2q Novitates Zoologicae XXIV. 1917. 



dition, turning the scales at Oi or even VJ drams ! Compared with such birds 

 the Black-eared Wheatear from'Tuskar would be somewhat proportionately 

 under-weight ; however, I have little doubt that extra-fat Black-eared Wheatears 

 of heavier weight occur among the numbers which, without undue prolonga- 

 tion or disturbance en route, affect regular migrations. 



TOTAL OCCURRENCES OF THE WESTERIT BLACK-EARED 

 WHEATEAR IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Black-eared Wheatear, which forms the theme of this paper, is the 

 first specimen which has been obtained in Ireland, and I am not aware that it 

 has ever been observed ui the country previously, but considering that the bird 

 has penetrated farther north and west, it is quite likely that it has reached the 

 Irish coast on previous occasions, but has passed unnoticed ; now, however, with 

 the production of a specimen, the record of its occurrence has been rendered 

 authentic, and the bird accordingly takes its place on the Irish List. The records 

 in Great Britain have been actually more frequent of latter years — I shall point 

 out the reason for this further on when dealing with the status of the bird — here, 

 however, it is convenient to state that as the Black-eared ^Vheatear was formerly 

 looked upon as a distinct species from the Black-throated Wheatear, its rarity 

 appeared still more marked. Now, however, it is recognised that there is only 

 one species, some members of which exhibit black throats, others a whitish 

 shade * (Hartert). Adopting the modern name of Western Black-eared Wheatear, 

 and including birds in both phases of plumage, we find that the total occur- 

 rences up to the present time in Great Britam are as follows : One, an adult 

 male with a black throat, obtained near Bury, Lancashire, on May 8th, 1875; 

 one, also an adult male with a black throat, seen, but not obtained, by Mr. H. B. 

 Hewetson, near Spurn, Yorkshire, on September 18th, 1892. The above instances 

 are taken from Saunders's Manual of British Birds, second edition, 1899, p. 23.t 

 The following occurrences have been recorded subsequent to the publication of 

 Saunders's Manual : One, a male, obtained near Polegate, Sussex, on May 28th, 

 1902 ; one, an adult male, obtained near Hoo, Sussex, on May 22nd, 1905 { ; one, 

 an adult male with a black throat, obtained near Lydd, Kent, on Maj' 23rd, 1906.§ 

 The above three instances have been gleaned from a paper in British Birds, 

 vol. i. pp. 6, 7, by Saunders, entitled, " Additions to the List of British Birds 

 since 1899." Still later notices of the occurrences of this Wheatear in Great 



• Vide "Notes on Various Species of British Birds " (from Part VI. Vogel d. pal. Fauna), by 

 Dr. Ernst Hartert; British Birds, vol. xv. 1910-11. pp. 131-2. 



t Described by Saunders as Black-throated Wheatears {Saxicola stapazina), the light- throated 

 form, the true Black-eared Wheatear of that period (iS. aurita), then unknown to have visited the 

 British Isles. 



I These two birds, showing whitish throats, were regarded as examples of the true Western 

 Black-eared Wheatear {S. caterinae), and were recorded as the first and second of their kind obtained 

 in the British Isles. In reaUty they represent the third and fourth recorded occurrences, and the 

 second and third specimens actually brought to hand. 



§ Described as a Black-throated Wheatear (S. occidentalix), and recorded as the second of 

 its kind obtained in the British Isles. In reality it was the fourth Western Black-eared Wheatear 

 obtained and the fifth recorded. N.B. — The specific name occidentalis was adopted because the 

 name atapazina was transferred to represent the specific name of the Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. 



