190 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE BLACK -THEOATED WHEATEAK. 

 {Saxicola stapazina.) 



Plate 51, Fig. 15. 



A male of this species was shot by Mr. David Page, of Bury, in 

 Lancashire, on or about the 8th of May, 1875, whilst it was sitting 

 on the ridge of the out-buildings belonging to the Bury Angling 

 Association near the reservoir. The Black-throated Wheatear, 

 and its ally the Black-eared Wheatear, are two of the commonest 

 birds in Greece and Asia Minor. 



The nests which I found were usually in the grass in some 

 rock-sheltered crevice, and were loosely made outside of moss and 

 grass, but rather neatly lined with roots and goats' hair. 



The number of eggs was usually five, but sometimes only four. 

 They vary in ground-colour from pale to dark bluish-green, spotted 

 with reddish-brown of different shades. In some specimens the 

 spots are dark (almost liver) brown and sharply defined ; in others 

 they are pale, many of them confluent. As a rule, the markings 

 are confined to the large end of the e^g, where they usually form 

 a zone ; but sometimes they are irregularly dispersed over the 

 entire surface. Some eggs are almost spotless, whilst others 

 have an indistinct band of very pale spots at the large end. 

 They measure from 0'8 to 0'7 inch in length, and from 0'62 to 

 0'56 inch in breadth. 



THE WHINCHAT. 

 (Pratincola rubetra.) 



Plate 51, Figs. 18, 19. 



The Whinchat may be said to be pretty generally diffused 

 throughout the three kingdoms in summer, and, in certain locali- 

 ties, it is a common and abundant species. It breeds in all suit- 

 able localities throughout Central and Northern Europe, ranging 

 from the Arctic circle as far south as the pine regions extend. 



The nest of the Whinchat is usually made in a little cavity in 

 the ground, and the thickest tufts of herbage are selected. Dry 

 grass, moss, and a few straws form the outside of the nest. 

 Internally it is composed of rootlets and horse-hair, loosely put 

 together and almost enshrouded in the surrounding herbage. 



The eggs are from four to six in number, greenish-blue like 

 those of the Stonechat. 



