52 STOKECHAT. 



varied and conspicuous plumage presenting an attractive object, 

 to which, if otherwise unobservant of it, its singular note will 

 probably draw your attention. 



It is of a restless and noisy habit, and seldom remains long 

 in one spot, perching on the topmost part of a bush or stone, 

 or hanging on some reed that bends with its weight, and 

 flying down from thence to pick up something from the ground; 

 on the latter, however, it but seldom stops for any lengthened 

 space. 



The Stonechat is a hardy bird, and remains with us 

 throughout the year; but would seem to make a partial home 

 migration in the autumn, leaving the wilder for more sheltered 

 and warmer situations; the young birds at all events seem to 

 quit their place, if the parents remain behind. About the 

 end of March they return again to their haunts. 



They are found singly or in pairs, though several individuals 

 may frequently be seen near together in the same immediate 

 neighbourhood. In very severe winters they come into gardens, 

 and approach quite close to cottages and houses. They, too, 

 like others of their class, have a frequent movement of the 

 body and the tail. They are very anxious for their young, 

 if danger approaches, and keep flying about in evident alarm 

 as long as it appears to threaten. They often seem to vanish 

 suddenly from sight, dropping as it were, from where they 

 stood, and then after flying close to the ground for some way, 

 rise up again to some other resting-place. They are not shy 

 in their habits, though rather wary. They may be kept if 

 taken from the nest, but only with great care. 



The flight of this species is, for the most part, a succession 

 of short flits or starts. They roost upon the ground, and 

 are sometimes taken by bird-catchers in their nets. 



Their food is made up of insects, larvse, and worms; the 

 former they frequently take on the wing, making short sallies 

 from their stand on the top of a bush. 



The ordinary note of this bird, which is somewhat of a 

 melancholy cast, is a 'chat' 'chat, chat,' resembling the sound 

 produced by striking two stones together; hence the name 

 of the bird, unless it be derived from its supposed habit of 

 frequenting stony places, which however is not the case, farther 

 than that barren districts, which are its favourite resort, are 

 for the most part stony, not having come under the hand of 

 the cultivator these are the two roots of the name, and 

 'utrum horum mavis accipe;' Buffon likens the note to the 



