206 



and neat structure of dried grass-bents, lined with hair, and is often placed on the flat ground, 

 just under the shelter of a small tuft of heather or grass, like a Lark's nest. The eggs, generally 

 five in number, are sea-green in colour, spotted and zoned with russet. In a series I think they 

 are rather more elongated in form, and somewhat more distinctly spotted, than those of Saxicola 

 rufa ; but of course they run into each other very much." Eggs in my own collection agree with 

 Mr. Saunders's description, but are but very little spotted. 



I have been compelled, in deference to the strict rules of priority, to use the specific name 

 of stapazina for the present bird, there being no doubt that the bird described by Linnaeus under 

 that name is not the Russet Chat, but the present species. In the article on Saxicola rufa I 

 have gone fully into this question, and may here refer to what I there say. 



The specimens figured are, in the foreground to the right, an adult male in the russet 

 plumage in which it arrives in Europe in the spring, and on the left the adult female in breeding- 

 plumage, the male in breeding-plumage being in the distant background — these being also the 

 specimens described, and in my collection. The specimens from which I have described the 

 winter and immature plumage belong to the Calcutta Museum. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a, d . Heights near Haleh, Palestine, May 20th, 1864 [H. B. T.). b, d . Smyrna, April 17th, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). 

 c, cf. Genoa, July 18G8 (H. Saunders), d, $ ad. Smyrna, June 20th, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). e. Egypt 

 [Rogers), f. Spain (Irby). 



E Mus. Lord Walden. 



a, d ■ Smyrna, April 4th, 18G3 (Dr. Kriiper). 



E Mus. Ind. Cede, 

 a, b, d . Near Shiraz, September 1870. c, d. Shiraz (Major St. John). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 



a, b, c, d . Mount Carmel, March 1864. d, d ■ Ainat, Lebanon, June 15th, 1864. e, J . Kulat el Sukif, 

 May 28th, 1864. fjuv. Baalbec, June 14th, 1864. g, ?. Near Jericho, April 22nd, 1864 (H. B. T.). 

 h, d . Lacba, May 9th, 1856. i, d. Berronaghma, May 28th, 1856 (H. B. T.). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, d im. Seville, March 27th. b, c d ad. Malaga and Granada, April, d, d , e, $ . Snared on nest, Malaga, 

 May 15th, 1868. /, ?. Snared on nest, June 3rd. g, d ■ Granada, June, h, i, d , 2. Malaga, August 

 22nd. _;', d ■ Malaga, September 3rd. 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a, d. Seville, March 18th, 1872 (Ruiz). 



