The Wheat ear. 



317 



the lime. When your arrangements are completed, gently drive 

 the birds towards the spot where the limed twigs or nooses are 

 arranged. After removing any entrapped birds, you may 

 repeat the process as often as considered desirable. 



Food and Teeatment. — In a wild state, the Wheatear feeds 

 on insects of various kinds — beetles, flies, moths, and small 

 worms. In confinement, it must be fed, when first taken, with 

 mealworms, cockroaches, house crickets, flies, beetles, or small 

 worms. It will thrive on the diet recommended for White- 

 throats and Fauvettes. After it becomes domesticated, it 

 will eat bread and milk and crushed hemp seed, as also the 

 Compounds No. 1 and No. 2 recommended for soft-billed birds 

 {vide pp. 189, 190). It is fond of chopped hard-boiled egg 

 and bread. 



Eeaeing the Young. — The young may be taken, when 

 fourteen days old, and reared on bread and milk, mixed with 

 ants' eggs, or a few mealworms, chopped small. When they 

 are three weeks old, give them a few flies and crickets ; after- 

 wards, treat them the same as Whitethroats. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — In the hen, the 

 white line over the eye is rather obscure. She is pale greyish 

 russet on the head and hind part of neck and back, and her 

 wings and the extremity of her tail are brown instead of black. 

 All the under parts are darker in colour than in the male ; in 

 fact, she is altogether much less attractive in appearance. 



Song. — The song of this bird is peculiar, but not at all 

 unpleasing, it has a variety of changes, and is continuous 

 and well-sustained. Wheatears sing freely in confinement, and 

 when the gas is burning at nights. 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — Choose a bird that is 

 bold and sprightly, with a soft blue tinge on the head and back, 

 and well-defined eye markings ; one with the white and black 

 feathers composing the tail intense in colour and luminous. 

 The wings should be bright black, the breast of a pale reddish 

 hue, and the belly and vent white. The plumage of the bird 

 should be close and compact, and the wings and tail well- 

 braced together, and neatly carried. The bird chosen should 

 be docile and tractable in a cage, and entirely free from stains 

 of dirt. 



General Eemarks. — Wheatears must be kept in a cage until 

 thoroughly domesticated, as they are apt to become wild and 



