190 BIRDS' NESTS. 



wall, or the hedge of a wood. It is formed 

 of small twigs and moss, and lined with 

 fibrous roots, not so carefully put together as 

 is the case with many others of the finch 

 tribe. The eggs, four or five in number, are 

 of a delicate pale blue, speckled and blotched 

 with light red and dark purple. 



STONECHAT. Saxicola rubicola. ' 

 PLATE XYI. EIG. 1. 



THE Stonechat builds its nest in the com- 

 mons or open downs, which it frequents during 

 the whole of the year, selecting a low bush 

 usually furze. The nest is constructed of 

 moss and bents, lined with fine grass and 

 feathers. The eggs, usually five, are light 

 grey, faintly speckled near their larger end 

 with a reddish brown. They are readily dis- 

 tinguished from those of the whinchat by 

 being much less blue, and more closely 

 sprinkled with spots. 



