THE BLACK WHEATEAR. 

 Saxicola leucura (Gmelin). 

 Plate 3. 



The Black Wheatear is resident in Portugal and Spain, and along the northern 

 shores of the Mediterranean to Sicily, some birds wintering in North Africa. A 

 pair of these birds were observed in the neighbourhood of Rye Harbour, on 

 August 31, 1909, and were afterwards shot, the male on September 2, and 

 the female on the i6th. On Fair Isle, Shetlands, a male was seen several times, 

 but not obtained, between the 28th and 30th September 191 2. 



According to Colonel Irby {The Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar, 2nd 

 ed., p. 41), "the Black Wheatear is a common and conspicuous bird at Gibraltar, 

 and to be seen throughout the year. 



" The nest is sometimes in clefts of rocks, so deep as to be inaccessible. Mr. 

 Stark took a nest on the 25th of April, near Gibraltar, containing four pale blue 

 eggs hard sat on, marked with a zone of light reddish-brown spots. 



The nest was very large, loosely built with grass and heather-roots, lined inside 

 with finer grass, two or three feathers of the Neophron, and one bit of palmetto 

 fibre. 



"The name of pedrero is applied to this bird from their curious habit of 

 placing small stones as a foundation to their nest, and frequently, as when open 

 to view, making a sort of wall or screen of stones in front of the nest." 



The Black Wheatear inhabits stony places. The female differs from the male 

 in having the black parts brown, while the white is not so pure. 



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