241 



five eggs, in colour lovely whitish blue, darker than those of Saxicola philothamna, but of similar 

 character, and with the red spots more collected in a zone round the larger end. They are a 

 more elongated egg, and the mean measurement is 23 by 16 millimetres. The ground-colour is 

 very much paler than in the palest Wheatear's egg. 



" They sometimes breed before the male has assumed the perfect summer plumage. I do 

 not know the nestling either of S. philothamna or this species." 



The male bird we have figured was obtained by Canon Tristram in Palestine, and the 

 female by Mr. Cochrane in Nubia. 



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



E Mus. II. E. Dresser, 

 a, 6 . Kalabshee, Nubia, February 4th, 1863 (J. H. Cochrane), b, 2 . Nubia, February 1863 (J. H. Cochrane). 



E Mas. H. B. Tristram. 



a, <J . Jebel Usdum, Palestine, January 27th, 1864. b, 3. Sabkha Safich, Palestine, January 28th, 1864 

 (H.B. T.). 



E Mus. Ind. Calc. 



a, <S . Gwadar, Baluchistan, January 2nd, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). b, 6. Saman, Baluchistan, January 27th, 

 1872 {W. T. B.). c, 6. Ras Malan, Baluchistan, November 27th, 1871 [W. T. B.). d, 2 . Dasht river, 

 near Gwetar Bay, Baluchistan, January 25th, 1872 {W. T. B.). e, ?. Bahn Kelat, Persian Baluchistan, 

 February 1st, 1872 (W. T. B). 



2d2 



