RUDDY-BREASTED BIRDS. 91 



He continues to recede before the intruder, flitting 

 from stone to stone and from clod to clod, ever 

 remonstrating, the rump and base of the tail flashing 

 conspicuously white as the bird flies hurriedly a little 

 above the surface of the ground. In his low flight, 

 his way of drawing himself up with tightly dressed 

 plumage, rocking his tail the while, the Wheatear is 

 very like the Robin. Unlike that bird, he rarely 

 perches on trees. His song is so slight as to be 

 useless for purposes of identification. During March 

 and April the Wheatears drift northwards across 

 the country, and southwards again about the end of 

 September ; but although they arrive in this country 

 from over sea in great companies, and assemble in 

 great numbers on the South Downs ere crossing the 

 sea on the return journey in autumn, Wheatears 

 never pack save for the sea-passage. 



WHINCHAT — 5i inches; brown above, mottled with 

 darker brown ; broad white eye-stripe ; under parts 

 yellowish-red ; outer tail-feathers white at base as in 

 the Wlieatear ; lacks the latter's conspicuous white 

 rump. Occurs in ploughed lands during migration, but 

 nests usually in grass fields. Note, ' U-tickl' 



REDSTART — 5^ inches ; upper parts blue - gray, but 

 breast, base of tail, and most of tail-feathers brilliant 

 orange-chestnut. Perches on branches, but occurs in 

 ploughed lands on migration. At all times distinguished 

 during flight by brilliant tail-feathers. 



WHINCHAT. — Plate 39. Length, 5i inches. 

 General colour of upper parts brown, streaked with 

 darker brown ; distinct black patch on shoulder, with 

 white spot above it ; centre tail-feathers dark ; outer 

 tail-feathers white except at ends, which, being dark, 



M 



