BRITISH BIRDS. 



175 



THE WHINCHAT. 



(Saxicola Rnbctra, Bechst. Traquct taricr, Temm.) 



THIS bird is somewhat larger than the Stonechat. 

 The bill is black; eyes hazel; the feathers on the 

 head, neck, and back are black, bordered with 

 rust colour; a streak of white passes from the bill 

 over each eye towards the hinder part of the 

 head; the cheeks are blackish; chin white; breast 

 rusty; belly, vent, and thighs pale buff; each wing 

 is crossed by a white mark near the shoulder, 

 and another smaller near the bastard, wing; part 

 of the tail, at the base, is white, the rest black; 

 the two middle feathers wholly black, as are also 

 the legs. The colours of the female are in general 

 paler; the white streak over the eye, and the spots 

 on the wings, are much less conspicuous ; and 

 the cheeks, instead of being black, partake of the 

 colours of the head. 



