STONECHAT REDSTART. 1 



STONECHAT (Pratincola rubicola). 



Resident, but no doubt intermigratory in winter. Rather 

 less common than the last, being local and confined to furze- 

 clad commons. 



Plumage. Head and throat black ; upper parts black, with 

 feathers edged with brown. Tail and wings dark brown, 

 with conspicuous white patch on the latter; tail-coverts white, 

 spotted with brown. Sides of neck white. Breast bright chestnut- 

 red paling into almost white on the belly. Bill and legs black. 

 Length 5^ in. Female, duller in colour throughout, with 

 smaller white wing spot ; tail-coverts reddish brown ; throat 

 black, with small dingy white and reddish spots. Young 

 spotted above and below ; no dark throat or white patches. 



Language. Song, soft, sweet and varied though short, ut- 

 tered on the wing and when perched. Call-note, " chat-chat," 

 like two pebbles being knocked together. Note of anger or 

 alarm, " huett-jurre," with the r's rolled. 



Habits. Generally resembling the last but more conspicuous 

 in its harlequin-like dress. It loves to perch on the topmost 

 spine of a gorse-spray, fanning and twitching its tail nervously 

 and fidgeting the whole time. Insects captured on the wing. 

 When alarmed it skulks in dense cover. Nest difficult to 

 locate owing to the deceptive wiles of the parents. 



Food. Insects chiefly ; spiders, small worms, grubs, and 

 beetles. In winter, seeds. 



Ne*t. April or May. Sometimes two broods. 



Site. On or very near the ground at the base of furze-bush, 

 well concealed by growing herbage. 



Materials. Dry grass, rootlets, and moss, loosely compacted, 

 lined with finer grass, hair, feathers, and sometimes a little 

 wool. 



Eggs. Four to six. Pale greenish blue ; speckled, chiefly 

 at large end, with reddish brown. 



REDSTART (Ruticilla phcenicurus). 



Migrant ; April to September. Well distributed though not 

 common. Local in some parts. In Scotland and Ireland 

 rather rare. 



Haunts. Ivy-mantled ruins, broken walls, orchards, gardens, 

 groves, and wild uncultivated land. 



Plumage. Forehead white ; ear-coverts, chin, and throat 

 black ; upper parts slaty-grey. Wings brown. Breast, rump, 

 and tail bright chestnut-red (hence Firetail). Belly buffish 

 white. Bill black. Legs dark brown. Length 5J in. Female, 

 duller colouring throughout ; upper parts grey tinged with red. 

 Throat and belly dingy white. Breast, flanks, and tail pale red. 

 Young, spotted above and below. 



