38 TUKDID.E. 



which is in the midst of a dense forest. They have a habit 

 in the courting-season of flying straight out from a rock, and 

 then suddenly dropping with the wings half shut, like a Wood- 

 Pigeon in the nesting-time. The Blue Rock-Thrush is very 

 fond of ivy-berries and all fruit." 



It seems that they nest more than once a year, as on the 

 25th of April Mr. Stark found a nest with young about a week 

 old, and on the 3rd of May a nest with five eggs hard sat on, 

 the one in my stable being hatched in the end of June. One 

 set of eggs obtained by Mr. Stark were of the usual delicate 

 pale blue colour, but marked with small russet spots at the large 

 end, somewhat like eggs of the Black Wheatear (Saxicola 

 leucura). 



All the nests built on ledges of rocks and open to view are 

 larger and better-built than those placed in holes. 



Verner tells me (1894) that they still occupy the same 

 situations on the Rock as they did twenty years ago ; and he 

 knows no bird whose eggs are more difficult to find, as during 

 time of laying and incubation they seem to know if they are 

 watched ; and the nests on the Rock are, as a rule, more difficult 

 of access than in the sierras. He found on May 22, 1875, five 

 young able to fly ; May 13, 1877, five young fully fledged ; 

 March 23, 1878, nest just finished ; April 24, 1879, nest just 

 completed, first egg on April 13. They never seem to lay more 

 or less than five eggs : this out of many nests he found. 



Male in spring. Uniform slaty blue ; head and neck with silvery gloss : 

 in autumn and winter with narrow whitish margins to the body-feathers. 

 Female. Browner than male. Length 8 to 9 inches. 



8. Monticola saxatilis, Linnaeus. The White-backed Rock- 

 Thrush. 



" Is found on passage only near Tangier, crossing to Europe 

 in April. Is a scarce species, and very rarely obtained during 

 passage." Favier. 



