3i6 



British Cage Birds. 



is well known throughout Europe. The birds are most 

 plentiful in the more southerly counties of England, where 

 they are caught in vast numbers, and sold to poulterers and 

 others as an article of food, being considered very delicious 

 eating by epicures, who hold them in much the same estimation 

 for gastronomic purposes as the Italians do Ortolans. The 

 females reach our shores about a fortnight before the males. 

 Wheatears abound most where there is a large quantity of 

 wild thyme, as they feed largely, in summer, on a species of 

 fly which infests that plant. Their principal places of resort are 

 commons, and the sides of hills not under cultivation, and 

 where the herbage is rank. They also frequent parks, quarries, 

 and wild, rocky, mountainous country. They build their nests 

 in holes on a bank side, or between the interstices or fissures 

 in the rocks in old, disused stone quarries. Sometimes they 

 select a pile of stones surrounded with wild, overgrown vegeta- 

 tion, or a deserted rabbit burrow, for that purpose. 



The nest is composed of hay and dry grass, or moss, and is 

 lined with wool and feathers, or hair and rabbit's fur, accord- 

 ing to the locality frequented. These birds make neat 

 nests. Those made in the burrows of rabbits are generally 

 inaccessible. The hen has two nests in the year, and lays 

 from four to eight bluish white eggs, with a circle of deeper 

 blue at the larger end ; she incubates about thirteen days. 

 The first brood of young ones is hatched in May, and remain 

 in the nest until they are about three weeks of age, when 

 they are fully fledged. Wheatears are not timid birds, and 

 do not exhibit much alarm when approached, but, like all 

 wild birds, are more cautious and suspicious during the breed- 

 ing season than at other times. 



They are seldom seen on bushes or trees ; they alight on 

 rocks, posts, gates, palings, and the like, and sometimes perch 

 on a wall or mound ; they may also be seen on the banks 

 of a river or stream. 



Methods of Oaptuee. — These birds may be taken, with bird- 

 lime or horsehair nooses, in September and October. Clear a 

 piece of ground, in some locality where there are a few boulders 

 or large stones, and where the birds are known to frequent ; 

 then place your limed twigs on the stones, and about the ground, 

 baiting the latter with mealworms. If at the place selected 

 there are no stones, drive in a few stakes, and cover these with 



