56 WARBLER. 



deeper on the back ; across the lower part of the back a crescent of 

 black spots; chin, cheeks, and throat, black; rump, upper tail 

 coverts, and lower belly, white ; wings light brown ; the two middle 

 feathers black, the others white, with a narrow border of black ; 

 legs black. The female is said to be like the male, but the black 

 mark is round, and behind the eyes only, and not under the throat, 

 which part is white. 



Inhabits Italy, about Bologna, but not common ; found also at 

 Gibraltar. Notwithstanding the above description of sexes, I am 

 assured that the black mark indiscriminately belongs to either sex, 

 and that from the colours only it is impossible to distinguish the 

 male from the female. The young of the first year have a paler 

 yellow on the back than the old birds. It is one of the later migrators 

 into Gibraltar, not appearing till the end of March ; by the second 

 week in April they abound in all parts of the hill, town, and isthmus, 

 being prior in their arrival to the Common Wheat-Ears ; they 

 gradually disperse through all the country, leaving always some few 

 that inhabit the rock in its more retired parts ; but none remain after 

 the migration upon the flat country of the Isthmus. In May and 

 June the male sings with a very sweet and pleasing, but feeble note. 

 In autumn the whole of this species departs to Barbary, from whence 

 they came. 



47.— BLACK-EARED WHEAT-EAR. 



Sylvia Stapazina, Ind. Oni. ii. 531. Var. /3. Rail, 81. 13. Will. 168. 

 Saxicola aurita, Traquet oreillard, Tern. Man. Ed. ii. 241. 

 Vitiflora rufescens, Bris. iii. 457. t. 25. 4. Id. 8vo. i. 435. 

 Cul blanc roussatre, Buf. v. 245. 



Russet Wheat-Ear, Var. A. Gen. Syn. iv. 469. Edw. 31. — back figure. Will. 

 Engl. 233. 



LENGTH six inches and a quarter. General colour of the 

 plumage above pale rufous, under parts white; through the eye, 



