. 1922.] the Near East and Tropical East Africa. 25 



base of the tail almost entirely black. Differs from sibilla 

 and axillaris in havino; broader brown edgings to the 

 feathers of the upper parts. Upper tail-coverts })urc white. 

 Axillaries black with narrow white edgings. The chestnut 

 of the under ]>arts is of a darker tint than that of any 

 Palsearctic form, and is confined to the breast and flanks. 

 Centre of lower l)reast and abdomen white. 



Female. Under parts very similar to maura and sibilla, 

 but generally jialer than rubicola. 



Wing of males 70-71, culmen 14 mm. 



So far only known from the Darfur Hills in the western 

 Sudan. 



Saxicola torquata sibilla. 



Motacilla sibilla Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. 1766, p. 337 : 

 Madagascar. 



Male. Very near axillaris, but smaller and with almost 

 pure white axillaries. There is also much less white on the 

 upper tail-coverts than in axillaris, the black of the lower 

 back extending on to the rump. Under parts with much 

 more chestnut than in axillaris and much less than in salax. 



Female. Very uqhv jebelmarrce. 



Wing of males 63-66, culmen 14-15 mm. 



Madagascar and (.omoro Islands. 



On the neighbouring island o£ Reunion occurs Saxicola 

 horbonica (Bory de St. Vincent, 1833), a distinct species with 

 a white eye-stripe, white chin, and a broad massive bill, but 

 otherwise not unlike the torquata-gYO\xi^. 



Saxicola torquata pallidigula. 



Pratincola pallidigula Reichcnow, J. f. 0. 1892, p. 194 : 

 Cameroon Mountain. 



Two examined. 



Male. Upper parts very dark, and in worn plumage with an 

 almost steel-black sheen. Upper tail-coverts pure white. 

 Tail black at base or with a millimetre or two of white. 

 Axillaries black narrowly tipped with white. The chestnut 

 of the under parts is as in axillaris, but the colour is if any- 

 thing darker and richer and more like jebelmarrcc, but the 



