TURDINA. 19 
THE WHEATEAR. 
SaxfcoLa @NANTHE (Linnzus). 
The Wheatear, ‘one of the first of our spring-visitors, usually 
arrives in the second week in March; any birds seen earlier being 
probably those which, as exceptions, have wintered in mild portions 
of our islands. From early spring onwards the Wheatear is to be 
seen in suitable localities, jerking its white tail as it flits along, 
uttering its sharp chack, chack, on open downs, warrens, and poor 
land generally, while it ascends our mountains almost to their 
summits. Numbers still frequent the Sonth Downs, especiaily on 
migration in August; but by the beginning of October nearly all 
have left us. 
In summer this species is very widely distributed, ranging to the 
Feroes, Iceland, Jan Mayen, and Greenland ; while it has been 
Cc 2 
