BLACK REDSTART.
travelling OK towards the west. But one or two have oome under my notice in the spring : it is probable these
Redstarts follow a different course when returning to their breeding-quarters.
The hird occasionally referred to as the Grey Redstart (RnticiUn carii) is without doubt the immature of
this species. At what age the perfectly a lu.lt plu nagc is assumed appears, from the observations I made,
somewhat doubtful. I have remarked males showim; a small quantity of black feathers about the head and
breast as early as the latter end of October; and numbers without any signs of such marking were procured
through the greater part of November. In 1S73 and the two following years 1 shot several of these birds in
the endeavour to learn their various changes. Though males were obtained in four disUuct states of plumage,
I could form no decided opinion as to the ages of the two intermediate stages.
The young males of the year appear iu much the same dress as the females. Some I procured were of a
more uniform grey tinge.
The second stage was in almost similar plumage, but exhibited a slight indication of the black feathers
about the head and breast.
The third stage showed the same amount of black as the adult males; hut the white feathers on the wing
were wanting.
The old males with the perfect black markings and a well-defined while patch on the wing were by far the
most scarce. 1 never detected a single specimen with white on the wing, unless iu the dress uf the perfect
adult male. I conclude this species must be at least two or three years iu attaining the full plumage.
The Plate shows an adult male, shot along the chalk cliffs near Rottiugdean, on October 18, 1878 ; also a
male in what I take to be the last stage before assuming the perfect plumage; this specimen was obtained near
the same spot teu days later.
STONECHAT.
SAXICOLA RVJIICOLA.
FROM north to south the Stoncchat is well known throughout the British Islands, a few pair remaining
hero and there in their usual haunts during the winter months, fresh arrivals, however, make their
appearance in the spring ; and a certain number take their departure before the approach of winter. Whether
the migrants an' the young or old, or both, I am unable to state.
The furze-clad downs of Susses are a favourite haunt of the Stoncchat; and here this sprightly bird may
he mot with in greater numbers than In any other district I am acquainted with. It is also to be seen along
rough country-lanes where the surrounding fields are divided by broad hedgerows of no great height, or
when' a portion of the laud is unreclaimed. In Norfolk a few frequent, the neighbourhood of the broads
at all seasons of the year. The Stoncchat, with the exception of the Reed-Pheasant and Pick-cheese*, was
almost the only small hird I used to Had among the marshes and broads when wildfowl-shooting, during
the winter mouths, in the east of Norfolk. One of these birds may not [infrequently be observed to rise some
height above the reeds and remain hovering in the air for nearly half a minute. At any considerable
distance it would he difficult to distinguish this species, while fluttering in lllis manner, from the Kingfisher,
as both species exhibit the same habit.
In Perthshire, Ross-shire, and Sutherland I have remarked tins species at almost all seasons. I believe,
however, during severe weather the birds desert the exposed hill-sides and come down into the sheltered
glens and corries, and at times even to the vicinity of houses and gardens. 1 noticed a pair or two
nested in the rough herbage among flic sandbanks on the "fendoiu," a remarkably Hat district to the cast
of Tain.
During autumn and winter the male Stoncchat is by no means so showy as in his summer plumage; but
though bis dress is sober-coloured, bis lively actions as he llits from twig to twig along the roadside or over
the open moor an' sure to atfraet attention. I have occasionally remarked that a few of these birds lake up
their quarters for a portion of the winter within a short distance of the sen-shore. Early in November 1882,
two pairs made their appearance on the ridge of shingle between Shurebain and Lancing. They usually
frequented the upper part of the hanks, where plants of dock, chamomile, sea-beet, and sea-poppy «ere
numerous; at times, however, they showed themselves on the breakwaters, and settled now and then on
the lumps of seaweed cast up by the tide. I noticed that each pair confined themselves to a regular beat,
seldooi straying beyond the distance of three or four of the sea-groins.
This species commences its nesting-operations at an early date in the southern counties, being one of
the first of our small birds to build on the Sussex Downs. It usually selects a spot among low furze and
coarse grass, or at times in a heap of rubbish or trimmings lying on the ground. The female sits close; and
the nest is by no means easy to find. In the more northern euuuties I noticed the Stoncchat was at least a
month later in nestiug.