BIRDS Edith Weston, Lyndon, Market Overton, Wing, Ketton, Barleythorpe, Wardley, Bis- brooke, Glaston, and Seaton. The months in which it has been seen are March, April (lO April, 1886), August, September, October (1901). 7. Wheatear. Saxlcola oenanthe (Linn.). Locall-^, Stonechat. Lord Lilford, in his Birds of Northampton- shire (vol. i, 114), says: — 'In some places on the frontiers of Northamptonshire, Lincoln- shire, and Rutland, it may be called abun- dant,' and the late Mr. A. C. Elliot, a taxidermist of Stamford, makes the incredible statement (1883) that 'it breeds in every stone-quarry and stone-fence wall in the county.' However, this species was no doubt a good deal commoner fifty years ago than it is now, and was nearly always to be seen throughout the year on the commons at Seaton, Barrowden, and Morcott. Though it still nests occasionally, the last two nests recorded being in 1903, and has been observed in every month between 25 March (1905) (its earliest appearance) and 25 September (1903) its latest, yet it is usually seen only on migration, the average date in spring being 1 1 April. In the autumn it may usually be looked for at the end of August. Ketton seems perhaps its favourite locality, but it has been recorded also from Gretton, Stoke, Beau- mont Chase, Lyndon, LufFenham, Ridlington, Burley, Exton, Uppingham, Preston, and Greetham, where six were seen 8 April, 1901. 8. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.). Locally, Utick. A common migrant, arriving about the end of April, but occasionally as early as 10 April (1901). In that year nests were found as early as 9 May. Mr. E. H. V. Hodge found a nest with seven eggs at Hambleton Hill in 1901. 9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). Up to the middle of the last century this bird was apparently resident and common, for a pair could be found (at least near Upping- ham) wherever there was any extent of gorse, and nests were discovered every year. Mr. A. C. Elliot, writing in 1883, says: 'It winters every year on Barrowden Heath.' At the present day there is no evidence that it remains through the winter. But they can always be seen on passage, or as migrants arriving at their nesting quarters as early even as the end of February (e.g. 1902, 1903). It still probably breeds on Barrowden and LufFenham Heaths, and the nest may be looked for early in April. No cause is apparent for the serious diminution of this handsome and hardy species in this county. Furze is not unplentiful, and the species is not subject to persecution. 10. Redstart. Ruticilla phoenicurus (Linn.). Locally, Redtail. A common summer migrant arriving about 13 April. Seven eggs are often found in a nest, and Mr. Theodore Bell records one instance of eight. Though this species usually builds in holes of trees or walls, yet it some- times builds like a swallow upon a rafter. The Black Redstart, Ruticilla titys, has not yet been recorded for Rutland. H. Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula {Linn.). Very common. Large numbers change their quarters in the winter. Nesting some- times begins very early, even in the middle of February. Six eggs are not an uncommon clutch, and I have once found seven (27 May 1898). Mr. W. J. Horn records a brood reared in the discarded nest of a hedge-sparrow, and I have known a pair bring up a second brood in the same nest, though Seebohm denies the possibility of this. A handsome variety was killed at Ketton in 1886, with head and chin normal, but the rest of throat, breast, sides, and back, creamy white, only a few dark feathers being interspersed. 12. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Liim.). Though not common fifty years ago, this species is now, happily, quite abundant almost everywhere in the county. Several pairs breed in the gardens of Uppingham School. I should say there were fifty pairs within a radius of five miles round Uppingham. Earliest date of arrival recorded is 8 April (1903). The song is sometimes continued into July (as in 1900, 1903). The average date of the nightingale's song being first heard is 21 April. The nest may invariably be found about 25 May, and though generally built on the ground, is occasionally placed in a shrub a little above the ground. 13. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein). Locally, Peggy Whitethroat, Nettle-Creeper. In most years one of the commonest migrants, arriving towards the end of April. There is one instance of a cuckoo's egg being found in a nest of this species. 14. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca (Linn.). A summer migrant considerably less com- mon than the preceding, the proportion being perhaps one to eight if we may judge by the number of nests found of either species. 59
