This, like the preceding, is generally to be found on hills and commons,
harbouring chiefly amongst the furze bushes, and feeds, as far as I have
observed, entirely on insects. It is not so tender as the whinchat, some
few of them occasionally stopping in this country all the winter. It
feeds, when wild, on small beetles, flies, as also all sorts of
butterflies, moths, caterpillars, woodlice, and various other insects.
In confinement their food must be the same as the whinchat's. They soon
become very tame, and if bred up from the nest will learn the notes of
other birds, which are in general better than their own. Their own song,
though loud, is very short, but they have a strong voice to repeat the
notes of another bird.