REDSTART 



469 



Europe in summer, whence it wanders in winter to North Africa, 

 Palestine, Persia, and India. Another specimen of the same species 

 (included in the above list) was taken at Scarborough in 1876, and a 

 third at Dungeness, Kent, in October 1903. 



Bluethroats are to a great extent marsh-haunting birds, which take 

 up their abode in willows and other shrubs during the summer ; but 

 in Ladak they may be seen by scores in the low hedges bordering 

 the cultivated fields. And most beautiful birds they are when seen 

 in such situations, carolling their redbreast-like song. They lay eggs 

 not unlike those of the nightingale, but with less of the superficial olive 

 coat, and more distinct spots upon a bluish-green ground. 



Two examples of the Siberian rubythroat {Calliope camchatcensis) are 

 reported to have been seen alive at Westgate-on-Sea in October 1906. 



Redstart 



(Rutieilla 



phcenieupus). 



Till recently the redstart, or " firetail," was very 

 generally known by the name under which it is here 

 designated, but in some modern works it will be found 

 described as PJioeniciinis phoenicurus. Since such a 



change of the generic title involves the substitution of Phoenicurinse for 



Ruticillinse as the designation of the subfamily, the more familiar name 



is retained. Redstarts, of which there are 



many species, all confined to the Old World, 



resemble bluethroats in the marked difierences 



in the colouring of the two sexes, but are 



distinguished by the greater length of the tail, 



which is always to a great extent chestnut in 



colour, and the well -developed bristles at the 



gape. Their affinity with the chats is dis- 

 played by their black legs and uniforml}' blue 



eggs. 



The male redstart may be recognised by 



the white streak above the eye, the black throat 



and sides of the face, grey back and wings, 



chestnut-red tail (with the exception of the 



two middle -feathers, which are brown), and 



upper tail-coverts, chestnut breast and under 



wing-coverts, and buff abdomen. The hen 



usually lacks the black and white on the 



head, and is greyish brown above, with the red of the tail duller, 



and the under-parts pale reddish brown. Occasionally, however, 



females are stated to resemble their partners in colouring, although 



KKDSTART (MALE). 



