THE ■WTUNTTIAT. Ifio 



accompanies witli a singular jerk of the tail. It secures most of its food upon tlic wing ; 

 for, taking its station on the topmost branches of a bush, it darts into the air after the 

 flies on which it feeds, and then returns to the same sjn'ay again and again, or settling 

 on another after a short flight of thirty or forty yards. 



The range of the "Wliinchat in Britain is very extensive, reaching at least, as far as the 

 furzy and broom-clad slopes, which abound on the secondary hills to the south of the 

 Grampians ; but it does not appear generally, or in any great number to cross those 

 mountains. . It may, however, be found in the eastern parts of the county of Ross, 

 especially along the northern shore of the Cromarty Frith, where the climate is jaecu- 

 liarly genial for the latitude, the lo\\-er grounds rich, insects very abundant, and the 

 country accessible across Aberdeen and Jloray, without any long flights over the higli 

 mountains, or the waters of the ocean. 



It is probable that the Whinchat retires, in the latter part of the season, from all its 

 more northerly breeding places ; but, thtit a iew pass the winter in Kent and Sussex, 

 even in places wdicre they rarely breed in the summer. A passage from the central parts 

 of Scotland to the south of England is as great a change, both in climate and latitude, as 

 one from the central parts of England to the other side of the channel. And though 

 birds of powerful wing and long and rapid flight can migrate from hemisi^here to 

 hemisphere, it is reasonable to suppose that birds of comparatively feeble pinions have 

 their migrations shorter ; and tliat those whicli go far to the nnrtli in summer, do not go 

 so far south in winter. 



m2 



