172 SYLVIAD^E. 



gow steamer, has the tail tipped with black, which colour prevails 

 particularly on the outer web of the feathers : this is mentioned, 

 as in the descriptions which I have referred to, there is no notice 

 of the black colour. In a continental specimen of P. Suecica 

 examined at the same time, the lower half of the tail is black, the 

 upper half red, of the same hue as in the tail of P. tithgs, and 

 that of other redstarts. 



It appears singular, that some of the birds noticed should have 

 been met with so late in the year, indeed, even in winter, but in 

 England they have similarly occurred, — the only individuals there 

 obtained, in connection with which particulars are given, are three 

 in number, and the months of their occurrence, October, Decem- 

 ber, and January, in different years. The years in which they 

 were taken in England, namely, 1829, 1830, 1833 and 1835, 

 are all different from those in which the specimens were procured 

 in Ireland: this is against the ordinary rule. 



In the summer of 1826, I had the pleasure of seeing tins 

 species in secluded and rocky pastures of the Ehsetian Alps, and 

 at the end of August, met with it in France. 



The Blue Throated Kedstart {P. Suecica), of which six* indi- 

 viduals have been obtained in various parts of England, from north to 

 south, has not occurred in Scotland (Jard. ; Macg.), nor in Ireland. 



THE STONE-CHAT. 



Saxicola rubicola, Linn, (sp.) 

 Motacitta „ „ 



Sylvia „ Lath. 



Is common, and resident throughout the island. 



Waste places producing shrubby plants are its favourite haunts. 

 Around Belfast it equally frequents the old ditch-banks, covered 

 with the sloe, bramble, &c, surrounding the lowest-lying meadows, 

 and the furze (whins), or other cover on the mountain sides.f 



* Yarr. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 254. 2nd edit, 

 f The name of stone-checker (not stone-chat) is more commonly applied to the 

 wheatear than to this species, in the north of Ireland, where, as well as in some parts 

 of the south, it is called black-cap. Mr. Macgillivray has well observed, that " it 

 does not frequent stony or rocky places," vol. ii. p. 282. 



