STONECHAT, WHIN CHAT, AND WHEATEAR 197 



black. The shape of this bird is different to that 

 of the whinchat and wheatear, being rounder and 

 fuller, and its general bearing is more pretentious. 

 It is also specially addicted to perching itself on 

 the topmost branches of the furze-bushes. 



Both the whinchat and the wheatear are con- 

 sidered equally good for the table the latter 

 especially so and numbers are sold annually in 

 the markets for that purpose. On the Sussex 

 and other downs, where they are plentiful, great 

 numbers are caught in traps, made by cutting out 

 a sod of turf, in shape and size like a brick, and 

 putting it across the trench formed by the exca- 

 vation, with a horsehair noose attached to the 

 under part of the sod. The wheatear is in the 

 habit of running under any covert which may be 

 at hand when it is scared, and in this manner the 

 birds are snared. I have seen these traps in con- 

 siderable numbers on the downs near Brighton, 

 the birds being sold in the streets by hawkers. 



From its nocturnal habits the nightjar, though 

 by no means uncommon, is perhaps less well 

 known than many other of our summer visitants 

 which are less numerous. In the dusk of the 

 summer and early autumn evenings there are 

 few localities in which it. may not be heard or 

 seen. It is a very beautiful and interesting 

 bird. I know no bird whose plumage is more 

 delicate in colour, soft grays and rich browns 

 blending together in the most exquisite com- 

 bination, the feathers being exceedingly soft and 



