PIED WHEATEAR.

Saxicola leucomela, Temm.

Le Traquet leucoméle.

Wutte the downs, commons, and barren heaths of our island are enlivened by the presence of the Common
Wheatear (Saavcola Cinanthe, Bechst.), and the plains and deserts of Spain, Italy, and the southern districts of
Europe in general are equally so with Saaicola aurita and stapazina, the northern portions, which include Rus-
sia and Lapland, are to be enumerated among the places in which the present fine species habitually takes up
its station ; and although so little is known respecting the natural habits of this bird as to leave us in a state
of uncertainty regarding its migration, as well as the localities it chooses in which to incubate and rear its
young, yet we may reasonably suppose that its general economy is in strict unison with that of its conge-
ners. ‘The Manuel of M. Temminck informs us, that so exclusively boreal is this species that it is never seen
in temperate climates ; which circumstance will lead us to infer that Siberia, Upper Tartary, and the most
northern portions of Asia will hereafter prove to be countries of which nature has destined this bird to be a
native, and the limited numbers which occasionally visit Europe to be individuals traversing the outer limits of
their appointed range.

The female we have never yet seen; her colouring, however, will be readily understood when we state
that where the male is black, the same parts in the opposite sex are of a dull brown ; and the parts which are
white in the former are of an obscure light brown in the latter.

It is said to construct a nest in rocks and old buildings, sometimes on the borders of rivers: of the number
and colours of its eggs nothing is at present known.

The adult male has the top of the head, back of the neck, rump, base of the tail, breast, and under parts,
with the exception of the vent, which is light rusty brown, of a pure white; the rest of the plumage being of
an equally fine black, thus forming a strong contrast ; legs and bill black.

The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.