THE. 5 (to Rr eA 'T 
PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: “ Furzechat,” 
“Blackcap ~ ((issex): 
Stratus 1N British Avirauna: A widely distributed 
resident, somewhat local, and subject to considerable 
seasonal movement. 
Rap1aL DistrRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: The Stonechat is another species of the more 
outlying suburbs, the inner portions presenting few if 
any of the conditions suited to its requirements. It is 
locally distributed over such furze-clad areas as Wimble- 
don and Mitcham Commons. I have met with it on 
Tooting Bec Common, near Croydon, on some of the 
more extensive heaths, and on open spaces in the vicinity 
of Park Royal and Epping. It may be met with in the 
Richmond and Bushey districts, Hounslow, Hanwell, 
and Epping, whilst many of the Surrey heaths and Kentish 
wastes well within the Metropolitan area may be given as 
its habitat. In some places the bird is seldom or never seen 
in summer ; in others its winter absence alone is remarked. 
Iamsure the Stonechat is much overlooked, owing to its 
secretive ways and the kind of cover it frequents. 
From the nature of its favourite haunts the Stonechat 
must always be a scarce bird within the London district, 
and there can be little doubt that its habitat will become 
even more restricted as the suburbs are more densely 
populated. It is essentially a bird of the wild, uncultivated 
places, finding its favourite haunts amongst the gorse and 
the rough, broken ground of commons and heaths ; the 
fields and the hedgerows, the gardens and pleasure- 
grounds, offer little or no attraction. In its general 
habits it somewhat closely resembles the Whinchat. It 
is just as fond of perching on the topmost sprays of its 
56 
