284 BRITISH BIRDS. 



and, more rarely, in holes in houses and in trees and stumps. Vineyard- 

 walls, holes in mountain-fortresses, and amongst the debris carried down 

 the mountain-sides by the melting of the snow, may be also cited as places 

 frequently selected by this bird for its nest. Wherever it is found, how- 

 ever, it is usually well concealed from view, and always in a hole. The 

 bare ground will not unfrequently be chosen, under a bush, or even under 

 a dense overhanging grass-tuft. The nesting-season commences in the 

 latter end of April or beginning of May. The nest is very different in 

 construction from the nests of the true Thrushes, and, as is the case with all 

 hole-building birds, somewhat loosely made. The materials of different 

 nests also vary to a great extent, according to the locality in which they 

 are found. Nests in the more cultivated districts are made of roots, fine 

 and coarse grasses, moss and bents, and lined with hair and feathers. 

 Those taken from more isolated places, the rocky districts high up moun- 

 tain-sides, are similar in outward construction, rarely lined with hair or 

 feathers, but with fine rootlets and dry grass. Other nests will sometimes 

 be found constructed entirely of roots and withered grass. In examining 

 the nest of this bird, its close resemblance to that of the Redstart or the 

 Wheatear will be noticed. No mud is found in them ; they are loosely 

 put together ; and this circumstance, coupled with the covered site and 

 the colour of the eggs, still further suggests the bird's nearer affinity to 

 the Chats than to the true Thrushes. The eggs of the Rock -Thrush are 

 four or five in number, of the same beautiful bluish green as those of the 

 Song-Thrush, but slightly paler and rounder; indeed they are almost 

 intermediate between a Song-Thrush's and a Starling's. The markings 

 are confined to a very few faint light-brown specks, usually on the larger 

 end; but the eggs are very often spotless. In the same clutch these pecu- 

 liarities may be noticed ; for sometimes one egg will be faintly marked 

 and the rest spotless. They vary in length from 1-05 to 0'95 inch, and in 

 breadth from '82 to '7 inch. Like most hole-building birds, the Rock- 

 Thrush is a very close sitter ; and the showily-dressed male assists in incu- 

 bating the eggs. The young birds are fed by both parents, and are tended 

 for some little time after they leave the nest. They are fed on insects, 

 larvae, spiders, and grubs. The Rock-Thrush is said to rear two broods 

 in the year. When the nest is approached, especially should it contain 

 young birds, the old birds become very anxious, and exhibit signs of the 

 greatest distress for their helpless offspring. 



The male Rock-Thrush is a very handsome bird. Its head, neck, and 

 throat are cobalt-blue, shading into bluish black on the upper back, wing- 

 coverts, and rump ; the wings are brown. In the centre of the back is a 

 nearly pure white patch, a few of the feathers being tipped with grey. 

 Except the throat, the entire under surface is rich chestnut, including the 

 tail, the two centre feathers of which are darker than the rest. Bill, legs, 



