118 Some Interesting Birds. 



Mr Willford's fine photo of the m.'ile, illustratiug these 

 notes, IS a characteristic portrait of tnis dianning bird, in 

 one of its most striking poses. 



Descrittion. Adult Male: Forehead hoaiy- white; 

 crown, nape, and upper back slate-grey; wings dark brown, 

 with lighter outer margins; rump and tail ruddy-chestnut, 

 witli the exception of the two central feathers of the latter, 

 which are brown; narrow frontal band, chin, throat, and 

 cheeks deep velvety black; breast bright ruddy chestnut; 

 abdomen paler than breast; ventral region whitisii; bill black; 

 legs and feet deep brown. Total length 5| inches. 



Adult Female: Lighter and generally less brilliant than 

 male, she lacks the black on the face and throat, Avhich is 

 so striking a feature of her mate. 



Young: Nestlings are much spotted above and below 

 and much resemble young Robins, but they have a chestnut 

 tail. Birds of the year resemble the adult female. 



'Range: Broadly, it is generally distributed throughout 

 the British Isles, though it is less common in the north and 

 west. Its summer and winter distribution outside the Brit. 

 Isles, includes: Europe, Africa, Madeira, Canaries; Arabia; 

 Persia. Eastwards it extends to Lake Baikal. 



BEEEDl^•G: The Common Ecdstart has not yet been bred m 

 captivity, but in 1912, Mr. W. E. Teschemaker success- 

 fully bred tire Black Redstart {R. titys) in his Devonshire 

 aviaries. In a state of nature the Redstart almost invari- 

 ably builds his nest in the hole of a tree, crevice of a stone 

 wall, or other similar site. It is mostly constructed of dried 

 grass, fine rootlets, occasionally a few leaves are used, and 

 is lined with liuir or feathers or a combination of both. The 

 eggs are bright bluish -green— similar to, but paler and a 

 little smaller than those of the Hedge Accentor— without any 

 markings of any kind. The nesting season is from May to 

 July, inclusive. 



Food: In a state of nature this consists of insects- 

 flies, gnats, butterflies, spiders, etc.; and their larvic and 

 pupob. In captivity a similar diet must be given, also some 

 strong insectile mixture, also soft ripe fruit. 



In Captivity: I have not kept the English species, 

 but I have found them altogether charming; birds, and full 



