286 



THE STONE CHAT. 



Its nest is artfully concealed amongst long grass, near the roots 

 of a furze-bush or whin, composed of dry grass and roots, with 

 some moss, lined with finer grass and hair. Like all nests on 

 the ground, it is loosely put together and pretty large, eggs 

 usually six, light greenish-blue, sometimes with reddish dots. 

 It jerks its body and tail, and utters the same sharp stone-struck 

 cry of chick-chack. It also has a sweet low song — not so loud 

 as the wheat-ear's, but, like it, sings on the wing. Its food con- 

 sists of coleopterous and other insects and larvae. It is less than 

 the preceding, 5J inches long by 9 J inches in extent of wings ; 

 its tail shorter in proportion. It has a distinctive white band 

 over the eyes; cheeks brownish-black, upper parts light 

 yellowish-red, streaked with brown ; throat and streak on side 

 of neck, white ; crown of head, back, and wings brownish-black, 

 each feather margined with yellow ; rump, brown ; base of tail, 

 white ; under part of throat and breast, pale-brown ; belly, 

 yellowish-white ; iris, brown ; bill and feet, black — female with 

 the dark spots larger and the white less conspicuous. 



The Stone Chat, or Black-Headed Bush Chat. 

 (Saxkola Rubicola.) Bechst. (Motacillo Rubicola.) Linn. 



" Eve's mild hour invites my steps abroad ; 

 While, near the midway cliff, the silvered kite 

 In many a whistling circle wheels her flight, 



And restless stone chat is heard." — Wordstvorth. 



Unlike the other two, this is a native, stays all year with us, 

 and is more common on our links and Kinkell braes than the 

 preceding ; but in habits, nidification, and food it resembles the 

 last — always alighting on the highest twig, jerking its body and 

 emitting the same sharp cry of chick-chari: It also has a low 

 sweet song when perched on the top of a twig or when flying. 

 When disturbed it flits quickly from twig to twig, flies low, 

 and warily keeps out of range — as already remarked, it might as 

 well be named the furze chat as the stone chat. Like most of 

 our native birds it breeds early, generally in April, and, like the 

 last, conceals its nest under the herbage near the roots of whins 

 or low bushes ; it is made of dry grass, lined with finer grass, 

 wool, hair, and feathers. The eggs, five or six, also pale 

 greenish-blue, speckled at the larger end with light brown 



