Some Interesting 
Soft Bills. 
(116) THE BIRD WORLD. 
Sorrve Irvterestirvg Soft 
Bills. 
By ‘ ‘ TYRONE” 
The Wheatear (Saxicola CEuanthe.') 
Anyone walking on the Sussex Downs, 
especially near Eastbourne, must have 
noticed the dainty little birds posted 
watchfully on large stones or clods of 
earth, from which, on the approach of 
a strange human being, they flit to a 
similar point of vantage a little further 
away. They have a habit of flitting 
their wings and tails in a manner that 
shows a white patch on the back, which 
is concealed when the bird is motionless. 
These little birds are Wheatears, and 
the colours of the cock when in spring 
plumage are a beautiful blending of 
black and white, and soft blue-grey. His 
wings, the tip of his tail, and his ear 
coverts are black; the forehead and 
patch on the back is pure white; while 
the back is bluish-grey, and the breast 
a pale buff colour. When he is out of 
plumage, during the autumn and winter, 
he very much resembles his mate, who is 
browner in colouring, with buff mark¬ 
ings. 
Wheatears come to England in the 
early spring, arriving sometimes as soon 
as the beginning of March, and some 
have even been seen before February was 
gone; and they leave us again some time 
during October. Soon after they arrive 
all their energies are directed to the im¬ 
portant business of nest-building, and 
for this the favourite sites are either a 
hole in the ground (perhaps a deserted 
rabbit burrow), or a snug cranny among 
rocks, or even a spot out in the open 
field, sheltered only by a clod of earth. 
The nest is very snugly and softly 
lined, and generally contains five or six 
pale blue eggs. There are usually two 
broods reared; one may expect to find 
young birds in the nests in May and 
July. But the Wheatear’s nest is very 
carefully hidden, and is difficult to find. 
A Table Delicacy. 
These unlucky little birds are con¬ 
sidered a great delicacy fbr the table 
during harvest time, when they get very 
fat, and great numbers of them are cap¬ 
tured for the London markets. The 
shepherds on the Sussex Downs catch 
them, for a good price is given, especi¬ 
ally now that there are fewer birds to be 
obtained in the South of England, be¬ 
cause cultivation is encroaching on the 
sheep walks and commons; but in the 
North they are still quite common, 
especially in some of the wilder parts of 
Scotland, and they are also to be found 
in sand and gravel pits. 
Wheatears ar'e insectivorous birds, and 
in a wild state feed on various insects, 
such as larvae, butterflies, small flies, 
and beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, and 
small snails. 
They should never be caged unless 
their owner knows something of their 
habits, and is prepared to feed and 
house them suitably, for they are not 
easy birds to keep in captivity. Many 
adult Wheatears can never be accus¬ 
tomed to cage life, and these should be 
released. Young birds reared from the 
nest, or captured very young, will be 
more easily reconciled ; but if adults are 
taken at all they should be caged in 
autumn when the moult is over. 
A Suitable Cage Described. 
They should be kept in a large cage, 
with a canvas top to prevent injury to 
their heads if they attempt to fly up¬ 
wards. The cage should have three 
perches, the highest being in the middle, 
