Wc liave invariably found their nests in the boie
„ear the B B B B Pettychaps, Blackcap, and Whitethroat, being but
B H , together, composed almost entirely of small fibrous roots and dried grass, always H E H
I i I • n I S o-pnerallv a few decayed leaves on the outer side, but entirely without moss. Their eggs
■ ■ with five, six, and now and then with seven; their colour a pale
vary in number. Redstart, th at it is frequently very difficult to disting
reeu ; and they so gready re ^ bei„g J elcgantly made, of a rounder
■ I M M i i W a i a » 23 to 30 grains. Should the weather be a t all favourable, the males,
form, and ’ f & ^ ^ ^ considcrabl(; ,;me on tbe decayed branch o f a tree, constantly
soon after their . , q unpleasing song, every now and then interrupted by
repeating their short, X J L is £ v e r/u n lik e the word which
the pursuit and captu P g approached, and which readily leads to their detection,
they commonly re p e a ttw o o r^ t ^ PP affi„i,y ,0 those o f the R ed s tart: they
The manners and habits of t h ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ for ^ they wU,
arrive about t e same in , ^ ^ ^ fema]e Rcdstart ^ thc ncst 0f a Pied Flycatcher
sometimes contend. On one occ ^ ^ ^ ^ spedra had nests within a few inches o f each other,
upoii'the* Redstarts L a g removed, the female Redstart took f o r c i b l e p o s s e s s i o n of the Flycatcher's nest,
— 9 K 9 9 ^ H H H repassing of its inmates, until they were driven out by a swarm of bees, which took possession
(Hewitson’s Eggs of British Birds, 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 77.) .
One of the nests sent to me by Admiral Mitford was exteriorly composed of dried grass, moss,
uuantitv of spider’s web, whilst the interior was wholly composed of fine roots.
M Rally in his E Oruithologie de la Savoie,' states th at I the Pied Flycatcher visits Switzerland and Savoy
a t the same time as the Collared species QMuscicapa albioollis) , but is pinch more common both in spring
I S M I t appears in couples, or in little flights o f three, five, or six following each other, g which ,«
s u „y see„ on the borders of small woods, along avenues bordered with trees or high bushes, and even
I g dens and orchards. I t evinces but little mistrust, and so little fear of man that | g « |
insects flying immediately round him. There is no p art of Savoy where it is so common during the period
E H as in the Lower Tarantaise and in the outskirts of Albertville. There g f f l l l B H I
orchard in which, a t that time, it may not be found. I t moreover occurs in Chamonix and Chablais but
never numerously. Small numbers only occur in the basin of Chamber,, except a t the time o f migratm ,
when in certain years it is excessively common. During the period of incubation the male brings food
its companion, M P 1 “P°" tl,e 9 * ° ‘her *imeS I d° eS H CeaSe. ‘0 d
which is animated, but very short, and almost entirely composed o f piercing notes: its warn.ng-cry and
Tharof autumn are composed of the same notes, uttered one a t a time, with an interval of some seconds
between. At the end of September it is commonly seen a t Chamber,, upon the lines of the promenade
ofVerney, along the willows and the copses bordering the river Albanne, the torrent of Laisse, and the
neighbouring ditches from the Boise to Bourget. Its flesh is excellent in autumn, during which season
r : r ; „ « „„S,y on numerous flying insects, but also on the fruits or berries of the elder, hriar, mulberry,
anThfieg young at first resemble the female, and in their change S f e f M W
mediate shades from brown to black; which circumstance has probably occasioned the belief that
changes his plumage and becomes like the female in winter.
The Plate represents a male, a female, and young, o f the size of life.
t lM 1! H1 Ht i 11 Hun! II1 m ll i 1 111 HtlMl i HI 11