THE REDSTART. 



IN the West Indies, although there are many bright- 

 colored birds which are natives of the islands, our 

 little Redstart is known as Candelita, the little torch. 



Unlike several of the bright-colored birds, such as 

 the Tanager and the Indigo Bird, he does not lose his 

 brilliant colors in the autumn ; the orange patches on 

 his shoulders gleam against his black head all winter 

 in the tropical forests, where he flits about, spreading 

 his yellow tail and catching insects among the leaves. 



By May he is back in New England helping his 

 mate select the best fork in a tree for their pretty 

 nest. If you see the female searching for building 

 material, put out wool or cotton batting, and for a 

 reward you may see where she flies with it and find 

 the nest. 



The little Redstart is one of the unhappy birds on 

 whom the Cowbird forces her ugly young ones, but 

 he brings up the strangers faithfully. 



Nothing but good can be said of either the male or 

 the female Redstart ; they catch countless insects, 

 cheer us by their beauty and pretty ways, and bring 

 up their young to be hard-working and cheerful like 

 themselves. 



