BIEDS OF EGYPT. 73 



arrives in March, and soon becomes abundant, usually fre- 

 quenting the more cultivated portions of the country, where 

 it may often be seen in the neighbourhood of villages, perched 

 upon some low^ bush or reed fence. 



Breeding-plumage . — Forehead, lores, cheeks and ear-coverts 

 black ; wings black, secondaries occasionally slightly edged 

 with very pale buff; tail white, except the greater part of 

 the two centre feathers and a broad end to the remainder, 

 which are black ; the rest of the jilumage glossy white, 

 tinted with pale dusky on the back of the head, and with 

 buff on the upper parts of the back and chest ; beak and legs 

 black; irides brown. In winter the wings and tail are 

 brown and the back is darker. 



The sexes are similar in plumage. 



Entire length 6 '8 inches; culmen 0*5; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 3" 5; tarsus 0"9. 



14. Saxicola eurymel^na, Hempr. & Ehr. 



This is the common Egyptian form of the Black-throated 

 Wheatear. It does not winter in Egypt and Nubia, but is 

 most abundant in those countries in the spring and autumn, 

 liike the last species, it prefers the more cultivated parts, 

 especially the neighbourhood of cotton-plantations, which 

 offer it a favourable retreat when piu-sued. 



Male. Only differs from S. ampliileuca in having the entire 

 throat black. 



Female. Top of the head, ear-coverts, back and scapulars 

 brown ; eyebrow not very distinct, and of a sandy colour ; 

 throat pale dusky brown ; remainder of the plumage similar 



