Birds, 495 



more usual haunt in this season ; this, however, will not account for the presence of 

 Anlhus Ricardi, which is nearly as rare on the continent as in this country, therefore 

 as this is the only specimen yet seen, it must be regarded as merely an accidental strag- 

 gler. It is not the least singular feature in the economy of the black redstart, that 

 most of the specimens shot in England have been procured in the winter season, whilst 

 the commoner species is a summer visitant. It appears to be a shy and wary bird, ap- 

 proached with difficulty, settling chiefly upon the ground and running with great ease, 

 and when at rest constantly jerking its tail like the common redstart, though it seems 

 to approach a little nearer to the Anthi in habit than that species does. Its food must 

 be similar to that of the rock pipit, as they both seek it in the same locality, and fre- 

 quently in company the one with the other. The male bird may be easily distinguish- 

 ed when flying, by what appears to be two white stripes upon the back ; this appear- 

 ance is caused by the tertial quill feathers being broadly margined with that colour. 

 Prevailing colour of the male blue grey, the hinder part of the head and the back be- 

 ing of that hue, gradually shaded into the deep black of the neck, throat and chest, 

 which extends to a narrow band over the eye and to the auriculars ; belly white, vent 

 rufous, tail and tail-coverts orange-red, except the middle feathers of the former, which 

 are umber brown. Wing-feathers black lined with bluish grey, except the primary 

 and tertial quill-feathers, which are margined with white. Female a plain brownish 

 grey bird ; tail and vent similar to the same parts in the male, but not so bright, mid- 

 dle feathers of the tail also umber brown. The admeasurements were : — 



inch. INCH. 



Total length of the male 6$ First primary quill feather 2 



Tip of bill to commencement of wing 2 Second ditto 2| 



Length of wing 4 Tail 2\ 



Robt. C. R. Jordan; Teignmouth, January 20, 1844. 



The Black Redstart ( Phcenicura Tithys) made its appearance during the present 

 season in this neighbourhood in the first week of November, and about twenty speci- 

 mens have been obtained by various persons. These interesting and rare birds have 

 been observed regularly, for the last five years, to frequent the same locality, a line of 

 coast about two miles in length, in which are situated lime-quarries and public build- 

 ings. On their first arrival they are to be seen in small flocks, which soon separate : 

 perhaps the term flock is scarcely applicable, as they do not keep close together, but 

 six or seven may be seen in the same quarry : solitary individuals are alone subsequent- 

 ly met with. They remain with us about three or four months, and I have never heard 

 of a single individual being seeu during the summer. There is some difficulty in pro- 

 curing specimens, arising from a habit which these birds manifest of concealing them- 

 selves in holes, where they will remain for so long a time as to weary and exhaust the 

 patience of the ornithologist. If not killed when first seen, they usually retire to these 

 favourite hiding-places, from which it is almost impossible to dislodge them. Wound- 

 ed birds also avail themselves of the same shelter, and I have known them in several 

 instances taken out from holes which, from their disabled state, they had much diffi- 

 culty in reaching. Very few old males in their black livery are seen ; the flock con- 

 sisting almost exclusively of young birds of the year ; with one exception, the birds 

 obtained this season were of the latter kind : indeed, on an average, not more than one 

 old male is killed here annually. These birds appear to attach themselves to rocks 

 and high buildings, where they may be seen on a bright sunny day busily engaged in 

 the pursuit of small insects. They not unfrequently lake up their abode for a few 



