





THE WIIINCHAT.' 



The TiiiKD Family consists of tlio soft-billed warblci's, in which arc included many 

 of our favourite songsters. Among these thci'o arc some whicli approach very closely to 

 the fly-catcher in structure and habits, but in all it will bo found that their legs are 

 longer, enabling them to hunt their food upon the ground, while they can alwaj's 

 pursue tliem by a sliort and hasty flight when they rise upon the wing. 



Tlie ^Miinchat, or furzechat, is a migratory bird, appearing in Britain about the 

 middle of April. It is partial to sjjots where furze is abundant, whence one of the names 

 by which it is known. Its nest is placed upon the ground, but is very artfully concealed 

 among the grass, at the bottom of a bush ; the nest being composed of dried grass and 

 stalks, lined with fine dried grass. Tlie female lays six blue eggs. 



The shape of the biixl is very elegant. The colour of the throat and breast is a delicate 

 fawn, passing into pale buff on the belly and under tail-coverts; the top of the head, 

 neck, back, and smalloi- wiiig-coverts aro a mixture of pale brown and very dark brown, 

 each feather being dark at the centre, and light at the circumterence. In the female tlic 

 general colours of the plumage are much loss pure and distinct. 



Tlie Whinchat is well Icnown to many from its peculiar cry of u-ficli, ic-tick, which 

 resounds from every bush and licdgcrow whicli it frequents, and which, as it utters, it 



• Saxicola Itubctra.— Bccbet. 



