THE STONE-CHAT. 433 



LOT ; but as the name (Enanthe is already occupied with a genus 

 of umbelliferous plants, BECHSTEIN'S name must, of course, be 

 adopted; we prefer giving them at present under Sylvia, as 

 hereafter there will require to be several other genera separated 

 from that genus, and the British species proposed by Mr. VIGORS, 

 to which it is to be limited, will consist of S. Hippolais, 8. Tro- 

 chilus, and 8. Sylvicola. 



" The birds of this species, when wild, are generally found on, 

 or near, heaths and commons, frequenting the same places as the 

 Winchat, but they are not so tender as that bird, as some of them 

 remain in this country all the winter. They are very variable in 

 their colours, scarcely any two to be seen exactly alike, some of 

 them being nearly aft white, others having a large white patch 

 on the wings and by the side of the neck, while others have it 

 very slightly ; the brightness of their colour also varies consider- 

 ably in different birds, some of them being particularly hand- 

 some. 



" In confinement this species requires the same food and treat- 

 ment as the Nightingale bruised hemp seed and bread, mixed 

 up together into moist paste, and some fresh, raw, lean beef, or 

 mutton, cut in pieces small enough for them to swallow, is to be 

 mixed with it, for I find they like the meat much better when 

 soaked in the bread and hemp seed, or if only soaked in clean 

 water, than they do when not soaked at all ; besides this, I al- 

 ways have an egg boiled quite hard every day ; it is then cut in 

 two, and the yolk stirred up in each half, and put into the cages, 

 so that they may peck it out of the shell themselves : this is a 

 change of tood for them which keeps them in health ; whereas, 

 if it was mixed up with other food, it would not do them half the 

 good ; one egg with the other food, is sufficient for twenty birds 

 for one day. The more insects they have given them, the better 

 will be their health, and the more tney will sing ; they will feed 

 on a great many sorts, and when in a wild state they scarcely eat 

 any thing besides ; any sorts of flies, moths, butterflies, cater- 

 pillars, maggots, woodnce, earwigs, grasshoppers, crickets, cock- 

 roaches, ants, or small beetles, they are very fond of, and nume- 

 rous other sorts. 



" In confinement this bird will sing all through the winter, and 

 a great part of the year ; it will also sing frequently by night as 

 well as by day ; it has a very pretty and loud song, and when in 

 confinement its song is continued for a good length of time, not 

 continually broken off in short notes, like the wild ones. If bred 

 up from the nest, I have no doubt but it would learn the notes 

 of other birds, or even any tune that was played to it, as I be- 

 lieve will the greater part of this tribe, if a little pains be taken 



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