IO BRITISH BIRDS. 



Within the last fifteen years three examples have been 

 obtained, viz., a male shot in Clackmannanshire (1880) ; 

 a female in Yorkshire (1885) ; and a third example near 

 Arbroath (1887). 



GENUS IV. PRATINCOLA, Koch (1816), 

 Differs from Saxicola in having bill shorter, weaker, 

 and wider at base ; bristles at the gape distinctly 

 developed ; wings and tail somewhat short. 



14. Pratineola rutaetra (Linn.). WHINCHAT. 



Hab. Northern and Central Europe ; northward in 

 Scandinavia to 70 N. latitude. In winter south to 

 Abyssinia and Northern India. 



Male : cheeks and ear-coverts blackish brown, bordered 

 below by a white streak running backward to the nape, 

 and above by a bold white stripe over the eye ; crown of 

 head, nape and back, sandy brown, streaked with dark 

 brown ; wings dark brown, blackish on coverts, on which 

 is a noticeable patch of white ; upper tail-coverts with a 

 reddish tinge ; tail-feathers white at base, with exception of 

 two middle ones, which are dark brown, as are also 

 terminal halves of remainder ; centre of abdomen 

 whitish ; throat, breast and flanks, pale yellowish brown ; 

 bill and feet black. Length 5*25. Female : duller; eye- 

 stripe yellowish-white ; white patch on wing-coverts not so 

 distinct. Young resemble female, but h#ve upper feathers 

 margined with reddish-buff and breast somewhat spotted. 



Common throughout Britain, except in Cornwall and 

 some parts of Scotland. In Ireland breeds sparingly in 

 almost every northern county, although (with exception of 

 North Kilkenny) not recorded from the south, except on 

 migration. Often arrives on our southern coasts about 

 mid-April, but does not reach the north before May ; even 



