1 10 THE WHEAT-EAR. 



and the breast is marked with narrow dark bars. 

 We have not been able to procure specimens of 

 this bird in its winter dress ; but from what we 

 know of some others, we suppose that the 

 black markings which are so prominent in its 

 high breeding plumage, seen on its arrival in 

 Britain, become in winter more subdued from 

 the lengthened brown tips of the feathers. These 

 fall off as spring advances, and allow the deep 

 tint to be seen unsullied ; the same occurs with 

 the gray portion of the back, which is supposed 

 to be more or less tinted with brown. 



The other species of British Saxicolae differ 

 slightly in their habits from the last. They fre- 

 quent districts covered with low barren brush, or 

 whin and broom, and are less frequently seen on 

 the ground, except when in the very act of taking 

 their prey. They build about the roots of brush, 

 large tufts of grass, &c. 



THE WHINCHAT, SAXICOLA RUBETRA Mo- 



tacilla rubetra. Linn. Sylvia rubetra, Lath 



Whinchat of British authors. This is the most 

 common of our next two birds, and is also the 

 most familiar, approaching near to cultivation, 

 and in some districts and seasons occurring in 

 immense abundance. Extensive commons and 

 wild pasture lands, the edges of a muirland dis- 

 trict and some of our large parks and chases, are 

 favourite resorts for this bird, and they are some- 

 times so numerous as to appear to keep up an inces- 

 sant motion, by their flitting from one tall bush to 



