60 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



Pied varieties of this bird are not uncommon, and are occasionally 

 to be met with in Tunisia. 



Baron v. Erlanger {J. f. 0. 1900, p. 101) separates the Tunisian 

 Whin-Chat from typical P. rubetra on the ground of its being of a 

 constantly lighter colour, but I cannot find sufficient reason for this 

 differentiation. 



PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA (Linnseus). 

 STONE-CHAT. 



Motacilla rubicola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 332 (1766). 



Pratincola rubicola, Sliarpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. iv, p. 135 ; Lochc, 



Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 213 (1867); Koenitj, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 206; 



id. J. f. 0. 1892, p. 413 ; Wldtakcr, Ibis, 1895, p. 94 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 



1899, p. 219. 

 Saxicola rubicola, Malherbe, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Ahj. p. 11 (184.6). 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Hamman-Lif, North Tunisia. 



Entire head, above and below, as well as the nape, back and scapulars, 

 black, the feathers of the nape and back slightly fringed with buff; wings 

 blackish-brown, with a conspicuous white alar patch on the inner coverts; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts while, striated with brown ; tail blackish- 

 brown, the two exterior feathers with a fringe of buff on outer webs ; sides 

 of the neck pure white; breast rich rufous-bufi', becoming paler on the 

 abdomen. 



Iris dark brown ; bill and feet black. 



Total length 5 inches, wing 2-65, culmen -40, tarsus -95. 



Adult female, spring, from Hamman-Lif, North Tunisia. 



Plumage generally much browner and duller than in the male, with a 

 total absence of white on the rump, and only a slight indication of it on the 

 sides of the neck, although the white alar patch is fairly conspicuous. Soft 

 parts and measurements as in the male. 



The Stone-Chat is a common and resident species throughout a 

 considerable portion of Tunisia, being found chiefly on the " maquis "- 

 covered hill-slopes and bushy plains of the northern and central 

 districts of the Regency. In some parts of South Tunisia the species 

 also appears to be abundant during the winter months. In Algeria 

 and Marocco, as in Tunisia, the Stone-Chat is a common and resident 

 species. Adult male specimens from Marocco, in full spring attire. 



