THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 45 



Wrynecks return to the same locality year by 

 year, though they are by no means regular in their 

 times of coming and going. I have found them in 

 one wood for many succeeding seasons, and have 

 taken the young, which make most interesting 

 pets in captivity. They generally succumb, however, 

 to the first frosts of winter. 



The delicate leaves of the beech tell us that now 

 we may expect the redstart, and soon his rich colours 

 enliven various spots on the lap of cultivation. 

 The " fire-tail " is quite one of our most beautiful 

 summer migrants, and comes to us from the south 

 about mid- April. But the bird is rather a creature 

 of circumstance than of time. It rarely leaves its 

 southern haunts, be the date what it may, if the 

 foliage and insect food have not preceded it. The 

 bird has a peculiar habit of jerking its tail as if 

 to attract one to the most brightly-coloured part of 

 its plumage; and this has given rise to many ex- 

 pressive provincial names, one of which is given 

 above. In form and traits it has much in common 

 with the redbreast and hedge-accentor, and whilst 

 watching it I have discovered a habit almost 

 peculiar to the true flycatchers of darting out at 

 intervals upon passing insects, and then quickly 

 returning to the perch. The song of this species is 

 sweet and full of vivacity, although rarely long 

 continued. Its six round eggs are of such a 



