THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 23 



Black Redstart with white on its wings, fly along a 

 wire fence. 



An immature Black Redstart was caught by a bird- 

 catcher in one of our brickfields, Nov. 1887. 



STONECHAT. 

 Saxicola rubicola (Linn.). 



The Stonechat is more common with us in winter 

 than in summer. I have never heard of its breeding 

 in my district, but it may possibly do so in some 

 snug corner or other. We have no furze banks or 

 rough commons, and it does not appear to approve 

 of clean pastures and cultivated fields. 



WHINCHAT. 

 Saxicola rubetra (Linn.). 



Comes in April, probably breeds in my district 

 more often than the Stonechat ; a pair frequented a 

 narrow coppice on my farm in 1886. On mowing 

 clover and making hay in the field adjoining, a 

 nest was discovered containing four blue eggs, built 

 on the ground, after the manner of the Skylark, 

 the scythe cut clean over it ; the hay-makers 

 were puzzled, never having seen blue eggs in 

 such a place before, at least fifty yards from the 

 hedge. 



