206 SAXICOLIN^E. 



indication of a darker line at the angle of the gape ; ear-coverts 

 and the rest of the lower parts similar, but tinged with a faint 

 brownish shade usually ; wing-lining and axillaries with a 

 very faint yellowish-salmon tint ; inner margins of inner \vebs 

 of quills, on the lower surface, with a decided buffy-tinge. 



This is a very uncommon species, and only occurs as an 

 exceptionally rare winter visitant to Sind and Northern 

 Guzerat. 



GENUS, Cercomela, Bon. 



Bill moderate, slender, straight, tolerably curving at the tip 

 and barely notched ; rictal bristles small but distinct ; wings as 

 in Saxicola ; second quill a trifle longer ; tail somewhat lengthened ; 

 feet stout ; middle-toe not elongated ; hind-toe rather long. 



Cercomela melanura, Rupp. 



493. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 133. 



THE BLACK-TAILED ROCKCHAT. 



Length, 6; wing, 3*12; tail, 2'35 ; tarsus, 0'88. 



Bill blackish ; legs black. 



Of an uniform ashy-brown tint above, paler on the throat and 

 breast, and passing to whitish below ; under tail-coverts white ; 

 the tail and upper coverts black. 



It is extremely uncertain whether this bird occurs in India or 

 not, but Jerdon says, that " among the drawings of Sir A. Burnes 

 is one of a saxicoline bird, procured in Sind, which Mr. Blyth 

 identifies with Ruppell's bird, which is a native of N. E. Africa 

 and Arabia." 



As no other observer has since procured it from thence, it must 

 have been an isolated straggler, that had wandered far from its 

 usual haunts. 



Cercomela fusca, Blyth. 



494. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 134 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, VoL III, p. 477 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central 

 India; Ibis, p. 125. 



THE BROWN ROCKCHAT. 



Length, 6*5; expanse, 10*5 ; wing, 3'5 ; tail, 275 ; tarsus, 1 ; 

 bill at gape, 0'8 ; bill at front, 0'5. 



Bill black ; irides deep-brown ; legs black. 



Above light fuscous-brown or rufous-olive, tinged with fawn 

 color on the back ; tail dark sepia-brown, oboletely banded, 

 as seen in a strong light ; beneath rufescent-fawn or dull fer- 

 ruginous. 



The Brown Rockchat is very common at Mount Aboo, but 

 does not occur in the plains below ; it is also very common 

 at Neemuch, and in the surrounding districts. 



It is a permanent resident breeding from March to July or 

 even later, rearing at least two broods in the season. The nest 



