OUR MIGRANTS. 187 
British Islands. It is a bird common to Europe generally. It 
leaves us in autumn for the milder regions of the south. The 
Redstart, or Firetail, is a very beautiful bird. It arrives in 
April, and is not very common, although one seldom passes a 
summer without seeing a few of the species. It builds in 
holes in trees and walls. Gilbert White says, ‘‘ Sitting very 
placidly on the top of a tall tree in a village, the cock sings from 
morning to night; he affects neighbourhoods, and avoids 
solitude, and loves to build in orchards and about houses.” 
The plumage of the male bird is far more bright and beautiful 
than that of the female. This species, like the last, leaves 
us in the autumn on its journey to awarmer clime. The 
Landrail is another of our summer visitants. Its curious note, 
or crake, may be heard during the morning and evening. It 
possesses the peculiar property of ventriloquism in so wonderful 
a manner as to give the idea of being first near and then afar 
off. This bird seldom flies, is with great difficulty flushed by 
the sportsman, and its wings being very short, and the flight 
low aud clumsy, seems very poorly adapted for the wonderful 
work of migration, which, however, it accomplishes twice every 
year. The nest is built on the ground, and the eggs are from 
seven to ten innumber. This species has been noted in Africa 
and as far south as Madeira. It would appear that they come 
over here in large numbers, and this indeed is probably the case 
with most of our migrants, which nevertheless on arrival soon 
disperse themselves throughout the land. The last of our 
summer migrants is the Flycatcher. It arrives about the middle 
of May, and soon makes itself at home amongst us. It courts 
the society of man, and builds its nest against the walls of a 
house, on a vine or fruit tree. It has no song, and is altogether 
a quiet and sober-looking bird, usually sitting on a bough, 
and then darting after the flies as they pass along. Insects 
are its staple food, although it is accused by the gardeners 
of a partiality for cherries. This indeed is, however, one of 
those curious charges which are being so constantly and 
wickedly trumped up to justify the slaughter of the feathered 
tribe by the gardeners during the summer. Who can see this 
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