THE REDSTART. 169 



fate, — as Terry came to us one day all dripping wet, his plumage disordered and half 

 plucked off, — he had a most melancholy countenance, and with drooping wing, sat 

 uttering faint, doleful little cries — we feared his nest (which was in the river hank,) 

 had heen rohbed, or swept away by the recent floods : he refused to take any food 

 during the whole day, looking piteously in our face for sympathy, — on the nest, he 

 seemed to have revived in some degree, he rushed eagerly to the crumhs, filled his 

 bill full, and flew off, — he returned in the same agitated manner several times ; and 

 every day, for a long period, he continued his unceasing exertions, with an anxiety 

 and a deplorable wo-be-gone look, so unlike his former gay little self, that we were 

 quite grieved for him. Gradually he recovered his looks, and when the brood were 

 fledged he brought them to the terrace, and with the joy of a happy father, displayed 

 his treasures, and fed them without fear, before our eyes. They became very familiar, 

 hopping round our feet, so that we hoped they would become as tame as papa, but 

 he evidently had no such wish, for he watched them attentively, and the moment he 

 perceived them approach too closely, he darted amongst them with a great flutter 

 and scattered them to a proper distance, — he was so much on the alert, that we 

 never succeeded in attracting any of them, and they disappeared entirely during the 

 summer.* 



The only sources of annoyance our birds had with us, were from the dog and the 

 cat, who occasionally accompanied us in our walks, — of the latter, they were very 

 much afraid, although she was quite amenable to orders, and did not attempt to 

 molest them, — but, strange to say, with the dog they were much better friends, 

 although in defiance of all correction, he would often make a bounce at them, but 

 only in play ; Terry seemed to know this, often remaining quietly on my hand, while 

 Rory stood at my side gazing at him, — and we were much amused to watch occasion- 

 ally, a kind of race between them, as they accompanied us down the avenue to the 

 front gate, a distance of about 250 yards, the dog running before us, and the bird 

 flying from tree to tree during the whole way and back again. 



Hazelbank, December 23rd, 1845. I. T. T. 



THE KEDSTAET. 



Phcenicura ruticilla, Swains. 

 Motacilla p/ue/iicurm, Linn. 

 Sylvia „ Lath. 



Can only be noticed as a very rare visitant to Ireland. 



This is singular, as it is a regular vernal migrant, not only to 

 England but to Scotland, and is met with "from the borders to 



* A similar fact may be mentioned. A young robin which followed a relative 

 through the garden, and eat food from his hand, gave him also its "most sweet com- 

 pany " by perching on his knee or shoulder when he was seated in a garden chair ; 

 this degree of familiarity however, was not at all approved of by an old bird, most 

 probably its parent, which several times rushed quickly past and drove it away. 



