78 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



occasionally uttered as the bird hovers on the 

 wing, or flies from spray to spray. 



Although a very shy bird, the Redstart occa- 

 sionally takes up its quarters close to the house, 

 and when once it has selected a site for its nest 

 and hatched its young, it manifests such attach- 

 ment for them as to allow a very near approach, 

 and will even permit a visitor to stroke it as it 

 sits upon the nest. 



The beauty of its plumage, its sprightly and 

 at times incessant song, and the good which it 

 effects in ridding plants and fruit-trees of the 

 green aphis, commend it to the notice and pro- 

 tection of all owners of gardens. 



The Common Redstart has scarcely quitted 

 our shores in autumn before its congener, the 

 Black Redstart {Ruticilla tithys), arrives to pass 

 the winter here, and occasionally even to linger 

 on until the more familiar species returns again 

 with the spring. But since it is properly re- 

 garded as a winter visitant to this country, 

 any lengthened description of the species, 

 and of its haunts and habits, would be out of 



