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THE WHEAT-EAR. 



Saxicola cenantke. 

 Motacilla 



S L 



HE Wheat-ear is one of our 

 early spring visitors, arriving 

 on the British shores about 

 the middle or end of March, 

 and staying- with us until 

 August or September. Oc- 

 casionally the bird has been 

 met with in this country as 

 late as December. The Wheat- 

 ear migrates, as a rule, during 

 the night, the males arriving 

 first. This bird is found in 

 most parts of Great Britain ; 

 but is most common on the 

 South Downs of Sussex, Dor- 

 setshire, Surrey, Middlesex, 

 Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Gloucestershire, 

 and Yorkshire. The flesh is 

 considered very delicate eat- 

 ing, and between the months 

 of July and September large 

 numbers are snared for the 

 table. The birds formerly 



