NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



THE WHEATEAR. 



THE Wheatear is a 

 thick -set little bird 

 measuring about six 

 inches in length. It 

 arrives in the South of 

 England about the end 

 of February and be- 

 ginning of March, and 

 leaves our shores again 

 in August and Septem- 

 ber. It has the top of 

 the head, nape, and 

 back of a bluish-grey 

 colour, tinged with 

 light brown, rump and upper two-thirds 

 of tail pure white. Wings nearly black, 

 with buff margins and tips to some of 

 the feathers, end of tail black ; chin and 

 throat dull white ; breast pale creamy 

 white, turning to a dull yellowish-white 

 on the under parts. The female is some- 

 what browner on her upper parts than 

 the male. The Wheatear may always be 

 readily distinguished by the large white 



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