ILLUSTRATIONS OF ORNITHOLOGY. 
SAXICOLA OPISTHOLEUCA, Strickland. 
Saxicola leucura, Blyth, in Journ. As. Soc., Beng., vol. xvi. p. 131. 
This is evidently the bird referred to as Saxicola leucura by 
Mr, Blyth, as he states it to differ from his S. picata only in 
having the breast and belly black, while in the latter species they 
are white. As I have before me specimens of S. picata , I can 
confirm Mr. Blyth’s statement of the close agreement in size and 
coloration of these two birds. They form in fact a parallel case to 
that of the Saxicola aurita and 'S. stapazina of South Europe, 
which only differ in the presence or absence of black on the throat, 
and whose specific distinctness is still a matter of controversy 
among naturalists. It is very possible, that some species of Saxi- 
cola may, at certain periods of life, assume additional portions of 
Black or white into their plumage, just as many of the rufous 
Tchitrece ( Muscipetce , Auct.) acquire more or less of a white co- 
loration in old age. This may perhaps account for the immense 
number of species of Saxicola described by Biippell, Ehrenberg, 
and others, as inhabiting the deserts of Africa and Western Asia. 
Conformably with this view, we find that in a specimen of S. opis- 
tholeuca before us, some of the black abdominal feathers are 
narrowly tipped with white, as if in the act of changing colour. 
Further researches, however, are required to decide this question ; 
and meanwhile we have no choice but to regard S. opistholeuca 
as distinct from picata , until their identity be proved. 
Saxicola opistholeuca agrees closely in coloration with S. leu- 
CUr a ($. cachinnans , Temm.) of Europe, but is considerably inferior 
m size. It also differs in having the lateral rectrices tipped by a 
continuous patch of black, while in a specimen of S. leucura before 
me j they have merely a longitudinal black spot on each side, sepa- 
rated by a white space, which extends to the extreme tips. 
The whole head, neck, upper back, wing-covers, breast, belly 
and lower wing-covers, deep sooty black ; remiges and primary 
covers fuscous, narrowly edged with pale rusty ; secondaries nar- 
rowly tipped with whitish ; tibiae mixed brown and whitish ; rump, 
