SYLVIA D^E. 77 



still further, flying perhaps in this way for a mile 

 or more. This is the Wheatear, one of the earliest 

 of our summer visitors, generally arriving here about 

 the end of March or beginning of April. In 1866 

 they were first seen on the 2oth of March, on which 

 day a bird in poor condition was knocked down 

 by a boy with a stone in a field known as the 

 ' Brocas, ' near Eton. 



Wheatears are extremely numerous here in 

 summer, and a few nests are taken on the commons 

 every year : the district is not wild enough for many 

 to breed ; they like dreary wastes and hill sides 

 or moors. 



They generally leave us at the latter end of 

 August, although many stay on until the middle of 

 September. They assemble in vast flocks on the 

 southern coasts at the time of their autumnal migra- 

 tion ; and it is generally supposed that they travel by 

 night. In many counties they are taken by means 

 of a horse-hair noose, which is placed in a hole 

 between two clods of earth. Into this hole the 

 unsuspecting bird will fly if any danger is at hand, 

 probably thinking, like the ostrich, that if he cannot 

 see anyone, nobody can see him. This plan is much 

 practised by shepherds on the downs, who sell them 

 for about a penny apiece. For the Wheatear is 

 considered to be as great a delicacy as the Lark. 



The eggs are usually pale-blue, but I have taken 

 a nest with pure white eggs, in Sussex. 



