THRUSHES 27 



Nest. On the ground among rocks or heather, rarely in 

 bushes. Material : as blackbird^ except that, as might be ex- 

 pected, bracken and heather are more often used for the 

 outside. 



Eggs. Usually 4-5. Like the blackbird, but generally with 

 bolder markings. Av. size, 1*19 x "84 in. Laying begins 

 April-May. Broods 1-2. 



46. Wheatear [CEnanthe cenanthe cenanthe (Linnaeus) ; 

 Saxicola cenanthe cenanthe Linnaeus]. Summer visitor and bird 

 of passage. Local. The related subspecies, the Greenland 

 wheatear [0. csnanthe leucorrhoa (Gmelin)], is a bird of passage 

 only. 



Bird. Length 6 in. Recognised by the conspicuous white 

 on rump. The male has the upper parts mostly grey, a white 

 stripe passing round the forehead and 

 over each eye, lores and ear-coverts 

 black, wings mostly dark brown, under- 

 parts buff except the belly, which is 

 white. The female has the upper-parts 

 and ear-coverts brown, and the under- 

 parts all buff. After the autumn moult 

 the male resembles the female. The 

 young differ chiefly in having the back 

 greyish-brown, and the feathers on the 

 throat and forehead tipped brown so as 

 to form indistinct bars. 



Nest. Place : on warrens, downs, stony 

 open country, in rabbit -bur rows, under 

 rocks or stones, or any suitable crevice. 

 Material : dry grass lined with hair, fur, wool, &c. Many pairs 

 may be found nesting near together. 



Eggs. Usually 5-6. Pale blue, sometimes speckled with 

 dark red-brown. Av. size, '81 x "61 in. Laying begins April- 

 May. Broods 1-2. 



47. Whinchat [Saxicola rubetra rubetra (Linnaeus) ; Pratin- 

 cola rubetra rubetra (Linnaeus)]. Summer visitor to most parts 

 and bird of passage. Exceptional in 



winter. Local. 



Bird. Length 5j in. Distinguished 

 at all seasons from the stonechat by the 

 white oa the basal part of the tail and 

 its slighter build. The male has the 

 upper-parts brown with black markings. 

 The throat and breast is tinged with 

 rufous ; the rest of the under-parts white. A broad white 

 stripe over the eye and two white patches on the wing, the 



Fig. 27. 



Fig. 28. 



