124 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



proof of this is still lacking. The Continental Song-thrush 

 differs from the British race {Tnrdus philonielus clarkei) in 

 having less of the rufous shade on the upper side, which is 

 more olivaceous in hue, and much more greenish-grey on 

 the rump. The spotting on the breast is on the whole less 

 heavy, the rusty yellow on the crop is less extensive, and 

 the flanks, too, have less of the rusty colouring. In the 

 field this Thrush looks smaller and duller than our common 

 breeding bird ; we have seen enormous rushes on the Isle 

 of May, and have found it comparatively easy to distinguish 

 the two races at sight. It is a slimmer bird, not so puffed 

 out and self-satisfied looking as our familiar friend, and 

 one misses the ruddy tint which is characteristic of our 

 British Thrush. 



The Greater Wheatear {CEnanthe cenanthe leucorrhod) 

 occurs as a passage migrant on all our coasts in spring and 

 autumn. The wing is from 5-12 mm. longer than in the 

 Common Wheatear {CEnanthe oetiantJie cenanthe) (about 

 98-111 mm.), the metatarsus is 2 mm. longer, and the under 

 side, particularly the throat, crop, and breast, is very vivid 

 rust colour in autumn dress. Even in the breeding season 

 they do not become as light as in the type. In the field 

 the Greater Wheatear generally looks brighter in colour, 

 and seems to hold itself more erect than the common bird, 

 while it is usually wild and unapproachable. In spring we 

 have seen the males displaying and singing, standing on 

 the rocks on the May. They very often come to the lantern 

 there, and we have caught and ringed a good many, but, 

 sad to say, had no returns. We notice this form is much 

 more inclined to perch on trees and chimney pots and other 

 prominent objects in the landscape, than our own bird. 



There is only one Scottish record of the Indian Stone- 

 chat {Saxicola torquata indicd), namely, one on the Isle of 

 May in October 191 3. This specimen, a young male, differs 

 from our Stonechat of the same age, in having a much 

 lighter, more sandy brown upper side ; the dark shaft stripes 

 are very indistinct except on the crown, where they form 

 rather well-marked striations. The rump and upper tail 

 coverts are sandy cream instead of the reddish-brown of our 



