WHIN BUSHCHAT. 277 



tering in the air over it, that it performs its short, modulated, 

 cheerful song, which resembles that of the White-rumped 

 Stonechat, but is inferior to it in mellowness and compass. In 

 this respect the Bushchats resemble the White-throated War- 

 bler ; and, in fact, both in form and habits, a gradation may 

 easily be traced through the different species of the extensive 

 family of Cantatores. The Whin Bushchat is generally shy 

 and vigilant, so that it is not easily shot, unless in the vicinity 

 of its nest, from which it endeavours in various ways to decoy 

 an intruder. If wounded, it hides among the bushes, and is 

 very difficult to be traced. 



When one approaches their nest, they evince great anxiety ; 

 but at first keep at some distance, perch on the top twigs of 

 the bushes, and at short intervals emit a mellow plaintive note 

 followed by several short notes resembling the ticking of a 

 clock, or that produced by striking two pebbles together, and 

 at the same time jerk out their tail and flap their wings. When 

 the plaintive note alone is uttered, they do not move the body 

 or wings ; but for every two ticks, there is a jerk of the tail, 

 accompanied by a slight elevation of the wings. The notes 

 may be represented by the syllables, peep^ tick^ tick^ ticJc^ tick. 

 Sometimes a single tick only is emitted, frequently four or five, 

 rarely six. If you go nearer the nest, they advance, redouble 

 their cries, flit about from bush to bush, and sometimes hover 

 in a fluttering manner at the height of a few feet. 



This species breeds twice in the season, the first brood being 

 abroad from the middle of June to the beginning of July, the 

 second in August. The nest is concealed among shrubs and 

 herbage, being placed on the ground, and is composed of stems 

 and blades of grasses, with fibrous roots, and mosses, its interior 

 formed of finer fibres and hair of various kinds. It is very large, 

 its external diameter being six inches, the internal two and a 

 half. The eggs, which are four or five in number, are of a 

 uniform light greenish-blue, sometimes marked with brownish- 

 red dots, but generally unspotted ; their average length eight 

 and a half twelfths, their greatest breadth six and a half 

 twelfths. 



