PERCHING BIRDS. 65 



noticed five robins in full song at the same time, and 

 within a stone's throw of each other, three of them 

 occupying the position I have named, while the other 

 two were perched on the corners of high chimneys. 



I have met with the robin in the wildest and most 

 solitary parts of the forest, but chiefly during the sum- 

 mer ; yet, though favourable as such seclusion is, I have 

 rarely found them nesting in such situations. A sunny 

 bank at the foot of a hedgerow, or sometimes in the 

 lower part of the hedge itself, and various positions in 

 gardens, are most commonly chosen. I have several 

 times found a nest placed on the top rail of a row of 

 espalier white currants in my own garden, about four 

 feet from the ground. 



The eggs frequently vary in their markings, but I 

 have never found the eggs in the same nest to do so. 

 I have seen them where the ground colour has only been 

 removed from white by the faintest possible tinge, and 

 they have been uniformly marked all over with pale 

 red. Generally, however, the ground is of a delicate 

 pale reddish-brown colour, freckled with a slightly darker 

 shade, and forming at the large end a dark and distinct 

 zone. 



The pretty Redstart (8. Phcenicurus) is one of our 

 handsomest summer visitors, and though abundantly 

 distributed, its quiet and wary habits would lead a care- 

 less observer to think it uncommon. But this is far 

 from being the case. If you ramble in the forest, fol- 

 lowing one of the grassy paths which wind their way 

 amongst the ancient oaks, or seat yourself on a moss- 

 covered root, you can hardly fail to see this lively little 

 bird restlessly flitting about. Its nest is most commonly 

 placed in a decayed oak-tree, whose hollow trunk and 



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