Summer Ramble in Chirnslde Woods. By C. Stuart. 577 



presence. The Redstart was again observed on the wall facing 

 the Whitadder : with the field-glass we kept it in view, aud seeing 

 it enter the wall, taking out a stone, we found a nestful of 

 young. The Redstart is not uncommon in this neighbourhood, and the 

 male in his full plumage is as handsome a bird as any of our summer 

 migrants, with his fine white-topped head, and striking, bright mahogany- 

 coloured tail, he is sure to be admired whenever seen. In the bank of 

 wood running Eastward the notes of the Garden Warbler {Sylvia hortensis) 

 were heard. The bird is a very shy one, and he gives a good wide berth 

 to the invaders of his sanctuary. His song is a delightful warble, some- 

 thing like that of the Blackcap. Near the Bowling green the Blue Tit 

 (Parus caeruleus) flew out of a hole in the wall and having watched the 

 bird re-enter, I looked into the hole, but not seeing it, put in my hand when 

 the little creature came at my fingers, spitting like a cat when angry, and 

 pecked viciously! Flying out it lighted on a bough overhead, with its 

 feathers all bunched oat, beside its mate, evidently muchenragid at being 

 disturbed- Although its bod\ r is small it has a great soul. In winter when 

 feeding the birds during the snow storm, the Blue Tit was afraid of no 

 bird whatever; fearlessly encountering those three times its size and 

 driving them off. Sylvia rufa the Chiff-chaff from its similarity to the 

 Willow Wren, Sylvia trochilus, can only be indentified by its peculiar note 

 chip chop ! chip chop ! chip chop ! or as some hear the sound chiff-chaff, 

 cheep! cheep! cheep! chee ! When amused with the manoeuvres of the 

 Tits, our ears were saluted with the peculiar call of this bird, coining from 

 the tops of the tall elms across the wall. With the field-glass the Chiff- 

 chaff was seen, restless as usual, flying from tree to tree, uttering his 

 peculiar call. Carefully observing, and remaining quiet-, to study the 

 habits of this curious bird, it flew in a regular eoursj from tree to tret-, 

 Anally lighting on the branch of a dead holly, near where his mate was 

 sitting. On this, and other occasions, the nest was carefully sought for 

 in vain, although in the search, a nest very much resembling it w.is found; 

 the dome-shaped habitation of the Willow Wren, at the base of a tussock 

 of windle-straws most carefully concealed. This nest was a model of skill 

 and neatness, the outside being constructed of dried grasses, the inside 

 lined with hair and down, containing several beautiful eggs. Mr W. Evans 

 who discovered it as well as others, on this and other rambles, came here 

 on purpose to study the habits of the Chiff-chaff which is not a common 

 bird in Scotland. Knowing a few places where it is to be found, Mr Evans 

 at once at Whitehall identified it on several occasions. Although the 

 Chiff-chaff came frequently to the ground, its nest conld never be disclosed. 

 The nest of its relative the Willow Wren howaver affords a very good idea 

 of the style of construction ; and not many objects in nature are more 

 beautiful. A plant of Myosotis alpestris from Ben Lawers, in flower on my 

 rock-border and the nest of the Willow Wren, were considered by Mr Evans, 

 as two of the most beautiful objects in nature, and with great truth. Close 

 to the spot where the Chiff-chaff was flying about, the Creeper, Certhia 

 familiaris, was running up the trunks of the trees in true Wood pecker 

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