356 



tliat bird very much (except, of course, " in coloring) ; 

 especially in the way in which it will dart out from the 

 top of a bush for a fly or small moth, and then return 

 to the same bush. 



As a pet or an exhibition bird, the Redstart is very 

 desirable, although, from my own experience, I should 

 say it would be far more esteemed, for the latter purpose, 

 if it could be made to understand that a perfect tail is a 

 necessary appendage to an exhibition bird. If I were 

 asked to express an opinion as to which of our numerous 

 small insectivorous birds was most expert at ])reaking its 

 tail and flight feathers, I should have no hesitation in 

 -deciding for the bird under discussion. Whether I hav^e 

 had singularly unfortunate specimens or not I cannot 

 say, but I think it is the general complaint. 



One thing I have found — the Redstart is easily "meated 

 off" even in the spring, when an adult bird should be on 

 4ts egg and ants' egg food in a week or ten days. Having 

 procured a specimen (which, thanks to the Wild Birds' 

 Protection Act, is not an easy matter) you should give him 

 daily some thirty mealworms for the first tw^o days, then 

 hard-boiled egg and a little crushed sweet biscuit, with 

 (say) twenty mealworms broken in halves and mixed well 

 in with the egg for the next two days, and so reduce the 

 "quantity of mealworms down to six per day according to 

 the readiness with which he eats the food. After the first 

 four days add a spoonful of soaked ants' eggs, and having 

 got him to eat this mixture freely, he should go on very 

 well. Redstarts are ver\' fond of green caterpillars, ear- 

 wigs, small beetles, spidei'S, and, in fact almost every 

 form of insect, including the butterfly. They also 

 appreciate elderl^erries when obtainable. 



In selecting an exhibition bird, you should select 

 first of all a large deep-colored ))ird, and one that stands 

 well up on the perch, with the colors well defined. 



I find they do very well in an aviary from the time 

 the}' arrive until the end of vSeptember, when they require 

 to be taken indoors to avoid the cold nights. I have 



