\YHINCH AT. 283 



perching on one of the uppermost twigs. There is one 

 difference between the Whin chat and the Stonechat which 

 must be mentioned. A considerable number of Stone- 

 chats pass the winter in Britain ; but the Whinchats, almost 

 to a bird, depart in autumn to go further south. The 

 similarity in various points between these two birds has 

 induced a partial belief that the Whinchats, like the Stone- 

 chats, remained here during the winter. Pennant thought 

 they did not migrate, only shifted their quarters ; but 1 am 

 not aware of more than two authentic instances of the 

 Whinchat being seen here in winter one in Cambridge- 

 shire, and one in Devonshire. 



The Whinchat makes its appearance in the southern and 

 south-eastern parts of this country about the middle of 

 April, and arrives in the northern counties by the end of 

 that month : it does not, however, begin to build so soon 

 as the Stonechat, but is usually about a fortnight later. 

 Its song is agreeable, generally given from an elevated po- 

 sition on a furze-bush, or while hovering in the air over it. 

 Like most song birds, it is prone to imitate the notes of 

 others ; and the Whinchat appears to have been an especial 

 favourite with Mr. Sweet, who was well known for his 

 partiality to, and successful treatment of, the Warblers in 

 confinement, and has published his method of treatment. 

 One of these birds brought up from the nest by Mr. Sweet 

 used to sing the whole day through, and very often at 

 night : it sang the notes of the Whitethroat, Redstart, 

 Willow Warbler, Missel Thrush, and Nightingale. The 

 food of the Whinchat is worms, insects, small testaceous 

 mollusca, slugs, and berries. 



The nest, generally placed on the ground, is similar to 

 that of the Stonechat, formed with a little moss and bents 

 of grass, lined with finer bents : the eggs, five or six, of a 

 uniform bluish green, with some minute specks of dull 



