THE REDBREAST. 51 



remain with us through the winter. In autumn and 

 spring it is pretty regularly seen on migration at the 

 lighthouses on the coasts of England and Scotland, including 

 those at the Fame Islands and the Isle of May.^ Fewer 

 are seen at the lighthouses in spring than in autumn, but 

 this may probably be accounted for by the destruction of 

 vast numbers while on migration, and before their return in 

 spring, by birds of prey, and likewise by bird-catchers. In 

 Yarrell's British Birds we are told that the latter take great 

 numbers in France and Italy : — " During the southward 

 migration of the Eedbreast, it is caught in very large 

 numbers for the table, and in autumn the bird markets of 

 most towns in Southern France and Italy are generally 

 well suppKed with this species, which, among many others, 

 passes indifferently under the name of Beccafico. Mr. Sclater 

 observed more Eedbreasts than any other birds in the 

 Eoman markets ; and Waterton tells us that on charac- 

 teristically expressing his regret at seeing so many in a stall 

 there, the dealer assured him that if he took home a dozen 

 for his dinner on that day, he would come back for two 

 dozen on the morrow. These birds are usually taken in 

 snares, or by limed twigs set round a captive Little Owl, 

 which serves to attract the victims." " 



The song of the Eedbreast is sweet and plaintive, and is 

 continued from early spring until winter. 



Each season in its turn he hails ; he hails 

 Perched on the naked tree, Spring's earliest buds : 



1 The Redbreast was observed on migration in Autumn 1880. — At Isle of May 

 18th Sep. and 13th Oct. Autumn 1881.— Isle of May, 22nd and 23d Sep., and 

 21st Oct. Spring 1882. — Isle of May, in April, and spring generally. Autumn 

 1882.— Isle of May, 18th Aug. ; vast rush on 12th Oct., also 18th to 23rd Oct. ; Fames, 

 6th to 25th Oct. Spring 1883.— Isle of May, rush on 26th April. Autumn 1883. 

 — Isle of May, rush on 15th and 22nd Sep. Spring 1884.- Isle of May, rush 

 on 28th, 29th, and 30th April ; Fames, 11th March and 28th April. Autumn 

 1884. — Isle of May, 3rd Nov., a few. — Reports on Migration of Bird/), 1879 to 

 1884. 



2Yarrell, Brit. Birds, vol. i. pp. 310, 311. 



