THE BIRD-LIFE OF THE SPEY VALLEY. 93 
' Of the warblers, by far the commonest is the ubiquitous 
willow-wren, which is found far up” the wildest glens, 
wherever there is the least patch of wood. 
The wood-wren is little known to the ordinary observer, 
who probably cannot distinguish its song from that of the 
preceding species, but it is fairly common in the main 
valley of the Spey, wherever there are oak and_beech-trees. 
The nest is placed on the ground, in similar localities to that 
of the willow-wren, but differs from it in the absence of the 
pevies of feathers. 
‘The chiffchaff is not a resident, and is al heard on 
autumn migration. 
One of the most characteristic birds of Rothiemurchus 
and the woodland districts generally is the redstart. It 
has increased in numbers to a remarkable degree during the 
last few years, and is now very abundant. It is a most 
beautiful bird, and very conspicuous, both from its clear, 
sweet warble and its habit of flitting rapidly back and 
forth across the glades, its fiery tail partly expanded and 
moving quickly from side to side. 
The various species of tits are also very characteristic 
of the wooded regions, the commonest being the cole, the 
blue, and the long-tailed. The marsh-tit is local, but now 
recognised as a fairly common resident about Kincraig and 
Rothiemurchus It was only first recorded as a breeding 
species in Strathspey a few years ago, by Mr William 
Evans. 
The crested-tit, one of the rarest and most local of British 
birds, may be regarded as almost a common species within 
the limits of the great pine forests, out of which it rarely 
strays, though it has been observed as far north as 
Ballindalloch, and as far south as the Pass of Killiecrankie. 
Tt is not conspicuous, and would be easily passed over by 
one not familiar with its peculiar call-note. It nests low down 
in rotten stumps, making a soft, warm nest of moss and rab- 
bit’s fur. The eggs are very beautiful, the red markings much 
bolder than in those of other tits. During the autumn the 
tits, especially the marsh and ‘cole-tits, congregate in large 
parties, together with the golden-crested wrens. It is a very 
pretty sight to see them crowding a small birch-tree, busily 
