58 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



on the wings. It is sometimes called the Tithys Red- 

 start, most probably from a Greek word for a small 

 bird of that description. 



STONECHAT. 



Saxicola rubicola ; Tarier rubecole ; Schuuarzkehliger. 

 Stonechatter ; Blackcap. 



Beak, legs, and claws, black ; head, neck, and back, 

 also black; sides of the neck, white like a collar; breast, 

 beneath, bright reddish chestnut ; tail, almost black. 

 The female has the upper parts brown instead of black, 

 the collar less distinct, and the red on the breast fainter. 



This very attractive little bird enlivens with his 

 presence nearly all the wastes and commons of our 

 country. Like the Whinchat, the gorse, or furze, as we 

 call it in Ireland, is its favourite resting-place, and " the 

 topmost twig" is frequently adorned by our little friend 

 with his black head, white collar, and ruddy breast ; 

 whilst his well-known voice, like the clicking of two 

 stones together, is repeatedly heard as he flits on before 

 us from one " coign of vantage " to another. I have but 

 very rarely heard the song of the Stonechat. It is 

 uttered in a very weak, low voice, and generally whilst 

 the bird is on the wing ; but of the " click, click, 3 ' or 

 " twit-click-click," he is by no means chary. 



It has been remarked that Stonechats always perch 

 on the top of the bushes, and also on the tops of the 

 dockweeds, when they alight ; and we may notice cock 

 and hen a few feet apart in this conspicuous position, 

 each jerking its tail, and clicking responsively the 



