THE WHEATEAR. 169 



tlic later summer, shall make it more beautiful 

 still. 



He who would hear to perfection the song of 

 the birds, which arises like a psalm of praise from 

 the open down, should wander thither in the 

 early morning. Here he may find the wheatears 

 by hundreds, and as meiTy and musical as he 

 c(juld desire, though the song is very low and 

 sweet, and must be listened to in silence to be 

 heard at all. These birds are very abundant in 

 some parts of Britain, and pretty generally dif- 

 fused over our commons. They are also spread 

 widely throughout Europe, are very plentiful in 

 Holland, and are especially frequent on the 

 borders of the Mediterranean, while they are 

 found also at the extreme north of Europe. 

 They are very handsome birds, but of a wild and 

 shy character, hastening from the coming footstep 

 by running lightly over the grass, or taking a 

 number of rapid flights from one spot to another, 

 at a little distance from the ground ; only Hying 

 higher during their migration. The timid birds 

 will, if disturbed, utter a sound which resembles 

 the words " far, far ; " and if one should come 

 unexpectedly upon the mother bird, while sitting 



