8 BRITISH BIRDS. 



10. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.). WHEATEAR. 



Hab. Whole Palaearctic Region. In winter south to 

 Equator, also casually on Atlantic coast of America to 

 Bermudas. 



Male : forehead and stripe above eye white ; ear- 

 coverts and streak below eye black ; crown, nape, and 

 mantle, light grey ; wing-feathers black ; power part of 

 back white ; tail-feathers white, broadly tipped with 

 black, except two central ones, which have only a little 

 white at root ; lower plumage white, with a creamy tinge 

 on throat and breast ; under wing-coverts with grey 

 mottlings ; bill and tarsi black ; iris hazel. Length 

 about 6 'oo ; wing 370. Female differs in having upper 

 plumage brown with no black on head ; lower 

 plumage brownish-white. 



Generally distributed, arriving in March and leaving 

 in September. Most abundant everywhere during migra- 

 tion, although fair numbers remain to breed, wherever there 

 are open hills, downs or upland pastures. I have found nest 

 usually in unfinished rabbit-burrows ; it is also placed in 

 crevices in rough walls or under rocks and clods of earth ; 

 loosely constructed of roots, and dry grass, lined with 

 rabbit's fur, hair and feathers. Eggs : 5 or 6 sometimes 7 ; 

 surface smooth, very pale blue, usually .spotless but 

 occasionally with a few brown specks ; size '82 by '62. 

 Food : insects, grubs, etc., it will take*flies on the wing 

 like a Stonechat. When disturbed, flies a short distance 

 and settles again with a few jerks of its tail. Usual note 

 a sharp chack, chack. Birds which breed in Greenland, 

 and are observed in our islands on spring migra- 

 tion, belong to a larger race than those which nest 

 here, although their claim to sub-specific rank is not 

 recognised. 



