82 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



parts in the six northern counties of England, 

 Wales, and the South of Scotland. In the days of 

 my youth I knew an old ruin in Yorkshire wherein 

 a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart nested within a 

 few feet of each other. The former hird occupied 

 the site for years in succession. 



Materiah. — Dry grass, moss, leaves, feathers, 

 and hair, loosely put together. 



Eggs. — Five to eight, generally five or six. Of 

 a uniform pale hlue or greenish-hlue, closely resem- 

 hling those of the Redstart, hut are occasionally 

 marked with a few reddish-brown sj)ots, it is said ; 

 however, I have never seen an}^ so marl^ed. Size 

 about -75 by 'b6 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



jRemarJts. — Migratory ; arriving in April and 

 leaving in September or October. Notes very like 

 those of the Redstart. Local and other names : 

 Goldfinch. A close sitter : T could often have caught 

 the bird whose nest I have just mentioned. 



FLYCATCHER, SPOTTED. 



Descriptioii of Parent Birds. — Length about six 

 inches. Bill of medium length, straight, broad at 

 the base, and dusky-black in colour. Irides dark 

 brown. Head, back of neck, back, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverts brown, the head being spotted 

 with a darker tinge of the same colour. Wings 

 brown, tail the same colour, ver}^ slightly forked, 

 and a trifle lighter at the tij). Ohin, throat, breast, 

 and under parts a dull white, streaked on the throat 

 and breast with dusky - brown. Legs, toes, and 

 claws dusky-black. 



The female is very similar to the male. 



