212 



average of a dozen examples of each species scarcely differs at all. If any thing the Russet Chat 

 appeal's on the average to have a somewhat longer wing than the Black-throated Chat; but as the 

 series of the former average 353 against 3"50 of the latter, this difference is too trifling to take into 

 calculation. 



This, the eastern form of the Eusset Chat, is found in South-eastern Europe and North-eastern 

 Africa, ranging eastward into Persia and Yarkand, where, however, it appears to be rare. First 

 described by Giildenstadt, from Georgia, it has since been by many naturalists united with its 

 western ally Saxicola rufa, from which, however, it is fairly separable. It is not common in 

 Eussia ; but Mr. L. Sabanaeff informs me that he believes he saw it in the Eostoff district, in the 

 Jaroslaf Government, and he thinks that it occurs in the Governments of Tula and Tamboff. Pro- 

 fessor von Nordmann met with it in Southern Eussia, and states that a few breed on the southern 

 coast of the Crimea, nesting in the cliffs ; and Dr. Gustav Eadde (J. f. O. 1854, p. 57) writes that 

 he killed one at a village near Simferopol in the month of May, and later in the same month he 

 found them breeding on the banks of the Dnieper, their nests being placed in inaccessible clefts 

 between the hard clay and stones. Menetries (Cat. Eais. p. 30) " only observed it on the arid 

 plains of the Caspian, near Bakou, where it was continually met with running about, being 

 generally seen singly or in pairs. I found its nest in June, placed in a cleft of a rock; it was 

 tolerably large, and contained four eggs, pale green in colour, spotted with reddish." 



In Asia Minor it is common ; and I have received numerous specimens from Dr. Kriiper, 

 obtained by him near Smyrna, where, he writes, it arrives late in March or early in April. 

 Those which arrive first remain about a fortnight, and then move onwards ; but those which are 

 observed after about the middle of April remain there to breed, and are found frequenting the 

 same localities as the Black-eared Chat, but are not so numerous as that bird. Canon Tristram 

 met with it in Palestine, and states (Ibis, 18G7, p. 96) that he obtained a specimen at Shiloh in 

 December ; and Mr. W. J. Chambers obtained specimens at El Arish, in Southern Palestine. 

 It is found in North-eastern Africa, during the winter in the more southern parts, and on 

 migration in Egypt. Dr. von Heuglin (Ibis, 1859, p. 341) records it as found in the Danakil 

 country, between the peninsula of Buri and the Gulf of Tadjura, Somali coast, Southern 

 Arabia, in October and November; and he also observed it (J. f. O. 1869, p. 164) in the 

 northern parts of Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia, in the latter country not going high up into 

 the mountains. He speaks of it as rare ; and he is unable to say if it is resident in North-east 

 Africa. 



To the eastward it is recorded by De Filippi as occurring near Tiflis. Mr. Blanford obtained 

 it in Persia ; and Dr. Henderson procured it on the Yarkand Expedition, i£ at the Arpalak river, 

 near Sanju, and at Koshtak, twenty miles further north. They were found in fields, little patches 

 of cultivation on the borders of the desert, and were associated with Saxicola deserti." 



In its habits the Black-throated Chat closely resembles the Eusset Chat, frequenting in 

 Eastern Europe the same localities as that species does in the west. It affects the open country, 

 and especially rocky places or clay soil, and is often met with on hills, but seldom, if ever, at 

 great altitudes in the mountain-ranges. 



It constructs its nest of grass-bents and fine rootlets, a few hairs being occasionally used 

 in the inside, and makes a tolerably large nest, which is usually placed in the cleft of a rock, 



