132 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



of Hindostan, during the cold weather only, and is common 

 in Afghanistan. S. awita, Temm., is another European species. 



The next group is that of the Wheat-ears, by some separated 

 as (Enanthe. 



491. Saxicola cenanthe, Linn. 



Motacilla, apud Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 980 — Gould, Birds 

 of Europe, pi. 90. 



The "Wheat-ear. 



Descr. — Male, above ashy, -with a brown tinge ; the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts white, and a white supercilium ; lores and eye 

 streak black ; wings du?ky, edged with brown ; tail with the two 

 central feathers black for the terminal two thirds, the rest white; 

 the outer feathers black tipped ;" under surface pale rusty brown, 

 albescent on the belly and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts 

 blackish with white edgings. 



The female is ashy-brown above, wings dusky brown, tail black 

 tipped. In winter the feathers are broadly edged with rufous, 

 most conspicuous on the wing-coverts and tertiaries. 



Length nearly 7 inches, extent 11; wing 4; tail 2| ; bill at 

 front not quite half; tarsus more than 1. 



The Wheat-ear is found, according to the season, over Europe, 

 Northern Africa, and part of Asia. I got a specimen near Mhow, 

 in the cold whether, and it is known to be found, though rarely, 

 in the Upper Provinces. It is a larger bird than the black-throated 

 Wheat-ear, which it otherwise somewhat resembles, and has a 

 much stronger bill and legs.* 



492. Saxicola deserti, Ruppell. 



Temminck, PI. Col. 359— S. atrogularis, Blyth, J. A. S. XVI., 

 130— Blyth, Cat. 977— Horsf., Cat. 440. 



The Black-throated Wheat-ear. 

 Descr. — Above pale isabelline, greyish on the crown and nape, 

 and a whitish eyebrow ; rump and upper tail-coverts buffy white ; 



* The name of Wheat-ear is supposed to be an imitation of its call wheet-jur , 

 but Mr. Blyth considers that the English names of Stone-chat and Wheat-ear have 

 been transposed. 



