Their Eggs and Nests. '/g 



wish I could think it as abundant with us as it used 

 to be. Tlie nest is loosely constructed of moss, with a 

 few small straws or bents sometimes, and hair and 

 feathers inside, and almost invariably is placed in a 

 hole, it may be in a hollowish tree, or a wall, or even 

 in a bank ; and here, where dry-stone walls abound, 

 its choice of nesting-places is inexhaustible. Very 

 watchful are the old birJs over the eggs, and very 

 fussy and noisy when the eggs have yielded their 

 living contents, and yet very careful too. I knew 

 there was a nest the year before last (ISGO)" not far 

 from my garden gate ; but it was not till I hid my- 

 self most carefully and patiently behind the door, that 

 I made myself master of the vigilant little sentinel's 

 secret. It lays four or five, and, occasionally, six eggs, 

 of a pale uniform blue colour, perhaps tinged with a 

 faint green shade. They are almost as pretty as the 

 Hedge-Sparrow's. — Fig. Id, plate 11. 



BLACK REDSTART— (;?z///a7/^ Tithys ; formerly, 

 PJia:nicura Tithys^. 



Titbys Redstart, Black Red tail. — It has been met 

 with in Britain perhaps half a dozen times, or indeed 

 more. 



STONE-CHAT— (5^;i7V^/^ rubicola). 



Stone -chatter. Stone -clink. Stone -smick, Stone- 

 chack. Stone-smith, Moor-titling, Chickstone, Black- 

 cap. — A very common bird in many districts, and 

 from his habits much more familiarly and commonly 

 known and noticed than other birds equally, or even 

 more, abundant, but of less obtrusi<^e, or quieter 



