28 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



and belly dingy white. Breast, flanks and tail pale red. 

 Young, spotted above and below. 



Language. — Song, rather reminds one of the Wren's 

 but much feebler and lower ; also not unlike the White- 

 throat's ditty, a short, jerky strain. Call-note, a short 

 kind of squeak. Alarm-note, " weet-chick-chick," first 

 syllable being a kind of whistle, the two following like 

 striking two pebbles together. 



Habits. — The fiery colouring and the white splash on 

 the forehead always attract the eye as it performs 

 lightning-like dashes from one point of vantage to 

 another ; always on the move, the tail being incessantly 

 and quickly agitated laterally. Flight rapid. It is an 

 adept at suddenly doubling in the air when taking 

 insects. On the ground it takes short leaps. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, spiders, soft fruits, 

 and even grain. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — A great variety ; a hole in a wall or tree, &c., 

 much the same as the Robin. 



Materials. — Dry grass, roots, and moss, lined with 

 hair and feathers, loosely put together. 



Eggs. — Usually six. Uniform pale greenish-blue, 

 not so beautiful as Hedge Sparrow blue. Sometimes 

 a few reddish dustings. 



BLACK REDSTART (Ruticilla titys). 



Autumn to April. Rather rare ; most commonly 

 met with in Devon, Cornwall, and south-western counties. 

 Has been noted in Ireland, and very rarely in Scotland. 



Haunts. — Orchards, gardens, &c. 



