Wheatears — The Grasshopper Warbler. 317 



very partial to beetles and crickets, and these can be easily procured from a neighbouring 

 baker, who would no doubt be equally delighted to find that his greatest nuisances were at 

 last put to use. 



The adult male is about six inches in length ; the beak is black ; from its base to the 

 eyes, and thence to the ear-coverts, runs a band of black, over which is a similarly shaped 

 streak of white ; the forehead is also white ; the head, neck, and back are a delicate light grey ; 

 the wings are blackish-brown; the upper tail-coverts : white ; the tail-feathers blackish -brown, 

 those on the outside edge being white towards the roots ; the chin, breast, belly, and under 

 tail-coverts are very pale greyish-white, delicately tinted with rusty brown, which colour 

 increases in depth towards the breast and sides. The female has the head, neck, and back 

 brown, tinged with grey ; the wings are dark brown, each feather being deeply fringed with 

 light brown ; the band on the cheek is brown, and the stripe over the eye tawny ; the whole 

 of the under part is rufous brown, paler towards the chin and belly ; the tail is dark brown, 

 tipped with light brown ; all except the two centre feathers are white towards the roots. After 

 the autumn moult the males greatly resemble the females in plumage. These birds vary very 

 considerably according to their age and the season of year. In the old birds the grey on 

 the back becomes more decided, the breast whiter, and the brown tints deeper in colour. 



The Wheatear should be kept upon the food recommended for the Nightingale, not 

 omitting the insects. 



The Greater Wheatear, which arrives in England about the middle of April, may 

 also be called the Bush Wheatear, as, unlike the Wheatear, it invariably settles on a bush, 

 or even a tree. It has been strangely overlooked by most naturalists, but has often come 

 beneath our notice. It is a larger bird than the preceding, is much wilder in its nature, and 

 is not so docile in confinement. 



Its great distinctions from the Wheatear (which it otherwise greatly resembles) are its 

 size ; the band which runs from the beak to the ear has the feathers edged with brown ; the 

 head, neck, and back are shaded with brown ; the wings are dark brown, each feather being 

 edged with lighter brown; and the legs and beak are larger even in comparison of the 

 increased size. 



The Grasshopper Warbler, although not a very generally known bird, is not at all 

 uncommon in some parts of England, and would seem to be pretty generally dispersed 

 throughout the country. It is so very retiring that it manages to elude any but the most 

 patient observer. From the colour of its plumage, and a habit of running along the bottoms 

 of hedgerows or amongst the grass and sedge, it has often puzzled those who have heard its 

 cricket-like song, seemingly close at hand, yet provokingly deceptive as to its real position. 

 It may be heard singing in the evenings as well as during the day. It is about five and 

 three-quarter inches in length ; the beak is brown and thin ; the head, neck, back, and wings 

 are greenish-brown, the centre feathers darker brown, producing a spotted appearance ; the tail 

 is greenish-brown and wedge-shaped ; the chin and throat yellowish-white, the latter being 

 sprinkled with small spots of brown ; the breast is yellowish-green, shading to greenish-brown 

 on the sides. Mr. Sweet mentions that he kept one for some time, but that it unfortunately 

 killed itself by too much bathing. It should be kept similarly to the Nightingale, and be fed 

 upon the same food. 



