BRITAIN S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 317 



ference for the most conspicuous points. The most notice- 

 able features of the cock Stonechafs plumage are the 

 shiny black head, the incomplete white collar, the bright 

 rufous breast, and the white wing-patch. On account of 

 the first of these characteristics the name Blackcap is 

 often given to this species in the north of Scotland, 

 where the Warbler which is the rightful bearer of that 

 name is unknown. His song is sweet but brief. The 

 hen-bird is a very plainly coloured bird. She may be 

 distinguished from the hen Whinchat by her mottled 

 black throat, and by the absence of a distinct eye-streak. 

 Although it is almost entirely insectivorous, the Stone- 

 chat remains with us throughout the winter, being one 

 of the few 'soft-billed' birds which do so. Its numbers 

 greatly diminish on the approach of winter, however. Its 

 near ally, the Siberian Stonechat (Pratincola rtmura), has 

 wandered to our coasts during the autumn migration 

 season. 



Any attempt to locate the nest from the erratic move- 

 ments of the male is doomed to failure, but a veiy careful 

 watching of his inconspicuous mate may sometimes lead 

 to its discovery. The nest is usually on the ground or 

 near it, and is carefully concealed under a gorse-bush. 

 The hen is careful not to betray its position by flying 

 directly to it, but approaches it for some distance along 

 the ground. 



Large and carefully built, the nest is chiefly composed 

 of dry grass and moss, and is lined with feathers, hair, 

 and other materials. The eggs, five or six in number, 

 are bluish green, marked v/ith reddish brown. Two broods 

 are reared. 



