REDBREAST 21 
The Black Redstart, a common swmmer resident in France 
and Germany, winters in small numbers on the south and 
south-west coasts of England, and in Ireland, even on its 
isolated western islets. Stragglers have been obtained both 
in Cumberland and Lancashire. 
ERITHACUS RUBECULA (Linn.). 
REDBREAST. | 
Manx, Cleeau-yiarg ; Robin cleeau-yiarg = Redbreast. 
The Robin is common at all seasons, and here, as else- 
where, enlivens with his song the autumn, winter, and 
early spring. It is well distributed, and is found in the 
deep shaded glens which few birds inhabit. It nests early 
in April. A nest at Onchan some ten years ago contained 
four pure white eggs and one of the ordinary type. 
The Robin is not unknown at the Manx light-stations. 
On 9th October 1885 numbers, along with Thrushes and 
Fieldfares, are recorded at the Chickens. 
I have seen the Redbreast hawking after insects from an 
elevated perch in the manner of a Flycatcher, as recorded 
by Mr. Ussher from Irish observation. 
Mr. Crellin says that after a fight between two Robins 
at Orrisdale, which ended in the death of one of the com- 
batants, the dead bird was found to have his beak ‘ pulled 
out,’ 
It is a common resident all over the main British Isles, 
and breeds in Orkney and some of the larger Outer 
Hebrides, but not on the smaller and more remote isles, 
and is known in Shetland only as a rather scarce visitor. 
