BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 323 



man, Sandcock, Red-legged Sandpiper, Teuke. Sits 

 lightly in most instances, although I have known 

 individuals allow me to touch them on the nest. 

 When incubation has advanced, the bird resorts 

 to various alluring tricks to decoy the intruder away 

 from her eggs and is exceedingly noisy. Young 

 Redshanks can swim with ease and expedition. 



REDSTART. 



(Ruticitta phcenicurus.) 



Order PASSERES ; Family TURDID.E (THRUSHES). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length about five and a quar- 

 ter inches. Bill of medium 

 length, straight, and black. 

 Irides hazel ; forehead white ; 

 crown, nape, back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts deep bluish- 

 grey ; wing-quills brown ; rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and tail- 

 quills bright rusty-red, with 



MALE REDSTART. ,. ' - ,, . -. -,-, 



exception ol the two middle 

 feathers of the tail, which are brown like the wings. 

 Over the base of the upper mandible, chin, cheeks, 

 throat, and sides of the neck black. Breast bright 

 rust colour, belly paler, vent yellowish-white, under 

 the tail red. Legs, toes, and claws dark brown. 



The female lacks the black and white on the 

 head ; has the upper-parts greyish-brown, tail duller, 

 and under-parts fainter. 



Situation and Locality. In holes in trees, walls, 

 thatches, rocks, and ruins ; occasionally in such 

 situations as inverted plant pots and disused pumps ; 



