OF SELBORNE. 209 



Many times have I had the curiosity to open the 

 stomachs of woodcocks and snipes ; but nothing ever 



rally visits this country in the beginning of April, and leaves us towards 

 the end of September : all the fore part of the season visiting commons, 

 where it may be seen on the furze bushes, flying backwards and forwards 

 after the insects that pass. It builds its nest on the ground in a thicket, 

 which it covers up with dry grass, so that it is impossible to find it with- 

 out watching the old ones, either in carrying materials to build, or food 

 to their young. I have generally found them with six or seven young 

 ones, which with care are easily bred up from the nest> keeping them 

 warm, dry, and clean, and feeding them with the same sort of food as 

 recommended for the old ones : they should not be taken till quite 

 fledged, and should at first be placed in a little basket with a cover, as 

 they will then readily open their mouths for food. I consider those 

 reared from the nest much the best, or at least such as are caught very 

 young, as they may then be taught any tune, or will learn the song of any 

 bird they hear, their own song not being a very good one. 



This bird may be considered as one of the tenderest of the tribe, being 

 very susceptible of cold. It is one of my greatest favourites. One that I 

 bred from the nest by hand learned the song of the whitethroat, the red- 

 start, willow wren, nightingale, and also that of a missel thrush, which 

 it frequently heard singing in a garden near; of this latter song it was 

 so fond, that we were frequently obliged to put our favourite out of the 

 room, not being able to bear its loud tune. It was certainly the best bird 

 I ever kept of any kind, singing nearly the whole year through, and vary- 

 ing its song continually ; the only fault was its strong voice. At last our 

 favourite was turned out of its cage by a mischievous servant on a cold 

 winter day, when we were from home for about an hour, and we could 

 not entice it back : it most probably died from the cold, or took its flight 

 to a warmer region. I scarcely entertain any hopes of ever getting such 

 another. 



The food of the present species is precisely the same as the last. 



The Stone Chat, (Saxicola rubicola, BECHST.) This, like the preceding, 

 is generally to be found on hills and commons, harbouring chiefly amongst 

 the furze bushes. It feeds, as far as I have observed, entirely on insects. 

 It is not so tender as the whin chat ; for some few of them occasionally 

 stay in this country all the winter. Its food is precisely the same as the 

 last, feeding, when wild, on small beetles, flies, ants, and their eggs, as 

 also all sorts of butterflies, moths, caterpillars, woodlice, and various 

 other insects. In confinement the food must be the same as that of the 

 last species. 



They soon become very tame, and if bred up from the nest will learn 

 the notes of other birds, which are in general better than their own : their 

 own song, though loud, is very short, but they have a strong voice to re- 

 peat the notes of another bird. 



The Redstart, (Phoenicura Ruticilla, SWAINS.) This is one of the hand- 

 somest of the British species of Sylviada, visiting us the latter end of 

 March or beginning of April : the earliest arrival I ever noticed was the 



P 



