282 BRITISH BIRDS. 
region. As his name implies, he is a bird of the rocky wilderness, and 
like the’Chats and the Redstarts, prefers such situations to more pastoral 
districts. His winter home in Africa is in the neighbourhood of the Arab 
burial-places, on the borders of the arid desert the vast and trackless 
Sahara, the gorges, embankments, rocky bluffs and ravines, and the oases 
of the desert. 
The Rock-Thrush begins to arrive at its breeding-grounds early in April, 
most of the birds probably pairing before they quit their winter quarters, 
as they are usually seen in pairs at the various places they touch at en 
route, and arrive in pairs at their breeding-stations. Upon one occasion 
Canon Tristram met with this species on migration during one of his 
wanderings in the Holy Land, and thus describes the strange and interest- 
ing sight :—‘ Of the Rock-Thrushes, Petrocincla saxatilis, whose red tail 
and Redstart-like habits link it most closely with the Ruticilline, is in 
most parts of Palestine merely a passing traveller, and tarries but a night. 
On the 8th of April the whole of Mount Gerizim was covered by a restless 
flock of these birds, which, at a distance, we took for the Black Redstart, 
so exactly did they resemble that bird in their actions. They hopped rest- 
lessly from rock to rock, never taking a flight of more than a few yards ; 
and in this fashion, in loose order, ranging for perhaps a mile in breadth, 
they appeared to be steadily proceeding northwards. When the foremost 
line had reached the valley they took a flight across to the foot of Mount 
Ebal, over the gardens, and then more leisurely mounted the lull.” In 
some instances the male birds are the first to arrive at their summer 
haunts, notably in the Alpine districts, sometimes preceding the females 
a week or more. After pairing they remain amongst the rocks of the 
lower hills, until the snow has left the mountains and made their nursery 
ready for them. Many of the habits of the Rock-Thrush closely resemble 
those of the well-known Wheatear. <A shy and wary bird, it flits before 
the observer, alighting on masses of rock, choosing those situations that 
afford it a good look-out, and from which danger can be most readily 
detected. Usually seen in pairs, they continue to flit before the observer ;. 
and if he pursues them too closely they retire to some secluded place 
amongst the rocks, or, by making a long detour, return to the place from 
which he disturbed them. Now they may be seen on the ground, or 
perched Chat-like on old walls and ruins, sitting motionless, and 
starting rapidly off the imstant they are alarmed, the rich and beautifully 
blended plumage of the male contrasting strongly with his mate’s more 
sober dress. 
Like the Song-Thrush and the Redwing, the Rock-Thrush is essentially 
an insectivorous bird, and what few berries it does eat are taken as fruit, 
just as the Blackeap or the Whitethroat will eat currants or raspberries. 
The Rock-Thrush is often seen upon the ground in search of insects, or 
