26 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



were caught by means of horsehair nooses placed in small 

 trenches scooped out of the ground, into which they run 

 for concealment, the shepherds on the Sussex Downs being* 

 particularly expert in this occupation. 



The timidity and caution of the Wheat-ear are ex- 

 tremely noticeable traits in its character ; it has a habit 

 of constantly moving 1 the head from side to side, and 

 looking in all directions, as though in a chronic state of 

 apprehension. The nest, which is tolerably well concealed, 

 is generally built about the end of April or beginning of 

 May, and is either placed in some old wall or in a quarry 

 or gravel-pit ; in some cases it is built amongst a heap of 

 stones, and at other times a deserted rabbit-burrow is 

 made use of. The materials used are fine dry grass and 

 moss mixed with wool, and lined with hair, wool, fur, or 

 feathers. The eggs are usually five or six in number, 

 rather long, and of a light blue colour. White varieties 

 have been occasionally found. 



The food of the Wheat-ear consists of flies, beetles, wire- 

 worms, caterpillars, small snails, grasshoppers, slugs, worms, 

 &c. The bird sometimes captures its food on the wing ; but 

 its most favourite plan is to perch on some stone or small 

 eminence from which it darts upon some tempting morsel, 

 and then returns to its watching-place to look out for 

 more. As an instance of the service rendered to the 

 farmer by this and similar birds, the author remembers a 

 field about eight acres in extent which one season was so 

 infested with wire-worms that cultivation was almost use- 

 less. The field was ploughed and harrowed about the end 

 of April or the beginning of May, and at this time large 

 numbers of Wheat-ears congregated there daily; in fact, 

 they seemed to have forsaken the surrounding localities for 



