84 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



THE REDSTART. 



PH(ENICVRA RUTICILLA. 



Ceann-dearg. 



FROM its shy and unobtrusive habits, the Redstart, although by 

 no means a rare bird, leads a life of comparative obscurity, and is 

 much seldomer observed by ornithologists than many other species 

 which visit us in fewer numbers. It would almost seem as if it 

 were afraid of its clear contrasting colours proving too great a 

 temptation to the bird-collector, as the male keeps very much out 

 of sight in his ordinary haunts, appearing but for a moment as he 

 darts from the tall hedgerow or ivy-clad wall and hops briskly to 

 the nearest thicket on being observed. 



I have not seen this species on any of the Hebrides, but have 

 traced its occurrence in all parts of the western mainland, from 

 Wigtown to Inverness-shire. It visits annually the neighbour- 

 hood of Glasgow, and breeds within the city boundaries. Thirty 

 years ago it would appear to have been a much commoner bird in 

 Lanarkshire than it is now. Near Hamilton, according to the 

 Rev. Mr Patrick, it was " exceedingly abundant" in 1835. 



On the east coast it arrives about the same time as the wheatear, 

 perhaps a little later. It is then found near Dunbar, at the sea- 

 shore, frequenting deserted rabbit-warrens, and flitting among the 

 rocks at low tide; a habit which becomes even more conspicuous 

 after a time when the birds have nested, the male especially being 

 seen perched on a jutting rock watchful and jealous of molestation. 



The Redstart is found occasionally in Shetland. 



THE BLACK REDSTART. 



PHCENICURA TITHYS. 



FROM all I can learn, this species is but a rare straggler in any 

 part of Scotland. Twenty years ago a specimen, said to have been 

 shot in Caithness, was seen by Mr Wilson in the collection of Mr 

 Sinclair of Wick, and another was obtained at Cullen, in Banff- 

 shire, by Mr Thomas Edward, in 1851. A third was shot on 20th 

 December, 1859, at the ruins of the old palace at Kirkwall, in 

 Orkney, by Mr William Reid, now of Pultneytown, Wick, who 



