Saxicola lugens, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 33, (1823), Seebohm, Cat. B.  Br. Mus. v. p. 370 ; S. leucomela, (Pall.), Dresser, ii. p. 231, pi. 33, fig. 2 ; S. erythrcea, id. ii. p. 219, pis. 28, 29 ; Koenig, J. f. 0.  (1895), p. 206, Tabb. iv. v. fig. 1 ; S. persica, Seebohm, Cat. B. Br.
Mus. v. p. 372 (1881).
ad. (Egypt). Crown, nape, rump, upper tail-coverts and basal part of tail, breast, and abdomen white, the crown tinged with grey ; back wings, sides of head, and neck, throat and upper flanks black ; central tail-feathers white at base, otherwise black, remaining tail-feathers white broadly tipped with black, all with narrow terminal white tips ; under wing-coverts and axillaries black, inner quill-webs white ; under tail- coverts pale rufous ; legs and beak black ; iris brown. Culmen 0*7, wing 3’75, tail 2-75, tarsus 1-0 inch. The female has the black replaced by brown, the head and 1 nape washed with isabelline ; entire under parts nearly white, the under tail-coverts washed with buff. The young male resembles the female but has the lores, ear-coverts, and cheeks nearly black, the throat varying from grey to dull black.
Hob. N. Africa from Algeria to Egypt ; Nubia, Abyssinia, Arabia, Palestine, ranging east to Shiraz in Persia, and Sind.  In habits it does not differ from its allies. It breeds in April and May, its nest being usually placed in a hole in the ground, and well concealed. Its eggs 5 to 6 in number, are deep blue-green spotted and blotched with reddish-brown.
Saxicola persica, of which I have examined the type, does not appear to me to be separable from this species.