36 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
Whinchat, it is not uncommon on the heathy hills and 
the warrens near the coast, but is rare in the marshy 
district of Ince and Helsby. In the East it occurs 
sparingly. Mr. S. Radcliffe found a nest in 1895 at 
Dan Bank, Marple, on the borders of the Hill Country, 
and has in his collection a pair of birds which were 
obtained at Poynton. He informs us that nests have 
been found occasionally on the hills near Staleybridge. 
At the end of May 1897, we watched a cock bird sing- 
ing in a clough at the foot of Shuttlings Low; but the 
Stonechat does not appear to be common on the hills 
near Macclesfield, as Mr. N. Neave has never met with 
it at Rainow. 
Brockholes states that only a few birds winter in 
Wirral, the majority leaving in autumn.t We have 
never met with the Stonechat on the Cheshire Plain 
except in the winter months, and even then but rarely, 
though the places where we have seen it are widely 
separated. 
REDSTART. 
RUTICILLA PHENICURUS (Linneus). 
Firetarl. 
Towards the end of April we may look for the 
appearance of the Redstart, although in backward 
seasons it is often the first week in May before the 
brilliant colours of the male attract our attention. 
Immediately after their arrival the birds select a 
nesting-site, and it is not unusual to find eggs before 
the middle of May. During the period of incubation 
the male keeps in the vicinity of the female, and his 
1 Brockholes, op. cit. p. 6. 
