DIPPERS, NIGHTINGALES, STONE CHATS, BLUE BIRDS, ' 19 



uniform contour built on a rock, on the edge of a stream. Ex- 

 ternally it was composed of green moss, in a living state ; within is 

 a strong, compactly built apartment, arched over, and supported 

 by twigs, with a cup-like depression at the bottom, hemispherical 

 and composed of roots and twigs firmly bound together. The 

 structure is 7 inches in height externally, and has a diameter of 

 loj4 inches at the base. Within, the cavity has a depth of 6 

 inches; the entrance, which is on one side, is 3^ in breadth by 

 2)4 in height. The eggs were three in number, uniform, dull 

 white, and unspotted. They measure 1.04 inches by .70. They 

 have an elongated oval shape, and are much pointed at one end." — 

 [Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's N. A. Birds, vol. i, pp. 57, 58. 



FAMILY Luscinidse. — Nightingales. 



20. cyanecula suecica. 

 BLUE-THROATED WABBLER. •• 



FAMILY Saxieolidae.— Stone Chats.— Bluebirds. 



21. SAXICOLA (ENANTHE. 



STONE CHAT. 



" The well-known Wheat-ear" — as it is also called — "is enti- 

 tled to a place in our fauna, not only as an accidental visitor, but 

 also as an occasional resident. Dr. H. R. Storer, of Boston, found 

 them breeding in Labrador in the summer of 1848, and procured 

 specimens of the young birds which were fully identified by Dr. 

 Samuel Cabot as belonging to this species. *** Mr. Dall states 

 that several large flocks of this species were seen at Nulato, May 

 23 and 24, 1868, and a number of specimens obtained. They were 

 said to be abundant on the dry stony hill-tops, but were rare along 

 the river. "-••** It breeds throughout the British Islands as well as 

 in the whole of Northern Europe and Asia. 



The Wheat-ear begins to make its nest in April, usually conceal- 

 ing it in some deep recess beneath a huge stone, and often far be- 

 yond the reach of the arm. Sometimes it is placed in old walls, 

 and is usually large and rudely constructed, made of dried bents, 

 scraps of shreds, feathers, and rubbish collected about the huts, 



