24 



habits it closely resembles other members of this genus, flitting from rock to rock, occasionally 

 taking a more extended flight close above the ground, perching on stones or the summit of a 

 stunted bush to warily watch the intruder. We did not hear it utter a note ; nor did we see any 

 females. It is possible that this bird is confined to a few favourite localities in the Djebel 

 Aures ; or it may be that it winters in the Great Sahara, and repairs northwards to these upland 

 solitudes to rear its young. As is usual in such cases, we failed to note the value of our prize, 

 and only shot two males. I have associated this fine species with the name of an ornithologist 

 whose researches are intimately connected with this group of birds, and whose knowledge of 

 them stands unequalled." 



Until recently the only specimens known of this Chat were the two obtained by Mr. Dixon, 

 which are in the collection of Mr. H. Seebohm ; but in 1892 Dr. A. Koenig, of Bonn, on a 

 collecting tour in Algeria, rediscovered this interesting Wheatear, and obtained three specimens, 

 respecting which he writes me as follows: — " This interesting and very distinct species appears 

 to have a very restricted range. I met with it, as did Mr. Dixon, on the desolate and arid 

 heights of Djebel Mahmel, where it was not numerous, though the only species of Chat I 

 observed there. I shot a pair, male and female, and also a second male, a young bird. I also 

 found a nest, which contained the remains of an eggshell marked like the egg of Saxicola aurita. 

 The present species appears to breed only in the Aures Mountains at an altitude of from 1600 to 

 1800 metres." 



Dr. Koenig is at present engaged in writing a work on the ornithology of Algeria, and will 

 figure all three specimens obtained by him. Unfortunately the plates of this species had already 

 been drawn for the present work when Dr. Koenig obtained his birds, or I should have figured 

 the female or young male as well as the adult male. 



The nearest ally to the present species appears to be Saxicola pliillvipsi, Shelley (Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 404, pi. xii.), from Somali-land, which differs in having the black on the throat extended 

 much lower on to the front of the chest, in having the wing-coverts, with the exception of the 

 spurious wing, ashy white instead of black, the thighs white and not black, and the tail-feathers, 

 with the exception of the two central rectrices, are tipped with white, and two thirds of the 

 outer web is black. 



The specimen figured and described is the type, for the loan of which I am indebted to 

 Mr. Seebohm ; and the descriptions of the adult female and young male are taken from the 

 specimens obtained by Dr. Koenig, to whom I am indebted for the loan of the latter and for 

 the description of the former. 



