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Dr. A. G. Butler,



THE MOUNTAIN CHAT.


Saxicola vionticola.


By Dr. A. G. Butler.


This interesting and neat-looking little Wkeatear lias

received no less than eight specific names owing to the remark¬

able changes of plumage through which it passes : these appear

to be most marked in the male bird, but if Stark and Sclater’s

description of the adult female is accurate, I should say that the

statement that her plumage remains constant throughout life is

not strictly correct. They observe that “ Formerly each change

of plumage was considered to represent a distinct species and it

is in this way that the long list of synonyms quoted have (sic.)

arisen.”


The seven stages noted are as follows : —


Stage i.—Birds of the year, similar to the female but somewhat

darker in colour.*


Stage 2.—Only differs from Stage i in that the shoulders are

white, though not so conspicuously so as in the

next stage.


Stage 3.—Shoulders white, the median and lesser coverts as well

as the scapulars undergoing the change ; abdomen

commencing to get white.


Stage 4.—The head now begins to become grey ; below from

breast to vent white.


Stage 5.—Head grey or whitisli-grey ; below white (in some the

head becomes white before the belly, in others vice

versa.


Stage 6.—Grey all over; no black ; shoulders greyish-white.

Stage 7.—Whitish-grey all over; shoulders white.


Messrs. Butler, Feilden and Reid, found birds in all these

stages (except the first) pairing with black females and hence

concluded that they represent one single species.”


On March 1st Capt. Boyd R. Horsbrugh wrote to me as

follows :— “ I am sending you a pair of Saxicola vionticola and a



* The female is described thus Entire plumage brownish black except the rump

and upper tail-coverts and the bases of all the tail-feathers except the two centre ones, all

of which are pure white.”



