THE REDSTART rs 
employed workmen to repair it. This proceeding offended the 
birds, who deserted it for three years, and then, forgetting or for 
giving the intrusion, returned to their unquiet home. Another 
pair constructed their nest for ten successive years in the interior 
of an earthenware fountain placed in the middle of a garden. But 
though not averse to the haunts of men, the Redstart shows much 
anxiety when its nest is approached, flitting about restlessly and 
uttering a plaintive cry. JI happened once to be walking in a friend’s 
garden, and heard what Isupposed to be the chirping of two birds 
proceed from a large apple-tree close by. As the notes were not 
familiar to me, I went round the tree several times in order to 
discover whence they proceeded. One of the notes was like the 
noise which may be made by striking two pebbles together, the 
other a querulous chirp, and they seemed to come from different 
parts of the tree. The author of the music, however, allowed 
me several times to come very near him, and I satisfied myself 
that both sounds proceeded from the same bird, a male Redstart, 
whose nest, I afterwards heard, was built in an adjoining shed. 
This singular power of ventriloquizing, or making its note 
apparently proceed from a distant place, is possessed also by the 
Nightingale, as any one may assure himself who will quietly creep 
up to within a few yards of one of these birds when singing. 
The song of the Red-start is short but pleasing, and. it is 
emitted both while the bird is at rest and on the wing, princi- 
pally in the morning, and only during two months of the year. 
Its food consists of small worms and insects, which last it is 
very expert at catching on the wing; and in summer, it regales 
itself on the soft fruits. Its nest is composed of fibrous roots 
and moss, and is lined with hair, wool and feathers. It lays 
about six eggs, which closely resemble those of the Hedge- 
sparrow, only that they are smaller. In autumn, the Redstarts 
retire southwards. On the African shores of the Mediterranean 
they are very abundant, and are caught by the Arabs in traps 
of the simplest construction. On the continent of Europe, 
notably in Italy, in spite of their diminutive size, they are 
highly prized for food. The number of Redstarts (both kinds), 
Redbreasts Fly-catchers and Nightingales taken in traps is incon- 
ceivable. These birds being of about the same size, and equally excel- 
lent in delicacy of flesh, are sold together in all the market towns and 
are sent to the great cities. Thousands of dozens are thus annu- 
ally despatched; but this number is as nothing compared with 
that consumed on the spot. In France Bird Protection has done 
much to stop this cruel traffic. In the schools there the boys 
and girls are now being taught to know and to care for the wild 
life about them more than in our English Council Schools. 
