64 
THE WOODCHAT. 
According to Swainson it is migratory in Sicily, 
residing there for a short time during the month 
of May.* On the African Continent its distri- 
bution is very extensive, being found in the 
north, west, and southern coasts, residing during 
the year, and, except in an occasionally more or 
less brilliant tint of colour, not varying from the 
birds of Europe, or the few stragglers which have 
been killed in this country. 
Above each nostril, between that and sur- 
rounding the eyes, yellowish white ; the forehead, 
a streak above each eye, and auriculars, brownish 
black, which extends downwards in a narrow 
streak, reaching the mantle, which is of the same 
colour ; crown of the head, occiput, and nape 
reddish orange. Separating the mantle from 
the scapulars and coverts, there is a patch of 
white converging and almost insulating those 
parts ; the rump and tail coverts are of the same 
colour, sometimes tinted with yellowish ; the 
wings are blackish brown, except the base of the 
quills, which are white, and exhibit a triangular 
spot of that colour ; the four centre tail feathers 
are brownish black, the others are white at the 
base, and that on the outside entirely of that 
colour, except a few dark bars on the inner web ; 
the under parts are white, or yellowish white, 
more or less barred with brown, according to 
the maturity of the specimen. In the female, the 
upper parts are of a browner tint, and the under 
Birds of Western Africa, i. p. 231. 
