CHAPTER LI. 



The Stonechat. 



Motacilla rubecula. Lin. ; Le Tranquet, Buf. 



Desoeiption and Charactee. — The Stonechat, when it has 

 attained the age of three years, is a very handsome bird indeed, 

 as it is then in its richest and most elegant costume ; as the 

 bird grows older, however, it exhibits more white markings, 

 and the hue of its plumage becomes less resplendent. Stone- 

 chats are hardier than Whinchats, and more plentiful in this 

 country, though the two species appear to be closely allied. 



A fully-grown Stonechat is 4jin. long from tip of bill to 

 end of tail, and of this the tail measures l-|-in. The bill is 

 black, and the iris bright brown. The head, cheeks, neck, and 

 throat, are blackish brown, margined with reddish brown ; the 

 cheeks and throat are nearly black. On each side of the neck, 

 immediately above the shoulders of the wings, is a stripe of 

 white, which widens as the bird gets older. The wings are 

 blackish brown, edged with reddish brown ; the ends of the 

 lesser quill feathers and their coverts are white, forming a 

 conspicuous spot on the folded wing. The back and other 

 wing coverts are black, margined with brown. The tail is 

 black, edged with reddish brown ; the two outer feathers have 

 reddish tips as well. The rump is white, and the breast 

 reddish yellow or chestnut brown ; the belly is paler, and the 

 vent almost white. The legs and feet are black. 



Habits and Beeeding. — Stonechats are partly indigenous 

 and partly migratory ; the greater quantity of them remain 

 with us during the winter, more especially if it be a mild one. 



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