54 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



Since then no wanton boy disturbs her nest, 

 Weasel nor wild cat will her young molest ; 

 All sacred deem the bird of ruddy breast." 



J. H. ABRAHALL. 



The other is the Redbreast's Epitaph : 



"Tread lightly here, for here, 'tis said, 

 When piping winds are hushed around, 

 A small note wakes from underground, 

 Where now his tiny bones are laid. 

 No more in lone and leafless groves, 

 With ruffled wings and faded breast, 

 His friendless, homeless spirit roves. 

 Gone to the world where birds are blest, 

 Where never cat glides o'er the green, 

 Or schoolboy's giant form is seen, 

 But love, and gay and smiling spring, 

 Inspire their little souls to sing." 



ROGERS. 



REDSTART. 



Ruticilla Ph&nicurus ; Becfin des murailles ; Garten 

 rothling ; Roodstaartje (Dutch). 



Redtail ; Firetail ; Quickstart. 



Bill, black ; legs and claws, brown ; head, back, and 

 wing-coverts, grey; forehead, white; breast, tail-coverts, 

 and tail, bright rust-red ; two middle tail-feathers, 

 brown. The female has not the white and black on the 

 head. Length, five inches and a quarter. 



I hardly thought that I should have been able to 

 have included this beautiful bird in the list of Irish 

 Song Birds, as one which observers were at all likely to 

 see and hear for themselves. Mr. Thompson writes of 

 it as "a very rare visitant to Ireland." He says that 



