BLACKSTART 



BLACK REDSTART BLACK RED-TAIL. 



PLATE CXI. 



Rutidlla tithys, .... SCOPOLI. 



Sylvia tithys JENYNS. 



Phtenicura tithys, .... YARRELL. GOULD. 



THE nest of this bird, which has rarely been known to 

 breed in England, is rather large, is placed among the 

 clefts of stones or rocks, and also in the holes of walls and 

 ruins, the spires, towers, and higher parts of churches, and 

 the roofs of houses. It is formed of grasses, straw, moss, 

 wool, and the dry stalks and fibres of plants, and is lined 

 more or less with hair or feathers. " It is," says Mr. W. 

 R. Fisher, "formed of almost any material which is suitable 

 and can be readily obtained. I have found it composed of 

 grey worsted, taken from a loose ball which was lying in 

 a garret." 



The eggs, from five to six or seven in number, are 

 usually of a very pure glossy white colour, sometimes with a 

 faint tinge of blue or brown. 



Two broods are reared in the year, the first being 

 hatched by the beginning of May. The same situation is 

 frequently returned to year after year. 



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