68 COSSYPHA 



COSSYPHA, Gueriri, 1843. 



102. WHITE-THROATED CHAT. 



COSSYPHA GUTTURALIS. 



CossypJiaguttiiralisGiierin. Rev. Zool. p. 162 (1843) ; Guer. and Lafresn. 

 in Ferr. et Galin. Voy. en Abyss, iii. p. 201, pi. v. (1847) ; Dresser, 

 B. of E. ii. p. 347, pis. 53, 54 ; (Seebohm), Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. p. 

 304 ; Irania filoti, Defilippe. Arcli. Zool. Modena, ii. p. 381 (1863) , 

 Saxicola albig'.daris, Pelz. Sitz. Ak., "Wiss. Wien. xlviii. p. 150 

 (1863). 



ad. (Asia Minor). Upper parts lead-grey, wings blackish, tail 

 black ; lores, scapulars, and sides of throat glossy black ; superciliary stripe 

 and a narrow line from the chin widening till it reaches the breast pure 

 white ; breast and nnderparts yellowish rufous ; centre of abdomen white 

 washed with pale rufous ; under wing-coverts rufous, thighs lead-grey 

 tinged with rufous ; bill and legs black ; iris brown. Culmen 0'65, wing 

 3'75' tail 3'0, tarsus T05 inch. The female has the upper parts and wings 

 brownish grey, tail black, sides of head, neck and upper breast brownish 

 grey ; a dull white spot on the throat ; lower breast and under parts 

 otherwise dull white ; flanks and breast washed with rufous. The young 

 male has the rufous on the under parts replaced by buff. The nestling is 

 greyish brown marked with sandy brown spots and streaks, the lower 

 breast and abdomen dull white. 



Hob. Asia Minor, Palestine, Western Turkestan, and Persia 

 wintering in Africa south of Abyssinia. 



In its habits it has much affinity with Aedon galactodcs and 

 frequents rough, rocky, and bush- or tree-covered localities, and 

 when it settles on a bush or stone has a habit of jerking its 

 tail. It is very shy and difficult of approach, for it creeps about 

 amongst the rocks and bushes with great ease. Its song is 

 clear and bell-like, and would rival that of the Nightingale if it 

 were more prolonged. Its nest is placed low down on a low tree 

 or bush, and in size, materials and position, resembles that of 

 Aedon galadodes, being constructed of dry twigs and strips of 

 bark, the upper part of fine grasses mixed with plant cotton 

 and down with woollen threads and rags interwoven. The eggs, 

 4 or 5 in number, are deposited in May, and are pale greenish 

 blue, marked all over, but more profusely at the larger end, 

 with small rusty yellow dots and spots, and in size measure 

 about 22-5 by 16*0 millimetres (0'88 by 0'63 inch). 



