STONECHAT. 



Africa is inhabited by P. heniprichi, with more white than black in 

 the tail ; while east of the valley of the Volga the place of our 

 species is taken by F. niaiira, characterized by a white rump and a 

 predominance of black in the under wing-coverts and axillaries. 



The nest, constructed very early in April, is concealed amongst 

 the herbage on broken ground, or at the foot of some thick furze or 

 other bush, and is composed of dry grass and moss with a lining of 

 bents, hair, and feathers. The 5 or 6 eggs are of a bluish-green 

 (greener than those of the Whinchat), spotted and zoned with pale 

 reddish-brown : average measurements 7 by '58 in. The parent 

 birds display considerable anxiety when the nest is approached, 

 flitting from bush to bush and uttering a sharp chack, but it 

 requires great patience to eye the female to her nest. Two broods 

 are produced during the season. The song, commenced early in 

 the spring, continues until the latter part of June, and, although 

 short, is rather pleasing ; but the scolding note, h-weef, Jiir, jnr, 

 uttered by the male as — -conspicuous by his black head, white neck, 

 and ruddy breast — he darts from spray to spray on some furze- 

 covered moor, is the most familiar indication of the presence of 

 this sprightly bird. The insect-prey of the Stonechat, including 

 small moths and butterflies, is often taken on the wing ; grubs, 

 worms and beetles forming its principal diet, with the addition of a 

 few seeds. 



Adult male in May : — the head, throat, nape and back, black ; 

 the feathers of the latter edged with brown ; tail coverts white, 

 spotted with dark brown ; tail and wings dark brown ; a conspicuous 

 white patch on the wing-coverts ; sides of the neck white ; breast 

 bright rufous, lighter on the abdomen ; under wing coverts and 

 axillaries mottled black and white ; bill, legs and feet black. In 

 autumn the under parts are paler, and the upper feathers are 

 margined with reddish-brown. Length 5 in. ; wing to the end of 

 the fourth and longest primary 2-55 in. ; bastard primary much 

 longer than in the Whinchat. In young males the crown of the 

 head is brown streaked with black. Female : — striped brown upper 

 parts ; throat merely mottled with black ; rump reddish-brown ; the 

 white wing-patch smaller than in the male and under parts much 

 duller. Young : — throat bufifish-white ; feathers of the upper parts 

 much tinged and margined with rufous-brown ; otherwise as in the 

 female. 



