n6 



THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



resembling the word U-tick, many times repeated. It has 

 rather a pleasant song, generally singing when sitting on 

 the topmost twig of a bush or when hovering in the air. 



The plumage is rather sombre, of a darkish-brown on 

 head and back. The feathers have a light edging ; a 

 white streak, rather broad, over the eye ; a dark-brown 

 patch behind the eye and extending to the neck. The 

 chin is white, the throat and breast of a delicate fawn- 

 colour. 



Seebohm says that the whinchat is one of the first 

 birds to lose its powers of song. Singing incessantly 

 through May, it loses its voice entirely by the end of June 

 or the first days of July. 



THE WHINCHAT. 



