210 



with it in Tangier and Eastern Morocco, where it is, he states (Ibis, 1867, p. 426), " not rare 

 during passage." The most northerly limit of its range is Heligoland, where, according to 

 Professor Blasius (Ibis, 1862, p. 70), it was obtained by Mr. Gatke ; and it is even stated by 

 Professor Schlegel (Vog. v. Nederl. p. 169) to have bred in Holland, which country is far above 

 the latitude of its usual breeding-haunts. 



In its habits the Russet Chat somewhat resembles the Common Wheatear ; but it frequents 

 desert and arid localities more than that species, and is frequently met with in rocky districts. 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney met with it on the coast of Algeria, frequenting the rocks near the edge of 

 the water, and says that it "goes from stone to stone with expanded tail, and when it has 

 selected a perch remains motionless some time, though not always facing the intruder ; it can 

 perch with equal ease on a stalk or house-top, and even hover for a few seconds in the air." It 

 is said to be particularly fond of perching on any small eminence, and to be exceedingly shy and 

 difficult of approach. Its flight resembles that of our Common Wheatear (S. cenanthe), and, 

 according to Loche, its song is varied and pleasant. It feeds on caterpillars and insects, which 

 it seizes on the wing, or else picks up off the ground ; and occasionally it eats berries. 



I give above Mr. Howard Saunders's description of the nest of this species, to which I may 

 add that, according to Lindermayer (Vog. Griechenl. p. 110), "its nest is simple, as of all the 

 Chats; it is fiat, constructed of dried bents, and lined with horse- or goat's hair; it is generally 

 placed in a hole in an old building, or in the stone and clay walls. The eggs, from five to six in 

 number, are pale sea-green, spotted sparingly with liver-brown dots, which are occasionally 

 entirely absent." Eggs in my own collection agree with those of Setxicola melanoleuca, but are 

 less richly marked, and not quite so bright. They are pale bluish green, sparingly marked with 

 dull reddish, and in size are a trifle smaller than those of S. cenanthe. 



On the one Plate I have figured two specimens from Spain ; and on the second Plate the 

 female in autumn plumage is figured with the female of Saxicola melanoleuca in breeding- 

 plumage. 



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



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a, 3 ad. Portugal, April 1869 (Dr. E. Rcy). b, <$. Malaga, Spam, April 22nd, 18G9 (H. Saunders), c, ?. 

 Gibraltar (Major Irby). d, 6, e, $. Egypt (Rogers). 



E Mus. II. B. Tristram, 

 a, cj ad. Algiers (H. B. T.) . 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, b, c, d . Grauada, Valencia, Malaga, about April 20th. d, d . Ruins of Amphitheatre, Italica, near Seville, 

 May 10th, from nest. e,f, d. Granada, May. g, ?. Sierra Elvira, June. h, d. Granada, July. 

 i,j, 6 . Malaga, August 22nd. k, d ■ Malaga, September 1st. 



