Class II. WHEAT-EAR WARBLER. 533 



of the wild thyme they are covered with, and 

 which is not only a favorite food of that insect, 

 but the plant on which it deposits its eggs. 



Wheat-ears are much fatter in a rainy season 

 than a dry one, for they not only feed on in- 

 sects, but on earth worms, which come out of 

 the ground in greater numbers in wet weather 

 than in dry. 



The head and back of the male are of a light Descrip- 

 grey, tinged with red ; over each eye is a white 

 line; beneath that is a broad black stroke, 

 passing across each eye to the hind part of the 

 head ; the rump and lower half of the tail are 

 white ; the upper half black ; the under side of 

 the body is white, tinged with yellow ; on the 

 neck it inclines to red; the quil feathers are 

 black, edged with reddish brown. The colors 

 of the female are more dull ; it wants that 

 black stroke across the eyes, and the bar of 

 white on the tail is narrower. These birds 

 disappear in September, at lest from the north- 

 ern parts of this kingdom ; but in Hampshire 

 they continue the whole winter, as they do in 

 Sussex. 



Great quantities of these birds are sent pot- 

 ted to London, and numbers dressed fresh in 

 the country. They are roasted, wrapped up 

 in vine leaves, on account of the great tender- 



