THE STONECHAT. 177 



among the bushes, that when we see it with 

 a worm in its mouth, we may know very well 

 that the bush which the bird enters is not that in 

 which we may find its home, though probably it is 

 not far off. The eggs are five or six in number, of a 

 grey colour, marked at the larger end with small 

 spots of reddish brown. The young ones, when 

 hatched, are covered with down ; and so great is 

 the solicitude of the parent birds respecting them, 

 that they make a pei'petual clamour by calling to 

 them, nor do they ever quit them till they are 

 capable of providing for themselves. 



The stonechat is either a constant resident with 

 us, or partially migratory, some only of the birds 

 reared in our downs in spring, leaving them in 

 autumn. If the weather be severe it is probable 

 that the parent birds also take refuge in enclosed 

 grounds or shrubberies ; or some of them may go 

 further to find a still better spot for warmth and 

 food. Certainly those who are accustomed to 

 watch the stonechats on the moorlands, during 

 summer, miss them much when winter comes ; but 

 how far they may travel is not fiilly ascertained. 



Whatever may be the case with the stonechat, 

 however, there is no doubt that its companion, the 



N 



