28 BRITISH BIRDS 
smaller sometimes absent. Female duller, with yellow buff 
eye-stripe. In autumn the male is much like the female. 
Nest. Place: usually commons or heaths, on or near the 
ground in grass, or at the bottom of a bush. Material: 
grasses, moss, &c., with lining of finer grass or hair. 
Eggs. Usually 5-6. Greenish-blue spotted rust colour. 
Av. size, "73x ‘56in. Laying begins in May. Broods 1-2. 
48. Stonechat [Sazicola torquata hibernans (Hartert); Pratin- 
cola rubicola (Linnzus)]|. Resident and local. 
Bird. Length 54 in. The male has the head and back, chiefly 
black, contrasted with white patch on the 
tail-coverts (not tail itself as whinchat), 
wing, and neck. Under-parts mostly chest- 
nut and buff. Female differs conspicuously, 
having the head and upper-parts brown 
if with darker markings, little or no white 
Yj ifn HN 
Wi ik on the neck, and the under-parts duller, 
In winter the black of the male becomes 
Fig. 29. brown. The young are much like the 
female. 
Nest. Place: usually commons or heaths, in heather, grass, 
or at the foot of a bush. Material: moss, grass, &c., lin 
usually with finer grass and hair. 
figgs. Usually 5-6. Pale bluish-green with rusty brown spots. 
Av, size, ‘74x ‘57in. Laying begins March-April. Broods 1-2. 
49, Redstart Phenicurus phenicurus phenicurus (Linneeus) ; 
Ruticilla phenicurus (Linneeus)]. Summer visitor to most 
woodland districts. Rare in Ireland. Bird of passage. 
Bird. Length5}in. The male, in summer, is recognised by 
the white forehead contrasting with the 
jet black of the sides of the face, the 
throat, and the neck. Lower rump and 
tail-coverts chestnut, tail the same but 
duller. Rest of the upper-parts slate- 
grey. Breast and flanks chestnut. The 
female differs in having the upper-parts a 
Fig. 30. uniform brownish-grey. Under-parts dull 
white, except the forebreast and flanks, 
which are buff with a rufous tinge. Tail, tail-coverts, and 
rump as in male. The young resemble female, but have the 
upper- and under-parts mottled. 
Nest. Place: hole ina tree or wall, sometimes on the ground 
under cover, also in odd places, flower-pots, &c. Material: dry 
grasses, rootlets, &c., lined with horse-hair and feathers. 
Eggs. Usually 5-7. Pale blue, occasionally spotted with 
red-brown. Av. size, ‘79x’55 in. Laying begins in May. 
