146 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



which were the larvae of noctuid moths and the remains 

 of several ichneumon flies. 



This bird is the only one known to have visited 

 Scotland,^ and there are only a very few instances of its 

 occurrence in England. It is a native of South- 

 western Europe, spends the summer season there, and in 

 the autumn seeks cold- weather retreats in West Africa. 



Pratincola rubetra, Whiiichat. — A , visitor on 

 migration at both seasons ; but is one of those species 

 which are more numerous in spring than in autumn. 



The spring movements are witnessed from 6th May 

 to 6th June. The average date for its appearance is 9th 

 May, and the bird is very constant in the observation of 

 the time of its coming. 



The autumn passages have been chronicled from 

 24th August, and are in progress throughout September. 

 There are several records of its visits in October, the 

 9th being the latest. A few birds only are seen simul- 

 taneously at this season, and the tops of the sheaves of 

 corn are their favourite perches. 



Pratincola rubicola, Stonechat. — This species 

 appears annually in small numbers in spring ; but there 

 are at present only three records for visits in the autumn, 

 all for single birds. 



In spring its appearances date from 7th March to 

 27th May. The autumn records are for 8th and 26th 

 September and 22nd October. In spring it usually 

 appears singly or in pairs, but on 22nd March 1909, 

 five or six were seen in a rush of migrants. 



The Stonechat has, I believe, only once been recorded 

 elsewhere for Shetland, and it is not known to have 

 occurred in Norway. The object of its regular spring 



^ I have since obtained it at St Kilda. 



