32 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



1888, and both old and young birds were noted in October 

 1892, and again in 1894. The most recent migration of this 

 species which calls for special comment occurred between 

 the 20th and 23rd September 1903, when it was very plentiful 

 at the Teesmouth, and all along the Yorkshire coast, in com- 

 pany with Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears, Redstarts, Gold- 

 crests, and Pipits ; the slag walls and sand banks at the 

 Tees Breakwater were swarming with small immigrants, at 

 this time, Stonechats being unusually abundant, and they 

 had all moved on by the 24th of the month. An early refer- 

 ence to this bird's migration is mentioned by Edward Blyth 

 (Rennie's Field Nat., November 1837, p. 467), to the effect 

 that during a voyage from London, and when about ten 

 or twelve miles from Redcliff on the Yorkshire coast, on 

 i6th September, several migrants came on board the vessel, 

 amongst them being one Stonechat. 



In the breeding season it frequents, as a rule, the rough 

 wastes on the edges of moorlands of low altitude, and par- 

 ticularly affects gorse covers, though sometimes the nest 

 is met with almost on the sea level ; near Whitby one was 

 found amongst long benty grass in a cliff side and built 

 of dried grass, moss, wool, feathers, etc., lined with hair ; it 

 contained four eggs, one nearly white, the others normal. 



The vernacular names are many and varied, though it 

 should be borne in mind that in many parts of the county 

 the Wheatear is known as Stonechat and Stone-chatter. 

 Stone smich is used by Willughby ; Stone-smith, Stone- 

 smick, Stone-chatter, Stone-clink, and Stone-chack are all 

 used in Cleveland ; Stone-chacker in Cleveland and Craven ; 

 Stone-check near Sedbergh ; Chick-stone in Cleveland ; 

 Whin-chat near Doncaster ; Black-cap at Sedbergh and in 

 Cleveland ; Moor Titling and Moor Tit in Cleveland ; and 

 Red-breasted Moor Tit in East Cleveland. 



