Moorland Birds 



The nesting habits of both species are very 

 similar, for the females sit lightly and endeavour 

 to attract the intruder from the nest, which is 

 usually well concealed. The materials used are 

 roots, moss and dry grass for the framework, 

 horse hair, feathers and finer grass for the lining, 

 but the Whinchat is the more finished architect of 

 the two, and makes a much neater nest. The 

 eggs of the latter bird are a beautiful greenish- 

 blue, faintly speckled with a zone of reddish- 

 brown spots at the larger end. Those of the 

 Stonechat may be distinguished by their paler 

 ground colour and more clearly defined markings. 



It is rather curious that of these two species, so 

 closely resembling each other in habits and living 

 on insect food, one, the Whinchat, is entirely a 

 summer migrant, while the other is to a large 

 extent resident. Another migrant of the same 

 family, the Wheatear, breeds in the greatest num- 

 bers in the North of England and Scotland, and he, 

 too, is a lover of the open downs, especially those 

 bordering on the sea. Large numbers are seen 

 along the south coasts in spring and autumn, 

 mostly on migration, but several pairs settle down 

 to breed. On the shingly stretches of coast 

 between Dover and Hastings they are said to 

 appropriate every tin washed up by the sea as 

 nesting-places, and on the downs I have found 

 them occupying rabbit burrows ; while in their 

 northern home, they seem to build principally in 



