THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 327 



The breeding area of the Blaek-eared Chat extends throughout 

 Southern EurojJC, North Africa, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Persia. 



139. — Russet Chat [Schwarzkehliger Steinschmatzer]. 

 SAXICOLA STAPAZINA, Temmmck.i 



Saxicola stapaxina. Naumann, iii. 879. 



Riisset Chat. Dresser, ii. 207. 



Traquet stapazin. Temminck, Manuel, i. 239, iii. 164. 



At the begmning of the forties, before I had begun coUectuag, 

 an old male of this species was shot in this island. Though the 

 throat of this example was of a pure velvety black, the back and 

 sides were of a fairly pronoiuiced yellowish rust colour, very similar 

 to the example pictured by Naumami (Fig. 2, Plate 90). The bird 

 was sold to a visitor, and I was not able to ascertain afterwards 

 where it had been sent to. 



Subsequently, whitish Stoncchats witli black throats have been 

 repeatedly observed here, and were for a long time considered by me 

 to belong to the present species ; since that time, however, I have re- 

 ceived S.deserti on several occasions, and have also become acquamted 

 with S. lugens, S. libanotica, and others vi'ith. black throat and black 

 markings on the upper breast, and have consequently come to the 

 conclusion that the species of light-coloured Stonechats can only 

 be determined if one has specimens in one's own hand. 



Though black-throated Chats have occurred here pretty fre- 

 quently, only very few have been killed : this is owing to the fact 

 that these birds become very shy and timid as soon as they believe 

 themselves observed or pursued. If on advancing towards a Chat 

 one fixes one's eyes on the bird, one will hardly ever succeed iii 

 getting within shooting range of it; if one attempts the same 

 manceuvre a second time after the bird has already once taken 

 wmg, it will this time unfailingly fly off to a distance of from 

 80 to 100 paces : while, if the pursuit is again repeated, the bird 

 will be entirely lost fi-om sight. If one feels inclined to secure one 

 of these birds, it is advisable to walk in a direction leading one 

 some thirty paces past the bu"d, without looking at it, until one 

 turns towards it for the purpose of shooting. Should the bird 

 happen to be an old male, it will at once take wing ; and should 

 one fail to hit, one is sure to find further pursuit long and trouble- 

 some, and in most cases unsuccessfid. 



The breeding stations of this species extend from Portugal and 

 north-west Africa to Greece. 



' Saxicola slaj/azina, Vieill. 



