THE REDSTARTS ALARM CRY 21 



a Garden-Warbler's nest, on being taken out of a 

 bush, the hen remained sitting until lifted off. 



The Redstart is as essential to the woods as the 

 Kingfisher is to the stream ; a wood without Red- 

 starts would seem as though there was something 

 wanting to make it perfectly in accord with Nature. 

 In the northern suburbs we have a number of these 

 pretty birds ; and any one walking through the 

 woods must notice them as they flit about near 

 each pathway, dodging from tree to tree, always 

 keeping in front, flying across one's footpath, some- 

 times settling on the ground, but always rising to 

 go forward as we move. 



These will well repay a little time spent in 

 observing their habits. If we approach their nest 

 the male will perch near us and keep up his 

 alarm cry, tu-i, tek-tek-tek, tu-i y tu-i, tek-tek. This 

 may readily be imitated by giving a short whistle, 

 and then by knocking two small pebbles sharply 

 together. 



The male seems very much discomfited at our 

 presence, flying from tree to tree, calling us to 

 follow, which of course we decline to do, as we wish 

 to see the nest, from which the hen has not yet 

 flown. Suppose we search in the holes of this 

 cluster of old beech trees hard by, as that probably 

 is the place where the nest is concealed. Now the 



