THE ROBINS AND CHATS. IOI 



it also builds its nests high, in any commodious hole 

 or recess in a wall or tree. A favourite place is under 

 one of the large ridge tiles at the corner of your roof. 

 There are generally, I believe, four eggs, which are 

 of a pale greenish colour, spotted or blotched with 

 brown. Look for them in April or May. 



The Stonechats and Whinchats are for the most 

 part lovers of sandy wildernesses, and though several 

 species are common on the arid plains of Guzerat and 

 the Deccan, they avoid the coast. There are two, 

 however, which may be mentioned here. One is 

 what Jerdon calls the White-winged Black Robin 

 (Pratincola capratti}, a dapper little black-and-white 

 bird, which balances itself on the point of a reed, or 

 the topmost twig of a bush, and jerks its tail about 

 and utters little warbling Robin-like notes. All who 

 cross the harbour in search of snipe must know it 

 very well, and on the outskirts of Bombay you may 

 fall in with it. It builds its nest in similar places to 

 the Common Robin. The other is a sandy-coloured 

 bird, with black-and-white tail, which. Jerdon called 

 the Wheat-ear (Saxicola oenanthe). It is not the true 

 Wheat-ear, however, but a spurious imitation, and 

 is stigmatised in "The Fauna of British India" as 

 the " Isabelline Chat." On cold weather mornings 

 you will sometimes find it perched on railings about 

 the Esplanade. 



The Redstart is another bird every one ought to 

 know, which fits in here. It is common in Poona 

 and all over the Deccan, and very familiar, coming 

 about our houses and sometimes hopping in at the 

 door. On the coast it is not so common, but you 

 may meet with it anywhere, and it is a distinguished 



