BIRDS. 
105 
Pratincola rubicola {L.). Stone-Chat. 
Eesident ; pairs are seen scattered throughout the country to 
the east in every month in the year, though they retire 
nearer the coast-line as winter approaches ; they are un- 
sociable birds, more than two being rarely seen together. 
In the west more abundant than the next species, but 
locally distributed. Observed at Altnaharrow in June 
1881. Common, and breeding at Tongue (auct. J. C.^). 
Also found at Syre (S. G. Eeid). 
A resident species in the county. The first place Mr. Osborne 
observed it was in the quarries at Clayquoys. " For some 
years previously I had been observing the rarer birds of the 
county, but had not till then met with the stone-chat. 
The examples referred to were three or four in number, but 
they disappeared in a day or two, and for two or three 
years I altogether lost sight of them. Paying a visit, one 
fine day in the beginning of summer, to that extensive 
range of furze bushes by the side of the river at Silester, so 
well known to generations of birds'-nesting schoolboys, I 
was delighted to find that a whole colony of stone-chats 
had taken part possession of this famed breeding station, 
and still further added to its ornithological attractions. 
For a summer or two afterwards I observed them to be 
quite as numerous, and then, to whatever cause it might be 
owing, they disappeared in a body. Some years have now 
elapsed since I have been in that locality, and am conse- 
quently unaware whether or no these erratic visitors have 
returned to their old quarters. This uncertain and change- 
able disposition of the stone-chat in regard to locality has 
been frequently observed and commented on. Specimens 
have been obtained, however, in other parts of the county, 
but these, so far as I am aware, only occurred singly or in 
pairs" (0. MSS., 1868). 
^ J. C. =Johu Crawford, Esq., late of Tongne. 
