THE BLACK WHEATEAR. 447 



Adult female. Winter. — As male but upper-parts browner 

 and duller not so glossy, more sooty brown- black, feathers of 

 imder -parts, ear-coverts and sides of neck broadly margined rich 

 (somewhat rufous) brown ; black tips of tail-feathers measured 

 as in male are : central 32-37 mm. fourth from outer 10-15, some- 

 times divided with white. Summer. — Abrasion makes brown of 

 under-parts paler. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. Male. — As adult male but duller and more sooty- 

 black, feathers with very narrow faint greyish tips. Female. — Still 

 browner black than juvenile male, feathers of under-parts more 

 uniform than adult female and with brown tips very small and 

 scarcely noticeable except on belly where they are more distinct. 



First winter. Male and female. — Like the adults but wing- 

 feathers and primary-coverts and unmoulted outer greater wing- 

 coverts browner. In male body -feathers are also more tinged with 

 brown than in adult. The juvenile body -feathers, lesser and median 

 "ndng-coveits and a varying number of greater coverts are moulted 

 June-Oct., but not primary-coverts, wing- or tail-feathers. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ wing 96-100 mm., tail 64-71, 

 tarsus 27-28.5, bill from skull 20-22 (12 measured). ? \v\ng 91-96. 

 Primaries : 1st 6-11 mm. longer than primary -co verts, 3rd to 5th 

 longest, 2nd 6-9 mm. shorter, 6th 2-5 shorter ; 3rd to 6th emarginated 

 outer webs. 



Soft parts. — Bill, legs and feet black ; iris dark brown. 



Characters and aulied forms. — For differences oi (E.l. syenitica 

 see under that form ; (E. I. riggenbachi (Rio de Oro) is stated to 

 have still more black on tail than (E. I. syenitica. Uniform black 

 or dark brown of body -plumage distinguishes it from other British 

 Wheatears. 



Field -CHARACTERS. — Large size, looking as big as a Blackbird, 

 generally black or blackish -brown, excej)t for white rump and white 

 on tail, form characters which readily distinguish both sexes and 

 juveniles from any other bird. Haunts rocky gorges, cliffs, etc., 

 and has habits of other Wheatears, frequently spreading tail and 

 singing during short flights, and is as a rule a bold and lively bird, 

 challenging attention. (F .C.R.J.) 



Breedeng-habits.^ — -Nests in crevices and holes in rocks, walls 

 and caves, generally placing a wall or breastwork of loose stones 

 in front of nest, sometimes in considerable quantities. Nest. — 

 Built of grasses and dead plants, lined with feathers, wool, hair, etc. 

 Eggs.- — 4 to 6, bluish-white with rusty-red sj^ots, generally forming 

 a zone at big end. Average of 62 eggs, 24.5 X 17.8 mm. Breeding- 

 seascni. — April and May. Incubation. — Chiefly at any rate by hen. 



Food. — Insects, but no detailed information available. 



