172 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



NESTING SITE OF WHEATKAK. 



noticed except when heard in silent 

 solitudes. 



Although breeding most numerously 

 on high moorland, and rock-strewn 

 uncultivated districts in the north of 

 England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, it 

 may be found in almost any locality 

 suitable to its habits. Not long ago I 

 discovered a pair breeding on a disused 

 rifle range within seventeen miles of the 

 centre of London. 



The nest is made in holes in rock, 

 amongst loose stones, in old dry walls, 

 peat stacks and in deserted rabbits' 

 burrows. It is composed of dead grass, 

 rootlets, moss, hair, down and feathers, 

 and, if the accommodation will permit of 

 it, is usually a bulky structure. 



The eggs, which are laid in April, May 

 and June, generally number five or six. 

 I have never seen fewer than four or 

 more than seven, although clutches of 

 eight are said to have been found. They 

 ate pale greenish blue in colour, and upon 

 rare occasions are said to be marked with 

 small rusty spots. 



During the summer of 1910 I had two 

 curious experiences whilst studying mem- 

 bers of this species. I found a family 

 of chicks being reared entirely by their 

 father, whose mate had probably fallen 

 a victim to some hawk, and two males 

 existing in apparent bachelorhood. They 

 lived in a secluded rock-strewn hollow, 

 and, although I kept them under 

 observation during the month of June, 

 heard them both sing frequently, and 

 watched them quarrel on more than one 

 occasion, I never once saw a female 

 near the place. 



