AVES — REDSTART. 515 



During the spring, the robin haunts the wood, the grove, and the garden- 

 and retires to the thickest and shadiest hedge-rows to breed in, where its nest 

 is usually placed among th*> roots of trees, in some concealed spot near the 

 ground. In winter it endeavors to support itself, by chirping round the 

 warm habitations of mankind, and by coming into those shelters where the 

 rigor of the season is artificially expelled, and where insects are found in the 

 greatest numbers, attracted by the same cause. The female lays from five 

 to seven eggs, of a dull white color, diversified with reddish streaks. In- 

 sects and worms are the principal food of the redbreast. The latter it very 

 dexterously renders fit to be eaten, by taking hold of the extremity of one in 

 its beak, and beating it against the ground till the inside comes away, and 

 then repeating the operation with the other end, till the outer part is entirely 

 cleansed. 



THE REDSTART. i 



This bird measures rather more than five inches in length. Its bill and 

 eyes are black ; its forehead is white ; the cheeks, throat, fore part, and sides 

 of the neck, are black, which color extends over each eye ; the crown of the 

 head, hinder part of the neck, and the back, are of a deep blue gray ; in some 

 subjects, probably old ones, this gray is almost black ; its breast, rump, and 

 sides are of a fine glowing red, inclining to orange color, which extends to 

 all the feathers of the tail, excepting the two middle ones, which are brown; 

 the belly is white ; the feet and claws are black. The female differs consi- 

 derably from the male; her colors are not so vivid; the top of her head and 

 back are of a gray ash color, and the chin is white. 



The redstart is migratory ; it appears about the middle of April, and de- 

 parts in the latter end of September, or beginning of October; to what 

 country it retires is not known ; it frequents old walls and ruinous edifices, 

 where it makes its nest, composed chiefly of moss, lined with hair and 

 feathers. It is distinguished by a peculiar quick shake of its tail from side 

 to side, on its alighting on a wall or other place. Though a wild and timo- 

 rous bird, it is frequently found in the midst of cities, always choosing the 



1 Syh'ia phcenicurus, Lath. 



