82 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



chat are restless and noisy; it may be most frequently 

 observed perched on the top of some low stone wall, or the 

 topmost branch of a furze bush or stunted thorn, where it 

 continually utters the quick " chat — chat, chat" that has 

 suggested the name it commonly goes by. In addition to 

 tli is not very melodious call, the bird has, however, a very 

 pretty little song, not particularly varied or loud, but cer- 

 tainly sweet and harmonious, which it utters sometimes 

 when perched, but more frequently whilst hovering or 

 rather fluttering in the air at a slight distance from the 

 ground. 



The food of the Stone-chat principally consists of 

 insects, grubs, and worms. It seizes its prey alike on the 

 ground and in the air, and the short, rapid, and sudden 

 darts which the bird makes after some tempting morsel 

 are amongst the most noticeable of its characteristics. In 

 this particular it somewhat resembles the Fly-catcher, for 

 as soon as the morsel is secured, the bird invariably 

 returns to its perch of observation as rapidly and ener- 

 getically as it left it. 



The Stone-chat chooses his mate in March, and nest- 

 ing operations are commenced about the end of the 

 month. The nest, which is rather large for the size 

 of the bird, is built on the ground in a somewhat loose 

 and uncompact style, and is by no means easy to dis- 

 cover, the centre of a patch of low furze, or some equalty 

 unpromising situation, being frequently selected. Moss, 

 dry grass, fibres of heath and small roots, are the ma- 

 terials made use of, and the interior is lined with hair, 

 fur, feathers, and occasionally wool. The eggs number 

 five or six, and are of a pale greenish or greyish-blue 

 colour, with a profusion of small specks of reddish-brown 



