Journey in Fars, S.W. Persia. 545 



covered with stones, uudcr any of which the nest might have 

 been, while the birds were very wild, and there was no cover 

 from which to watch them. 



74. Saxicola melanoleuca (Giild.) ; Blanf. t. c. p. 150 ; 

 Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, p. 483. 



158, 163, 167, 168, 177, 379. Ad. 



The colour of the mantle varies greatly in different 

 individuals. Dr. Blanford considered this a rare bird in 

 Persia, but I found it plentiful in a few localities. At Kalah 

 Mushir (6700 ft.) it was especially so at the beginning of 

 April, and the organs of some of the specimens shot there 

 were in a breeding-condition, while those of others were not. 

 In the oak-woods near Sisakht (6500 ft ) these birds were 

 evidently breeding at the end of May. Like all Wheatears, 

 they were shy and difficult to get near. They generally 

 perched in the bushes and trees, and every now and then 

 darted to the ground for food and returned to their perch in 

 a Shrike-like fashion. 



Near Tassi (6800 ft.), where this species was common 

 amongst the oak-trees on the rocky hill-sides, I saw fledged 



y 



oune ones on June 5th. 



'& 



75. Saxicola albicollis (Vieill.). 



Saxicola stapazina (L.) nee auct. ; Elauf. t. c. p. 150. 



151, 173. Ad. 



The Black-eared Wheatear had much the same distribu- 

 tion as S. melanoleuca, and was often to be found in company 

 with it. 



76. Saxicola morio Ilempr. & Ehr. ; Blauf. t. c. p. 152 ; 

 Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, pp. 483 & 496. 



6, 55, 99, 103, 152, 159, 227. Ad. 



All these specimens have white under tail-coverts, but some 

 of them have the inner margins of the primaries dis- 

 tinctly grey, not black, like typical S. morio, nor white, like 

 typical S. persica Seebohm. 



This Wheatear was fairly evenly distributed, being 

 observed from the coast up to altitudes of over 6000 feet. 



