BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



119 



Wbeatear. 



THE Wheatear (Saxicola ananthe, Linnaeus) is a spring 

 visitor to the British Isles. In summer it is said to be 

 a "visitant to Central and Northern Europe, extending to 

 Iceland and Greenland, and eastwards throughout Northern 

 Siberia. In winter it ranges from Western and Northern 

 Africa to Persia and Northern India." The adult male in 

 summer has the upper parts bluish-grey ; wings, brownish- 

 black; lower portion of neck and breast, warm buff; eye- 

 stripe, forehead, and rump, white; sides of face, black; 

 abdomen and vent, white; the two centre tail-feathers, 

 blackish-brown, nearly to the base ; remainder white, tipped 

 broadly with black ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, 

 black. Length, between five and six inches. The female 

 has the plumage sandy-brown, deepest above; the wings 

 and tail resemble those of the male in colouration. The 

 young are like the female, but show spots on upper and 

 under parts. 



