TURDIN.Is. 



29 



THE STONECHAT. 



Pratincola ruricola (Linnasus). 



Unlike the preceding migratory species, the Stonechat is a resi- 

 dent in the greater part of our islands, although a partial migration 

 takes place from the colder to the more sheltered situations in 

 winter ; at which season there is an influx of visitors from those 

 parts of the Continent where the climate is too severe to allow of a 

 stay. It is somewhat local in its distribution, and also erratic ; fre- 

 quenting a place for a few seasons, and then suddenly abandoning it. 

 Although rare in the Orkneys and Shetlands, it is found to the ex- 

 treme limits of the Outer Hebrides, for I observed it on St. Kilda 

 in August 1886, In Ireland it is common and resident. 



The northern range of the Stonechat in Europe is not nearly so 

 extensive as that of the Whinchat, and scarcely reaches to the south 

 of Sweden ; while in the north of Germany the bird is uncommon 

 and of irregular distribution. Even in Central Europe it is unac- 

 countably local, but in the south it is common, breeding in Spain 

 even in the hot plains below Seville. Migrants from the north go 

 down in winter to the shores and islands of the Mediterranean, 

 North Africa, Asia Minor and Palestine ; and examples have been 

 obtained to the south of Senegal. In South Africa the representative 

 species is P. torqiiata, with white rump and deeper chestnut on the 

 breast ; North-eastern Africa is inhabited by P. hemprichi, with more 

 white than black in the tail ; while east of the valley of the Volga 

 the place of our species is taken by P. viajira, characterized by a 



