FOR CAGES AND A VI ARIES. 191 



THE STOCK DOVE. See under Doves. 



THE STONECHAT. 



This bird closely resembles the Whinchat in form and 

 habit, but is more brilliantly coloured. The head, neck, 

 chin and upper breast are jet black; the back and wings, 

 brown with a dark centre^ to each feather; the rump, two 

 of the greater wing-coverts on each side, and a round 

 patch on the neck above the bend of the shoulder, are 

 white; the tail is dark brown, and the breast deep orange- 

 red getting paler on 

 the belly and almost 

 disappearing on the 

 vent and the under 

 tail-coverts; the bill, 

 legs and feet are 

 leaden-grey. 



All the directions 

 given for preserving 

 the Whinchat in 

 confinement are 

 applicable in the 

 case of its near rela- 

 tive the Stonechat, 

 which frequents the 

 same kind of places 

 as the former, and, 



like it, comes to us in April, to take its departure from 

 our shores in September. 



It is a very attractive-looking bird, and one that is ex- 

 tremely lively in its habits, but unless it has plenty of 

 space in which to disport itself, it soon becomes dull and 

 listless. 



It has frequently been mistaken for the Whinchat, as 

 well as for other species. 



■^-^' 



The Stonechat. 



