PERCHING BIRDS. 67 



such walk quietly and slowly along, the redstarts will 

 take no further notice than to flit a few yards further 

 on and continue their occupations. 



In this neighbourhood they rarely frequent gardens, 

 though I have occasionally met with them there ; but in 

 every instance, though approaching within a few yards 

 of the house when no one was visible, they still retained 

 all their usual shyness, and instantly flew off when any one 

 came in sight. I never met with their nests in such 

 situations. 



I always admire the eggs of the redstart -, their colour 

 and shape are both peculiarly elegant, and when lying 

 in their nest in a cavity of an old tree, they form a 

 pleasing picture, their tint harmonizing while strongly 

 contrasting with the rich brown of the decayed wood 

 around them. 



Those of my readers who possess the spirit of a natu- 

 ralist, can easily imagine the pleasure which arises from 

 a first acquaintance with a rare species which they have 

 only read of or seen in a museum. Such will sympathize 

 with me in my delight and surprise when I first met 

 with the Black Redstart (S. titkys), and found it not 

 only a visitor but actually breeding with us. My first 

 acquaintance with it was the discovery, on May 17, 1854, 

 of a nest in a thorn hedge by the side of the road leading 

 from Ollerton to Edwinstowe. It was placed about four 

 feet and a half from the ground, and was constructed of 

 dry bents, intermingled with a little moss, and lined 

 with hair. When I found it, it contained four eggs ; 

 had it remained undisturbed, I have no doubt they would 

 have been increased to the usual number of six, as the 

 female was on the nest. As it was, I appropriated them 

 as a valuable addition to my collection. This, however, 



F 2 



