THE BIRDS OF HELKJOLAND 331 



Sareptii ; thus the length of the wing is 8G2 ins. (92 ram.), and 

 the tarsus measures 110 in. (28 mm.). 



This Chat occurs as resident breeding species from the Caucasus 

 eastwards through Persia and northern India, as far as north- 

 western China. 



142. — Black Chat [Schwaezee Steinschmatzek]. 



SAXICOLA LEUCQRA, Gmel. 



Black CJiat. Dresser, ii. 247. 



Traquet rieur. Temiiiinck, Manuel, i. 236, iii. 136. 



A few weeks after the beautiful male Desert Chat referred to 

 above was shot, there occurred also an old bird of the present 

 species, viz. on the 11th of August 1880 ; unfortunately, although 

 the bird was seen at very close quarters, it was not procured. The 

 sunnner months had been attended by light easterly and southerly 

 winds, with tine warm weather, consequently the year was a very 

 productive one. I had shot Sylvia viridana as early as May; 

 S. tristis was observed once; *S'. superciliosa five times; Anthus 

 richardi frequently; Etnheriza jtusilla repeatedly: Sturniis roseus 

 once : and finally, I obtained the first example of Turdus fu.'^catits 

 hitherto observed here, Saxicola desevtl having been captured also 

 in Scotland during the same autumn. 



It is inqiossible to say how many other birds may have 

 escaped observation at a time like that; for we can never accept 

 that the birds enmnerated above comprised all that had during 

 that summer, — owing to sjiecial circumstances, — wandered to such 

 a distance beyond the domains of their normal migration ; I my- 

 self feel convinced that such material as comes under observation 

 forms only a small fraction of what is really abroad under these 

 conditions ; indeed, I have frequently expressed myseK as ready to 

 exchange the whole of my collection, wonderful as it is, for aU the 

 birds which have occurred here without having been seen or killed, 

 if that were possible ; the only reservation Avhich I would make in 

 this exchange being the splendid example of Larus rossii, of which 

 I am the fortunate owner. 



The Black Chat is a western species, nesting in Portugal, Spam, 

 and the south of France, and advancmg to Italy and Greece only in 

 solitary instances ; the example observed here no doubt originated 

 from the latter country, inasmuch as western and even southern 

 species hardly ever reach this island. 



