THE BLACK REDSTART. 261 



having the upper part of the body ash grey, but the under 

 rather more of a reddish colour ; the quill-feathers have a more 

 decided border. After two years the depth of the colour 

 gradually increases. Several birdcatchers, and from them 

 some authors, have considered these birds of different ages as 

 different species. 



HABITATION. Tn its wild state the black redstart is fonnd in the tempe- 

 rate parts of Europe and in Asia in the same latitudes*. They seem to 

 prefer mountainous districts to wide plains, and they are seen in great 

 numbers on bare chalk-hills ; if found in woods, it is only in those that are 

 on rocks. They frequent towns and villages, perching on the highest 

 buildings, towers, steeples, churches, and castles f. In spring and autumn 

 it hops about the hedges. It arrives early in the spring, its song is heard 

 in the beginning of March, and it quits us in small flights towards the 

 middle of October. It possesses one quality, not common among singing 

 birds, that of singing all the year, or, at least, whilst in our country, how- 

 ever cold and stormy the weather may be. 



In the house it should be kept in a nightingale's cage, or at least not 

 permitted to range the room. 



FOOD. When wild it feeds on flies, drawn by the warmth of spring from 

 their retreat, and settled on walls ; afterwards on cabbage caterpillars and 

 other insects, and in autumn on berries. 



In the house they may be kept in health a long time, if the above 

 insects are procured for them, or if fed on nightingales' food, adding occa- 

 sionally ants' eggs and meal-worms. 



Old birds taken in autumn may sometimes be tamed and accustomed 

 to eat the common food in the room, by putting amongst elderberries, in 

 autumn, ants' eggs, and meal-worms at other seasons. They have been 

 known to live five or six years in a cage. 



BREEDING. This bird makes its nest in the holes of rocks and walls, 

 particularly in high buildings, on the timbers of barns, and places it at a 

 distance from any other. It is constructed of hay, mixed with the hair of 

 animals. Each laying (for there are two in the year) consists of five or six 

 M hite eggs. The young have a reddish grey plumage, and should be taken 

 from the nest when the tail is half grown, if it is wished to rear them. 

 They should be fed on ants' eggs, and white bread soaked in boiled milk. 



DISEASES. These are the same as those of the fauvette. 



MODE OP TAKING. Limed twigs, with meal-worms fastened to them, 

 should be laid wherever these birds are most frequently found. Towards 

 winter they may be caught in spring-traps with elderberries hung opposite. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. Its call, "jtftea," being very similar to the 



* It is rare in England. TRANSLATOR. 



f It is a remarkable fact, that this bird, now so common in Thuringia, was a 

 rarity there twenty years ago. This change cannot be attributed to climate or 

 food. What is the occasion of it then ? AUTHOR. 



