RUTICILLA PHQENICURA. 81 
" This bird is very common around Tangier, arriving during 
March and April, passing on across the Straits to return in 
August and September, Great quantities remain to breed 
about the thick bushy places, chiefly constructing their nest 
with the fibres of the palmetto, the same material used by the 
Arabs in making their tents." — Favier. 
The Nightingale is equally abundant on the Spanish side. 
The number heard singing in the Cork-wood is perfectly 
surprising, every clump of bramble-brakes having its pair, 
though in some seasons they are more numerous than in 
others ; but there are always a great many. They are to be 
heard at Gibraltar for about ten days or a fortnight after 
their arrival, but nearly always pass on, though they have 
been known to nest, as in 1871. My earliest dates of their 
arrival are the 8th of April 1868, 2nd of April 1869, 7th of 
April 1870, 1st of April 1871, 21st of March 1872 (Tangier), 
30th of March 1874 (Tetuan). The majority arrive about 
the 12th of April. 
They begin to lay about the 1st of May, and usually nest 
on the ground ; but sometimes the nest is placed in ivy or 
rubbish some two or three feet high. In swampy jungles 
it is built at the bottom of a bush, and has the lower half 
constructed of dead leaves, the upper part being made of dry 
sedges, like that of Savi's Warbler {Acrocephalus luscinioides) ; 
only it is much more neat, and lined with fine grass, hair, and 
occasionally I have seen feathers used. As a rule there are 
young Nightingales in the Cork-wood by the 24th of May. 
79. RuTiciLLA PH(ENicuRA, Liuu. The Common Redstart. 
Moorish. Houmera {Favier). 
" This Redstart is only found on passage near Tangier, 
crossing the Straits in March and April, returning in 
September and October. It is not so common as Ruticilla 
titys, and is seldom seen settled on rocks.'' — Favier. 
The Common Redstart is seen in great numbers near 
and at Gibraltar on passage. My earliest dates of arrival 
noticed were the 4th of April 1868, 5th of April 1869, 
22ud of March 1870, 28th of March 1874 (Tetuan). In 
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