124 RUSSET WHEATEAR. 



the base white; the others white, with their extremities black. 

 Length five inches seven lines to five inches nine fines. Length 

 of specimen sent me by Mr. Tristram, five inches and three- 

 quarters. 



The Russet Wheatear is principally found among the 

 rocky mountains of the south of Europe; is very com- 

 mon in the southern parts of Italy, in Dalmatia, in 

 the Archipelago, and the south of France. It is also 

 common on the rocky shores of the Mediterranean, 

 but, according to Temminck, it is very rare in the 

 north of Italy; seldom found in the Pyrenees, and 

 never in the centre of Europe. It is noticed by 

 the Hon. T. L. Powys, among the birds observed by 

 him in the Ionian Islands. It is mentioned by Mr. 

 Taylor among the birds found by him on the Nile; 

 by the Rev. H. B. Tristram in Northern Africa; by 

 Mr. Salvin in the Eastern Atlas; by Dr. Heuglin 

 among the birds of the Red Sea, "Ibis," vol. i.; and 

 by Mr. Carte among the birds of passage in the 

 southern parts of the Crimea. It is also stated by 

 Captain Loche to be found in the three provinces of 

 Algeria. It does not occur in Mr. Hodgson's "Cata- 

 logue of Indian Birds," though the family is well 

 represented. Neither is it included in Dr. Adams's 

 "Birds of Cashmere." In North America the Saxico- 

 lince are represented by the genus Sialia of Swainson, 

 containing however only three species. 



The habits of the Russet Wheatear are very similar 

 to those of the other members of the family, between 

 some of which there is a very strong affinity — quite 

 sufficient, according to Mr. Tristram's observations, to 

 justify the inference that they may be considered as 

 races or permanent varieties of the same species. 

 Between S. stapazina and S. homochroa , says this gen- 



