BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 63 



Haunts. Mountainous and moorland districts when 

 breeding, otherwise meadows and pasture lands near sea. 



Observation. In general appearance like a lesser 

 Curlew. 



Plumage. Crown of head dark brown, with broad pale 

 streak down middle ; upper parts like Curlew, but 

 darker ; axillaries white, barred with brown ; under parts 

 like Curlew. Bill decurved, black at tip, yellowish at 

 base. Legs and feet lead-colour. Length 17 in. Female 

 rather larger. In winter, paler below ; chest and neck 

 only striped, not spotted as in summer. Young : well 

 spotted above with buffish white ; rump streaked ; 

 axillaries slightly barred. Nestling : buffish white 

 above and below, with two dark stripes along crown, 

 and black markings and mottlings on back. 



Language. A clear short whistle, repeated seven or 

 eight times in succession, like " tetty." 



Habits. Generally much like the Curlew. 



Food. Generally much like the Curlew. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. In slight depression in the ground, sheltered by 

 heather or coarse grass. 



Materials. A few heather-stalks, grasses or leaves. 



Eggs. Four. Pale olive-green, spotted and blotched 

 with reddish brown ; much like the Curlew's, but 

 smaller. 



WHEATEAR (Saxicola ananthe). 



March to September. Local. Towards the North 

 more abundant, but it breeds in many suitable localities 

 in the South, and other districts abounding in rough, 

 broken ground, rabbit warrens, and open wastes near 

 the coast. 



