110 
THE WHEAT-EAR. 
and the breast is marked with narrow dark bars. 
We have not been able to procure specimens of 
this bird in its winter dress ; but from what we 
know of some others, we suppose that the 
black markings which are so prominent in its 
high breeding plumage, seen on its arrival in 
Britain, become in winter more subdued from 
the lengthened brown tips of the feathers. These 
fall off as spring advances, and allow the deep 
tint to be seen unsullied ; the same occurs with 
the gray portion of the back, which is supposed 
to be more or less tinted with brown. 
The other species of British Saxicol® differ 
slightly in their habits from the last. They fre- 
quent districts covered with low barren brush, or 
whin and broom, and are less frequently seen on 
the ground, except when in the very act of taking 
their prey. They build about the roots of brush, 
large tufts of grass, &c. 
The Whinchat, Saxicola robetra — Mo- 
tacilla rubetra, Linn. — Sylvia rubetra, Lath 
Whinchat of British authors. — This is the most 
common of our next two birds, and is also the 
most familiar, approaching near to cultivation, 
and in some districts and seasons occurring in 
immense abundance. Extensive commons and 
wild pasture lands, the edges of a muirland dis- 
trict and some of our large parks and chases, are 
favourite resorts for this bird, and they are some- 
times so numerous as to appear to keep up an inces- 
sant motion, by their flitting from one tall bush to 
