480 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



the base of the beak, through the eye to the ear- 

 coverts, is a band of black, over which is one of 

 white, running from the forehead. Chin and throat 

 dull white ; breast pale cream colour, turning to a 

 dull yellowish-white on the remainder of the under- 

 parts. Legs, toes, and claws black. 



The female is not nearly of such distinc- 

 tive coloration, and is browner on her upper- 

 parts. 



Situation and Locality. Holes in dry walls, 

 heaps of stones, old mine hillocks, under lumps of 

 stone jutting from steep hillsides, in chinks of rock, 

 quarries, peat stacks, and occasionally in rabbit- 

 burrows. On high moorland and uncultivated dis- 

 tricts bare of trees but abounding in rocks. To 

 be met with in suitable districts over the whole of 

 the British Isles, but most numerous in the north 

 of England, Wales, Scotland, Shetlands, Orkneys, 

 and Ireland. 



Materials. Roots, dead grass, moss, lined with 

 wool, hair, rabbits' down, and feathers, often loosely 

 and clumsily put together. The materials named 

 are, of course, not all present in the same nest, but 

 are found according to the facilities the bird may 

 enjoy for picking them up. 



Eggs. Four to seven, more generally five or six, 

 of a pale greenish-blue, unspotted. I have found 

 specimens nearly white sometimes, and they are 

 said to be met with occasionally with a few small 

 rusty spots on the larger end. Size about .83 by 

 .61 in. (See Plate IV.) 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in March and 

 departing in August or September, stray individuals 

 sometimes lingering as late as December. Notes : 



