178 BIEDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Miisflcnpn ISyhantn) ntlicltla Ki-tt. Mivn. 1. ISK. 231. 



Sriophnga nitirilla Sw.— Baihk. B. X. Am. 185*. a«": Cut. X. .\iii. B. ISM. No. Ui;; B''- 

 vli;w, INCT., 2M.-COUES. Ki'y. Is7-.' 110; Clifok List. I»;3. Xo. UM; 2d ed. 1882. Xo. 152: 

 B. X. \V. Wi. 81. 2»2: B. Col. Vnl. 1878 S37.-B. B. i R. Hist. X. Am. B. 1. 1874. 32! pi. 

 16, BgB. 1. 5.-KrDow. Xora. X. Am. B. 1881. No. 128. 



Hab. EaBtern Xofth Aini-rli'a. west regulnrly to and inrludlng the Rocky Mountains, 

 to the borders of tho Grciit Biisln. strueeline to the Paclllc coast; breeds throughout Its 

 summer rnnfte. which extends from the Gulf States north to Ft. Simpson and Hudson's 

 Bay. Winters In West Indies Mexico. Central America, and northern Soulli America, to 

 Ecuador. 



"Sp. Char. .V<ilf. Prevalllnjr color black. A central line on the breast, the abdomen 

 aiui under tall-coverts white; some feathers in the latter stronsly tlnced with dark 

 lirowii. Ba.ws of all the iiulUs except the inner and outer, and basal half of all the tail- 

 feathers except the middle ones, a patch on each side of the breast and the axillary re- 

 eion. oranRe-red. of a vermilion shade on tlie breast. Ffmah with the bhu'k replaced by 

 olIve-Breen above, by brownish white beneath, the red replaced by yellow; the head 

 tineed with ash; a grayish white lore and ring round the eye. Length B.35; wing. 2.50; 

 tail, 2.45. 



"The young male in early autumn greatly resembles in plumage 

 the adult female, but has the upper tail-coverts and tail deep black, 

 shnrply contrasted with the olive of the nimp. instead 'of having 

 the upper tail-covei-ts olive, the tail simply dusky ; in addition the 

 back is more greenish olive, and the abdomen and crissum pure 

 white. The male does not obtain the perfect adult plumage until 

 about the third year." (Ilixt. X. Am. B.) 



Although so very abundant as to be, hke the Red-eyed Vireo, 

 a nuisance to the collector who has to shoot his warblers at ran- 

 dom in the tall tree-tops, the Redstart is by no means a well 

 known bird to the general observer. This arises from the fact that 

 it inhabits almost exclusively thick woodlands, where it usually 

 keeps well u)) in the treeJs. None of the numerous family of war- 

 blers are more active than the present species, which is continually 

 on the move, darting first this way, then that after insects, which 

 it snaps up in the air in the manner of a tnie flycatcher. At all 

 times the long, broad tail is spread out like a fan, showmg, in the 

 female, a broad pale yellow band — her only ornament — and in the 

 male enhancing the striking appearance caused by his handsome 

 lilack and salmon-red livery. Its notes, particularly the song, bear 

 a rather close resemblance to those of the Summer Yellowbird, Init 

 are weaker and less attractive. The nest is a compact, cup-shaped 

 stnicturo, usually placed on a horizontal branch, but sui)portcd by 

 ujiriglit twigs, at heights varying from eight or ten to lifty feet 

 from the ground. Its material consists of vegetable iibres, etc., 

 closely interwoven, and lined with softer materials. The eggs are 

 usually four in number, and very similar in color and markings to 

 those of the Summer Yellowbii-d. 



