136 BIRDS. 



Continent in March or early in April. It rears, as a rule, 

 but one brood, then leaves these islands in October, though 

 *Bing- a few remain the winter both in the Midlands 

 Ousel. an d i n Ireland. It is easily distinguished by 

 its conspicuous white collar. It feeds on worms and 

 snails, also on fruits and berries. Its voice is inferior to 

 that of the thrush or blackbird. The ring-ousel breeds in 

 the higher districts of Great Britain and Ireland, not much 

 south of the Thames, save in the south-western counties. 

 The nest, placed on or near the ground, is not unlike that 

 of the blackbird, and the same resemblance applies to the 

 eggs, which are 4 or 5 in number. 



Rock -thrush. A very rare visitor from Asia. Has been 

 recorded but once (1843). 



The Wheatear arrives from the Continent in March, and 

 leaves again in September or October. Only a portion of 



the vast flocks that visit these islands on 

 * Wheatear. . . -, T ,1 , 



migration remain to breed, the majority, a 



larger race, passing on to more distant breeding-grounds. 

 The wheatear is easily distinguished from the other small 

 migratory species with which it congregates by the black 

 ear-coverts and lores. It feeds exclusively on insects, and, 

 like the wagtail, has a habit of continually jerking its tail 

 to the accompaniment of a short sharp utterance. The nest, 

 lined with finer grass or fur, is of coarse grass, and is usually 

 placed in rabbit-burrows or under similar cover. Eggs, 5 or 

 6, nearly i inch ; pale blue, with or without a few specks. 



Isabelline Wheatear. An African straggler. Recorded 

 once (1887) only. 



Mack-throated Wheatear. A straggler from the Conti- 

 nent. Occurred but once (1875). 



Desert Wheatear. A straggler from Africa. Has oc- 

 curred three times (1880, 1885, 1887). 



The Whinchat, one of our latest visitors, arrives from 



