The Stonechat 



brown with a conspicuous white j^atch on the wing coverts ; 

 breast and under parts bright rufous, lighter on the abdomen. 

 The female has the upper parts striped with brown and the 

 throat spotted with black. The white patches are smaller. 

 The young are mottled and spotted with brown all over. 

 Length 5 in.; wing 2*55 in. 



THE SIBERIAN STONECHAT 



Pratincola maura, Pallas 



This is the representative of the preceding species in 

 Northern Europe and Asia. One example only has been shot 

 on our shores, viz. a male, in Norfolk, on September 2, 1904. 



It is characterised by the pure white rump, but in other 

 respects closely resembles the Common Stonechat. 



THE REDSTART 



Ruticilla phoenicurus (Linnaeus) 



Coming with the rush of our spring warblers, the Eed- 

 start, by its bright plumage, soon makes his arrival manifest. 

 No one can mistake him, as with black head, white fore- 

 head, and red breast he sits on some tree in the garden, or 

 on one of the pollard willows that fringe the stream, his 

 tail vibrating with that curious sideway motion peculiar to 

 his kind. It is in these early April days that he is seen 

 to best advantage, staying in favoured spots till the advent 



3^ 



