The Wheatear is a thick-set little bird measuring about six inches in length. It arrives in the South of England about the end of February and beginning of March, and leaves our shores again in August and September. It has the top of the head, nape, and back of a bluish-grey colour, tinged with light brown, rump and upper two-thirds of tail pure white. Wings nearly black, with buff margins and tips to some of the feathers, end of tail black; chin and throat dull white; breast pale creamy white, turning to a dull yellowish-white on the under parts. The female is somewhat browner on her upper parts than the male. The Wheatear may always be readily distinguished by the large white patch at the base of its tail, seen most conspicuously when the bird is flying away from the observer. [Illustration: WHEATEAR’S NEST AND EGGS BENEATH A LARGE STONE, WHICH WAS RAISED IN ORDER TO TAKE THE PHOTOGRAPH.] This species inhabits high moorland districts where rocks and solitude are the most striking features of the landscape, but it is a mistake to say that the cultivation of land banishes it, for I have met with it breeding on ploughed land in the Highlands, Hebrides, and Shetlands quite commonly. [Illustration: MALE WHEATEAR BRINGING FOOD FOR YOUNG.] The nest is situated under loose slabs of rock, in holes in rough, dry stone walls, peat stacks, and rocky banks. I have met with it on two or three occasions in the old nesting burrows of rabbits. It is made of dead grass, rootlets, and moss, with an inner lining of hair, feathers, and rabbits’ down. The eggs generally number five or six, of a pale greenish-blue, occasionally spotted on the larger end with rusty red. This species practises a short and somewhat pretty, but not very loud, song, which is enhanced in value by the weird solitude of the vocalist’s surroundings. It is frequently uttered whilst the bird is on the wing going through aërial antics, often highly suggestive of dementia. The call note of the species may be imitated by beating two pebbles together, and sounds like _chick, chack, chack_. [Illustration: YOUNG WHEATEARS WAITING FOR FOOD.] =THE STONECHAT.= [Illustration: gorse] This very conspicuous and familiar little bird measures just over five inches in length. Its head, nape, throat, back, wings, and tail are black, many of the feathers being edged with rusty brown. On the sides of the neck, wings, and at the base of the tail are large patches of white. Breast dark rust colour, under parts much lighter. Its unlikeness to any other British bird, and habit of perching on the topmost sprays of gorse, juniper, and bramble bushes, render it perfectly easy to observe and identify. The female differs somewhat, being dull brown with buff edgings to the feathers on her upper parts, and having the chin buff, sides of the neck brownish-white, and breast and under parts duller. [Illustration: NEST AND EGGS OF STONECHAT]