12 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
one as early as February 19th, and has also observed it as 
late as the end of October in the Isle of Wight. 
In Garrow's "History of Lymington" (1825) it is said 
that the flavour of the New Forest wheatears is inferior 
to that of Sussex birds. 
Hawker took a gun to Alum Bay in August, 1833, "to 
get a few dozen of those delicious birds, the wheatears." ^ 
Genus — Pratincola. 
9. Pratincola rubetra, Whinchat. 
A summer visitor. 
Arriving in the middle of April, it is found in all parts 
of the county and Isle of Wight, but is nowhere plentiful. 
Though Gilbert White^ supposed it to be a resident, he 
was probably mistaken in the species, as the female stone- 
chat might be confounded with it, for the whinchat leaves 
our districts in early October. 
10. Pratincola rubicola, Stonechat. 
Furze-Hacker. Furze-Chat. Stone-Hacker. 
Stone-Chatter. 
A common resident. 
Found in all parts of the county and Isle of Wight, but 
numerous only in those districts where furze abounds. 
^ "Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker." 1893. 
» Letter xxxix. to Pennant. Selborne. November 9th, 1773. 
