8 BLACK REDSTART. 



Language. Song, rather reminds one of the Wren's but 

 much feebler and lower ; also not unlike the Whitethroat's 

 ditty, a short, jerky strain. Call-note, a short kind of squeak. 

 Alarm-note, "weet-chick-chick " ; first syllable being a kind of 

 whistle, the two following like striking two pebbles together. 



Habits. The fiery colouring and the white splash on the 

 forehead always attract the eye as it performs lightning-like 

 dashes from one point of vantage to another ; always on the 

 move, the tail being incessantly and quickly agitated laterally. 

 Flight rapid. It is an adept at suddenly doubling in the air 

 when taking insects. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, soft fruits, and even 

 grain. 



Nest. May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. A great variety; a hole in a wall or tree, &c., much 

 the same as the Robin. 



Materials. Dry grass, roots, and moss, lined with hair and 

 feathers. 



Eggs. Usually six. Uniform pale greenish blue, not so 

 beautiful as Hedge Sparrow blue. Sometimes a few reddish 

 dustings. 



BLACK REDSTART (Euticilla titys). 



Migrant ; Autumn to April. Rather rare ; most commonly 

 met with in Devon, Cornwall, and south-western counties. 

 Has been noted in Ireland, and very rarely in Scotland. 



Haunts. Orchards, gardens, &c. 



Observations. Distinguish from last by absence of white 

 forehead splash, and conspicuous white wing-patch absent in 

 Redstart. 



Plumage. Upper parts slate-grey. Forehead, face, throat, 

 and breast black, paling into grey on belly. Wings brown, with 

 conspicuous white patch. Rump and tail chestnut. Bill and 

 legs black. Length of in. Female, duller colouring ; upper 

 parts smoky brown. Young, like female. 



Language. Song, simple and short, but rich in tone. Call- 

 note a low " sit." Alarm-note, " tek." 



Habits. Not unlike the Redbreast in the way it stoops its 

 head and jerks its tail. Conspicuous in flight. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, beetles, small crus- 

 tacea, and small soft fruits. 



Nidification. Extremely doubtful if it has ever bred in 

 Great Britain. It rather resembles the Redbreast, but the five 

 to six eggs are white faintly suffused with blue, and occasionally 

 minutely dotted with brown. 



