86 MOTISSIEB'S BED8TABT. 



"After a long searcli I discovered the nest with a single egg, 

 artfully concealed near the base of a small thuja bush. The nest is 

 very warm, rather loosely built, with a slight skeleton of very small 

 twigs, and a thick lining of grass, wool, cows'-hair, camels'-hair, and 

 many feathers, chiefly Hoopoes'; within this is a very neatly laid 

 lining of fine hair. The nest is not so compact as those of the 

 Whin and Stonechats, but very like that of the Redstart. But the 

 eggs I know not how to describe. They are white with the faintest 

 tinge of bluish green, unlike any other I can recall, but approaching 

 in shade some of the more delicate hues which are found in the 

 eggs of some of the Egrets, and rendering the bird a beautiful link 

 between the Wheatear and Tythy's Redstart. It does not appear 

 that this bird is anywhere a migrant, even partially, nor could I 

 ascertain that in anj locality it is more plentiful at one season than 

 another. I have seen skins obtained by Mr. Fraser near Sousa some 

 years before it was described by Leon Olph-Galliard; but this is 

 not the only instance in which a discoverer has been anticipated, and 

 lost his honours by his own delays." 



The above skins of Mr. Fraser^s were obtained in 1847, and are 

 now in the British Museum. The editor of the " Ibis," Dr. Sclater, 

 adds that "During a visit to Tunis in the month of February, 1859, 

 we found Moussier's Redstart not uncommon in the vicinity of 

 Oudenah — a day's journey south of Tunis, and between the latter 

 place and Zaghouan it was often seen on the road side, perched on 

 the ground, or on a small bush." 



This bird has been fortunate in its biographers, for ten years 

 previous to Canon Tristram's paper ("Ibis," 1859, p. 307,) we find 

 Mr. Salvin writing thus: — "This species, which is peculiar to North 

 Africa, is perhaps one of the most interesting in the Regency of 

 Tunis and Eastern Algeria, where I had the pleasure of observing 

 it. Its favourite resorts are the ruins of old cities which lie 

 scattered in all directions throughout this district, and the loose 

 rocky ground which skirts the plains at the foot of the surrounding 

 hills. When visiting such spots, the bright plumage of the male, as 

 he glides from stone to stone, is one of the first objects that attract 

 attention. The note uttered by the male during the breeding season 

 is peculiar; and unlike that of any of its congeners, it is monotonous, 

 but not pleasing. This bird seems intermediate between the Stone- 

 chats and Redstarts; but I am inclined to consider that it is more 

 closely allied to the former than to the latter; the character of the 

 plumage of the male would lead one to this supposition, and its 

 habits, actions, and nest tend rather to confirm the idea. The eggs. 



