THE STONECHAT. 175 



bushes, to those whicli are more barren and stony. 

 This bh'd is well named stone chatter, or stone 

 clink, for it keeps up a chattering noise from the 

 stone where it perches itself, or while flitting 

 about from one golden furze-bush to another in 

 short quick flights. Its clicking note is described 

 by Buflbn as resembling the word " ouistrata," 

 and is like the sound of two stones struck to- 

 gether, or rather that of a stone thrown upon ice. 

 Both the bird and its note are, however, well 

 known by those who love to ramble among the 

 broom and furze and heather, for we can hardly 

 fail to see it there during the summer months, 

 and its manners are such as would attract the 

 attention even of those who rarely notice birds. 

 It delights in sloping grounds, where briers 

 and brambles and furze are plentiful, and where 

 the sunshine rests during a great part of the 

 summer day. It seems one of the memest and 

 most agile of birds, hopping about from one bush to 

 another, as if seeking for something which it cannot 

 find, or flitting off" in pm'suit of an insect, and the 



whole of the dark pliunage becomes broadly tipped with rusty- 

 brown ; the breast and belly are paler than before. The colours 

 of the female ai'e not reiy different from this condition. 



