36 SAXICOLA 



53. STRICKLAND'S WHEATEAR. 

 SAXICOLA OPISTHOLEUCA. 



Saxicola opistlioleuca, Strickl, in Jardine's Contrib. Orn. 1849, p. 60 ; 

 (Gould) B. of Asia, iv. pi. 27 ; Blanf. and Dresser, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 

 229 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. p. 376 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds 

 ii. p. 73 ; S. leucuroides, Guer. Jerdon, B. of Ind. ii. p. 130 (1863). 

 ad. (India). Eump, upper and lower tail-coverts, and lower part of 

 abdomen white ; rest of the plumage black except the tail, which 

 has the middle feathers white on the basal third, otherwise black ; the 

 remaining feathers white, broadly tipped with black ; bill and legs black ; 

 iris brown. Culmen 0'6, wing 3'65, tail 2'8, tarsus 0'9 inch. The female 

 resembles that of S.picata, but is very dusky throughout, and has the ear- 

 coverts rich brown. 



Hob. Turkestan, wintering in Afghanistan and the plains of 

 India from the Punjab down to Khandesh and Nagpur, and 

 from Sind to Eta wan in the N.W. Provinces and has been also 

 recorded from the lower hills of the Sutlej valley. 



In habits this species does not seem to differ from its allies, 

 but I can find nothing on record respecting its nidification. 



51 RUSSET WHEATEAR. 

 SAXICOLA STAPAZINA. 



Saxicola stapazina (Vieill.), Nouv. Diet, xxi.p. 425 (1818) ; Gould, B. of 

 E. ii. pi. 91 ; Naumann, iii. p. 879, Taf. 90, fig. 1, 2 ; Seebohm, Cat. 

 B. Br. Mus. v. p. 387 ; Saunders, p. 23 (1889) ; S. rufa (Brehm) ; 

 Dresser, ii. p. 207, pi. 24, pi. 25, fig. 2. 



Cul-Uanc roux, French ; Caiada t Portug. ; Euiblanca, Span. ;. 

 Monachella colla gola nera, Ital. ; Boudjahar, Naisch, Arab. 



ad. (S. Spain). Crown, back, rump, upper tail-coverts, breast, and 

 abdomen white, rest of the plumage black, crown marked with grey ; 

 breast and back washed with rufous isabelline ; tail as in S. o&ndnthe ; beak 

 and legs black ; iris brown. Culmen 0'68, wing 3*65, tail 2'6, tarsus 0'95 

 inch. The adult female has the upper parts earthy brown to the rump, 

 which with the upper tail-coverts is white ; tail as in the male ; wings 

 brown ; throat greyish white, without any traces of black ; rest of the 

 under pale dull rufous white. In the winter the male has the upper parts 

 pale ferruginous, the head browner, the breast lighter ferruginous, the 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts washed with rufous ; quills brownish, the 

 wing-coverts and secondaries with rufous margins ; the black feathers of 

 the throat margined with white. The female is similar, but duller in 

 colour, lacks the black on the throat, and has the under parts dull 

 rufous, darkest on the breast. 



