THE SUMMER MIGRANT 

 SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



THE WHEATEAR. 



Sylvia (ENANThe, Lath. 



The Wheatear, or Fallow-chat, which appears 

 in this country towards the latter end of March, 

 is about six inches in length, and weighs about 

 six drachms. The colours of the Wheatear are 

 very pure, and the bird has a remarkably clean 

 appearance. 



The female is a little heavier than the male, 

 has all the markings of that sex, but less vivid, 

 and is brownish on the back. 



These birds are very abundant in the summer, 

 and distributed over the whole country ; being 

 found in those places which are adapted for their 

 habits in every latitude from the shores of the 

 Channel to the Orkney Isles. 



Bare and stony places are their favourite retreats. 

 Their perch is on clods, and especially on stones, 

 beneath which they form their nests. " They do 

 not, however," says Mr. Mudie, " always nestle under 

 stones ; they resort to those places where there 



