36 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



these limits, in which it is sedentary, we never saw it. It has all the 

 habits of a Stonechat, not of a Wheatear, perching on bare twigs, jerking 

 and expanding its black tail, and not alarmed at the presence of intruders. 

 Among the sparse desert shrubs and rocks, but not in the clumps or 

 fertile oases, is its home. There is no distinction whatever in plumage 

 between the sexes. 



The Black Start is found in similar localities to his Palestine resorts 

 throughout Arabia, and in Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia, but not further 

 east or south. 



19. Pratincohi rubctra. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 332. Whinchat. 



The Whinchat is not common in Palestine, and I believe only passes 

 through the country at the season of migration. 



This well-known bird is spread throughout the whole of Europe, even 

 to its northernmost point in summer ; and in Africa is found as far south as 

 the Gambia, Fantee, and Abyssinia, in winter. It does not enter far into 

 Asia, Asia Minor being its ordinary limit, though occasionally procured 

 in the Punjab. 



20. Pratiitcola ntbicola. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 322. Stonechat. 

 The Stonechat is very common, scattered over the whole country in 



winter, but appears to leave for the north in April, returning in 

 October. 



This bird has a wide range throughout all Europe, except Scandinavia 

 and Northern Russia, North Africa, and throughout Asia, to China and 

 Japan, unless we separate the Indian form, as, in common with many 

 naturalists, I am disposed to do, under the name of P. matira (Pallas. 

 Reis. II. Anhang., p. 708). This race occupies India, Eastern Siberia, 

 China and Japan. But if the species are distinct, the Palestine bird 

 belongs to the Western form. 



't>- 



21. Ruticilla phoenicurus. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 335. Redstart. 



The Common Redstart is a very abundant summer migrant, arriving 

 simultaneously all over the country the second week in March, but remain- 

 ing to breed only in the more wooded localities and the neighbourhood of 

 gardens. The Redstart is found in summer throughout the whole of 



