90 BLACK WHEATEAB. 



Cabanis has separated this bird, with some others, from the genus 

 Saxicola, and included it under that of Dromolcea, in consequence of 

 its habits being different from those of the typical Wheatears. He 

 has been followed by Bonaparte and others, who, by adopting, have 

 acquiesced in the jjropriety of the arrangement. I have not space 

 here to do more than account for my own reasons for preferring the 

 retention of this species in the genus Saxicola. I do not for a 

 moment question the grounds upon which this separation is made, as 

 being contrary to the scientific rules observed by modern ornitho- 

 logical classifiers; but I doubt very much whether any greater degree 

 of precision in definition is obtained, while the evil of a multiplicity 

 of generic names, and a consequent complexity of ornithology as a 

 science is eifected. I therefore prefer the retention of the original 

 generic term of Bechstein, though I admit that it does not give a 

 general idea of the structure and habits of the whole class, and there- 

 fore was perhaps originally ill-chosen. But just as Sylviiclce is 

 sufficient for all useful purpose as indicating a great group of birds, 

 all of which have not sylvan habits, so I think we may accept Saxicola 

 as a good generic term, though all the species do not affect rocks 

 and stones. 



No better illustration could be given of the truth of these remarks 

 than the fact of a good and practical ornithologist like the Bev. Canon 

 Tristram, who adopts Cabanis's division of the genus, having the 

 greatest possible difficulty in deciding on which side to place the 

 Bushchat, (^Saxicola philothamna,) which he discovered in ISTorthern 

 Africa, and which he has described and figured in the "Ibis," vol. i., 

 p. 299. 



The Black Wheatear is an inhabitant of the warm and southern parts 

 of Europe especially, being found in Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, 

 South of France, the Pyrenees, the Hautes and Basse Alps, Apen- 

 nines, (accidentally,) the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, and Greece. 

 It is rare in Italy. It is included in Captain Loche's list of 

 Algerian birds. It does not appear in Mr. Carte's interesting list 

 of the birds of the Crimea, kindly sent to me by Dr. Leith Adams. 



Mr. Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart writes to me of this bird: — 

 "I have compared European specimens with the so-called S. leucur- 

 oides of Jerdon, and can find no specific distinction warranting a 

 separation. It is a common cold weather bird in the upper Provinces 

 of India and the Punjaub. I may take the opportunity of saying 

 also, that I think there is no valid reason for making two species 

 of S. Deserti and S. stapazina. They run into one another unmis- 



