CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 121 



EEDSTAET. 

 Case 138. 



About the second week in April numbers of these 

 handsome little birds may be observed flitting along 

 the Sussex hedges : having passed the winter in a 

 warmer climate they are now on their way to their 

 breeding quarters. 



A few pairs nest in the wild forest district about 

 Balcombe and Tilgate ; but the species is far from 

 common in Sussex during the summer months. I 

 have noticed them particularly abundant in the wooded 

 glens in the Highlands, where the old stone dikes and 

 rugged weather-beaten trees afford ample choice for 

 the selection of a nursery. 



As the autumn advances, they again work their way 

 south, and take leave of us for the winter. 



The male was shot at Catsfield, in the east of 

 Sussex, in May, 1855 ; the female in the neighbour- 

 hood of Brighton, in April, 1867 ; and the nest and 

 eggs were taken a month later in Glenlyon, in Perth- 

 shire. 



BLACK EEDSTAET. 

 Case 139. 



Unlike the common, the Black Eedstart is a winter 

 visitor to the British Islands, usually appearing about 

 the middle of October, and taking its departure in 

 March, or the beginning of April. 



It is by no means so abundant as the common 

 species, though in a few localities it may generally be 



