igi


The singularly springy vibration of the tail is also a distinguishing

peculiarity of Redstarts.


This species, being a summer migrant to Great Britain,

was formerly supposed to be extremely delicate ; Swaysland

(Cassell’s Cage-birds p. 313) quoting a correspondent who con¬

sidered it impossible to winter the Redstart without a fire. In

very severe seasons this may be the case, as witness the effect of

21 degrees of frost upon a specimen given to me by Mr. Staines

in 1S93 ; although that bird appeared to be none the worse for

the cold, it died during the change into summer plumage in the

succeeding spring.


The spring change, not being produced by a moult in this

species, nor even by shedding the margin of the feathers, as

Seebohm asserts* (Brit. Birds, Vol. I. p. 291); but, by an extension

of the bright colouring into the margins of the feathers ; would

not be expected to weaken a bird, so as to accelerate its death ; yet

I have lost a good many birds, of various non-moulting species,

at that time ; and, in nearly every case, death was manifestly due

to exposure during the winter. For this reason, although the

Redstart and many other species may not be especially delicate,

I think it better that they should pass the winter in a temperature

not lower than 50 deg. Fahr.


Although like the Robin in many of its actions, in its

tawny russet breast, in its song, and its habit of nesting in holes ;

its eggs are quite dissimilar, being indistinguishable from those

of the Hedge-Accentor. The Robin is a very dangerous

associate for other small birds, and played havoc in the aviary of

the present Editor of “ The Zoologist ” some years ago, drilling

holes in the heads of three or four of his finches in one night ( a ) ;

I have however always found the Redstart quite indifferent to the

presence of other birds, except when feeding ; and then a

Zebra-finch, or even a Waxbill, could scare him away.


But, though Riiticilla is so polite to strangers, what I have

to record will prove that he is anything but a gentleman. In the

autumn of 1901 Mr. Staines brought me a pair of Redstarts

which I turned out together in my long covered aviary, among

Waxbills and other tiny finches. During the winter they


* The specimen just spoken of showed the fringes entire, but some of them parti¬

coloured, in all gradations from ashy to tawny red. A. G. B.


(a). Of the many Robins which I have kept in aviaries, not one has done any

mischief; which should, I think.be a caution to some of our friends, not to decide upon

the innocence of any bird from their personal experience of its behaviour. A. G. B.


Mine, if allowed to, would sooner or later murder the Nightingales, irrespective

of sex. R. P.



