234 



THE REDSTART. 



of the din of hammers and braziers. There, unmolested and 

 unconcerned, she hatched four young ones. The cock, not 

 reconciled to such a scene, instead of taking his part in feed- 

 ing the nestlings, carried the food he collected to a spot on 

 the roof, where he left it till the hen fetched it when wanted. 

 She became quite familiar with the men who were constantly 

 employed in the shop, and flew in and out without showing 

 signs of fear ; but if a stranger approached she immediately 

 flew off" her nest, or, if absent, would not return until he had 

 departed. 



We once found a Wagtail's nest under the half-deck of a 

 pleasure-boat, which was anchored on a sheet of water. Several 

 times, from the discovery of the nest to the final departure 

 of the young ones, we embarked and sailed about, the old 



birds keeping a look-out 

 upon our motions, and 

 frequently alighting on the 

 gunwale, and finally rear- 

 ing and flying off with 

 their brood. 



The Redstart, one of 

 our prettiest summer birds 

 of passage, though in its 

 general habits very shy, is 

 frequently in the choice of 

 position for its nest, the 

 very reverse. We remem- 

 ber one which built on the 

 narrow space between the 

 gudgeons or upright iron 

 on which a garden door 

 was hung; the bottom of 

 the nest, of course, resting 

 on the iron hinge, which 

 must have shaken it every 

 time the door was opened. 



Singular nest of a Redstart. 



Nevertheless, there she sat, in spite of all this inconvenience 

 and publicity, exposed as she was to all who were constantly 

 passing to and fro. 



