coast above higli-water mark ; and quarries, ramparts of fortresses, railway-cuttings, and garden-walls in the 
vicinity of the sea are also attractive to them. They may also be seen hopping about the grass on the top 
of the cliffs; and you will sometimes find them in churchyards, flitting about on the tombstones, and making 
short excursions into the air after Insects, much in the manner of the Flycatchers. They are also very par- 
tial to the vicinity of stone arches and caverns, where they will immediately hide when pursued, and remain 
concealed for a length of time. They will sometimes perch on bushes. During the first week of their ai-rival 
in the neighbourhood of Plymouth these birds are, in some seasons, rather plentiful, but after that time 
disperse, though some remain ; and I find that a favourite locality is seldom without its Blackstart during 
the winter, and, should one be killed, another soon takes its place. I have never seen the bird in summer, 
but meet with it throughout the winter, from November to Api-il. I often find it during severe frost and snow 
in the middle of winter, fresh birds from time to time making their appearance among the rocks of the sea- 
shore, driven, no doubt, from places further inland by the inclemency of the weather, and which is also the 
case just before they leave our coasts in spring. On November 2nd, 1853, after a severe gale, I saw one 
of these birds near tbe village of North Petherton in Somersetshire, not many miles from the Bristol Channel. 
This species appears very liable to be caugbt in traps ; for I have, on several occasions, obtained them with 
their tails clipped, apparently with a pair of scissors ; and in one instance I shot one with its tail cut short, 
and a piece of red worsted tied round its leg. At the time of their migration they have been known to 
alight on board ships in the Channel. The majority of Blackstarts which visit us are young birds of the 
year, old males being very scarce and shy. In many of their actions these birds resemble both the Robin 
and Wbeatears. Indeed, they appear to take the jflace of the latter birds on our coasts during the winter, 
and leave, just as they arrive, in spring. I have seen both species at the same time in March, on one or two 
occasions. In plumage this species varies considerably, but I have no doubt that the old male never loses 
the black plumage after having once attained it; and the only difference I have observed between the winter 
and spring plumage of the old male is this : — in NoA'^ember the plumage is long, and more or less tipped with 
brown and grey ; but towards April these tips become abraded or worn oflf, leaving the black plumage 
underneath much more clear and distinct, which is likewise the case with the plumage of many of our small 
birds in spring. I feel certain that the Blackstart is some years in attaining its full plumage, and that conse- 
quently young birds in their plain grey dress may often be found breeding on the Continent; and which circum- 
stance has given rise to the supposition among continental ornithologists that there are tAvo species of this bird. 
Young males, Avith partially black breasts, have seldom any sign of the Avhite patch on the Aving ; but on one 
occasion I met Avlth a specimen in its plain grey plumage, Avitbout a sign of black on the breast, but Avith 
the Avhite on the wing as strong as iti the old black male. This I cannot account for, as the black almost 
Invariablv appears before the white. Young males of the year may be distinguished by their tails being of 
a brighter red, and the whole plumage of a clearer grey, with less of the brown shade so observable in the 
females. The stomachs of all I have examined contained the remains of flies and beetles ; but in the gullet 
of one I found an entire and large specimen of Lrgia oceanica, an animal found creeping on the rocks, and 
much resembling an immense Avoodlouse.” 
Independently of the temperate and southern parts of Europe, this species ranges over the greater portion 
of North Africa. I believe it never visits India, its place there being supplied by several allied species. 
The Baron de Selys-Longchamps states, in his ‘ Faune Beige,’ that the Black Redstart arrives in 
Belgium from the 20th to the 25th of March, and that it inhabits the large toAvns on the banks of the 
Meuse and Ourthe. It nests in the holes of walls and crevices of rocks ; each couple selecting a hill or an 
edifice, Avhence they drive away all others of their species. The male, perchedup on the summit of a church, 
upon a chimney, or top of a rock, pours out day and night its monotonous chant. It is common at Liege, 
Namur, and Brussels ; and migrates in October. 
According to M. Badly, the nest is composed exteriorly of the fallen leaves of trees, moss, roots, straAV, 
and small pieces of aa^oI or cotton bound together, lined Avith hair, feathers, and grasses. The eggs are 
from four to six in number, of a pure and shining white. 
The Plate represents a male and female, of the size of life, Avith a nest and eggs in a cleft of rock. 
