INVCTHE NORTH OF ‘KENT 109 
its tail showed red as it flew from us. It 
came out of a low cut down may bush, in 
some marshy ground, and there in the fork 
of the main trunk and not more than two feet 
from the ground was the neat little round, 
open cup-shaped nest, with five pure blue eggs, 
just like those of a hedge-sparrow in colour, 
or perhaps with a greenish tint, but seen at 
a glance to be somewhat smaller. The nest 
was so protected all round by the forks of the 
low tree that it was impossible to photo- 
graph it. Indeed, we could only reach it by 
stretching down to it at arm’s length. I 
have never seen a more protected nest. 
But this position is not usual with the bird, 
it being very fond of holes in trees and old 
walls. The redstart is a very pretty bird, 
of a robin or hedge-sparrow like appearance in 
form when seen close. But it has sober 
plumage, and like many other small birds 
without very distinctive colours or features 
it might not attract attention when seen 
flying, but a connoisseur would spot it. (ihis 
is one of the disappointing things in ornith- 
