344 BVxITISH BIEDS' NESTS. 



Materials. — Dead grass and moss, with an inner 

 lining of horsehair. 



Eggs. — Four to six, of a beautiful greenish-blue, 

 sparingl}^ speckled round the larger end with minute 

 spots of reddish-brown. They are more attenuated, 

 of a deeper blue, and less richly and clearly marked 

 than the eggs of the Stonechat. The appearance 

 of the parent birds, which are not often met with 

 close together, will, however, readily settle any 

 doubts. Size about '76 by '61 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Bemarlis. — Migratory, arriving in April and 

 departing in September or October. Note : ii-tac. 

 Local and other names : Furze Chat, Grass Chat. 

 Sits lightly, and, as mentioned above, is extremely 

 wary. I detected the one above mentioned by 

 watching through my field-glasses, the female go on 

 to her nest, and then directing my brother to the 

 spot by signs. 



WHITETHROAT. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about five 

 and a half inches ; bill somewhat short, straight, 

 and brown, lighter towards the base of i\\e under 

 mandible. Irides yellowish. The whole of the 

 upper-parts are brown, greyish on the head and 

 neck, and reddish on the other parts ; wing-quills 

 greyish-brown, some of the smaller ones being 

 edged with reddish-buff ; tail-quills dull brown, 

 some of the outer ones being edged and tipped 

 with dirty white ; chin and throat white ; breast, 

 belly, and under-parts generally, pale grey, tinted 

 with a beautiful rosy flesh colour ; legs, toes, and 

 claws brown, lightest on the first named. 



The female is less distinct in coloration, lacking 



