308 RUTICILLA PHCENICURUS. 



on the margins of woods and thickets, and there searches for its 

 insect food, moving about much more by the aid of its wings 

 than of its feet. I have also met with it in hawthorn hedges 

 near gardens, and the young on leaving the nest generally be- 

 take themselves to bushes or trees, where they are fed for some 

 days until able to shift for themselves. It might therefore be 

 disputed whether it ought to be named the Tree Redstart, or 

 the Wall Redstart, and should one propose to name it the 

 Bush Redstart, he would have good reason to do so. Gene- 

 rally shy and vigilant, it seldom allows a near approach, unless 

 in the breeding season, when the male may frequently be seen 

 stationed on some eminence not far from the nest in which his 

 mate is sitting. There he now and then attunes his pipe and 

 sings his little song, which although brief and not possessed of 

 much melody, is pleasing. Sometimes the song is emitted 

 while the bird hovers on wing, and even while it flies from 

 one station to another. It is heard in fine weather at early 

 dawn, as well as in the evening twilight, and at all inter- 

 mediate hours, although, being neither loud nor attractive by 

 its character, it is little noticed. 



The mode of progression of the Redstart is similar to that of 

 the Wheatear, for it neither walks nor runs, but advances by 

 leaps. Unless on a wall, or on bare ground, however, it sel- 

 dom hops much, for it procures its food chiefly by sallying' after 

 insects on wing, or by alighting on the ground to pick up those 

 which it has observed among the herbage, and on trees it flies 

 from branch to branch. 



It is always to gardens or the neighbourhood of old walls 

 that it betakes itself on its arrival, which happens later or 

 earlier, according to the mildness of the season, but in the 

 south of England about the middle, and in that of Scotland 

 towards the end of April. It has been observed in the southern, 

 eastern, and northern counties of England, as well as in Wales ; 

 and in Scotland, although nowhere very common, it occurs in 

 the lower districts from the borders to the extreme north, but 

 does not visit the Outer Hebrides. Although thus extensively 

 distributed, it is seldom to be seen by a person traversing the 

 country, as it does not travel far from its place of abode. In 



