THE REDSTART K 



employed workmen to repair it. This proceeding offended the 

 birds, who deserted it for three years, and then, forgetting or for* 

 giving the intrusion, returned to their unquiet home. Anothei 

 pair constructed their nest for ten successive years in the interior 

 of an earthenware fountain placed in the middle of a garden. But 

 though not averse to the haunts of men, the Redstart shows much 

 anxiety when its nest is approached, flitting about restlessly and 

 uttering a plaintive cry. I happened once to be walking in a friend's 

 garden, and heard what I supposed to be the chirping of two birds 

 proceed from a large apple-tree close by. As the notes were not 

 familiar to me, I went round the tree several times in order to 

 discover whence they proceeded. One of the notes was like the 

 noise which may be made by striking two pebbles together, the 

 other a querulous chirp, and they seemed to come from different 

 parts of the tree. The author of the music, however, allowed 

 me several times to come very near him, and I satisfied myself 

 that both sounds proceeded from the same bird, a male Redstart, 

 whose nest, I afterwards heard, was built in an adjoining shed. 

 This singular power of ventriloquizing, or making its note 

 apparently proceed from a distant place, is possessed also by the 

 Nightingale, as any one may assure himself who will quietly creep 

 up to within a few yards of one of these birds when singing. 

 The song of the Red-start is short but pleasing, and it is 

 emitted both while the bird is at rest and on the wing, princi- 

 pally in the morning, and only during two months of the year. 

 Its food consists of small worms and insects, which last it is 

 very expert at catching on the wing ; and in summer, it regales 

 itself on the soft fruits. Its nest is composed of fibrous roots 

 and moss, and is lined with hair, wool and feathers. It lays 

 about six eggs, which closely resemble those of the Hedge- 

 sparrow, only that they are smaller. In autumn, the Redstarts 

 retire southwards. On the African shores of the Mediterranean 

 they are very abundant, and are caught by the Arabs in traps 

 of the simplest construction. On the continent of Europe, 

 notably in Italy, in spite of their diminutive size, they are 

 highly prized for food. The number of Redstarts (both kinds), 

 Redbreasts Fly-catchers and Nightingales taken in traps is incon- 

 ceivable. These birds being of about the same size, and equally excel- 

 lent in delicacy of flesh, are sold together in all the market towns and 

 are sent to the great cities. Thousands of dozens are thus annu- 

 ally despatched ; but this number is as nothing compared with 

 that consumed on the spot. In France Bird Protection has done 

 much to stop this cruel traffic. In the schools there the boys 

 and girls are now being taught to know and to care for the wild 

 life about them more than in our English Council Schools. 



