THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 331 



Sarepta ; thus the length of the wing is 3'62 ins. (92 mm.), and 

 the tarsus measures 110 in. (28 mm.). 



This Chat occurs as resident breeding species from the Caucasus 

 eastwards through Persia and northern India, as far as north- 

 western China. 



142. Black Chat [SCHWARZER STEINSCHMATZER]. 

 SAXICOLA LEUCURA, Gmcl. 



Black Chat. Dresser, ii. 247. 



Traquet rieur. Temminck, Manuel, i. 236, iii. 136. 



A few Aveeks after the beautiful male Desert Chat referred to 

 above was shot, there occurred also an old bird of the present 

 species, viz. on the llth of August 1880 ; unfortunately, although 

 the bird was seen at very close quarters, it was not procured. The 

 summer months had been attended by light easterly and southerly 

 winds, with fine warm weather, consequently the year was a very 

 productive one. I had shot Sylvia viridana as early as May; 

 S. tristis was observed once; S. superciliosa five tunes; Anthus 

 richardi frequently; JEmberiza pusilla repeatedly; Sturnus roseus 

 once : and finally, I obtained the first example of Turdus fuscatus 

 hitherto observed here, Saxicola deserti having been captured also 

 in Scotland during the same autumn. 



It is impossible to say how many other birds may have 

 escaped observation at a time like that; for we can never accept 

 that the birds enumerated above comprised all that had during 

 that summer, owing to special circumstances, wandered to such 

 a distance beyond the domains of their normal migration ; I my- 

 self feel convinced that such material as comes under observation 

 forms only a small fraction of what is reaUy abroad under these 

 conditions ; indeed, I have frequently expressed myself as ready to 

 exchange the whole of my collection, wonderful as it is, for all the 

 birds which have occurred here without having been seen or killed, 

 if that were possible : the only reservation which I would make in 

 this exchange being the splendid example of Larus rossii, of which 

 I am the fortunate owner. 



The Black Chat is a western species, nesting in Portugal, Spain, 

 and the south of France, and advancing to Italy and Greece only in 

 solitary instances ; the example observed here no doubt originated 

 from the latter country, inasmuch as western and even southern 

 species hardly ever reach this island. 



