112 STONECHAT 



tinctly. The brownish-orange marks the breast 

 only, and is of a paler tint than in the male ; the 

 other lower parts are dull yellowish-white, tinted 

 on the flanks slightly with orange-brown. The 

 general length of the species is from four to five 

 inches. 



THE STONECHAT, SAXICOLA RUBICOLA, 

 Bechst. Motacilla rubicola, Linn. Saxicola 

 rubicola, Stonechat, of British authors. Some 

 Stonechats reside with us during the whole year, 

 a portion, at the same time, arriving and depart- 

 ing at the usual seasons of spring and autumn, 

 either from the Continent, or by performing a 

 partial migration from other parts of our own 

 island. It is a species not nearly so abundant as 

 either of the preceding, and frequents localities of 

 a more wild and secluded character, extensive 

 whin covers, the skirts of nmirland districts, or 

 the vicinity of the coast, where whin dr brushwood 

 prevail. It is generally seen in pairs, except im- 

 mediately after breeding, and flits before the visi- 

 ter to its territory, alighting, like the others, on 

 the tops of the cover, and uttering a note more 

 closely resembling the knocking together of two 

 stones than either of the preceding, using a gentle 

 jerk or motion of the wings at the same time. It 

 builds generally near the root of some low bush, 

 constructing the nest of grass and moss, lined 

 with the finer grasses, and a few hairs. The eggs 

 are pale greenish blue, speckled with reddish brown, 



