276 FRUTICICOLA RUBETRA. 



Variations. — The variations which this species exhibits are 

 so very sHght as scarcely to admit of being described. 



Changes. — The phimage being coloured as above described 

 in spring, when the species makes its first appearance with us, 

 undergoes considerable change as the season advances. The 

 upper parts become darker, as the edges of the feathers are 

 abraded ; the wings of a more uniform but lighter brown ; the 

 fore-neck and breast of a paler red, and the white markings of 

 a purer tint. By the end of summer, the oblong blackish- 

 brown spots on the upper parts are rendered more conspicuous, 

 by the abrasion of the light-coloured edges of the feathers, and 

 the red on the fore-neck has faded in a very remarkable degree, 

 while the rest of the lower parts have become greyish-white. 

 The female exhibits similar changes. Specimens shot in the 

 beginning of July by Mr Weir are in this state. 



Habits. — The Whin Bushchat generally arrives about a 

 month later than the White-rumped Stonechat, and in the 

 south of Scotland seldom makes its appearance before the end 

 of April, while it is stated to arrive in the south of England 

 about the middle of that month. It is generally distributed 

 over the country, occurring here and there in pastures, chiefly 

 in hilly and upland parts, though also in low and level tracts, 

 that are overgrown with furze, juniper, sloe, brambles or briars. 

 On the ground, where it is seldom seen however, it hops with 

 great activity, flitting on wing by short starts from place to 

 place. The station on which it is most frequently met with 

 is the topmost twig of a bush, "vs'hence it issues now and then 

 to pursue an insect on wing, or search for food on the ground. 

 When stationed, it is continually jerking its body and tail, and 

 at every movement it utters a short and rather sharp note re- 

 sembling the syllable cliack or cliat^ whence, w^ith its usual 

 place of resort, it has obtained the vernacular name of Whin- 

 chat. Its food consists chiefly of small coleopterous insects. 

 In the stomachs of those which I have opened, I have never 

 found any other substance, nor any particles of quartz or other 

 mineral. It is when perched on a twig, and often when flut- 



