406 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



an added charm from the fact that places where the wheatear sings 

 are so often bleak and desolate, consequently the song is heard to 

 fuller advantage when not overpowered by other members of nature's 

 great choir. The newly hatched young only emit a feeble squeak. 

 The call-note of the adult birds fchach, Vchach, not unlike that of the 

 stonechats, changes to weet t'cJiach when alarmed, and especially if 

 their fears for the safety of the young are roused. Perhaps the 

 change of syllable is a warning cry, and perfectly understood by the 

 nestlings as such. 



As the young wheatears advance in life, they too utter this 

 faint syllable weet, weet, but do not acquire the fchach till 

 well on the wing. Another proof that all young things have to go to 

 school, and exercise themselves in " the arts," as well as in the science 

 of life. 



One brood of nestlings I watched hatched out on 8th May, 

 and on 19th May could run from the entrance of the rabbit-hole 

 near which they were crouching when I peeped in. They moved 

 fast, in the usual shuffling way of very young birds, something 

 between a hop, and a run, and a flutter of wings ; but at the alarm- 

 cry of their parents they crouched in a sandy depression, or tuft of 

 rank grass till danger seemed over. On June 1st this same brood 

 was flying about earning a partially independent livelihood. 



As time goes on the various broods collect in flocks, and roam 

 from place to place till about harvest-time, when they are " exceed- 

 ingly fat and well liking." It was these young well-fed broods of 

 wheatears which used to be caught in such vast quantities between 

 Lewes and Eastbourne, and served up as a delicacy at the feasts of 

 the wealthy. 



There is a local race, or sub-species of this bird, known as the 

 Greenland wheatear, which passes through the whole of Great Britain 

 on migration. It is distinguished from the common race by its larger 

 size, and deep reddish-buff throat and breast. It generally arrives 

 in the North of England during the last week in April and the first 



