64 WHEATEAR. 



of some small hillock, stone, wall, bank, or other eminence. 

 They fly near to the surface, smoothly and rapidly, by a 

 series of short starts, and hop along the ground also with 

 great celerity, inclining the body on stopping, and then standing 

 very upright. Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, mentions having 

 seen them about the Giant's Causeway, descending from a 

 considerable height to their nests, with motionless wings 

 raised above the body in a singular manner. 



They feed on beetles, flies, and other insects, caterpillars, 

 grasshoppers, small snails, slugs, and worms, the former being 

 sometimes taken on the wing, springing after them from an 

 eminence, or even from the level plain, as well as following 

 them on the ground; the bird frequently returning, after the 

 manner of other fly-catching species, to its previous post on 

 some raised clod, or grass-grown ant-hill its watch-tower 

 both against alarm and for prey. 



Mr. Sweet, in his 'British Warblers,' says, that in confine- 

 ment the Wheatear is continually in song, and sings by night 

 as well as by day, and that their winter song is the best 

 and most varied. Their warble is soft and pleasant, and is 

 frequently uttered on the wing, while the bird hovers over 

 the nest with flickering wings and expanded tail, as also when 

 perched on some wall, mound, or other projection. It is often 

 continued uninterruptedly for a considerable time. The ordinary 

 note is a sharp chat. 



The nest, which is commenced the middle of May, is some- 

 times well hid in the innermost recess of some crevice among 

 rocks, in an old wall, stone-quarry, gravel-pit, sand-pit, or 

 chalk-pit, and frequently in a deserted rabbit-burrow, or the 

 hollow under some large clod, tuft, or stone. Mr. Hewitson 

 has known one in the bank of a river, in a hole deserted 

 by a Sand Martin. It is rudely constructed of fine dry stalks 

 of grass or moss, feathers or wool, rabbits' fur, hair, or any 

 other 'odds and ends' that may chance to be procurable. 



The eggs, usually from four to six in number, sometimes, 

 though very rarely, seven, are of an elegant rather elongated 

 form, and of a uniform delicate pale blue colour, deepest at 

 the larger end. A. J. Drake, Esq. has some varieties quite 

 white. 



The young are abroad from the middle of May to June, 

 so that a second brood is frequently reared before the end 

 of July. 



Male; weight, about six drachms and a half; length, six 



