WHEATEAE, 23 



England. Singular that it should be found on the most 

 eastern point in England, instead of the nearest western 

 side to America." — E. Bartlett. 



Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein. 



WHEATEAE. 



Saxicola oenanthe (Linnsus). S.N., i., p. 332 (1766). 

 "Wagtail." 



There is no doubt that the Wlieatear has become 

 greatly reduced in numbers of late years throughout the 

 county, but in some seasons they are more abundant 

 than others ; perhaps this may be accounted for by the 

 birds having escaped the trappers and bird's-nesting boys ; 

 and again, cultivation, the large increase of population in 

 the localities in which the birds breed, have all helped to 

 drive them away. Years ago many pairs used to breed 

 on the range of chalk hills above Boxley Abbey, and all 

 along that range for miles from east to west, but they 

 have now deserted that locality. 



Last year and this (1906) we noticed the scarcity of 

 Wheatears in all the districts from Ashford to Mersham, 

 and the slopes of hills above Romney Marsh, and in the 

 Marsh itself. They become more plentiful on the great 

 sea beach at Lydd and Dungeness, where they are not so 

 easy to get at, and have a better chance of rearing their 

 young. 



On June 7 we found a pair which had taken possession 

 of a rabbit-burrow on the hillside on the road to Lympne ; 

 the nest was too far down to be reached by the arm. 

 The male bird became frantic at our approach, and went 



