134 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



I have seen have been discovered either 

 by accident or by watching one or 



MALE WIIINCIIAT. 



other of the parent birds through field- 

 glasses. 



The eggs, numbering from four to 

 six, are of a beautiful greenish-blue 



colour, sparingly spotted and speckled 

 round the larger end with pale reddish- 

 brown. In some specimens the markings 

 are altogether absent. They may be 

 distinguished from the eggs of the 

 Stonechat by the fact that they are of 

 a deeper blue colour and less richly and 

 clearly marked. 



The Whinchat breeds during May 

 and June, and the male is not only very 

 assiduous in helping to feed the chicks 

 and keep the nest clean, but feeds his 

 mate during the time she is engaged in 

 the task of nidification. If anything 

 calculated to arouse his suspicion should 

 happen to be near the nest upon his 

 return with food, he will linger round 

 for a time, angrily uttering his call- 

 note, and, finally growing w r eary of the 

 presence of the intruder, may be ob- 

 served to gulp down the insects he has 

 brought and fly away in search of more. 



This species is migratory, arriving in 

 April and May and leaving again during 

 September and October. 



