_ 
302 BRITISH BIRDS. 
again, on the upland sheep-pastures, wool very frequently forms the lining 
of the nest, the bird utilizing those materials which its haunts supply. 
During the whole nesting-season, from the time the first bit of nest-mate- 
rial is laid, the old birds are excessively wary, and rarely betray the exact 
site of their nest. Although the birds may frequent its locality, be inces+ 
santly seen on one old stone-heap cr peat-stack, telling you plainly by 
their actions that their treasure is there, it is only the most careful 
watching and patience combined that will cause the birds to reveal 
their nesting-hole; and to search for the nest by turning over the stones 
or peat is a task far more likely to lead to failure than success. 
The eggs of the Wheatear are from four to seven in number ; but six seems 
the average clutch. They are pale greenish blue, elongated in form, and 
usually spotless. Occasionally, however, they are found with markings 
upon them, usually confined to a few faint purplish specks on the larger 
end, sometimes so indistinct and fine as to be scarcely perceptible, unless 
examined closely. The eggs vary in length from ‘95 to ‘79 inch, and 
in breadth from °65 to °6 inch. 
The young birds are tended by their parents for some considerable time 
after leaving the nest ; and when an intruder happens to disturb a family- 
party, their actions are full of interest. The young birds, not so strong — 
on the wing as their parents, and more confiding, alight close to the — 
observer; and the old birds fly at a considerable height im the air in 
circles round his head, all the time uttering a short plaintive note. 
Sometimes, when suddenly alarmed, a brood of young Wheatears will 
scatter and hide themselves, taking refuge under the herbage or in holes 
of walls and rocks; but this usually happens when they are not suffi- 
ciently matured to trust to their wings to convey them out of danger. 
Although the Wheatear’s colours are somewhat chaste, still their bold 
contrast, and the manner in which they are distributed, make the bird a 
very pretty one. In summer the male bird’s upper plumage is slaty grey, 
with white rump and black and white tail; from the bill to the eye and 
over the entire ear-coyerts is a black band, surmounted by an eye-stripe- 
of white; the wings are black and dark brown; and the whole under 
surface of the body is buff, deepest on the throat and breast ; legs, bill, 
and feet black ; irides dark brown. The female bird is sandy brown, darkest 
above; and the wings and tail are similar to those of the male. Young 
birds are like the female, but are spotted both above and below. After the 
moult in autumn the male and female are almost alike; for the pale 
buff margins to the feathers of the former hide the slate-grey portions of 
the feather, and the underparts are darker. As the winter passes on 
these buff margins apparently die and drop off, whilst the rest of the feather 
seems to acquire new life and an additional intensity of colour, so that 
without a second moult they appear in early spring in full nuptial dress. 
