46 



THE WHINCHAT. 



Pratincola ruhetra (L.). 



The records of this species were so meagre as to render 

 little aid in tracing its course into and through the country. 



The earliest arrivals were recorded in the west, commencing 

 with one bird observed in Devonshire on the 9th of April. 



The report of "numbers^' in Northampton on the 17th 

 of April may possibly point to an influx on the eastern side, 

 but it was not until about the last week of the month that 

 the immigratory movement fairly set in, as was shown by 

 an increase in numbers inland, as well as by the report of a 

 few at St. Catherine's light (Hants) on the nights of the 

 28th/29th of April and the lst/2nd of May. 



Early in the latter month the birds were beginning to 

 settle down in their haunts, though migratory movements 

 continued to take place until at least the third week. Whin- 

 chats were nesting in Staffordshire on the 4th of May, in 

 Hampshire on the 6th, in Lincolnshire on the 8th, and in 

 Carnarvon and Devonshire on the 14th and 17th. A nest 

 with three eo'os was found in Northumberland on the 25th 

 of May, and two nests with eggs in Radnor on the 30th. 



Chronological Summary of the Records. 



April 9 th. Devon. 



„ 14th. Gloucester. 

 „ 15th. Dorset. 

 „ 16th. Carmarthen. 



„ 17th. Northampton (numbers). (Carmarthen 



(slight increase). Leicester, Norfolk. 



i 



