Species VI. MU&CICAPA RUTICILLA. 



AMERICAN REDSTART. 



[Plate VI. Fig. 6, Male.] 



Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. Sijst. i., 236, 10. — Gmel. Srjst. i., 935. — Motacilla 



Jiavicmida, Gmel. Syst. i., 997 (female). — Le Gobe-mouche d'Amerique, Briss. 



Orn. II., 383, 14. PL Enl. 566, fig. 1, 2.— Small American Redstart, Edh^. 80. 



Id. 257 {iQmtiXe).— Yellow-tailed Warbler, Arct. Zool. ii., No. 301. Id. ii., No. 282. 



— Latham, Syn. iv., 427, 18. — Arct. Zool. ii., No. 301 (female). 



Though this bird has been classed by several of our most respectable 

 ornithologists among the Warblers, yet in no species are the character- 

 istics of the genus 3Iuscicapa more decisively marked ; and in fact it 

 is one of the most expert Flycatchers of its tribe. It is almost perpetu- 

 ally in motion ; and will pursue a retreating party of flies from the tops 

 of the tallest trees, in an almost perpendicular, but zigzag direction, 

 to the ground, while the clicking of its bill is distinctly heard, and I 

 doubt not but it often secures ten or twelve of these in a descent of 

 three or four seconds. It then alights on an adjoining branch, traverses 

 it lengthwise for a few moments, flirting its expanded tail from side to 

 side, and suddenly shoots off, in a direction quite unexpected, after fresh 

 game, which it can discover at a great distance. Its notes, or twitter, 

 though animated and sprightly, are not deserving the name of song ; 

 sometimes they are tveese, weese, weese, repeated every quarter of a 

 minute, as it skips among the branches ; at other times this twitter varies 

 to several other chants, which I can instantly distinguish in the woods, 

 but cannot find words to imitate. The interior of the forest, the borders 

 of s"W"amps and meadows, deep glens covered with wood, and wherever 

 flying insects abound, there this little bird is sure to be seen. It makes 

 its appearance in Pennsylvania, from the south, late in April ; and 

 leaves us again about the beginning of September. It is very generally 

 found over the whole United States ; and has been taken at sea, in 

 the fall, on its w^ay to St. Domingo,* and other of the West India 

 islands, where it winters, along with many more of our summer visitants. 

 It is also found in Jamaica, where it remains all winter.f 



The name Redstart, evidently derived from the German Mothsterts 

 (red tail), has been given this bird from its supposed resemblance to the 



* Edwards. f Sloane. 



(139^ 



