THE WHEATE:VR. 173 



fit for eating, and the misery of the survivors is 

 very great. 



Large numbers of these wheatears are preserved 

 and sent to London, but many are sold to tlie 

 innkeepers and others, and eaten in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the downs. They are wrapped in 

 vine-leaves and roasted, and their flavour is 

 very delicious, especially that of young birds. 



The food of the wheatears consists of various 

 insects, particularly those of the beetle tribe, and 

 when they are kept in confinement they need a 

 very large supply. Wild and shy as they are in 

 their native haunts, ready to run under the first 

 clod when approached, yet they become tame and 

 very interesting when reared in the house, and 

 keep up a perpetual singing — singing on even 

 during night, if a light is in the room. Mr. Sweet 

 says of our bird : "It has a very pleasant, variable, 

 and agTeeable song, different from all other birds, 

 which in confinement it continues all the winter. 

 When a pair of them are kept in a large cage or 

 aviary, it is very amusing to see them at play 

 with each other, flying up and down, and spreading 

 their long wings in a curious manner, dancing and 

 singing at the same time. I have very little 



