Armitt : The Birds of RydaL 247 



weather. In times of snow large flocks remain wherever old 

 Thorns and Hollies are full of berries. As I have seen Field- 

 fares in great numbers over a fell where Junipers were in fruit, 

 I conclude they take this fruit likewise. No bird has a more 

 skilfully-managed commissariat, for the feeding of large 

 travelling armies, than the Fieldfare ; two and three birds 

 moving as scouts backwards and forwards. Its system of 

 sentries and of signalling, too, while the main body settles to 

 the feast, is a feature to admire. Odd parties may be seen till 

 the latter end of April and even the 1st May. At that time, 

 though not heard to sing (which happens presumably when they 

 break flock on their northern nesting-ground), they show 

 musical susceptibility. A concert of Starlings will draw them 

 nearer, with many sounds of excitement. I have known them 

 in large numbers, along with Starlings and Rooks, to mob 

 a Sparrow Hawk ; when the volume of sound made by Starlings 

 and Fieldfares in concert was astonishing, and quite beyond the 

 needs of the occasion. 



Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (L.). Permanent resident. 

 As frequent by wood edges as in gardens. Is an occasional, 

 though rare, fruit eater. Have seen it eat the Honeysuckle berry, 

 peck at Crab-apples, and swallow a hard Yew berry. This it 

 seemed to do in emulation of other and larger birds (Great Tit, 

 Throstle, Blackbird, etc.), that were greedily devouring the 

 fruit. I am told of it swallowing a Cotoneaster berry. 



Redstart. Ruticilla phoenicurus (L.). Summer visitant. 

 No species, whether migrant or resident, more numerous ; yet 

 so skilfully does it evade notice that few people are aware of its 

 presence. It nests generally in walls, both of the dusty highroad 

 and the lonely fell, as high as trees grow ; occasionally in a nick 

 of rock or quarry, or in a heap of mossy stones. Only once 

 have I seen it in a cleft of pollarded tree. The nests are often, 

 in spite of the extreme jealousy of the cock birds, not 120 yards 

 distant. The date of first arrivals varies ; 10th or nth April is 

 not unusual, though early (it was seen on the 3rd in 1893 by 

 Mr. White, and on the 6th by myself!), and 20th April is late. 

 The general arrival and settlement takes place in the last week 

 of the month, when the hens appear with the later males. The 

 song varies with the season. In some years, especially cold 

 ones, it is rarely heard; in others, when the spring is hot, and 

 when hens seem late in coming, it is loud and prolonged. 

 Nesting is begun as soon as the birds are paired. The earl) 

 hens pretty often start their building on the 30th, and in about 



1902 August 1. 



