182 INSESSORES. SAXICOLA. Chat- 



fat, and of high flavour ; is then esteemed as a great delicacy, 

 and considered little inferior to the Ortolan. It is of course 

 in great demand, and vast numbers are annually caught up- 

 on the downs. The mode of entrapping them is simple, but 

 singular ; and is effected by placing two turfs on edge, with 

 a small horse-hair noose fixed to a stick at each opening. 

 The bird, attempting to enter in search of food, or to escape 

 from apprehended danger, is almost certain of being caught 

 by one of the nooses *. 



It is generally seen alone, or in pairs^ and its migrations 

 do not even appear to be performed in associated numbers. — 

 Food. It hops with great celerity, and in this manner obtains its 

 food on the ground, which consists of worms and insects, as 

 also the larvae of the lepidopterous and dipterous orders. 

 During the pairing season, its song is sweet in note, and plea- 

 singly varied, and is frequently poured forth on the wing, 

 whilst hovering over the female, or the site of the nest ; and 

 at this period also its tail is displayed in a singular manner, 

 by a lateral expansion of the feathers. — Its flight is smooth 

 and rapid, but near the surface of the ground ; and it com- 

 monly alights upon the top of a small hillock, stone, or wall. 

 Indeed this peculiarity attends both the other British species, 

 which invariably chuse the very summit of the whin bush or 

 plant on which they happen to perch. 



I cannot but remark the circumstance of Mr Stephens 

 (in his continuation of the " General Zoology" commenced 

 by the late Dr Shaw) having placed the present bird at the 

 head of a new genus, which he has named Vittaflora, at the 

 same time that he has left the Whin-Chat (Saxicola rubetra), 

 and the Stone-Chat (S. rubicola), both precisely agreeing 

 with the Wheat-Ear in generic characters and manners in 

 the genus Sylvia. This is to be regretted, as inattention to 

 correct classification tends so strongly to multiply the many 



* Pennakt says, that as many as 1840 dozens of these birds have been 

 taken in one vear about Eastbourne in Sussex. 



