STONECHAT 



STONECHATTER STONECLINK STONE-SMITH- 

 MOOR-TITLING. 



PLATE CXI I. 



Pratincola rubicola, LINNJEUS. 



Saxicola rubicola, ...... NEWTON. 



THE Stonechats pair in March, and commence building 

 before the end of that month. 



The nest, which is large and loosely put together, and 

 composed of moss, dry grass, and fibrous roots, or heath, 

 lined with hair and feathers, and sometimes with wool, is 

 placed among the grass or other herbage at the bottom of 

 a furze or other bush, or in the bush itself, as also in 

 heather, and even occasionally in some neighbouring hedge 

 adjoining the open ground which the bird frequents. It is 

 exceedingly difficult to find, on account of its situation in 

 the middle of a cluster of whin bushes such not admitting 

 of the most easy access the female also sitting very close, 

 and, when off the nest, being very watchful, hopping quickly 

 from bush to bush, and disappearing suddenly by retreat 

 into cover. 



The eggs, generally four to five or six in number, are 

 of a pale greyish or greenish blue colour, the larger end 



