205 



1865, p. 136) that an individual now and then is observed during the spring. It is found in 

 Liguria and in the neighbourhood of Rome, but is not very generally distributed ; and, according 

 to Doderlein, it appears to be tolerably abundant in Sicily during migration. Schembri includes 

 it in his catalogue of the birds of Malta; and Mr. C. A. Wright writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 65), 

 "it first came under my notice as a visitor to Malta in 1859. I shot one in the spring of that 

 year in St. Julian's Valley. Since then I have met with it annually in spring and autumn, 

 although never in any great numbers. It arrives and departs about the same time as the other 

 Wheatears." 



Lord Lilford met with it on the Ionian Islands, where, he says (Ibis, 1860, p. 140), it "is 

 the least common of the three species of Wheatear that I have observed in these parts. It 

 arrives at the same time as the Russet Chat." Lindermayer also (Vog. Griech. p. Ill) speaks of 

 it as not quite as common in Greece as the Russet Chat, which it resembles in choice of habitat, 

 and in its mode of nidification and habits, but arrives rather later than that species. Messrs. 

 Elwes and Buckley state that Mr. Robson obtained it near Constantinople ; and Professor von 

 Nordmann says that it has occasionally been obtained in Southern Russia. Dr. Kriiper has sent 

 many specimens from the neighbourhood of Smyrna, where, he states, it is, as elsewhere, not so 

 numerous as the Russet Chat. Canon Tristram records it from Palestine ; and Hemprich and 

 Ehrenberg met with it in Syria. It occurs in North-east Africa : according to Captain Shelley 

 (B. of Egypt, p. 72), " it is not a resident in Egypt and Nubia, but arrives in March, and soon 

 becomes abundant, usually frequenting the more cultivated portions of the country, where it 

 may often be seen in the neighbourhood of villages perched upon some low bush or reed-fence." 

 Hemprich and Ehrenberg met with it and obtained specimens at Ghenneh and Dongola; but it 

 does not appear to have been recorded from Abyssinia. 



In North-west Africa it is tolerably common. Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake records it (Ibis, 1867, 

 p. 426) as " not rare during passage." The various travellers in Algeria refer to it as a winter 

 visitant; and Mr. O. Salvin states (Ibis, 1859, p. 307) that in the Eastern Atlas "the favourite 

 resort of this species is among the stony ground at the foot of the hills ; and in such places it 

 may be looked for and generally found. Roman ruins are also much frequented. We obtained 

 two nests from the Madracen, where they were placed in the interstices of the stone of that 

 building. Usually the nests were close by, or under, a large fragment of rock." Canon Tristram 

 likewise writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 300) that " it occurs in the northern portion of the Hauts Plateaux, 

 but is merely a winter visitant." I have also examined a specimen in the Berlin Museum, obtained 

 by Delbriich in Senegal. 



To the eastward it is found in Persia, where De Filippi shot it at Sardarak and Udjan ; and 

 Mr. Blanford likewise obtained it in Persia. 



The most northern locality where it has been obtained appears to be Heligoland, where, 

 according to Professor Blasius (Ibis, 1862, p. 70), a specimen was obtained by Mr. Gatke. In 

 its habits the Black-eared Chat closely resembles the Russet Chat, with which species the earlier 

 authors confounded it. It frequents the arid desert places or the edges of the desert, not being 

 met with in the mountains, unless in the lower portions, or where they join the plains. 

 Dr. Brehm (J. f. O. 1868, p. 69) speaks of it as being exceedingly shy, and as resembling 

 S. osnanthe in its habits. Mr. Howard Saunders informs me that " its nest is a tolerably compact 



