TUBDID^. 9 



summer and the other a winter visitor. Some conti- 

 nental species, which as yet are unknown to the West 

 Country, such as the Desert AVheatear, the Black-throated 

 Wheatear, and the Isabelline Wheatear, having once or 

 twice occurred in other parts of the kingdom, are now 

 added to the British List. 



Wheatear. Saxicola oenanthe, Linn. 



[Chickell: Dev.'] 



A summer migrant. Breeds. 



Common on some parts of the sea-coasts, as at Plymouth, near Kings- 

 hridge, Exmonth, and near Asmouth in South Devon, and Morte Point in 

 North Devon ; on Dartmoor, and the other uncultivated parts of the 

 county ; and on fallow lands during the spring and autumn migrations ; 

 but it is less nunierous during the breeding-season. Arrives at Plymouth 

 about the middle of March, and leaves about the third week in October 

 (J. G., Zool. 1877, p. 44). One Avas seen on Trowlcsworthy Warren on 

 February 19th, 1SG8, and one on Dartmoor on March 6th, 1872, by Mr. 

 Gatcombe. At Exmouth and Dawlish Warren it is usually seen about 

 April 1st. We have only once observed it as early as March 23rd. The 

 males arrive first, and precede the females by a fortnight or three weeks. 



" On the 24th March, 1804, a vast number of these birds, all males, 

 made their first appearance on the south coast of Devon, near Kings- 

 bridge" (Montagu, Orn. Diet., 8uppl.). " Wheatears breed in greater 

 abundance on Dartmoor than in any part of the West of England. They 

 lose their breeding-plumage after July " {id. MS. Notes). Many breed 

 in cavities of the rocks about Plymouth Sound (E. M., Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 18y7, p. 170). A few pairs breed about the Polt Head, and also at 

 Thurlestone. In September 1877 Wheatears were unusually plentiful 

 near the latter place (11. P. N. and E. A. S. E.). Numbers appeared on 

 the coast at Plymouth on September 24th, 1883, after a strong gale from 

 the north-east (J. G., Zool. 1884, p. 53). Wheatears were more plentiful 

 in September 1874 than in the spring at Instow, N. Devon (G. F. M., 

 Zool. 1874, p. A'lryl). 



Examples of the larger race of Wheatear have been obtained at 

 Exmouth, and in various other places in the county. The very smallest 

 Wheatear we ever saw is an adult male in our possession which was sent 

 us by ilr. E. ]{urt of Torquay. The large Wheatears are said to arrive 

 porae time later in the s])ring, (piite a month after the smaller birds, and 

 to ])crch on trees, in this differing from the ordinary race, which only 

 alights on walls or mounds. I'rofessor Newton int'ormcd us that the 

 further north one goes the larger appear to be the Wheatears, the tiuest 



