1 33 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



orchards, gardens, and the vicinity of ruins. I am of 

 opinion that this species, in most cases at any rate, pairs 

 for life, although the sexes do not migrate in company, 

 the males arriving a few days before the females. 

 Regularly every season the same nesting-place will be 

 used, and that in spite of continual robbery and disturb- 

 ance. This species is not at all social, each pair confining 

 itself to a certain haunt. The nest is invariably made in 

 a hole of some kind, either in a tree or wall, the side of a 

 building, or in the crevice of a rock. Exceptionally a 

 flower-pot, a pump, or other eccentric site is chosen. 

 The hole is never altered in anyway, and varies in depth 

 from a few inches to a foot or more, and from a few feet 

 to as many as twelve from the ground. The nest is a 

 loosely-made structure of dry grass, moss, sometimes a 

 little wool, and a few leaves, and lined with hair and 

 plenty of feathers. The parent bird sits very closely, 

 usually allowing itself to be lifted from the nest, but 

 shows little anxiety and keeps away until the disturbance 

 has passed. The birds become much more anxious when 

 the young are hatched. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Redstart are from five to eight in 

 number, six being an average clutch. They are uniform 

 pale blue and somewhat finely polished. It is said that 

 the eggs of this species are " occasionally speckled with 

 reddish," but surely this must be a mistake ! Average 

 measurement, 75 inch in length, by '55 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed by both sexes, lasts fourteen 

 days. The eggs of this species may be removed again 

 and again, and they will be replaced by others. I have 

 taken a dozen from one nest in a single season. 



Diagnostic characters: The uniform pale blue 

 colour, fragile shell, and high polish, readily distinguish 

 the eggs of the Redstart from those of the Hedge 



