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the following note : — " I frequently met with this species wherever there were rocks, except in 

 Nubia, where I did not observe it, although I have no doubt that it is common there, as it 

 certainly ranges throughout the entire length of Egypt, and breeds in the country." In Dr. von 

 Heuglin's new work on the birds of North-eastern Africa will also be found an account of this 

 species as follows: — "The Blue Thrush is a migrant in autumn and spring in Egypt, Nubia, 

 Abyssinia, and Arabia, not so common as the Rock-Thrush, and probably not extending its range 

 so far to the south ; young birds are more often met with than adults. It may possibly breed in 

 the north of those countries. It is often seen on palm-trees and acacias that stand singly, whereas 

 the Rock-Thrush affects rocks, ruins, walls, and the desert country, and visits the roofs of country- 

 houses and mosques. Both species appear unsociable, and live a sort of solitary life." 



We have already stated our doubts as to the range of this species to the east ; but it is quite 

 certain that it extends into North-western India. We have seen specimens from Turkestan ; and 

 it was obtained by Dr. Henderson during his recent journey to Yarkand. He has given us the 

 following extract from his forthcoming work: — "During the Yarkand Expedition the Blue 

 Rock-Thrush was only met with in Ladak, and there only on the outward journey in June and 

 July. Solitary individuals were seen throughout Ladak, west of Le, at Shergoe, and other 

 places, near streams, and hopping about rocks. But in Dr. Cayley's garden at Le they were in 

 considerable numbers, feeding on caterpillars on the poplar trees, and hopping about on the 

 grass. None were met with on the return journey." Mr. Hume adds the following observa- 

 tions : — " Most probably they breed in Ladak. I have hitherto failed to find their eggs, both in 

 the plains of India, which they desert as soon as the hot season sets in, and in the lower hills of 

 the Himalayas south of the snowy range. It is curious that I obtained a specimen of this bird 

 in May at Mount Aboo. Can it breed there 1 ?" 



The following notes by Dr. Leith Adams also refer to the true Blue Rock-Thrush : — " India 

 and Western Himalayas, Ladakh, and Chinese Tartary ; solitary in its habits, shy. I never heard 

 it utter the simplest note or song. There is great diversity of plumage in the sexes. Frequents 

 dreary wastes and rocky places ; often seen among the dykes and cairns raised by the natives of 

 Ladakh for religious purposes. Food, insects." On an inquiry into the distribution of this bird 

 and its allies throughout India and the more eastern countries, we found so much difference of 

 opinion that more time than the periodical issue of the present work will allow us must be 

 given to the subject. We have in preparation, however, at the present moment, a paper on 

 these birds. 



Canon Tristram, who has observed the present species in Palestine, has given the following 

 account of its habits : — " Wherever stones crop above the surface, whether by the shore, on the 

 hills, or especially among ruins, but always solitary. Rarely ever were a male and female to be 

 seen together, I had scarcely expected to find it as I did, along with the Black-and-white 

 Kingfisher on the coast, sitting among the surf-beaten rocks and feeding on sand-lice and shrimps. 

 On two occasions I killed it from the shore, and had to wade into the sea to secure my specimen. 

 Unsociable as it is, it yet frequents the dwellings of man, a taste for stonework evidently over- 

 coming all other prejudices; but nowhere is it more thoroughly at home than among the ruins of 

 a deserted and untrodden Roman city, like Gerash, Rabbah, or Gadara. The ' vomitoria ' of the 

 amphitheatres are exactly to its liking ; and in the recesses of these it has its nest, the male 



