MNIOTILTIDjE : AMERICAN WARBLERS. 



343 



the West Indies, Mexico, and Cent, and S. Am. Nest a neat, compact structure in fork 

 of a shrub or sapling at little elevation ; eggs 3-5, averaging 0.65 X 0.50, not distinguishable 

 from other Warbler eggs. 

 During tlie nuptial ecstasies 

 the lovely Redstart shines 

 among the birds that throng 

 the woodland, where his 

 transparent beauty flashes 

 like a lambent tongue of 

 flame at play amidst the 

 tender pale green foliage of 

 the trees. 



S. pic'ta. (Lat. pi eta, 

 painted. Fig. 202.) Painted 

 Eedstart. Adult <J 9 : 

 Lustrous black ; middle of 

 breast and belly carmine- 

 red ; eyelids, a large patch 

 on wings formed by greater 

 and middle coverts, broad 

 edging of inner secondaries, 

 edging of inner webs of pri- 

 maries toward base, lining 

 of wings, nearly all the outer 

 tail-feather, and a diminish- . 

 ing space on next two or 

 three, together with crissum, 

 white. Bill and feet black. 

 Length 5.00-5.50; wing 

 2.75; tail2..50; tarsus 0.G6; 

 bill 0..33-0.40. 9 not par- 

 ticularly difl"erent from ^, 

 though rather less richly 

 colored. In poor plumages, 

 the black is not so lustrous ; 

 red of belly less extensive 

 and of a more bricky-red 

 tone; white of wings and 

 tail more restricted. Very 

 young: Dull black, or only 

 slightly lustrous; white 

 nearly as in the adult ; spot 

 on lower eyelid, patch on 

 wing, outer edge of first pri- 

 mary only, outer edges of 

 secondaries, inside of wings, 

 axillars. crissum, tibiae, outer 

 tail-feather except at base, 

 and a diminishing space on the 2d and .'M, white. Mountains of Mexico, N. to Arizona, New 

 Mexico, and doubtless also Texas ; common in summer in Santa Rita, Santa Catalina, and 



Fip. 201. — American Redstart. (From The Osprey.) 



