SAXICOLIN^E. SAXICOLA. 137 



with the tip slit ; oesophagus of moderate width, nearly uni- 

 form ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach of moderate size, 

 roundish-elliptical, compressed, its lateral muscles rather 

 thick, the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous ; intes- 

 tine of moderate length and width ; coeca very small, oblong. 

 Eyes of moderate size. Nostrils small, oblong, pervious, in 

 the fore part of the large nasal membrane, which is ante- 

 riorly bare. External aperture of ear large and roundish. 

 Head rather large, ovate, and somewhat depressed ; neck 

 short ; body rather compact. Legs rather long and slender ; 

 tarsus much compressed ; covered anteriorly with a long plate 

 and four inferior scutella : toes rather short, slender, the se- 

 cond and fourth about equal, the first longer and stoutest, 

 the third and fourth united as far as the second joint of the 

 latter ; claws long, moderately arched, extremely compressed, 

 laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended ; bristles 

 short ; wings long, broad, straight, with eighteen quills, the 

 first extremely small, the third longest, but little exceeding 

 the second and fourth ; tail of moderate length, nearly even. 

 This genus differs from Fruticicola in having the bill 

 larger, with the notch obsolete, the wings, tail, and tarsi 

 * longer. The Saxicolse frequent rocky or stony places, as well 

 as open pastures, and either sally forth in pursuit of insects, 

 or seek their food on the ground. They nestle among stones, 

 in crevices of rocks, or in holes in the ground. 



73. SAXICOLA (ENANTHE. WHITE -RUMPED STONECHAT. 



Male with the feet and claws black ; the upper parts light 

 ash-grey ; a black band from the bill over the cheek and ear- 

 coverts ; forehead and a band over the eyes, white, as are the 

 rump and upper tail-coverts ; fore neck and part of the breast 

 pale yellowish-brown, throat and other lower parts white; 

 quills brownish-black ; tail-feathers white at the base, brown- 

 ish-black toward the end. Female with the upper parts brown- 

 ish-grey or light reddish-brown tinged with grey, the forehead 

 brown, a brown band under the eye ; the fore neck and part of 

 the breast light reddish-brown. Young with the upper parts 

 greyish-brown, the central part of each feather paler, the low- 

 er parts light greyish-yellow, the feathers of the neck and 

 breast tipped with brown, the dark band on the side of the 

 head wanting. 



