PERCHING BIRDS. 67 
such walk quietly and slowly along, the redstarts will 
take no further notice than to flit a few yards further 
on and continue their occupations. 
In this neighbourhood they rarely frequent gardens, 
though I have occasionally met with them there ; but in 
every instance, though approaching within a few yards 
of the house when no one was visible, they still retained 
all their usual shyness, and instantly flew off when any one 
came in sight. J never met with their nests in such 
situations. 
I always admire the eggs of the redstart ; their colour 
and shape are both peculiarly elegant, and when lying 
in their nest in a cavity of an old tree, they form a 
pleasing picture, their tint harmonizing while strongly 
contrasting with the rich brown of the decayed wood 
around them. 
Those of my readers who possess the spirit of a natu- 
ralist, can easily imagine the pleasure which arises from 
a first acquaintance with a rare species which they have 
only read of or seen ina museum. Such will sympathize 
with me in my delight and surprise when I first met 
with the Black Redstart (S. tithys), and found it not 
only a visitor but actually breeding with us. My first 
acquaintance with it was the discovery, on May 17, 1854, 
of a nest in a thorn hedge bythe side of the road leading 
from Ollerton to Edwinstowe. It was placed about four 
feet and a half from the ground, and was constructed of 
dry bents, intermingled with a little moss, and lined 
with hair. When I found it, it contained four eggs; 
had it remained undisturbed, I have no doubt they would 
have been increased to the usual number of six, as the 
female was on the nest. As it was, I appropriated them 
as a valuable addition to my collection. This, however, 
F 2 
