STONECHAT. 113 



In distribution, it is pretty generally diffused in 

 suitable localities over Britain and Ireland, reach- 

 ing northward to Sutherland* and the Hebrides, f 

 On the Continent, also, it is not uncommon, mi- 

 grating in some parts. Out of Europe, it has 

 been seen at Smyrna, J the Dukhun in India, 

 Japan, || Senegal,T and in southern Africa.** The 

 specimens, however, which we have received from 

 the latter country seem to vary in some respects. 

 This range may be considered as one of the most 

 extensive shewn by our British birds, and the 

 authorities we have mentioned are in general con- 

 sidered of high respectability. 



The male in summer has the head and throat 

 black, the back of the same colour, having the 

 feathers edged with yellowish brown. ; wings and 

 tail black ; sides of the neck, upper parts of the 

 wings and rump, white ; breast and flanks orange- 

 brown, shading into yellowish-white on the belly. 

 In winter, the feathers of the head and throat 

 assume yellow tips, and appear brown, and on the 

 back the yellow edges also lengthen. In the 

 female, during summer, the black parts are brown, 

 and the white is less in extent ; the breast is yel- 

 lowish-brown. The young above are brownish- 

 black, the centre of each feather marked in a trian- 

 gular form with brownish-yellow. The white 

 portion of the rump is reddish-brown ; the under 

 surface is entirely yellowish-brown, waved on the 

 breast with umber ^brown. 



* Selby. t M'Gillivray. J Strickland. Sykes. 



J Temminck. ^ Svvainson. ** Vaiilant and Smith. 

 H 



