82 THE SMALLER J1RITISIT JilRDS. 



described, by the intense black colour of the breast and belly, whero 

 the other species is reddish brown; this deep tint fades off at the 

 cheeks, chin, and part of the breast and sides, into a sooty grey, 

 becoming lighter towards the tail, the larger feathers of which, like 

 the rump, are a fine chesnut brown; the top of the head, neck, and 

 back, are bluish grey; the beak, legs, toes, and claws are black. The 

 whole length of the bird is about five inches and three quarters. It 

 is slender and graceful in form, like most of the Warblers; its man- 

 ners and habits are much like those of the Redstart, only that it 

 seems to prefer stony and rocky places, elevated above the plains. It 

 feeds on worms, insects in their various stages, the smaller fruits, 

 and berries. Sometimes it builds near to human habitations, in 

 which case in a hole in a wall, under the eaves of a house, or in a 

 church steeple. But in the solitudes which it loves best, the nest 

 must be sought for in the cleft of a rock, or hole in the side of a 

 chalk pit, or a ruined wall; it is formed externally of grass and 

 lined with hair. The eggs are five or six in number, of a pure glossy 

 white colour, very delicate and fragile. Two broods are often reared 

 in one year, the first being hatched about the beginning of May, and 

 the second some time in June. The same nesting-place is often resorted 

 to year after year. 



The Blackstart has a light quick flight, rising and falling, and sporting 

 in the air with much grace and elegance. On the ground it walks 

 very erect, and has the same habit of oscillating its tail, as the other 

 members of its family. Like the Dish-washers, or Wagtails, it has 

 been observed to have that up and down, dipping motion of the 

 body, especially when alarmed. It has a soft clear song of limited 

 range; its ordinary call-note is likened by Meyer to the syllables 

 "fid-fid! lack-look 1*' It is an early and late singer, like the Blue- 

 thnuvt. Although many specimens have been taken in this country, 

 this is with us a rare bird; it is rare also in Sweden and other 

 northern parts of the European Continent; although it is rather common 

 as a summer visitor in the south, it appears to inhabit the Morea, 

 and has been seen on the bare rocky hills near Smyrna. One specimen 

 was taken on board ship, five hundred miles from Portugal, and four 

 hundred from Africa. Mr. Gould first described it as a British bird 

 from a specimen taken near London, in October, 1829. 



