BIRDS OF KANSAS. ■ 501 



Wings rather longer than tail, pointed; second, third and fourth quills nearly 

 equal; first intermediate between fourth and fifth. Tail rather long, rather 

 rounded; the feathers broad, and. widening at ends, the outer web narrow. 

 Tarsi with scuttellar divisions indistinct externally. Legs slender; toes short. 

 Inner cleft nearly to base of first joint, outer with first joint adherent; middle 

 toe without claw, not quite half the tarsus." 



Setophaga ruticilla (Linx.). 



AMERICAN REDSTART. 

 PLATE XXX III. 



Summer resident; common in suitable localities; abundant in 

 migration. Arrive the last of April to first of May; begin lay- 

 ing the last of May; leave in September. 



B. 217. R. 128. C. 152. G. 63, 303. U. 687. 



Habitat. Eastern North America; north to Hudson's Bay 

 and Fort Simpson; west to and including the Rocky Mount- 

 ains; breeding from the Gulf States northward. Winters in the 

 West Indies and southern Mexico, southward to northern South 

 America. 



Sp. Char. Belly white; basal portion of secondaries and quills, and basal 

 half (or more) of tail feathers (except middle), light salmon red or orange red 

 in adult male, yellow in female and young male; sexes very unlike in coloration. 

 Adult male: Uniform glossy black, I'elieved by light red basal portion of second- 

 aries, quills and tail feathers, and sides of breast with a patch of the same (vary- 

 ing from rich orange red to salmon pink and orange yellow); belly and lower 

 tail coverts white, the latter usually with blackish central spots. Adult female: 

 Pattern of coloration as in male, but black replaced above by grayish olive, and 

 on throat, etc., by grayish white; wing and tail markings, and patches on sides 

 of breast, yellow. Young male: Similar to adult female, but browner above, the 

 colored areas usually inclining more to orange or salmon color; after first winter, 

 the plumage interspersed with glossy black feathers. {Ridgicay.) 



stretch of 

 Length. wins. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.25 7.70 2.45 2.45 .65 .40 



Female... 5.10 7.50 2.35 2.30 .65 .40 



Iris brown; bill and claws black; legs and feet dark brown. 



This sprightly, handsome species, a sort of connecting link 

 between the Warblers and Flycatchers, frequents the parks, 

 groves and deep woods, preferring the latter for its summer 

 home. It lives largely in the treetops, and flits restlessly about 

 with outspread tail and open wings, making all the display pos- 

 sible of its jetty black and rich orange plumage; darting here 



