GO 



NORTH A.MEIUCAN BIRDS. 



Saxicola oenanthe, Bechst. 



THE WHEAT-EAE. 



Motadlla oinanlh/; LiXN. Syst. Nat. 1, 175S, 186. Saxicola osnanthe, Bf.chst. "Gemein. 

 Naturg. 1802," and of European authors. — Holboll, Oru. Green. (Paulsen eil.), 1846, 

 23 (Greenland). — iUlKD, Hirds N. Am. 18.58, 220 (Europe); Review, 61. — Jones, 

 Nat. Bermuda, 1859, 28 (Bermuda). — CouES, Pr. A. N. S. 1861, 218 (Labrador).— 

 Reinh.vudt, Ibis, 1861, 5 (Greenland). — D.\ll & B.iNNisTEli (Alaska). Saxkohi 

 ctiiantlwides, Vigoks, Zool. Blossom, 1839, 19 (N. W. America). — C.issix, 111. I, 18.i4, 

 208, pi. xxxiv (Nova Scotia). 



Sp. Cn.\R. (Description from European s|)ecimen.) ilale in spring, forehead, line over 

 the eye, and under parts generally white ; the latter tinged -with pale yellowish-brown, 

 e.specially on the breast and throat. A stripe from the bill through, below, and behind 

 the eye, with the wings, uj)per tail-coverts, bill and feet, black. Tail white, with an 

 abrupt band ol' lilack (about .60 of an inch long) at the end, this color extending further 

 up on the middle feather. Rest of upper parts ash-gray ; quills and greater coverts 

 slightly edged with whitish. Length, 6.00 ; wing, 3.45 ; tail, 2.50 ; tarsus, 1.05. 



Autumnal males are tinged with rusty ; the black markings brown. The female in 

 spring is reddish-gray ; lores and cheeks brown ; the black markings generally brownish, 

 and not well defined. Eggs pale light blue. Nest on ground. 



Hab. An Old Woi-ld species (Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia), abundant in Green- 

 land, found probably as an autumnal migrant in Labrador, Canada, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, 

 etc. Occurs also on Norton Sound, near Behring's Straits. Very occasional in the East- 

 ern States : Long Island. 



This Ijinl iii)]K;ar.s t« be aliumlant in Norton Sonnd, iVoni which region Mr. 

 Dall has recently brought specimeus in lull sjiring ]ikuuage. These are de- 

 cidedly smaller than birds 

 from Labrador and Green- 

 land, but not distiuguishaltle, 

 and seem to agree precisely 

 with skins from Central Eu- 

 rope. 



Habits. The well-known 

 Wheat-ear is entitled to a 

 jdace in onr fauna, not only 

 as an accidental visitor, but 

 also as an occasional resi- 

 dent. Dr. H. R. Storer, of 

 lioston, found them breeding 

 in Lalirador in the summer 

 of 1848, and procured speci- 

 mens of the yoimg birds 

 which were fully identified 

 by Dr. Samuel Cabot as belonging to tliis species. In the following year 

 Andrew Downs, of llaiifa.x, gave nie tlie si)ecimeu described and figured 



Saxicola ananrhe. 



i.,.1. tr Ct'-i-' i-^iu(r. . J . vAlaJ i ■ 



