2 2 2 BRITISH BIRDS 



It is a bird of passage, and frequents heaths and com- 

 mons, where it builds a compact and cleverly concealed 

 nest of grass, lined with hair and wool, among the roots 

 of the furze; the eggs, five or six, sometimes seven in 

 number, are pale blue ; and the young are very much 

 spotted. 



The Whinchat is fond of perching on the tops of clumps 

 of broom and gorse, or on a thorn hedge, whence it makes 

 constant sallies after passing insects : with these it invariably 

 returns to the position it has just left, and trills forth its 

 lively litde song. 



It is gifted with considerable powers of imitadon, and 

 in confinement will learn and render in the most accom- 

 plished manner the notes of any other birds among which 

 it is placed. 



When wild, it feeds entirely on insects, though the late 

 Rev. F. O. Morris also gave it credit for devouring slugs! 

 In the house, it must be treated as advised in the case of 

 the Wheatear, otherwise its chance of survival there will 

 be of the smallest. 



The young are easily reared on ants' eggs and small 

 insects. They should be taken just before they are ready 

 to fly, or may be caught directly they have left the nest 

 (which is so well concealed, that it is very difficult to find). 

 In either case, they are to be kept, until they are able to 

 feed themselves, in a small basket with a lid to it, and 

 will then gape freely to be fed when it is opened. Needless 

 to remark, that the most scrupulous attention must be paid 

 to keeping them clean. 



It is rare for a Whinchat captured when adult to survive 

 in confinement for any length of time, but the young that 

 have been reared from the nest will do very well in cage 

 or aviary, and become most charmingly tame. They require 

 plenty of space, and are very susceptible to cold : if kept 

 out of doors they must be taken in before the advent of 

 winter. 



