BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 57 



tipped with black. Legs brownish black. Length 

 10 J in. Female browner, gorget less developed and 

 dingy. Young, back and breast barred with black, and 

 wing-coverts tipped with buff. 



Language, — Song, loud, rather fluty and wild. 

 When alarmed it utters harsh cries, like "tack-tack-tack. "■ 

 much resembling the Blackbird. Call-note, a shrill 

 kind of whistle. 



Habits. — Much like the Blackbird ; very similar in the 

 way it hops about when seeking food, in its flight with 

 the inevitable flirt of the tail when alighting, and in its 

 behaviour when alarmed. On their return in April 

 they consort in flocks until paired off. 



Food. — Worms, grubs, slugs, snails, and insects ; 

 soft fruits and various berries in season. 



Nest. — April or May. Probably two broods. 



Site. — On the ground, in holes of banks, amongst 

 rocks concealed by furze or heather. Sometimes in 

 low bushes. 



Materials. — Pieces of heather, dead leaves, moss, 

 and roots, compacted with mud, lined with fine dry 

 grasses. Much like the Blackbird's. 



Eggs. — Four or five. Resembling the Fieldfare's 

 and Blackbird's. Bluish green, spotted and mottled 

 with reddish brown. 



WHINCHAT (Pratincola rubetra). 



April to October. Possibly some remain throughout 

 the winter, in mild parts. Local, though pretty generally 

 distributed throughout Great Britain^ rarer towards 

 the North. Very local in Ireland. 



Haunts. — Open commons, heathy hill-sides, and 

 meadow lands, where there are furze-tracts, but it is 



H 



