The Whinchat 



showing a conspicuous white patch near the body. Under 

 parts bright fawn colour, turning to buff on the belly. The 

 female is similar, but paler and duller ; the young resemble 

 the hen, but are slightly spotted on the breast. Length 

 5 '2 5 in.; wing 3 in. 



The species is generally distributed in England, except 

 on the south-west, where it only occurs on migration. In 

 Scotland it is local but widely distributed. In Ireland 

 it breeds in the north, but only occurs in the south on 

 migration. 



THE STONECHAT 



Pratincola rubicola (Linnaeus) 



On any rough common, where furze or tangles of bramble 

 form almost the only cover, you may see the Stonechat; 

 summer and winter alike he is there, brightening with his 

 deep chestnut breast and jet-black head and back the other- 

 wise comparatively lifeless spot. 



You cannot miss him, or rather, he will not miss you, 

 for as you approach he will rise and settle on the topmost 

 spray of some furze bush, or possibly on the tall stem of 

 grass or thistle. 



Jerking his tail with the quivering movement character- 

 istic of his tribe, as though it were on a spring, or uttering 

 his little call of "Tick, tick," he will move ahead with 

 dipping flight to some other point of vantage as you 

 approach, and display as he does so the white on his tail 

 and wings. A bright and happy little chap he is ! Living 



29 



