PLATE LIII. 
The Wheat-Ear. 
T 
A HERE are not many of thefe birds near London-the few we have are commonly found ia 
pairs; tliey make their appearance in April, in the beginning of the breeding feafon, and inhabit our 
fallow fields and dry fandy heaths, being much averfe to wet— for if a cloud obfcures the fun they 
immediately run under cover to fecure themfelves from the threatening ftorm. In feme parts of our 
kingdom where there are large heaths, and in the neighbourhood of Lymington and Southampton 
they are great in number, and the ground is frequently let for the fole purpofe of taking them, 
which is effeaed by fetting two turfs together edgeways like the roof of a Houfe, and placing a 
horfe-hairnoofe at each end— where on the appearance of a heavy cloud they run for (helter and are 
caught. It is cuftoraary for thofe who want thefe birds to walk over the plain or heath where the 
traps are laid, and take away as many as they pleafe leaving for each bird a penny— knowing the 
ground to be rented by poor men for the purpofe of gain. They feed on fmall feeds, grubs and 
reptiles; I have taken their nefts compofed wholly of dried grafs from under a heap of Hones— they 
are very negligent in its ftruaure— laying it loofely together, leaving the fides to be fupported 
by the Hones- they lay fix eggs of a brownifti colour, with fpots of a Hill darker brown— whilft 
young they in a great degree refemble the females in colour. 
