THE WHINCHAT. I I 



Mr. Thompson says, in the work already 

 quoted (p. 175), (< In no part of Ireland have 

 I seen the Whinchat numerous, and compared 

 with the Stonechat it is very scarce." In the 

 south of Scotland, according to Macgillivray, it 

 seldom makes its appearance before the end 

 of April, that is, more than a fortnight after its 

 arrival in England. It extends to Sutherland, 

 Caithness, and the outer Hebrides (cf* More, 

 " Ibis," 1865, p. 22), and has occasionally been 

 met with in Orkney, but not in Shetland. In 

 winter it migrates to the south-east, and at that 

 season is not uncommon in Egypt, Nubia, and 

 Abyssinia, travelling also through Asia Minor, 

 Arabia and Persia, as far eastward as the north- 

 west provinces of India. In a south-westerly 

 direction this species, passing through Spain 

 and Portugal, proceeds down the west coast of 

 Africa to Senegal, Gambia, and Fantee. 



The Whinchat differs a good deal in its 

 habits from the Wheatear, and on this account, 

 as well as on account of certain differences of 

 structure, it has been placed with the Stone- 



