1881.] BIRDS FROM SOCOTRA. I(l7 



affer a more accurate study we have changed our opinion. The 

 Socotran species is altogether a smaller hird ; and the relative dimen- 

 sions are different, the tail being decidedly longer in D. Iicesitala. 

 It is also differently coloured, the tips of the rectrices not sliowing 

 a well-defined large white spot as in D. madac/ascariensis, but only a 

 narrow pale brown apical margin : this is constant. The feet are 

 conspicuously larger in the Madagascar bird. 



So much, however, is certain, that D. hcesltata comes nearer to the 

 Madagascar species than to any other ! 



" Met with on the trees in the date-groves ; also on the shrubs ou 

 the hill-slopes."— 7. B. B. 



3. Saxicola isabellxna (Cretschm.). 

 Saxicola isabellina, Heuglin, Orn. N.A, i. p. 344. 



One skin (female) of this Chat, a well-known species of Eastern 

 Africa and S.E. Asia. 



" In the valley Fenigih and on the plain of Nogad, south side of 

 the island. Met with perched on the shrubs." — /. B. B. 



4. Saxicola Montana, Gould. 



Saxicola montana, Gould, B. Asia, pt. xvi. (1876). 



Mr. Seebohm tells us that this Chat (of which five males and five 

 females are in the collection) is iS. montana of Central Asia, and not, 

 as we should have been inclined to name it, S. deserf.i. The most 

 salient point of difference of these two nearly allied species is that 

 in S. montana the white on the basal portion of the inner webs of 

 the primaries and secondaries comes up to the shaft of the feather, 

 instead of being confined to the interior margin. S. montana breeds 

 in Tibet and Eastern Turkestan, but was obtained by Blanford in 

 Baluchistan in December and March. 



" Common on the sands of the plains. Has a curious note, 

 between a croak and a hiss." — /. B, B. 



5. Anthus sordidus, Riipp. 



Anthns sordidus, Heuglin, Orn. N.A. i. p. 326. 



Six skins of an Anthus in the collection come nearer to this species 

 of Africa and Western Asia than to any other described form. 

 They are, however, rather large in dimensions, and have the bill 

 large. Moreover the plumage of tlie back is more mottled (espe- 

 cially on the rump) than is usual in A. sordidus. 



"On all the plains. Yerv common, and wonderfully tame." — 

 I. B. B. 



6. MOTACILLA ALBA, LiliU. 



Motacilla alia, Heuglin, Orn. N.A. i. p. 316. -t. 

 Four examples, apparently of this species. 



"Common on all the perennial streams, where they reach tho 

 lower plains."— 7. B. B. 



