272 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



taken out of this nest, on account of the owner 

 of the orchard having seen the parent birds feeding 

 from the fruit of a strawberry-bed close by. 



Materials. Straw, hay, and fibrous roots, lined 

 with feathers, wool, rnoss, or whatever may be 

 easily obtainable. I have often seen nests made 

 with nothing whatever but straw. 



Eggs. Four to six, of a uniform pale blue. I 

 have seen clutches once or twice that were as near 

 white as possible. Size about 1-18 by *84 in. 



Time. April, May, and June, although eggs 

 have been seen in January and later than June. 



Remarks. Eesident, but subject to southern 

 movement in winter. Notes : alarm, spate, spate; 

 song, a mixture of all kinds of sounds, the bird being 

 a very clever imitator. Local and other names : 

 Sheep Starling, Stare, Sheep Stare, Solitary Thrush, 

 Brown Starling. A close sitter. 



STONECHAT. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length a little over 

 five inches. Bill of medium length, slightly curved 

 downward, and black. Irides dusky brown. Head, 

 nape, and back black, edged with tawny brown ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts white, tipped with tawny 

 brown and black. Wing-coverts black, edged and 

 tipped with rusty brown ; those nearest the body 

 are white, and form a conspicuous patch on the 

 wing ; quills dusky, some of them edged with 

 rusty brown. Tail-feathers black, faintly edged 

 and tipped with pale reddish-brown. Chin and 

 throat black ; sides of neck white ; breast dark rich 

 rust colour, belly much lighter ; vent and under 

 tail-coverts a mixture of black and white, which 



