CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 121 



prevailing temperature in the spring. In one 

 respect the Redstart resembles the Warblers, that 

 all males come over to this country in a flock 

 together, preceding the females by several days; 

 after that they select their partners for the breeding- 

 season. The southward migration begins about the 

 end of August, It is fairly distributed in our 

 islands, being plentiful in England and Wales, and 

 rather "local in Scotland, breeding in Caithness and 

 Sutherland" (H.S.). A few pairs are known to 

 nest in Ireland. Its habitat is generally where 

 woods and streams abound. 



Howard Saunders says : " The nest is generally 

 placed in hollow trees or in the holes of walls ; 

 exceptionally in such localities as the inside of an 

 inverted flower - pot, or in the gable ends of 

 inhabited buildings. It is loosely constructed of 

 moss, dry grass, and roots, with a lining of hair and 

 feathers ; the eggs — usually six, being of a light 

 blue." 



The nests that have come under my own obser- 

 vation have generally been in the corner of a 

 verandah, in the space between the wall and the 

 roof. The last I saw was in the verandah of 

 Arthog Hall Hotel, a place much frequented by 

 tourists. This verandah being in constant demand 

 for ladies' afternoon teas, it was very interesting to 

 watch the parent birds trying to feed their young 

 under such adverse circumstances. The cock and 

 hen birds would take up their positions some little 

 distance off, sittinof on the branch of a rose tree or 



I 



