THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 403 
obtained specimens on March 29th and April 14th in scrub near cultivation 
where small flocks were halting on passage. Other records relate to Samarra, 
March 15th, and Kut, January 29th and April 8th. 
Weigold found Whinchats not uncommon at Urfa on passage, April 12th to 
20th. He attributes most to this race, and one to the typical race from its 
very dark brown colour. Zarudny records it as rare. 
Three skins examined: 2 Feluja, 14-4-17, 29-3-17 (C. R. P.); ¢ ,Basra, 20-4-17 
(P. Z. C. and R. E. C.). 
118. Stonechat. Saxicola torquata, 
(i) Saxicola torquata rubicola L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 328, 1766~ 
France). 
(ii) Saxicola torquata maura, Pall. (Reise Prov. Russ. Reichs. ii., p, 
708, 1773—Ural). ~ 
These two forms were not as a rule distinguished inthe field and as the status 
of each appears to be the same I include the two together. 
The Stonechat is a winter visitor to the plains and foot hills throughout our 
area in fair numbers. As they are most plentiful during the periods of migration 
they also probably are passage migrants through the country. The first arrive 
early in September but they are not common till the end of the month ; from then 
till mid-November they become fairly numerous. In December and January 
they become scarce and numbers begin to pick up again as migration commences 
at the end of February ; plentiful in March they move off north towards the end 
of the month, and a few are left up to about the middle of April. Last record 
May 7th. 
Except at times of passage the species is rather local though widely distri- 
buted, and though fairly common in some places it is not to be seen at 
all in others, doubtless being drawn to sheltered spots where food supply is 
abundant. 
They frequent scrub, crops, gardens, etc., often in pairs. I am unable to find 
any distributional difference between the two races, both occur throughout 
our area and both together ; maura would appear to be the commoner. The 
nearest breeding ground of the latter is near Shiraz and the Zagros. 
(i) Seven skins examined:— ¢,, Amara, 25-10-17, 26-10-17, 1-12-17, 3-11-18, 
© , 23-11-17 (P. A. B.); 2, Shustar, 3-2-18 (F. M. B.); 2, Kazimain, 15-2-19. 
All these are quite typical rubicola ; they have no white at the base of the tail ; 
in the males the upper tail coverts are spotted and in the females this part is 
brown. Wings: 6, 65°5-67; 2,63 mm. 
(ii) Nineteen specimens examined :—d, Baghdad, 19-3-18 (two); Amara, 
3-11-18, 13-2-18, 1-12-17, 7-4-18, 11-9-18 ; Kurna, 17-3-18; L. Akkarkuf, 12-10-17; 
2 , Amara, 2-9-18, 11-9-18, 30-10-17, 13-1-18 ; Ezra’s Tomb, 23-2-18; Baghdad, 
19-3-18, 31-3-18 (P. A. B.); ¢, Basra, 19-3-18 (two), 9, 19-3-18 (C. B. T.). 
The white at the base of the tail of this race varies very much and is partly 
at all events due to age. The adult males have a large amount of white extend- 
ing well beyond the coverts, and sometimes leaving only a broad tip of black, 
these I take to be the so-called hemprichi. Males of the year have the outer 
web of the outer tail feather dark and the dark band at the tip of the tail 
broader. In the females there is less white than in the young males even, 
and is often quite hidden by the upper tail coverts. 
Males of maura are whiter on the belly than males of rubicola ; in both sexes 
the upperparts are markedly paler and the upper tail coverts are immaculate 
white, tinged with rusty brown in winter. The females of maura are paler 
below than the females of rubicola. A few females are practically indisting- 
uishable from females of indica, having little or no white at the base of the 
tail, howevey in absence of any males of indica in our area Ido not include this 
race, : 
