202 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The STONE THRUSHES, or ROCK WAGTAILS {Pctrocindd), arc comparatively large birds, 

 recognisable by their slender body and strong, awl-shaped beak, which is broad at its base ; the 

 upper mandible is slightly arched, and curved at its tip ; the tarsi are armed witli very decidedly bent 

 claws ; the wing is long, its third quill exceeding the rest in length, while the tail is short, and almost 

 straight at its extremity. The plumage is smooth, bright-tinted, and sometimes much variegated. 



THE STONE THRUSH, OR ROCK WAGTAIL. 



The Stone Thrush, or Rock Wagtail (Pcirocinda-Tiirdus-saxatilis), is a magnificently- 

 coloured bird, about eight inches long and fourteen broad. The head, face, part of the throat, 

 nape, and rump are of a beautiful blueish grey, the entire under side is bright rust-red, the quills are 

 blackish brown, the shoulder-feathers deep grey or slaty black ; the two centre tail-feathers are dark 

 grey, and those at the exterior rust-red. In autumn all the small feathers have light edges. The 

 female is of a pale brown, spotted with a still lighter shade on the upper part of the body, whilst the 

 rust-red feathers on the under side are darkly bordered : the throat is white. In both sexes the eyes 

 are reddish brown, the beak pale black, and the feet of a reddish hue ; the young resemble the 

 mother. These birds frequent all the mountain regions of Southern Europe, but are also known to 

 breed in some part of Austria, in the Tyrol, along the course of the Rhine, and occasionally in 

 Bohemia and in the Hartz Mountains : in Italy and Greece they are especially numerous, and 

 everywhere appear to prefer the rocky valleys lying immediately at the foot of mountain ranges 

 to the precipices or towering heights occupied by the group last described. 



The Rock Wagtails generally appear in Europe about April or May, and almost immediately 

 commence their preparations for breeding. Their nests, usually concealed with great cunning in such 

 holes in the rock or ground as are almost inaccessible, are made of twigs, straw, moss, or grass, 

 heaped roughly together to form the outer wall, the cup-shaped interior being neatly lined with a 

 variety of elastic materials, selected with great care. The delicate blueish green eggs (see Fig. 24, 

 Coloured Plate IV.) are from four to six in number. We have not as yet been able to ascertain 

 whether the male relieves his partner in the work of incubation, or contents himself with amusing her 

 by a kind of dance, performed with ruffled streaming plumage and half-closed eyes, in which he 

 delights to indulge at this season of the year. Both parents, however, assist in tending the young 

 flock, who are reared on the same kinds of insects as form the staple food of the adults ; the latter 

 also devour snails and worms, and during the autumn consume large quantities of berries and fruit, 

 including grapes. Their winter migrations take place in September, and often extend over a large 

 portion of Northern Africa; indeed, we have often seen them in the vicinity of the Blue River. In 

 disposition the Rock Wagtail is cautious, sprightly, and restless, passing almost the entire day in 

 active exercise ; its flight is extremely light and beautiful, and so rapid as to enable it to seize an 

 insect on the wing ; unlike most of the members of its family, it generally flies in a direct line, and, 

 after describing a few circles in the air, hovers awhile before perching. Upon the ground its 

 movements alternate between a tripping step, accompanied by repeated bowings of the head, and 

 the dancing movement alluded to above. Its voice is pleasing, flute-like, and capable of imitating 

 a great variety of notes and sounds ; it is for this reason unusually attractive when caged. Count 

 Gourcy tells us that it soon becomes so tame as to greet its master with a song, and testifies its 

 affection by a variety of pretty tricks. 



We must not omit to mention one strange propensity to which this species is addicted when in 

 captivity, during the season at which its kind usually migrate. At that time of the year it seems 

 seized with attacks of perfect frenzy, rushes round its cage, leaps about, and utterly refuses to take 

 any food that is not forced upon it. This state of excitement only continues for from eight to ten 



