CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. II7 



CASE 22, 



STONECHAT, WHINCHAT, WHEATEAR, 



REDSTART. 



Order y Passeres. Family, Turdtdce. 



The Stonechat. 



This species is very widely distributed over the 

 British Islands, very common in Ireland, and 

 penetrating as far north as the Outer Hebrides. It 

 is mostly resident, migration being only partial ; 

 still, a good many birds find their way over from 

 the Continent in the spring. Its habitat is usually 

 on open moors, heath-lands, and furze-covered 

 wastes. One of the male birds in the case was shot 

 on mountain heather in South Uist. 



In connection with this species, I am forcibly 

 reminded of a little incident which occurred in my 

 boyhood days. Being very fond of birdnesting, I 

 had on one particular half-holiday found a Stone- 

 chat's nest with only one o.'g^ in it. I calculated 

 that in three or four days' time there would be from 

 three to four eggs. Unfortunately, the next half- 

 holiday all the boys were expected to play cricket. 

 The ofround beingf some little distance off, I crave 

 the masters the slip en route, but alas ! being missed, 

 I was subsequently found out, had to "own up," 

 and was sentenced to commit to memory 500 lines 

 of Livy. Howard Saunders says : " The nest, 

 constructed very early in April, is concealed 



