RUSSET AY HE AT EAR. 
llie base wliitc; the others white, with their extremities blaelf. 
Length five inches seven lines to five inches nine lines. Lcngtli 
of specimen sent me by Mr. Tristram, five inches and three 
quarters. 
The Russet Wheatear is principally found among the 
rocky mountains of the south of Europe; is very com- 
mon in the southern parts of Italy, in Dalmatia, in 
the Archipelago, and the south of France. It is also 
common on the rocky shores of the Mediterranean, 
but, according to Temminck, it is very rare in the 
north of Italy; seldom found in the Pyrenees, and 
never in the centre of Europe. It is noticed by 
the Hon. T. L. Powys, among the birds observed by 
him in the Ionian Islands. It is mentioned by Mr. 
Taylor among the birds found by him on the Nile; 
by the Rev. H. B. Tristram in Northern Africa; by 
Mr. Salvin in the Eastern Atlas; by Dr. Heuglin 
among the birds of the Red Sea, “Ibis,” vol. i.; and 
by Mr. Carte among the birds of passage in the 
southern parts of the Crimea. It is also stated by 
Captain Loche to be found in the three provinces of 
Algeria. It does not occur in Mr. Hodgson’s “Cata- 
logue of Indian Birds,” though the family is well 
represented. Neither is it included in Dr. Adams’s 
“Birds of Cashmere.” In North America the Saxico- 
lincB are represented by the genus Sialia of Swainson, 
containing howmver only three species. 
The habits of the Russet AYheatear are very similar 
to those of the other members of the family, between 
some of which there is a very strong affinity — quite 
sufficient, according to Mr. Tristram’s observations, to 
justify the inference that they may be considered as 
races or permanent varieties of the same species. 
Between S. stapazma and S. homochroa, says this gen- 
