The Redstart. 



267 



or beginning of October. It is believed to accompany the 

 Nightingale. 



On its arrival in this country it takes up its abode in 

 the loftiest trees, and from these pours out its amorous 

 strains ; but when a partner has been obtained, it retires at 

 once to some quiet bye-lane or gentleman's pleasure grounds, 

 where there is an abundance of shelter and not much traffic. 

 The Bedstart is a solitary bird when at liberty, and in this 

 respect strongly resembles the Nightingale, which is very shy 

 and retiring in its disposition. 



It builds its nest mostly in holes in trees, in some broad, 

 deep clump, secure from observation ; in a hole, or deep 

 crevice, or fissure in an old wall or building; or beneath the 

 eaves of some uninhabited or little used dwelling-house or 

 other building. The nest is rudely constructed, of a variety 

 of materials — dried stalks of grass, small herbaceous roots, 

 and leaves ; wool, horse-hair, and sometimes feathers, are used 

 as a lining. Great caution is needed to prevent the parent 

 birds from discovering that their nest has been observed, 

 and no signs of curiosity or anxiety should be evinced when 

 watching them, or the probabilities are that they will at 

 once forsake their eggs or progeny. They are excessively 

 suspicious and jealous, and take alarm at what, to most wild 

 birds, would be considered trifles. 



The hen lays from four to six eggs, of a pale bluish green 

 colour, not unlike those of the Hedge Accentor, but paler in 

 colour, and smaller in size. The young birds leave the nest 

 at the early age of seventeen days, but return to it every 

 night until they are about a month old. The male bird is 

 most attentive in supplying their wants. The hen rarely 

 feeds them after they leave the nest. These birds have two 

 broods in the year. 



Methods of Captuee. — The Redstart may be caught in 

 the same manner as the Nightingale. In hedges which they 

 are accustomed to visit they may be taken, after the termina- 

 tion of the breeding season, with nooses baited with elder 

 berries or ripe currants ; or they may be ensnared in spring 

 traps, in the same way as Thrushes and Blackbirds. 



Food and Teeatment. — In a wild state, the Eedstart feeds 

 much after the manner of the Robin and Nightingale, and 

 seems to be of a nature partaking of, or, rather, combining 



