47 



THE WHINCHAT. 



Pratinoola ruhetra (L.). 



With the exception of two or three stragglers observed in 

 Cornwall and Devon, this species apparently entered the 

 country on the south coast between Dorset and Kent. 



Between the 3rd and the 13th of April a few early stragglers 

 were observed in Dorset and Surrey, apparently spreading 

 to Cheshire and Gloucestershire from the former, and to 

 Northamptonshire from the latter county during the end 

 of that period. 



The first marked immigration took place between the 14th 

 and 18th of April, the birds arriving on the south coast 

 between Dorset and Kent. 



A second influx occurred between the 20th and 24th of 

 April in the neighbourhood of Hampshire. 



From the 25th of April to the 4th of May the species 

 gradually arrived at its usual breeding localities and com- 

 menced nesting, but the records from localities where the 

 species is known to be numerous were disappointingly 

 few. 



Between the 8th and 16th of May further small immigra- 

 tions by way of HampshirCj Sussex and Kent took place and 

 were followed by an increase in Surrey, Middlesex, North- 

 ampton, Cambridge and Norfolk. 



In Warwick a nest in process of building was recorded on 

 the 2nd of May, and a finished nest was found in Cambridge 

 on the 9th ; others were reported from Cheshire on the 16th, 

 Yorkshire on the 18th and Carnarvon on the 20th. 



