224 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly August 



only recovering again just for an instant before it finally 

 alights. On midsummer day this year the writer heard it 

 at 1.5 i A.M. 



A number of small birds of sparrow size and smaller 

 are commonly known as warblers, — a few, like the robin and 

 hedge-sparrow, are with us all the year round, — but as mem- 

 bers of this family feed chiefly on insects, most of them are 

 only summer visitors to England. 



The Wheatear (Saxicola oenanthe) is amongst the first 

 to come and take up its abode on sea-cliffs, rabbit warrens, 

 or bare hillsides. It is the biggest of this group of birds, 

 being rather larger than a sparrow. A nervous bird, flitting 

 away across the fields directly it is disturbed, showing a lot 

 of white about the rump, tail, and under parts, being black 

 on the wings and face. We know the wheatear by these 

 tokens, and, as is the case with so many birds, by its 

 haunts. 



The Whinchat {Pratincola rubetrd), a nearly related 

 bird, frequents less barren ground. Another summer 

 visitor, common by roadside, waste lands, rough pastures, 

 and hilly fields covered with furze. He sits on a fence or 

 hedge-top, and keeps calling out, " z/-tick, //-tick, //-tick, tick." 

 Then he moves across the road, balances himself upon the 

 top of something else, and " //-ticks " again. We can get near 

 enough to see that he is of sparrow size, mottled above with 

 dark brown, and having a long white streak over the eye, 

 and another white mark across the lower part of the face. 

 More white on the tail, and the lower parts buff. But that 

 call-note " «-tick " is unmistakable. 



The Stonechat {P. rubicold) is a bird of similar size 

 and habits to the last, but not so often found in the 

 meadows, preferring wilder and more open country. Where 

 one bird is found, the other is usually absent. This is a 

 much more handsome bird, having a black head, partial 

 white collar, but no white eye streak, and a bright reddish- 

 brown breast. It may be seen in winter as well as summer. 

 The Redstart {Ruticilla phomicurus) is a conspicuously 

 handsome summer visitor, common in many parts of the 

 country, and especially noticeable by its chestnut red tail, 

 black face and chin, and white forehead. As the wagtails 



