404 SAXICOLA (ENANTHE. 



size being climatal, but colour arising, in some cases certainly, from other 

 causes which it is not necessary to enter upon here. 



The larger and smaller Dunlins (Tringa variabilis), however, are much 

 like the above cases (cf. Stevenson, ' Birds of Norfolk,' vol. ii. p. 382, and 

 Cordeaux's ' Birds of the Humber District,' p. 137). 



The lithograph of the Wheatear-trap was taken from a sketch I made, 

 on the 17th of August, 1876, on a very broiling day, after going round the 

 coops. The white flint stone which attracts the birds is depicted ; the grass, 

 however, is rather too long. Wheatears like a bare space best ; and the trap 

 is set in a cartway very often. Below, it is displayed in outline, open, with 

 the splint across, and the two horsehair nooses, which overlap each other in 

 the passage, so that the runner cannot pass without getting his head in. 

 The horsehair goes through a split in the stick ; and it has a knot at the 

 end, to prevent the captive from pulling it out again in his struggles to get 

 free. 



The chamber is 10 inches by 16 inches, and 5 inches deep. The 

 passage up to it is 28 inches long by 5 inches wide, and 3^ inches deep. The 

 splint, usually of willow, is 7 inches long. 



A few Wheatears are caught in clap-nets ; and there is usually a flight- 

 day for all migrants. In 1876 it was, for these birds, August 23rd; and on 

 this day two nets took four dozen. 



It is not easy to put on paper these matters, which require to be seen ; 

 but we wdll suppose that harvest is ended, and that even the last "leaser"* 

 has ceased to gather the scattered ears. No Sussex Ruth follows on the hill 

 the vocation of her Moabitic namesake ; nor does any British Boaz say to 



^ Sussex name for gleaner. 



