THE REDSTARTS 419 



as a tolerably satisfactory substitute for a mountain ; and the second 

 because he recognises that a garden or orchard, in spite of man's 

 meddlesome intrusion of the house, nevertheless has in it the 

 essentials of good woodland. In this comparison there is no doubt 

 a touch of exaggeration, but, all due reserves being made, it does 

 correctly illustrate what is undoubtedly a characteristic difference 

 in the habitat of the two species. 



In the southern counties of England and Ireland the black- 

 redstart is often to be found, from November to spring, in certain 

 favoured localities, more particularly near quarries, on stone walls, 

 among ruins or rocks, sometimes never more than a pair or so in the 

 same place, sometimes in greater numbers, 1 but there is little or no 

 regularity in their visits, or in the length of their stay. There they 

 may be seen, behaving much in the nervous, restless manner of the 

 robin, flitting here and there with many a quaint spasmodic bow 

 and many a quiver of the ruddy tail, but withal wilder in their ways 

 than robin or woodland redstart, so much so that they have been 

 thought to resemble the wheatear more than either. Perhaps their 

 surroundings have something to do with the impression they make, 

 for in their summer haunts upon the Continent they seem to take 

 almost the place of our robin. To quote again from Mr. Warde 

 Fowler, writing of the Alps in June : " The little ' Rotel,' as they 

 call him, is a great favourite with the Swiss peasantry ; he is trustful 

 and musical, and will sing sometimes when you are within a few feet 

 of him. They are sorry to part with him in the autumn, and cannot 

 make out what becomes of him." 2 



According to Gilbert White, our summer redstart " affects 

 neighbourhoods and avoids solitudes, and loves to build in orchards 

 and about houses." 3 Personally I have seen him more often in the 

 solitudes, if the outskirts of woods and forest glades, away from 

 human habitations, may so be called. But however solitary the 



1 Cf. Ussher and Warren, Birds of Ireland; N. F. Ticehurst, Birds of Kent. 



2 A Year with the Birds, 2nd edit., p. 58. Letter to Pennant, September 2, 1774. 



