271 



9 



appears. I have again and again beat the bush in which they had their nest, before I could 

 make them rise, so closely do they sometimes sit.' " 



The present species commences nidification in April, constructing its nest of dry grass and 

 moss, and lining it with hair and feathers and occasionally, though more seldom, wool. The 

 nest is usually placed under a bush or low shrub, and is carefully concealed. The eggs, from 

 four to six in number, are very pale greenish blue, spotted chiefly at the larger end with dull 

 reddish brown dots and small blotches. Specimens in my collection average in size f^ by f § 

 inch. During the breeding-season the parent birds are very jealous of intrusion, and if any one 

 approaches the nest they flit about, manifesting the greatest anxiety, and, emitting their sharp 

 snapping note, do all they can to entice the intruder from their nest. 



I have hesitated in recognizing the validity of the genus Pratincola, and was at first inclined 

 to follow the example set by Professor Newton, and to include this and the Whin-Chat with the 

 rest of the Chats in the genus Sawicola; and hence the plate of both these species was thus 

 lettered ; but I have since reconsidered the matter, and have decided on using the generic term 

 Pratincole,. 



The specimens figured and described are all in my own collection, particulars as to locality 

 are given above. 



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



E Mus. E. E. Dresser. 



a,3,b,3. Hampstead, October 1869. c,<$,d,$. Hampstead, November 1869. e, 3- Hampstead, May 1st, 

 1870. f,ff,2- Hampstead, June 1870. h, i. Hampstead, September 1870 {Davy), j. Hampstead 

 (Davy). k,3. Highgate, April 9th, 1869 {Davy). l,$. Highgate, May 20th, 1869 {Davy). m,n,o, 

 p, q. Near London, May 20th, 1870. r, 3- Pagharn, Sussex, August 25th, 1889 {R. B. Sharpe). s, 3 . 

 Pagham, April 23rd, 1870 (R. B. S.). t, $ . Pagharn, June 1870 {R. B. S.). u, x. Pagharn, July 8th, 

 1870 (R. B. S.). y. Pagham, April 25th, 1872 {R. B. S.). z,3. Cookhain, June 1865 {W. Briggs). 

 a a, 6. Cookham, September 8th, 1868 {W. Briggs). bb,3. Cookham, March 1870. c c, 3 . England 

 {Cooke). dd,%. Piedmont, November 1869. ee,3,ff,2- Piedmont, April 21st, 1870. gg,3. 

 Olympus, Macedonia, September 13th, 1869 {Dr. Kriiper). hh, ?. Olympus, October 22nd, 1869 {Dr. 

 Kriiper). ii. Egypt {Taylor). jj,2- Lake Baikal, September 20th, 1869 ( Verr earns) . kk. Asia Minor, 

 August 19th, 1866 {Robson). 11,6. Lahore {Marshall), mm, 3,nn,%. Simla {Thornton), oo, $. 

 Almorah, April 23rd, 1868. pp,<S- Almorah, June 1st, 1868, qq,d. Almorah, May 1868 (W. E. 

 Brooks). rr,$. Etawah, March 12th, 1868 {TV. E. Brooks), s s, d . November 23rd, 1868 {TV. E. 

 Brooks). It, <5,uu, 6, vv, 6, ww, <S . Etawah, March 1869 {W.E.Brooks). xx, <?, March 23rd, 

 1869 {W.E.Brooks), yy, S, zz, 3. Cawnpore, September 29th, 1868 {W.E.Brooks). aaa,2. 

 Koteghur, June 27th, 1869 {W. E. Brooks). bbb,3. N.W. India, March 8th, 1869 {TV. E. Brooks). 

 ccc,3. N.W. India, January 28th, 1869 {TV. E. Brooks). ddd,j. N.W. India, March 31st, 1869 

 {W. E. Brooks), eee. Thigchow, October 1867 {R. Swinhoe) . fff, S . Amoy, February 1867 (R. Sivinhoe). 

 ggg. Hakodadi, May 8th, 1865 {H. Whitely). hhh, 3. Hakodadi, May 9th, 1865 {H. Whitely). 



E Mus. Lord Walden. 



a,3,b,%. Simla, July 1866 {R. C. Beavan). c. Kotegurh. d,e,f,3,g,2- Umballah, October 1866 {R. C 

 Beavan). h, i,j,3 , k, I, ? . Umballah, November 1866 {R. C. Beavan). m. Cashmere, n, o. Amqy. 



&q2 



