66 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
branches afford numerous safe and sheltered sites. 
Sometimes so small a cavity is chosen that its nest is 
perfectly safe from the usual poachers of eggs, including 
even the daring schoolboy; at others it is fixed inside 
the hollow trunk, supported by some rugged projection. 
Amongst the branches of these trees, or those of the 
hawthorns which are scattered about, they may be seen 
searching for caterpillars and other insects, and now and 
then darting on outstretched wing after a gnat or beetle. 
Sometimes they may be observed busily engaged on an 
anthill, both ants and their eggs being a very favourite 
food; but they soon retire from notice unless the spec- 
tator is very still and quiet. 
Amongst the oaks in Birkland it is abundant, and 
especially so in an oak plantation on Budby South 
Forest, which is divided from the open forest on the 
southern side by a high hawthorn hedge, outside of 
which runsa broad green drive for more than half a 
mile. This is a very favourite walk, and many an hour’s 
enjoyment I have had in watching the redstarts here. 
During the early part of the summer the males alone 
are visible, and on the approach of any one they utter a 
quick impatient note, flitting restlessly about, now perch- 
ing on a projecting twig of the hedge, now on the top of 
a furze bush, flirting the wings and tail with a quick 
motion, and showing conspicuously the bright colour of 
the underside of the latter and its coverts, from which 
they derive their best-known name of the “ firetail.” 
Now they will fly off to one of the upper branches of an 
oak, their voice and manner expressing their dissatisfac- 
tion at your presence; but later in the season—when 
the young are hatched and able to cater for themselves— 
they do not manifest their hostility to intruders, and if 
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