THE STONE-CHAT. 
173 
It occasionally appears close to the town. In the north of 
the county of Antrim, I have remarked it, like the titlark, fre- 
quenting the wildest and bleakest localities. It is said, too, to be 
common in the island of Eathlin * By the middle of February, 
its song may be heard ; at the end of April, I have seen the female 
carry food to her young. My friend at Cromac has found its 
nests in low bushes, and met with several on the ground about 
the roots of furze, where they were screened from observation 
by long grass. Mr. Poole remarks it to be an exceedingly wary 
bird, and that he has sometimes vainly concealed himself behind 
a thick hedge for a considerable time, with the hope of tracking 
the parent to its nest, and at length had to give up the attempt 
in despair. He adds, that the nest is placed towards the lower 
branches of a furze bush; is composed of dry grass, roots, and 
wool; that he has seen the eggs on the 30th of April, and once 
so late as the 1 2th of J uly. Its resembling the flycatcher in 
darting at flies from its perch, and returning to its former station 
after it has secured them, is noticed by my correspondent. The 
stomachs of two of these birds sent to me in December and Jan- 
uary, were entirely filled with minute coleopterous insects. 
Temminck states, that the stone-chat is resident in Africa, 
but in Europe is a bird of passage : the mild winters of Ireland 
however, induce it to remain constantly in this island. I have 
never observed its “arriving or departing at the usual seasons of 
spring and autumn,” as Sir. W. Jardine has done in Scotland, 
such birds, he remarks, coming “either from the continent, or per- 
forming a partial migration from other parts of our own island,” — - 
some, indeed, are said to remain in Scotland during the whole year. 
This author continues : — “ The stone-chat is a species not nearly so 
abundant as either of the preceding (wheatear and whin-chat), t 
and frequents localities of a more wild and secluded character: 
extensive whin-covers, the skirts of muirland districts, or the 
vicinity of the coast, where whin or brushwood prevail.” Brit. 
* Dr. J. D. Marshall. 
f Mr. Hewitson makes the same remark, without referring to any part of England 
or Scotland; but probably the north of England is alluded to. Eggs, Brit. Birds, p. 79. 
