494 Birds. 



cogitation, they agreed, on the 21st of March, that their nest should be built in a spot- 

 ted Aucuba, within a few yards of the dining-room window. Though the loud winds 

 of March were hushed and gone, though genial sunshine and gentle showers had re- 

 novated the beauties of long-lost flowers, and the happy murmurs of the early bee filled 

 the willow grove, still little progress was made in the work. On inspecting the nest 

 on the 29th, I found that the outer walls were well nigh complete, and to my great 

 surprise a very curious egg had been deposited. I thought much on the strange egg, 

 but being unwilling to give the birds any uneasiness, I delayed my next inspection 

 until the 3rd of April, when I was still more surprised on observing that previous to 

 completing the interior, the said egg had been removed, and slightly attached by a few 

 blades of dried grasses to the outside of the nest, about an inch below the upper edge 

 of the nest. With a joyous heart I secured my prize. The female recommenced lay- 

 ing eggs of the usual colour, but her charge came by an untimely end. I marked her 

 next retreat ; and have peered into many a chanter's nest, but never saw such an egg f 

 nor one in such an odd situation. The ground colour of the egg was bluish white, 

 mottled and specked with light brown. Length, 9 twelfths, breadth 1\ twelfths. In 

 its form it was much rounder than the common eggs of this species ; and on piercing 

 it with a needle, I found it empty. The locality is yearly frequented by a pair of these 

 birds, and their nest is always built in some of the bushes or in one of the wall-fruit 

 trees. I wish I could explain this curious proceeding of the quiet little chanter ; but, 

 as our worthy master in out-door observation remarks that " candour is the heart and 

 soul of Natural History," and having no more facts to offer to the reader, I must for- 

 bear attempting to do so, for as he truly says, "theory is the bane of Natural History." 

 What excellent precepts are found in the simple records of Selborne ! — Id. 



Note on the Black Redstart. On the 3rd of January, whilst walking on the beach 

 at Teignmouth, I saw a specimen of the black or Tithys redstart {Phcenicura Tithys), 

 which settled on the rocks near me. Though I had never seen the bird before, it was 

 impossible to mistake it, and accordingly, not wishing such a stranger to visit our coast 

 without fitting welcome, my brother and myself went out in quest of it on the next 

 day, when, after watching patiently for about half an hour, we succeeded in shooting 

 a fine male specimen. Suspecting that this was not the only one that haunted the 

 spot, we still made frequent expeditions there, for which we have been amply rewarded, 

 as on the 9th, when my brother was returning in the dusk of the evening from an un- 

 successful campaign, he saw a bird asleep on the rocks, which he shot, and it proved 

 to be a Richard's pipit (Anthus Ricardi). Of course, as it was killed when asleep, no- 

 thing can be said of its manners or habits. Its admeasurements were as follows : — 



INCH. INCH. 



From tip of bill to end of tail 7 Length of hind toe ^ 



Length of bill from the gape 1 Length of hind claw f 



Length of wing 4 Length of middle toe f 



Length of tail 2£ Length of outer and inner toes § 



From tip of wing to end of tail 3 § 



On the morning of the 10th my brother again shot a female Tithys redstart, and has 

 since seen several more of these last-named birds. It is not at all probable that they 

 visit this coast every winter, as, if so, we must have observed them before, but it seems 

 likely that their visit to us depends upon the very mild weather which we have had 

 lately, thus, last winter (which was equally mild) several gannets chose to spend their 

 Christmas here instead of journeying to the Bay of Biscay, which I believe is their 



