102 BLAGZ-EABED WHEATEAB. 



Europe. It appears in the south of France in spring, but never in 

 great numbers. It is mentioned by Count Miihle as being found in 

 Greece. The Hon. T. L. Powys, in his very interesting description of 

 the birds of the Ionian Islands, ("Ibis," April, 1860, page 140,) says 

 that this bird is the least common of the three species observed there. 

 It arrives with the Common and Husset Wheatear, in March. It is 

 included in Captain Loche's list of Algei'ian birds; in that of Mr. 

 Tristram of Northern Africa; and Mr. Salvin of the Eastern Atlas. 

 Schlegel gives Arabia and Egypt as localities. It occurs in the 

 Himalayas, Bengali, Calcutta, (Jerdon and Blyth;) Siberia, (Von 

 Heuglin.) 



The habits of the Eared Wheatear are very similar to those of 

 S. stapazina. It is found in nearly the same localities, and was long 

 confounded with it. They are found in the most retired and arid 

 regions, and together imitate the songs of other birds. The two 

 species, according to Degland, are to be distinguished by the throat 

 being at all times white in aurita, and always more or less black in 

 stapazina. The tarsi also are shorter, and the colour of the eyes 

 more lively than those of the latter bird. On this subject we have 

 also the high testimony of Count Miihle, who remarks, that although 

 the identity of the two species has been advocated by Bonelli, Calvi, 

 and Bitter Von Marmora, he has had abundant opportunity in Greece 

 of satisfying himself that they are distinct. In the specimens which 

 are now before me the buff colour is much lighter in aurita than 

 stapazina, and the tarsi are slightly shorter; the curve at the end of 

 the upper mandible is also shorter. Altogether it is very difficult to 

 come to any other conclusion than that they are races of the same bird. 



The Bev. H. B. Tristram, whose knowledge of these birds is very 

 considerable, and derived from that sure source, practical acquaintance 

 in their own homes, writes me word — " S. stapazina and S. aurita 

 differ from the youngest to the oldest stage constantly. They are 

 both very common on the sides of the Atlas, especially the southern. 

 I have taken many nests, but never knew the two cross. There is 

 not the slightest difference in the sexes. The nests are alike. In 

 the eggs, to judge from a small induction, stapazina has more spots 

 collected in a zone at the broad end; in aurita they are more 

 generally diffused over the surface. They build in niches in rocks 

 and ruins, and on the ground or steep banks, or among the stumps 

 of old trees. They differ among themselves, I should say, as Whin- 

 chat and Stonechat, and yet it is very curious how close, and yet 

 how distinct they are. I have got a nest of each taken from the 

 same ruins." 



