8G BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



and Nubia, especially in the damper localities, or where the 

 vegetation grows to the height of several feet. Although it 

 frequents reedy marshes and mustard-fields, or wherever the 

 vegetation is luxuriant, it rarely alights upon the plants, but 

 almost invariably keeps to the ground, where it runs with tail 

 upraised, stopping every now and then to pick up an insect or 

 to watch the intruder from the edge of its retreat. Specimens 

 differ considerably in the colour of the spot on the throat, 

 which may be met with in all stages from pm'e white to 

 rufous. It is by no means a shy bird, and when distiu-bed 

 flies but a short distance. It may be easily recognized by the 

 rufous on the tail, which is very distinct. 

 ■j^. Male. — Entire upper plumage brown, with a darker centre 

 to some of the feathers on the head, the wing-feathers having 

 a pale edging ; tail, two centre feathers and the apical half 

 of the others dark brown, remainder bright rufous ; a buff 

 eyebrow extending forward to the nostrils ; a large spot vary- 

 ing from pure white to rufous on the throat, which is blue, 

 bordered by a black collar, sometimes slightly edged with 

 white, and followed by a broader rufous collar across the 

 chest ; remainder of the underparts dull white, shaded with 

 brown on the flanks ; legs, beak, and irides brown. 



Entire length 5'5 inches; culmen 0"45 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 2"8 ; tarsus 1. 



Female. — Throat buff, shaded slightly towards its base with 

 rufous, and bordered on the sides and crop with black mixed 

 with a few blue feathers. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Em-, pi. 97. 



