THE ISABELLTNE WHEATEAR. 445 



and median wing -coverts are moulted June-Oct., but not the greater 

 wing-coverts, primary -co verts, wing- or tail-feathers. 



Measurements and structure. wing 96-106 mm., tail 56-61, 

 tarsus 29-33, bill from skull 19-21 (12 measured). $ wing 94-104. 

 Primaries : 1st 1-6 mm. shorter than primary -co verts, 3rd and 

 4th longest, 2nd 2-5 shorter, 5th 3-6 shorter, 6th 8-13 shorter ; 

 3rd and 4th, and 5th less distinctly, emarginated outer webs. 

 Other structure as (E. oenanthe. 



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



CHARACTERS. No subspecies. Sandy upper-parts and pale under - 

 parts distinguish it from (E. oenanthe but some very pale examples 

 of females and first winter males of (E. oenanthe (especially (E. 02. 

 leucorrhoa) very nearly resemble (E. isabellina in colour of both 

 upper- and under-parts, but latter may be distinguished by having 

 whitish edges to inner webs of wing-feathers, and much more 

 white on axillaries and under wing-coverts ; usually also ear- 

 coverts, wing-feathers and coverts of (E. isabellina are not so dark, 

 and bill is almost invariably larger. 



FIELD -CHARACTERS. Haunts plains and stony plateaux. Perches 

 as much on bushes as on ground. Has a fluttering flight somewhat 

 like Crested Lark. Its large size and uniform pale sandy appearance 

 are distinctive but some very pale examples of (E. oe. leucorrhoa, 

 although having darker ear -coverts, might easily be mistaken for 

 this species in field. Has a chirping call-note and another note of a 

 whistling nature. (H.F.W.) 



BREEDING-HABITS. Haunts arid plains chiefly, breeding in burrows 

 of mammals (Lagomys, Spermophilus, Spalax). Nest. Described 

 as fairly bulky, composed of dry grasses. Eggs. 5-6, pale blue, 

 much like Common Wheatear and generally unmarked but said 

 occasionally to be marked with dark red-brown spots. Average 

 size of 33 eggs, 22.3 X 16.6 mm. Breeding-season. From end March 

 in Transcaspia, April in Palestine and Asia, and May in central 

 Asia. Probably double brooded ; eggs in Palestine in June on Mt. 

 Hermon. 



FOOD. Probably chiefly insects, but few details available. Lynes 

 found ants, insects and yellow seeds in stomachs. 



DISTRIBUTION. England. Four. Female, Allonby (Cumberland) 

 Nov. 11, 1887 (H. A. Macpherson, Ibis, 1888, p. 149). Male, Rye 

 Harbour (Sussex) April 17, 1911 (N. F. Ticehurst, Brit. B., v, p. 74). 

 Male, Eye Harbour, March 28, 1912 (H. W. Ford-Lindsay, op. cit., 

 v, p. 328). Male, St. Leonards, May 10, 1912 (T. Parkin, op. cit., 

 vi, p. 89). 



DISTRIBUTION. -Abroad. From steppes of south-east Russia, Asia 

 Minor and Syria to Turkestan, Tibet, Mongolia, east Siberia, and 



