140 THE WHEATEAR, THE GOATSUCKER. 



WHITE-HUMPED WHEATEAR. 



The only indigenous species, is six inches and a half in 

 length ; it is of hoary grey above, and white beneath, both 

 varied with black. These birds are very abundant in 

 Britain, and make their first appearance in May. They 

 are not gregarious, excepting in autumn. So numerous 

 are they in the neighbourhood of East Bourne, in Sussex, 

 that more than 1800 dozens are annually taken there: 

 they are so timid, that they run in the way of danger at 

 the slightest alarm ; even a passing cloud will move them. 

 Upon this timorous disposition is founded the manner of 

 entrapping them : two turfs are placed edgeways, in the 

 form of the roman T ; and to each end is attached a horse- 

 hair noose, fastened to a small piece of stick. The 

 fearful Wheatears, upon the slightest danger, run into 

 these holes and are certainly caught. They are much 

 esteemed, and are chiefly destined for the London market, 

 for which great numbers are potted ; they are in as great 

 repute among the English epicures, as are the Ortolans 

 with those of the continent. They build under some clod 

 of turf, or in a deserted rabbit-hole; and form their nests 

 of dry grass and moss, mixed with wool and rabbit-fur, 

 very neatly put together, and lined with feathers, hair, 

 and wool : the eggs, five or six in number, of a pale blue 

 colour. The White-rumped Wheatear has a pretty song, 

 which it sometimes utters on the wing ; it feeds on insects, 

 and when they fail, on worms ; this bird is found in most 

 parts of Europe and Asia. 



THE GOATSUCKER, OR CHURN-OWL. 



THIS bird, which some place among the family of 

 swallows, is about ten inches long, and twenty-two broad. 

 Its colours are plain, but they have a beautiful effect from 

 the elegance of their disposition, consisting of black, brown, 

 grey, white, and ferruginous, arranged in streaks, spots, 

 and bars. The male is distinguished from the female by 

 an oval spot near the end of each of the three first q^uill- 

 feathers, and another in the two exterior feathers of the 

 tail. 



The Goat-sucker flies chiefly by night, and continues 



