34 1 HHITISU BIllDs' NESTS. 



Mdlefial.s. — Dead grass and moss, with an inner 

 lining of liorseliair. 



Egys. — Four to six, of a beautiful greenisli-blue^ 

 sparingl}^ speckled round the larger end with minute 

 spots of reddish-brown. They are more attenuated, 

 of a deeper blue, and less richl}' and cdearly marked 

 than tlie eggs of the Stonechat. The appearance 

 of the parent birds, Avhieh are not often met with 

 close togetlier, will, however, readily settle any 

 doubts. Size about -76 by -57 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Pieinarls. — Migratory, arriving in April and 

 departing in September or October. Note : ii-tac. 

 Local and other names : Furze Chat, Grass Chat. 

 Sits lighth^, and, as mentioned above, is extremely 

 w^ar}'. I detected the one above mentioned by 

 watching through my field-glasses, the female go on 

 to her nest, and then directing my brother to the 

 spot by signs. 



WHITETHROAT. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about five 

 and a half inches ; bill somewhat short, straight, 

 and brown, lighter towards the base of the under 

 mandible. Irides yellowish. The whole of the 

 upper-parts are brown, greyish on the head and 

 neck, and reddish on the oth.er parts ; wing-quills 

 gre3ush-browu, some of the smaller ones being 

 edged with reddish-buff ; tail-quills dull brown, 

 some of the outer ones being edged and tipped 

 with dirt}" white ; chin and throat white ; breast, 

 belly, and under-parts generally, pale grey, tinted 

 w^ith a beautiful rosy flesh colour ; legs, toes, and 

 claws brown, lightest on the first named. 



The female is less distinct in coloration, lacking: 



