SAXICOLA (ENANTHE 21 



Adult female, spring. Above dull grey-brown ; wings and tail browner 

 tban in raale ; rump white ; lores and ear-coverts brownish ; underparts buff. 

 Soft parts as in male, measurements rather less. 



Observations. — I have no specimens in full breeding plumage in my 

 collection from Tunis. The adult male in this stage has the crown, nape 

 and back of a clear blue-grey colour, and the wings and tail quite black, 

 while the underparts are quite white. 



The autumn plumage of this species is very different to the spring one, 

 that of the male becoming more like that of the female. 



The common Wheatear is abundant in some parts of the Eegency 

 during the periods of migration, arriving as a rule after the beginning 

 of March, and repassing, on its return from the north, in September. 

 I know of no instance of the species wintering in the Eegency, 

 although Canon Tristram (The Great Sahara, p. 395) mentions it 

 as occurring in Algeria in winter. With regard to the common 

 Wheatear breeding in Tunisia, or, indeed, anywhere in North Africa, 

 I have no positive information, but having obtained specimens of it 

 as late as the month of May in the neighbourhood of Tozer and 

 Metlaoui, in South Tunisia, I am inclined to believe that individuals 

 of the species do remain and breed in the Eegency, although perhaps 

 they may not be many. Loche, indeed, states that it is resident in 

 Algeria, and Mr. Salvin shot a bird of this species in the month of 

 June, near Zana in the Eastern Atlas {Ibis, 1859, p. 306). 



After the middle of March, and throughout the month of April, 

 I have found S- oenanthe more or less abundant on most of the 

 Tunisian plains and mountain-sides. In the Atlas district I have met 

 with the species in considerable numbers about the end of March on 

 some of the higher plateaux, where tracts of bleak, inhospitable 

 uplands extend for many miles, bare or almost so of vegetation, but 

 rich in Eoman ruins. On the lower plateaux further south I have 

 also found the common Wheatear plentiful at times, as also in the 

 Chott country of South Tunisia. 



In September, on their return southwards, these Chats are fairly 

 numerous in the Eegency, but the autumnal migration seems to be 

 less noticeable or conspicuous in Tunisia than it is in some other 

 Mediterranean countries, as in Sicily for instance, where the "codi- 

 bianchi" at times form quite an important item in the " bag " of the 

 local " cacciatore." 



The flesh of the Wheatear is considered by epicures to be a dainty 



