DESERT WHEAT EAR. 25 



and bears a bad reputation in the North of England ; to 

 hear its note is a token of approaching death, the bird's 

 habit of frequenting old churchyards, ruins, and sepulchral 

 cairns may be the origin of this superstition {op. cit. 1867, 

 p. 1007). Its presence is considered in some localities to 

 foretell the death of the spectator ; in others the evil fortune 

 is only considered likely to ensue if the bird be first seen 

 on a stone ; but should its appearance be first observed 

 whilst sitting on turf or grass good luck may be expected 

 (Swainson). 



The vernacular names are : — Stonechat, in general use ; 

 Chetstone, Chatty, Barrow-chat, used in Cleveland ; Stone- 

 chopper, in Teesdale ; White-rump, at Barnsley, Doncaster, 

 Sedbergh, and in Cleveland ; Wall-chat, in the West Riding ; 

 Stoney-crop, at Barnsley ; and Walley is given in " Billy 

 Roberts's " Leeds list. 



DESERT WHEATEAR. 



Saxicola deserti {Temm). 



Accidental visitant in autumn from Northern Africa, of extremely 

 rare occurrence. 



As its name indicates, this Wheatear, also called the 

 Desert Chat, is found in dry, sandy regions ; Northern Africa, 

 Persia, Afghanistan, and the plains of Turkistan and Kashmir 

 are its summer haunts, and in winter it migrates to North- 

 West India, Scinde, Beluchistan, and, according to Mr. (now 

 Sir) A. E. Pease, Somaliland and Abyssinia. 



The only Yorkshire specimen is also the second British 

 example : it was obtained between Easington and Kilnsea 

 on 17th October 1885, and was sent to Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke 

 for identification. Mr. Dresser afterwards exhibited it at 

 the Zoological Society's meeting, and stated that it was 



