REDSTART. 



RUTICILLA PHCENICURUS. 



Family Passerid^. Sub-family Turdin^. Genus Ruticilla. 



Fire Tail— Red Tail— Bran Tail. 



This bird is more common in the East than in the 

 West of England, though it cannot be said to be very 

 common anywhere. In Scotland it is rare, and in 

 Ireland almost unknown. It comes over to us early 

 in April, just after the Nightingale arrives, and stays 

 with us till September. The male bird, before the 

 moulting season, is one of the most handsome of our 

 smaller birds : let me describe it, so that you may 

 recognise it when you see- it. The forehead and throat 

 are black, upper part of the body dark grey, the breast, 



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