BIEDS OP EGYPT. 81 



24. Pratincola rubetba (Linn.). IFIdti-Chat. 



This species is not so abundant as the Stone-Chat, but is 

 more evenly distributed throughout the country. According 

 to Von Heughn (Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 338) it comes to Egypt in 

 August, and is certainly found in the late spring, for I have 

 shot it in Nubia on the 11th of April. 



Male in hreeding-plumage. — Upper part of the head and 

 neck, back, scapulars, and tail-coverts dark brovra, with broad 

 sandy-coloured edgings to the feathers ; wing dark brown, with 

 pale narrow edgings ; inner wing-coverts white, and a small 

 patch of white on the primary coverts ; basal half of all hut the 

 two central tail-feathers white, remainder of the tail dark 

 brown ; a white eyebrow extending from the beak to the nape, 

 and a band of the same colour from the chin under the ear- 

 coverts to the sides of the neck ; lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts 

 dark brown ; throat, crop, and sides of the chest ferruginous 

 buflf, shading into cream-colour on the abdomen and imder 

 tail-coverts ; back and legs brownish black ; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 5'2 inches; culmen 0"4; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 3 ; tarsus 0'9. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 93. 



25. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). Stone-Chat. 



This bird is very plentiful in Lower Egypt, though com- 

 paratively scarce in other parts of the country. According to 

 Von Heuglin (Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 339) it arrives in August and 

 leaves again in April. 



3Iale in breeding-plumage. — Upper part of the head and 

 neck, back, scapulars, and tail black, with brown edgings to 



G 



