SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



the nightingale, — bruised hempseed and bread 

 mixed up together into a moist paste, and some 

 fresh raw lean beef or mutton, cut in pieces small 

 enough for them to swallow, mixed with it.*^ 



Though the Stonechat (observes the author of the 

 British Naturalist) frequent selevated and bleak 

 places, it is not found in the northern parts of the 

 country ; but in the south it is resident, and found 

 in winter in more situations and greater numbers 

 than the Whinchat. Still it is probable that a por- 

 tion, and a very considerable portion, do migrate 

 out of the country in the autumn, as they are less 

 abundant in the winter than in the spring ; and, of 

 the little birds that are wholly resident, the majority 

 appear in by far the greatest numbers during win- 

 ter ; as both the coldness of the weather and the 

 failure of food drive them from their summer re- 

 treats to the cultivated lands and the neighbour- 

 hood of houses, where they come in flocks, and of 

 course attract more attention. f 



Selby says, he is inclined to think that the greater 

 part of the young of the year do migrate in the 

 course of the winter having repeatedly noticed 

 (in places where the species is abundant) the dis- 

 appearance of the young as winter approached, 

 whilst the parent birds remained attached to 

 their favourite spot. In very severe storms of 

 snow, even those that winter here are sometimes 

 compelled to quit their usual situations, and 

 take refuge in more inclosed grounds or in plan- 

 tations. 



* British Warblers. f British Naturalist. 



