212 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



plaintive single note, wheet, not unlike that of the Willow- 

 Wren. 



In its choice of a nesting site the bird is almost as catholic 

 as the Redbreast. Holes in trees, cracks in rotten stumps, 

 crannies in rocks or quarries or in ancient masonry are most 

 usual, but the nest may be built in an occupied dwelling, even 

 over the doorway, or may be tucked into a hole on the ground, 

 but it is always well screened and hidden. It is loosely built 

 of grass, moss, fibre, rootlets, often with a little wool added, 

 and the cup is lined with hair and a few feathers. The five to 

 six or even eight light blue eggs (Plate 79) are usually laid 

 during May, and a second brood is rare. The female sits 

 closely, and if frequently looked at gains confidence and will 

 refuse to move unless handled. The same hole is often used 

 year after year. 



The male in summer is a smart bird with slate-grey head and 

 upper parts except the rump and tail, which, like the flanks, 

 under wing-coverts and axillaries are rich orange-chestnut. 

 The forehead and a line over the eye are white ; the sides of 

 the face and throat deep black. The wings and the two 

 central tail feathers are brown. The orange on the flanks 

 shades to buff and to almost white on the belly. The bill and 

 legs are black, the irides dark brown. The hen is a browner 

 bird with paler under parts ; she lacks the black and slate, and 

 her throat is whitish. The young are mottled on both upper 

 and under parts, but both the hen and the young have the 

 distinctive tail. In autumn broad margins obscure the colours 

 of the male, but these wear off leaving the showy spring 

 plumage. Length, 5*4 ins. Wing, 3 ins. Tarsus, '8 in. 



Black Redstart. PJiomimrtis titys (Bechstein). 



The Black Redstart (Plate 87) occurs throughout Europe so 

 far north as the Baltic, and winters in southern Europe and 



