Birds of Britain 



of others of his tribe, a few days later, causes him to 

 select both mate and nesting-site, after which he drives to 

 " fresh fields and pastures new " those of his kind who seem 

 inclined to throw too amorous glances on his chosen mate. 

 A hole in a tree on the outskirts of a wood, along a river, 

 or in a park, is the selected spot for their residence. The 

 nest is loosely constructed of moss lined with hair, and in 

 it are laid five to six eggs of a delicate blue colour much 

 resembling those of the Hedge Sparrow. The hen is a much 

 duller coloured bird than the cock, but with a red tail, 

 which she moves with the same characteristic motion ; she 

 undertakes alone the duties of incubation, her lord and 

 master keeping her well fed with insects, flies, and any 

 living creature of suitable size that he is able to capture. 

 In the intervals of catering for her or while listlessly 

 waiting for " a bite," he will trill out his little song, which 

 is, however, very feeble in quality as in quantity, for it 

 consists merely of a disconnected ramble through a few 

 short strains that are repeated again and again. 



The male has the crown, nape, and mantle dark slate 

 grey, rump and tail feathers (except the two centre ones, 

 which are brown) chestnut. Forehead white ; chin, throat, 

 and cheeks black. Under parts, including the axillaries and 

 under wing coverts, chestnut. The female is brown on the 

 whole of the upper parts except the rump and tail, which are 

 chestnut as in the male but duller. Under parts dull 

 rufous. The young in their first plumage are spotted above 

 and below. In winter both sexes have broad dull margins 

 to their feathers, which conceal, to a great extent, the bright 

 colours of the male. Length 5*4 in. ; wing 3*1 in. 



32 



