66 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 



branches afford numerous safe and sheltered sites. 

 Sometimes so small a cavity is chosen that its nest is 

 perfectly safe from the usual poachers of eggs, including 

 even the daring schoolboy ; at others it is fixed inside 

 the hollow trunk, supported by some rugged projection. 

 Amongst the branches of these trees, or those of the 

 hawthorns which are scattered about, they may be seen 

 searching for caterpillars and other insects, and now and 

 then darting on outstretched wing after a gnat or beetle. 

 Sometimes they may be observed busily engaged on an 

 anthill, both ants and their eggs being a very favourite 

 food ; but they soon retire from notice unless the spec- 

 tator is very still and quiet. 



Amongst the oaks in Birkland it is abundant, and 

 especially so in an oak plantation on Budby South 

 Forest, which is divided from the open forest on the 

 southern side by a high hawthorn hedge, outside of 

 which runs a broad green drive for more than half a 

 mile. This is a very favourite walk, and many an hour's 

 enjoyment I have had in watching the redstarts here. 

 Daring the early part of the summer the males alone 

 are visible, and on the approach of any one they utter a 

 quick impatient note, flitting restlessly about, now perch- 

 ing on a projecting twig of the hedge, now on the top of 

 a furze bush, flirting the wings and tail with a quick 

 motion, and showing conspicuously the bright colour of 

 the underside of the latter and its coverts, from which 

 they derive their best-known name of the "firetail." 

 Now they will fly off to one of the upper branches of an 

 oak, their voice and manner expressing their dissatisfac- 

 tion at your presence ; but later in the season when 

 the young are hatched and able to cater for themselves ^- 

 they do not manifest their hostility to intruders, and if 



