136 TREATISE ON 



north than Yorkshire." But we have frequently 

 met with it in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. 

 Though a very shy bird, it often approaches and 

 builds near the habitations of men, and constructs 

 its nest in places that we would scarcely expect 

 so timid a bird would select for that purpose. 

 At Craigcrook-Castle, near Edinburgh, we found 

 its nest in a hole of a wall close by an old gate- 

 way, through which people daily pass to the castle; 

 it was placed within reach of the hand from the 

 ground. These birds often haunt orchards, gar- 

 dens, and shrubberies; but they also frequent soli- 

 tary situations among rocks, crags, and woods, 

 where they build in the crevices of dangerous ra- 

 vines and precipices. Though wild and timorous 

 birds, they are often found in cities, but always 

 selecting the most difficult and most inaccessible 

 places for the important work of incubation. If 

 the eggs are touched by the hand, unless the hen 

 has sat some time, she will forsake the nest and 

 build again. 



Redstarts feed on insects, their larvse and eggs, 

 also on wild berries. The old birds are useless for 

 the cage, as they pine and die ; but the young are 

 easily tamed, and are reared and managed in 

 every respect as young nightingales. The redstart, 



