292 lioyd's natural history. 



Habits. — In the northern portions of our islands the Wheat- 

 ear nests more frequently than in the south, where it is gener- 

 ally observed on migration, and is a common object of the 

 sea-shore in autumn and spring. At the latter time of year it 

 is often to be observed on pasture-land in the interior of the 

 country, perched upon a roil and displaying its white rump 

 conspicuously as it flies off to perch upon the ground or a 

 raised clod of earth — the latter a favourite position. It may 

 then be noticed in Hyde Park, to which the Wheatear is a 

 regular visitor on its migrations. In the fields near the coast 

 it is always to be seen in autumn, perched upon the low 

 bushes or hedges and always sitting on the very topmost 

 twigs, and flying off at the very first approach of danger. 

 Most of the birds thus observed are young birds of the year, 

 which have just completed their first autumn moult, and are 

 resting before taking their journey southward. On being 

 pursued they fly off rapidly and double close to the ground, 

 appearing again at some little distance on the hedge, or flying 

 out to the middle of a field and perching on a mound of 

 earth, or even hiding behind it. In this way the bird pro- 

 ceeds some distance and then flies back to the place from 

 which it was first driven. 



The food of the Wheatear consists almost entirely of insects 

 and worms, but small snails are also eaten. A bait of a meal- 



orm is almost sure to trap the bird. Both old and young 

 birds frequent hay-fields in the neighbourhood of their nest, 

 and may be seen flying gently down like a Flycatcher, to pick 

 up an insect, and then returning to their perch, while they will 

 also fly off and catch an insect in the air. In the autumn the 

 birds also feed on berries. 



Nest. — A plain structure of dry grass, with a little moss and 

 a few rootlets, and lined with hair or a few feathers. It is 

 exceedingly difficult to find, and is placed in various situa- 

 tions. Mr. Walter Burton has presented to the British Museum 

 a nest which he found on the open beach near Winchelsea, 

 for which the bird had appropriated an old derelict can, 

 which had once held tinned meat and had probably been 

 washed up by the sea. In the wilder parts of Great Britain, 

 where the Wheatear is more often to be seen during the nest- 



