 

 ferruginous. 



Bill and legs black, irides deep brown. Length 6^ inches ; 

 wing 3y^^ ; tail S^^^y ; tarsus ly'^y ; bill at front nearly ^ inch. 



This plain-colored Stone-chat, colored somewhat similarly to 

 Mirafra phanicura, is found at Saugor, Bhopal, and Bundlecund, 

 extending towards Gwalior and the N. W. Provinces. It is 

 a permanent resident at Saugor, and I have always found it on the 

 sandstone hills there, among the rocks, cliffs, and loose stones, never 

 coming to the cultivated ground below, and rarely found on the 

 trap-hills that occur in close proximity to the others. It feeds 

 on the ground, on various coleopterous insects, ants, &c. Mr, Blyth 

 remarks that it approaches in color Saxicola infuscata of S. Africa. 

 It forms an easy transition to the Redstarts, the next group. 



Pr. Bonaparte gives two other species of this nenus from 

 Palestine and Arabia, S. bjpura, Ehr., and S. asthenia, Bonap. S. 

 erythrcBa, Ehr., from Palestine, should also, perhaps, be classed here. 

 S. infuscata and S. baroica, Smith, from S. Africa, appear allied, 

 though the Prince makes of tliem a separate division, Agricola. 

 If Bradornis of A. Smith belongs to the ^'axicolince, it probably 

 should be placed not far from these last birds. 



Two other African genera of Saxicoline birds are recorded by 

 Bonaparte, viz. Campicola, and Pugonociclda. Sialia, containing 

 the Blue liobins of America, and the Australian genera, Fetrolca 

 and Enjtluvdrijas, appear to appertain to this sub-family, or at 



