BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR. 129 



on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the Appenines, 

 in the Illyrian Provinces, in Sardinia, and Neapolitan 

 States, but, like the preceding species, never in the 

 centre of Europe. It appears in the south of Prance 

 in spring, but never in great numbers. It is mentioned 

 by Count Miihle as being found in Greece. The Hon. 

 T. L. Powys, in his very interesting description of the 

 birds of the Ionian Islands, ("Ibis," April, 1860, page 

 140,) says that this bird is the least common of the 

 three species observed there. It arrives with the 

 Common and Eusset Wheatear, in March. It is in- 

 cluded in Captain Loche's list of Algerian birds; in 

 that of Mr. Tristram in jSTorthern Africa; and JNIr. 

 Salvin in the Eastern Atlas. Schlegel gives Arabia 

 and Egypt as localities. It does not appear to occur 

 in India or the New World. 



The habits of the Eared Wheatear are very similar 

 to those of S. stajyazina. It is found in nearly the 

 same localities, and was long confounded with it. They 

 are found in the most retired and arid regions, and 

 together imitate the songs of other birds. The two 

 species, according to Degland, are to be distinguished 

 by the throat being at all times white in Aurita, and 

 always more or less black in Stapazina. The tarsi 

 also are shorter, and the colour of the eyes more 

 lively than those of the latter bird. On this subject 

 we have also the high testimony of Count Miihle, 

 who remarks, that although the identity of the two 

 species has been advocated by J3onelli, Calvi, and 

 Pitter Von Marmora, he has had abundant opportunity 

 in Greece of satisfying himself that they are distinct. 

 In the specimens which are now before me the buff 

 colour is much lighter in Aurita than Stapazina, and 

 the tarsi are slightly shorter; the curve at the end 



VOL. II. T 



