ICTERINE WARBLER. 63 



The rabbit-burrows, sand-hills, mountain-sides, and 

 turf-bogs are usually tenanted by the Wheatear ; and I 

 have seldom walked along the strand at Malahide in 

 the spring or summer, that my little friend has not 

 flitted before me, full of life and animation, and of 

 curiosity, too, as to my intentions respecting himself 

 and his belongings. 



The Wheatear was formerly in great request for the 

 table in England ; and it is said that even lately 1,840 

 dozen have been taken in traps for this purpose at 

 Eastbourne. A leading firm in Brighton had, some 

 years ago, no fewer than sixty dozen brought in in a 

 single day. As a " tit-bit " it formerly rivalled, in the 

 estimation of gourmands, the famous Ortolan or Green 

 Bunting. 



The Wheatear is the strongest- winged bird of all the 

 Chats, and may be found as far north as Greenland and 

 south as the Mediterranean ; it is said also to be 

 common in Egypt and the East generally. Insects are 

 its staple food, and these it often captures on the wing. 



The nest is usually found in some deserted rabbit- 

 burrow or under some large clod or stone. The eggs, 

 five or six in number, are of a delicate pale blue colour. 



ICTERINE WARBLER. 



Hypolais Icterina ; Becfin a poitrine jaune ; Garten 

 LaubvogeL 



Bill, legs, and toes, yellowish-brown ; head, neck, and 

 back, greenish ; throat and breast, pale yellow ; tail, 

 brown. Length, five inches and a quarter. 



