18 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



both this and the following species are far more exclusively insec- 

 tivorous than the true Thrusbes. 



M. saxcUilis is considered to be a good songster, with sweet, flute- 

 like notes, resembling those of M. ci/anus, and like that species, is 

 said to be much prized as a cage-bird. 



MONTICOLA CYANUS (Linuajus). 

 BLUE EOCK-THRUSH. 



Turdus cyanus, Linn. Stjst. Nat. i, p. 296 (1766). 



Monticola cyana, Boic, Isis, 1822, p. 5-52 ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 211. 

 Turdus cyaneus, Malhcrhc, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 11 (1846). 

 Petrocossyphus cyaneus, LocJie, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 194 (1867). 

 Monticola cyanus, Secholtm, Cat. Birds Brit. Miis. v, p. 316 ; Whitakcr, 

 Ibis, 1895, p. 92 ; Erlangcr, J. f. 0. 1899, p. 244. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Ghardimaou, North Tunisia. 



Nearly the whole of the plumage, both above and below, of a dark 

 slate-blue colour, the wings and tail being of a brownish-black. 



Iris brown ; b U and feet black. 



Total length 9 inches, wing 5, cubnen 1, tarsus l-lo. 



Adult female, spring, from Doux, South Tunisia. 



Above uniform umber-brown, below mottled brown and buff. Soft 

 parts and measurements as in male. 



The Blue Eock-Thrusli is a commoner bird in Tunisia than the 

 preceding species, and is to be met with, as a resident, in most of 

 the mountainous parts of the Regency. 



On the Djebel Kessas, near the town of Tunis, as also in the 

 neighbourhood of Kasrin and Tebessa. 1 have found this Eock- 

 Thrush by no means uncounnon, and Mr. Aplin met with it in the 

 far south of the Regency at Tatabouine, Guermessa, and Tamerzed. 

 At the last-named place be found the species frequenting the old 

 troglodytic cave dwellings existing in that neighbourhood, and in some 

 of the caves he noticed several old nests, which, from his description 

 of their shape and structui-e, I have little doubt were built by the 

 present species. 



Like its congener, M. saxaiilis, the Blue Rock-Thrush is a true 

 mountain bird, frequenting rocky valleys and hill-sides clothed with 



