40 EEDSTAKT. 



Siberia, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It is known also 

 in Asia Minor, Persia, and Japan. 



In this country it is least frequent on the western side of 

 the island, but occurs in Cornwall and Wales, as well as in 

 Yorkshire and Suffolk, Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex, Norfolk, 

 Northumberland, Berkshire, Derbyshire, and Westmorland, 

 and even in Sutherlandshire and other parts of Scotland; it 

 breeds commonly about the wooded glens and gardens near 

 Dunrobin Castle in that county, as also in Linlithgowshire 

 and Edinburghshire. 



In Ireland it is very rare: one was shot many years ago 

 near Belfast in December, 1828, and another in the same 

 neighbourhood; one, about the year 1830, near Kingstown; 

 and one at Tanderagee, in the county of Armagh; at least 

 there seems no doubt that the birds were all of this species: 

 one was shot in the Queen's County in February, 1847. 



In Orkney it is but an occasional visitor: a specimen was 

 shot at Grainback, near Kirkwall, on the 24th. of May, 1847, 

 and one in Sanday, by Mr. H. Moncrieff, in the winter of 

 1844. In the outer Hebrides it has not been noticed. 



It is of a somewhat timid nature, but when the hen bird 

 is sitting, the male is more than ordinarily visible in con- 

 spicuous situations near the nest: after the breeding season 

 both birds retire rather further from observation. 'They are 

 the most restless and suspicious of birds during this season of 

 hatching and rearing their young; for when the female is 

 sitting, her mate attentively watches over her safety, giving 

 immediate notice of the approach of any seemingly hostile 

 thing, by a constant repetition of one or two querulous notes, 

 monitory to her, or menacing to an intruder: but when the 

 young are hatched, the very appearance of any suspicious 

 creature sets the parents into an agony of agitation, and 

 perching upon some dead branch or post, they persevere in 

 one unceasing clamour till the object of their fear is removed: 

 a Magpie near their haunts, with some reason, excites their 

 terror greatly, which is expressed with unremitting vociferation. 

 All this parental anxiety, however, is no longer in operation 

 than during the helpless state of their offspring; which being 

 enabled to provide their own requirements, gradually cease 

 to be the objects of solicitude and care; they retire to some 

 distant hedge, become shy and timid things, feeding in un- 

 obtrusive silence.' 



It is of migratory habits, and visits us for a summer 



