THE REDSTAET. 207 



The redstart is a summer resident with us 

 from the south. It is in no part of Britain very 

 abundant, and in some districts is a rare bird. In 

 Holland, France, Spain and Italy, it is very plen- 

 tiful : it also visits Germany, and migrates to 

 Russia, Norway and Sweden. It arrives in our 

 island in April, and departs by the end of Sep- 

 tember. The French call this bird Rossignol de 

 7nui', though, as Belon says, in his Portraits 

 (T (hjseaux^ "In comparison of the nightingale it 

 sings nothing of any Avortli." 



The Black Redstart [PJicenicura titliys) claims 

 but a slight notice, since it is but an occasional 

 visitor to our island. Its breast, instead of being 

 red, like that of its allied species, is black as ebony. 

 It delights in rocky, stony places, and makes its 

 nests in clefts of rocks, in the wild, or builds near 

 houses, in holes of walls, its little dwelling of 

 grass, lined with hair. Bechstein says, that its 

 voice contains a few high, clear notes, which may 

 be heard from an early hour in the morning, till 

 night. It is common in most of the temperate 

 countries of Europe and Asia. 



The Blue-throated Warbler, or Blue-throated 

 Robin [Phcenicura Suecica)^ is another species, of 



