J2IO THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



frequently wandered in winter into Europe and has been met 

 with on several occasions in the British Isles, including Ireland. 

 The general colour of White's Thrush is yellowish above and 

 white beneath, but as most of the feathers have black margins 

 it is speckled both above and below with black crescents. 

 Young Mistle-Thrushes have been confused with this species, 

 but the number of the tail feathers differs — 12 in the Mistle, 14 

 in White's Thrush. Length, 12 ins. Wing, 6-4 ins. Tarsus, 

 1-3 ins. 



Rock-Thrush. Monticola saxaiilis (Linn.). 



The Rock-Thrush breeds in the mountains of south and 

 central Europe, northern Africa and Asia, and winters in 

 tropical Africa and southern Asia. Although it summers in 

 parts of Germany and Switzerland it has only been noticed in 

 England three or four times and once in the Orkneys, usually 

 in spring, probably wind-drifted westward when on migration. 

 It is a medium-sized short-tailed bird, both in appearance and 

 habits more suggestive of a Wheatear than a Thrush. The 

 adult male, with his slate-blue head, throat and upper back, 

 and white band across the lower back, contrasting with rich 

 chestnut under parts and tail, is not likely to be confused with 

 any other species, but the female is a browner bird barred with 

 black and grey, and her lower back is mottled with buff. Her 

 throat is white and the under parts buff with brown markings. 

 Young birds are mottled with brown and slate, and have bars 

 on the under parts. Length, 8 ins. Wing, 47 ins. Tarsus, i in. 



Redstart. Phoenicurus phienicurus (Linn.). 



In most parts of Britain the Redstart (Plate 87) is a summer 

 resident, but in Ireland it is exceedingly local ; it is also a bird 

 of passage between the northern part of its European range and 

 its winter quarters in north Africa 



