92 BLACK WHEATEAB. 



affinities throughout the whole, the manners of the living birds are 

 in marked contrast. Wherever there are savage ravines, bare cliffs, 

 reflecting a burning glare on the hungry valley, rent chasms, fearful 

 in the unspeakable stillness which pervades the transparent atmosphere 

 around, gorges which strike the intruder with awe, as though life, 

 vegetable or animal, had never dared to intrude there before, — even 

 here may a pair of Rock Chats of some species or other be detected. 

 If a snap shot has been successful, the victim generally contrives to 

 escape into some deep fissure to die, and frequently it is impossible 

 to recover the spoil. 



D. leucura is found only in the north of the Desert. El' Aghouat 

 may be considered its southern limit; and it alone of the class comes 

 up to the foot of the Atlas, on the southern slopes of which it is 

 tolerably abundant, from Morocco to Tunis, breeding among the 

 rocks, building a compact nest of moss and hair, and laying ordi- 

 narily four eggs, somewhat larger than those of the Wheatear, of 

 a rich deep greenish blue, covered towards the larger end with rust- 

 red blotches and spots. Its song is monotonous, consisting of but 

 three notes ; but the call-note is clear, loud, and musical." 



Mr. Savile Reid says of this bird at Gibraltar: — "1872. The Black 

 Wheatear is not uncommon on the south and east sides of the rock. 



but is seldom seen on the west side. A pair built their second nest, 

 however, this summer in a hole in a retaining wall near Gardiner's 

 Battery (on the west side.) The nest was artfully i^laced, as shown 

 in the accompanying sketch. The loose stones lying in the hole 

 were carefully arranged so as to conceal the nest from view. I did 

 not see the eggs, for my presence made the cautious birds forsake the 

 nest." " 1873. The Black Wheatears stick to their favourite breedinar 

 grounds, and I know each pair and its district with exactitude. I 

 think they are now (May 8th.) building their nests, and in some 

 cases have eggs. The males sing a great deal on the wing, launching 

 themselves out from a commanding pinnacle of rock, and floating 

 with outspread wings and tail (generally downwards) to another con- 



