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Malta, where, he writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 65), " it arrives at the same time as the other Sasoicolce. 

 In April and May, and again in September, it may be met with almost daily in the fields and 

 open places." Lord Lilford met with it in the Ionian Islands, where it is, he states, common 

 during the summer ; and Mr. H. Seebohm informs me that it occurs in Greece merely during 

 the seasons of migration, only remaining for a week or two in the spring and autumn. Linder- 

 rnayer states, however (Vog. Gr. p. 109), that it is a resident in Greece, being found in the 

 winter in the southern provinces, and in the summer in the mountains of Northern Greece, 

 where a few are to be met with in the breeding-season. Mr. Robson has obtained it in Turkey. 

 Von Nordmann records it as common during the two seasons of migration in Southern Russia ; 

 and Menetries includes it in his list of the birds found in the Caucasus. Canon Tristram met 

 with it in Palestine, where it occurs only during migration, not remaining to breed, and doubt- 

 less passes through that country on its way to and from Northern Africa, where it is found 

 during the winter season. Captain Shelley met with it in Egypt, where, he writes (B. of E. 

 p. 81), it " is not so abundant as the Stone-Chat, but is more evenly distributed throughout the 

 country. According to Von Heuglin (Orn. N.O. Afr. p. 338) it comes to Egypt in August, and 

 is certainly found in the late spring, for I have shot it in Nubia on the 11th of April." Mr. 

 Blanford met with it in Abyssinia, where, he states, he " shot a young bird at Rairo, in Habab, 

 about the middle of August, at an elevation of 3000 feet above the sea," which appears a very 

 early date if it was a bird hatched that season on European soil. In Western Africa it has been 

 met with as far south as Fantee. In Algeria it is recorded by Canon Tristram as common during 

 the winter in the oases; and Major Loche states that, though common in Northern Algeria, it is 

 rare in the southern portion, and does not, he thinks, ever reach the Sahara. Mr. Chambers- 

 Hodgetts met with it in Tripoli ; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake records two as having been shot 

 at Tetuan. Several authors have recorded it from Senegal. Messrs. Shelley and Buckley state 

 (Ibis, 1872, p. 287) that it is extremely common on the Gold Coast; and Mr. R. B. Sharpe 

 writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 69), in his paper on the birds of the Fantee country, " Mr. Ussher obtained 

 one specimen of our common Whin-Chat at Accra. I have it in my collection from the Gambia." 

 I have also received a specimen from Captain Shelley marked as having been obtained in the 

 Fantee country. 



To the eastward the present species is found, as above stated, in the Caucasus ; and De 

 Filippi records it as occurring in Persia ; but Mr. Blanford informs me that he never observed 

 it during his recent visit to that country. Messrs. Dickson and Ross also record (P. Z. S. 1839, 

 p. 120) a few as seen in April at Erzeroom; and again (P. Z. S. 1844, p. 65) they state that a 

 male was shot in November, and a female in May 1843 on the Jebel Mountains. In India it is 

 replaced by a very closely allied race, Pratincola rubetroides, Jameson (Jerdon, B. of I. App. 

 p. 872), which, judging from the three specimens I have examined, seems to me to be distinct 

 from our bird, being larger in size, more isabelline in colour, and having the white on the tail 

 extending nearly to the tip. Dr. Jerdon records this species as having been met with by Mr. W. 

 Jameson on the Salt range of the Punjab, whence Mr. Hume has also obtained it. In Siberia 

 the Whin-Chat does not occur; nor do I find it recorded from China or Japan. 



In its habits the Whin-Chat very closely resembles the Stone-Chat, and like that species 



4p 



