BLACK WHEATEAB. 95 



then some small red (rusty) cross bands. Beak and feet horn-colour." 



The adult male has all the upper parts, except the rump, and all 

 the lower parts, except the greater part of the tail, sooty black. 

 Wings hair brown. E-ump, upper tail coverts, and three fourths of 

 tail below, pure white; two middle tail feathers black, the rest white, 

 broadly barred with dark brown at the ends. Sides and beak black; 

 tarsi glossy black. 



The female only diiFers from the male in being smaller, and having 

 those parts which are black in the male, of a more uniform brown, 

 like the wings, and it is darker on the back. 



The young of the year, according to Degland, resemble the female, 

 but the brown of the middle of the abdomen is shaded with red; 

 the wing feathers slightly fringed with grey, the primaries being 

 terminated by a grey border, and the tail feathers with white. 



My figure of this bird is taken from a specimen kindly sent me 

 by the Rev. Canon Tristram, obtained by him during his travels in 

 Africa. The egg is in my own collection, and was sent to me, as 

 stated above, by Mr. Stark. 



It is also figured by Eoux, Ornith. Prov., p. 197, (male;) Gould, 

 B. of E., p. 88; Bouteil, Ornith. du Dauph., pi. 22, f. 1; Dresser, B. 

 of E. 



Mr. Dresser, following the suggestion of Captain Shelley ("Ibis," 

 1871, p. 53,) has united the two "Black Chats" known as S. leuco- 

 cephala and S. leucopygia under the latter name, the former being 

 merely the young. Whether this happy reunion of family interests 

 will stand further inquiry or not remains to be seen. In habits the 

 white-headed and white-rumped Chats are closely similar to those of 

 the "Black Chats." 



Lord Lilford ("Ibis," January, 1875,) mentions having seen S. 

 leucopijgia among Mr. Wright's birds at Malta, but as a rule it is 

 not found within the geographical limits of Europe. 



