428 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



new median coverts have small white wedge-shaped spots at tips 

 as in juvenile. The juvenile body -feathers, lesser and median 

 wing-coverts are moulted in August but not tail- or wing -feathers, 

 jDrimary -co verts or greater wing-coverts. 



First summer. Male. — Moult as in adult after which becomes 

 like adult but ui:)per-parts browner (even when much worn, never 

 so pure grey), ear-coverts more tipped brown, fore-head usually with 

 less white, belly rather more creamy and not so whitish ; tail and 

 especially \vings and wing-coveits much browner black. 



First summer. Female. — Like adult female, but individuals 

 with rather browaier and less grey upper-j^arts and rather less dark 

 wings may be first summer birds. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ ^\'ing 94-98 mm. (one 100), 

 tail 52-60, tarsus 25-27, bill from skull 16-18 (12 measured). 9 wing 

 89-96. Primaries : 1st 2-6 mm. shorter than primary-coverts, 

 3rd longest, 4th often as long, sometimes 1-2 shorter, 2nd 1-4 

 shorter, 5th 5-8 shorter, 6th 10-17 shorter ; 3rd and 4th primaries 

 emarginated outer webs. Secondaries slightly shorter than 10th 

 primary, tips fairly square. Tail square, but central pair shorter 

 than rest, 12 feathers, tips rounded. Bill somewhat slender, base 

 broad and rather flat, tip of upper mandible rather curved and 

 projecting beyond lower. Nostrils partially covered by membrane. 

 A few nasal and rictal bristles, the latter rather stiff. 



Soft 'parts. — Bill, legs and feet black ; iris broAvar-black. 



Character and allied forms. — In (E. oe. seebohmi (Atlas Mts.) 

 male has black throat but female is like typical form with slightly 

 paler upper-parts. For differences of (E. op. leucorrJioa see under 

 that form. (E. ce. argentea (Turkestan), (E. oe. rostrata (S^TJa, 

 Arabia) and (E. oe. nivea (Sierra Nevada, S. Spain) have slight 

 differences and may be separable. For differences of (E. isabelliva 

 see under that species. 



Field-characters.— A bird of doAvns and mountain-sides, sea- 

 cliffs, sand-dunes and waste places, where its white rum}) and 

 black wings are very conspiciious as it flies low over ground. Pale 

 greys and buffs and pure black and white of its plumage, its upright 

 carriage when at rest — usually perched on slight elevation such as 

 clod or stone — varied with bows and curtsies, and long hops by 

 which it progresses, sejDarate it from other common British birds, but 

 close attention to details are necessary to distinguish it, especially 

 female, from other Wheatears. Song, sweet, modulated and, to 

 some extent imitative, is often uttered on wing. Alarm-note, a 

 loud "■ weet-chack-chack.' 



Breeding-habits. — Frequents commons, bare hillsides, sea -shore, 

 warrens, etc., and breeds either in hole in ground or under stones, 

 in old walls, etc. Nest. — Built of grasses and sometimes moss, 

 lined grass and hair, feathers or bits of wool, ^'(/grs.— Normally 6, 



