134 PIED WHEATEAR. 



This bird is an inhabitant of the north of Europe, 

 especially the southern parts of Russia, the Daouria, 

 the Altai Mountains, and Lapland. There is a species 

 found in India, which only differs from the present in 

 having the under tail coverts white instead of pale 

 russet. This is, however, thought sufficient, by Gray 

 and others, to separate it from the Leiccomela of 

 Temminck; the consequence of which is, we have two 

 Leuoomelas, that of Latham in India, and that of 

 Temminck in Europe. 



Dr. Leith Adams informs me that the bird mentioned 

 in Mr. Carte's "Observations on the Climate and 

 Zoology of the Crimea," as being observed there during 

 the passage in April, is the Indian species, with the 

 white under tail coverts. This makes it extremely 

 probable that there is only one species. Temminck 

 mentions the Levant and Crimea as localities for his 

 species. The European bird also differs in the more 

 or less deep shade of the russet colour of the under 

 tail coverts. One variety has been called and described 

 as a different species under the name of S. lugens by 

 Lichtenstein. This has also been found in Greece by 

 Count Miihle. It inhabits the Levant, Egypt, and 

 ISTubia; while Temminck's typical species is found more 

 especially in the Ural and Siberia. All modern authors, 

 however, agree in considering that the darken- under 

 tail coverts of S. lugens do not entitle it to specific 

 distinction from S. leucomela. Why then should a lighter 

 colouring of the same feathers, and jjart of the shafts 

 of primaries, be adduced as evidence of a specific dif- 

 ference between the Indian and European Leucomela? 

 Mr. Tristram writes me word that he doubts the 

 identity of the African and Indian Leucomela with 

 lugens; but he adds, "take an Egyptian or Arabian 



