SAXICOLA LEUCURA 57 



although more abundantly perhaps south of the Atlas Mountains than 

 north of that range. In the central districts the species is very 

 plentiful, every mountain gorge or rocky ravine harbouring at least a 

 pair of these birds, but I have also met with it on the arid mountains 

 of the south near Gafsa, and have either specimens, or notes of its 

 occurrence, from various locahties south of tlie Chott Djerid, so that it 

 is evident the species has a wide range in the Eegency. 



In Algeria the Black Chat is common on the southern slopes of 

 the Atlas, and from Marocco I have numerous examples of the 

 species, obtained principally in the Atlas districts, some at the 

 considerable altitude of five or six thousand feet above sea-level. 



The Black Chat occui's in Tripoli, and in some districts is not 

 uncommon, but I have no note of its occurrence in Cyrenaica. In 

 Egypt the species does not seem to occur. 



North of the Mediterranean S. leucura occurs in' South-western 

 Europe, where it is not uncommon in South Spain, chiefly as a 

 migrant. In the South of France, and in Italy, the species, although 

 rarer, also occurs, principally, if not entirely, as a migrant. S. leucura 

 is eminently a mountain or rock-loving bird, and is not to be met 

 with in open country or at any distance from rocky ground ; the more 

 barren and forbidding this may be in appearance, the more suited 

 does it seem to be to the tastes of this species. Here in the darker 

 and more solitary mountain recesses one may be almost certain of 

 meeting with the Black Chat, and as the bird is fond of perching 

 conspicuously on the top of a rock or boulder, one cannot fail to 

 notice it, particularly as it is of a restless nature, and dips and bows 

 incessantly, as if courting attention. It is a shy and wary bird, 

 however, and not easy to approach; although, as a rule, during the 

 nesting season it appears to become less suspicious and may then be 

 approached and observed at close quarters. The male bird, during 

 that season, is most assiduous in his courtship, and it is a pretty sight 

 to see a pair of these birds chasing each other from rock to rock, and 

 darting in and out among the clefts and caverns of the mountain-side, 

 their outspread black and white tails forming a conspicuous feature in 

 the picture. The song of the Black Chat is short, but rich and 

 pleasing, and in the stillness of the mountain ravines may be heard 

 at a considerable distance. The bird sometimes sings on the wing. 

 The flight of this species is short, as a rule, and apparently not 

 powerful. Its food is chiefly of an insect nature. 



