26 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



sheltered spots. Its restless flight and sharp call- 

 note are familiar to every one, as it displays its 

 attractive plumage and black head on the highest 

 branch of a furze-bush or thorn- spray. 



WHINCHAT. Saxicola ruhetm, (L.) 



Yarrell, i. p. 344; Hartmg, p. 13; Pratincola rubetra, Dresser, 

 ii, p. 255; Seehohm, i. p. 312; Ibis List, p. 7; Motacilla 

 mbetra, Pulfenei/'s List, p. 9. 



Unlike the preceding species, the Whinchat is a 

 summer migrant, arriving in April. Its habits are 

 less local, extending to pastures and cultivated dis- 

 tricts. 



WHEATEAR. Saxicola cenanthe, (L.) 



Yarrell, i. p. 347 ; Ilarting, p. 13 ; Dresser, ii. p. 187 ; Seeholim, 

 i. p. 298 ; Ih'is List, p. 6 ; Motacilla senanthe, Pulteneijs 

 List, p. 9. 



The Wheatear arrives on our coast towards the end 

 of March. It is less plentiful now than in Pultcney's 

 time, who says, " In Portland it is called the ' Snorter.' 

 They are caught in great numbers in traps in the 

 island. More than thirty dozen are said to have 

 been taken in one day. A person who disposes of 

 them in the Weymouth market, I have been told, 

 paid ^30 to one man in the year 1794 for Wheat- 

 ears at one shilling a dozen, and is said to have 

 been supplied with fifty dozen more than could be 

 disposed of." They appear in large numbers in Pur- 

 beck about the middle of September, congregating 

 there preparatory to migration. They breed freely on 



