— 6 — 



tail coverts rich tawny. Wings blackish brown, tail blackish 

 brown with the basal half white, sides of face, throat and under 

 wing coverts black, rest of under parts cream colour, vent and 

 under tail coverts rich tawny like the rump. (Shelley fartim). 



25. Black-tailed Chat, ^axico/a mcesto Lichtenstein. Plate 11. 



Saxicola mcesta. Shelley, p. 76. 



Apparently confined to the north-western desert (Whymper's 

 picture represents the Mourning Chat and not this species. Cf. 

 " Egyptian Birds," C. Whymper). 



Length about 6 inches. Back and throat black ; crown 

 brownish white ; tail black with a narrow red base, wings grey 

 black with a whitish patch. Female browner, without any 

 black except in tail. 



26. Grey Rock Chat. Myrmecocichla melanura suhsp. ? Tem- 



minck. 

 Not mentioned by Shelley. 

 Has only been recorded once from Egypt, i.e. one seen at 

 Giza by writer on October 9, 1907. 



Length about 6 inches. Entire plumage, with exception of 

 wings, tail and underparts, grey ; tail and wings black, under- 

 parts dull whitish grey. 



27. Whinchat. Pratincola ruhetra ruhetra (Linnaeus). 



Pratincola ruhetra. Shelley, p. 81. 



Numerous during both migrations. 



Total length about 5j inches. A white streak through the 

 eye ; ear coverts blackish bro'UTi ; upper parts mottled with 

 buff and dull broAATi ; base of tail white ; a white bar on the 

 shoulder. Underparts bright huffish brown. 



28. Eastern Whinchat. Pratincola ruhetra spatzi Erlanger. 



A rare visitor on migration. 



Greyer and less rufous on the back than the preceding. 



29. Stone Chat. Pratincola torquata rubicola (Linnaeus). 



Pratincola rubicola. Shelley, p. 81. 



Common from autumn to spring. 



Length 5 inches. Male : head and throat bro\vnish black 

 with a patch of white on sides of neck. Upper parts dull broAvn 

 streaked mth black. Rump mottled with white. Under parts 

 dull brick red. The female has a browTi head and throat. 



