REDTAIL— REDWING 777 



allies the Eedstart to the Stone-Chats, Pratkola, and of late 

 some authors have included it in that genus. In an opposite 

 direction the Bluethroats, Cyanecula, are apparently nearer to the 

 Eedstarts than to any other type. By the ornithologist of toler- 

 ably wide views the Redstarts and Bluethroats will be regarded 

 as forming with the NIGHTINGALE, Redbreast, Hedge-Sparrow, 

 A^Tieatear and Chats a single group of the " Family " Sylviidse, 

 which has been usually called SaxicoUnai, and is that which is most 

 nearly allied to the Thrushes. 



In America the name Redstart has been not unfittingly 

 bestowed upon a bird which has some curious outward resem- 

 blance, both in looks and manners, to that of the Old Country, 

 though the two are in the opinion of some systematists nearly as 

 widely separated from each other as truly Passerine birds well can 

 be. The American Redstart is the Setophaga ruticilla of authors, 

 belonging to the purely New-World Family Mniotiltidse, and to a 

 genus which contains about a dozen species, ranging from Canada 

 (in summer) to Bolivia. The wonderful likeness, coupled of course 

 with many sharp distinctions, upon which it would be here impos- 

 sible to dwell, between the birds of these two genera of perfectly 

 distinct origin, is a matter that must compel every evolutionist to 

 admit that we are as yet very far from penetrating the action of 

 Creative Power, and that especially we are wholly ignorant of the 

 causes which in some instances produce analogy. 



REDTAIL, in North America the Buteo horealis (Buzzard). 



REDTHROAT, the name in Australia for the Pyrrholxmns 

 hrunneus of Gould (P7-oc. Zool. Soc. 1840, p. 173; B. Austral, iii. 

 pi. 68), a little bird, akin to Acanthiza, whose habits are well 

 described by Mr. North (Nests and Eggs of B. Austral, pp. 145, 

 146). 



REDWING, Swedish Rodvinge, Danish JRoddrossel, German BotJi- 

 drossel, Dutch Koperwieh, a species of Thrush, the Turdus iliacus of 

 authors, which is an abundant winter visitor to the British Islands, 

 arriving in autumn generally about the same time as the Fieldfare 

 does. The bird has its common English name,^ from the sides of 



^ Many old ^vriters assert that this bird used to be known in England as the 

 " Swinepipe " ; but except in books, this name does not seem to survive to the 

 present day. There is no reason, however, to doubt that it was once in vogue, 

 and the only question is how it may have arisen. If it has not been corrupted 

 from the German Weindrossel or some other similar name, it may refer to the 

 soft inward whistle which the bird often utters, resembling the sound of the 

 pipe used by the swineherds of old when collecting the animals under their 

 charge, whether in the wide stubbles or the thick beech-woods ; but another 

 form of the word (which may, however, be erroneous) is "Windpipe," and this 

 might lead to a conclusion very different, if indeed to any conclusion at all. 



