88 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



Whinchat, is a resident, whilst the other is a visitor. It may be distinguished 

 by its stout, almost corpulent build (as compared with the Whinchat's slender- 

 ness), its habit of jerking its tail, and the black throat and large white neck- 

 spot in the male ; the female having a black spot on the throat and a com- 

 plete absence of white on the tail. The cock is a handsome bird, with his 

 jet-black head, throat, and eyes ; white on rump and neck sides ; bright 

 chestnut-red breast, inclining to buff on the belly ; black wings and back, 

 and tail edged with reddish brown. The hen is dusky coloured above, with 

 feathers edged with light chestnut. She has a black throat, spotted with 

 white and reddish, and a dull red breast. 



The bird is found on commons, heaths, and moorlands, especially near 

 the coast, where the nest, carefully hidden, is placed in heather or grass, or 

 most usually at the foot of a bush. It is composed of moss, grass, etc., lined 

 with finer materials and hair. The eggs are pale bluish green, with light 

 brown spots. 



The call-note resembles the sound of two pebbles being clinked together, 

 hence the name " Stonechat " " Utack-tack-tack." There is a famous High- 

 land curse associated with it, of which the last two lines are 



" De'il break their long back 

 Who my eggs would tak'." 



But the Stonechat has a delightful song of its own, consisting of a " rapid series 

 of double notes." Its food is chiefly insects and their larvae, and spiders ; but 

 it also eats small lizards. In autumn the birds assemble nearer the coasts. 



Swallow (see notes on MARTIN). The Germans call this bird the " inside 

 swallow," to distinguish it from the House Martin the " outside swallow " 

 in regard to its choice of a situation for the nest. For the Swallow's nest 

 is usually under cover in a porch, shed, or cave and is placed on, not under, 

 a ledge or beam. It is made of mud with hay or straw like the House Martin's, 

 but is either cup-shaped or like a bisected basin, according to its place. 



The bird is the earliest of the Hirundinidce to arrive some time in March 

 and it departs last. Woe betide it if a sharp frost should come after its 

 arrival, and the insects on which it depends wholly for food be killed, for 

 then it starves to death. 



Certainly three-parts of its time are spent on the wing, catching its food 

 not only small flies and gnats, but moths and butterflies as well. In fact, it 

 drinks and bathes on the wing, as any one will note who watches a pool or 

 stream over which it flies. 



The bird, in common with the others of its family, returns to the same 

 place each year, often uses the same nest, and pairs for life. 



It is distinguished from the House Martin by its uniform blue-black upper 

 plumage, its longer wings, and more deeply forked tail. In addition, it has a 

 patch of beautiful chestnut-red on its forehead and throat ; the tail is a dull 

 greenish colour, with some white spots towards the tips of the feathers, show- 



