STONECHAT. 



23 



though it may be found in most of the suitable places 

 in Great Britain. These places are the moors and 

 large open tracts of uninhabited country, the heaths 

 and the commons ; especially where the furze bushes, 

 brambles, and low brushwood abound. In its appearance 

 too it slightly resembles the Whinchat. Its head, back, 

 and neck are nearly black, the neck having a white 

 stripe on each side ; the wings are blackish brown, 



STONECHAT. 



and its breast chestnut. The food also consists chiefly 

 of small winged insects, beetles and worms. 



The nest of the Stonechat is perhaps as difficult to 

 find as any we have : partly because it is often placed 

 right in the middle of a furze plantation, where it is 

 very awkward to get at, and partly because from the 

 behaviour of the parent birds it is very hard to guess 

 in which direction their nest has been built. Then 

 again the bird will sit so closely sometimes, that she 



