CHAP. xiii. BIRDS. 143 



had five eggs. We found one of the nests in a spruce-fir 

 built nine feet from the ground. As we did not see 

 the bird upon it, we cannot consider the fact of its being 

 the redwing's fully established; but in no instance did 

 we find a nest nearer than eighteen inches to the ground. 

 Nor is it likely that there would be any built lower 

 in a country periodically flooded. All the redwings were 

 in pairs ; we saw no signs whatever of their habits being 

 gregarious. 



The blue-throated warbler was very common and tame* 

 allowing us to approach near as it sang, perched on a low 

 bush, or fed on the ground. It was in full voice, and the 

 variety of its notes formed a perfect medley of bird-music. 

 It frequented marshy ground, whether amongst alders and 

 willows, or in the forests of pines or other trees. 



We saw several handsome male redstarts. 



We came upon a pair or two of wheatears in the open 

 sandy pinewood near the village. 



In the same locality we saw a few pairs of stonechats. 

 Willow warblers were very abundant. I heard at Habariki 

 for the second time, this bird utter a note different from any 

 I had heard in England. It is doubtless analogous to the 

 t-r-r-r of the chiffchaff, but it is very difficult to describe it 

 exactly on paper. The nearest letters denoting it are 

 perhaps z-z-z ; it reminded me very much of the spitting of 

 a cat. We heard the song and also the " chiv-it " of the 

 Siberian chiffchaff several times, and succeeded in shooting 

 one bird. When silent we always found it busily engaged 

 feeding like a tit, usually among spruce-firs. 



