194



Capt. B. Hamilton Scott,



most houses possessing some stuffed specimens. The owner of the

place gave me to understand that all the birds were shot close by.

Certainly the most interesting bird was a large black Woodpecker.

(I do not know if this is its correct name or whether there are any other

members of this group.) In size it was considerably larger than the

green, of which there were two examples. The colour was black, and

there was a brilliant red crest. It was rather nicely mounted, as were

most of the other birds, which included : A Golden Oriole, a Hoopoe,

a Nightjar, a Landrail, a Water-rail, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker,

and the poor inevitable Kingfisher. There were also some birds of

prey in very natural attitudes—a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, and

a Montagu’s Harrier.


Black Redstarts in small parties had been seen here at different

times, but it was not until the beginning of April that they appeared

to have settled in the district. Within a comparatively short distance

from the old moated farm where the mess is three pairs may be seen,

each occupying its own area and zealously guarding it in the same

manner as the Robin. In habits they much resemble the ordinary

Redstart or Robin, flitting in and out of cart-sheds and old buildings.

The song, though described in one handbook I have as “ rich in tone ”,

is certainly not so musical as that of the Redstart proper. It starts

with a very peculiar and distinctive note, most difficult to describe—

a kind of wheezing, grating sound, and ends with a few pretty twittering

notes. One day (April 8) whilst watching a pair of these most

interesting birds a splendid male specimen of the ordinary Redstart

appeared, the first seen in Germany. This is about a week earlier

than usually seen in any part of England (Suffolk). The pair of

Black Redstarts which frequent this farm built their nest in a crevice in

the under side of the bridge over the moat, and successfully reared a

family.* The nest was too deep and the crevice too narrow to allow



* The same pair of Black Redstarts mentioned above have built their

second nest in a hole in the wall of the farm, not five yards from their old nest,

and are busily feeding another family ; so it seems that this species is double-

brooded. There is quite a collection of young birds in the neighbourhood now.

They frequent the open fields and meadows, especially where the hay or clover

has been cut, sitting on the tops of the ricks or on the wire fences catching

insects.



