THE REDSTART. 287 
RUTICILLA PHGENICURUS. 
THE REDSTART. 
(PLATE 9.) 
Ficedula ruticilla, Briss. Orn, ii. p, 403 (1766). 
Motacilla phoenicurus, Zinn. Syst, Nat. 1. p. 335 (1766); et auctorum plurimorum 
-—(Temminck), (Bonaparte), (Gray), (Hartlaub), (Loche), (Gould), (Newton), 
(Dresser), (Blanford), &e. 
Sylvia phoenicurus (Linn.), Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. i. p. 287 (1787). 
Saxicola phoenicurus (Linn.), Koch, Syst. baier, Zool. i. p. 188 (1816), 
Ficedula pheenicurus (Linn.), Bove, Isis, 1822, p. 553. 
Pheenicura muraria, Stains. § Rich. Faun. Bor.-Amer, ii. p. 489 (1831), 
Ficedula ruticilla, Eyton, Cat. Brit. B. p. 10 (1836), 
Pheenicura ruticilla (Zyton), Gould, B. Eur, ii. pl. 95 (1837). 
Ruticilla phoenicura (Linn.), Bonup. Comp. List B. Eur. and N. Amer. p. 15 (1838), 
Lusciola pheenicurus (Linn.), Keys. u. Blas, Wirb. Eur. pp. lviii, 191 (1840). 
Erithacus phoenicurus (Linn.), Degl. Orn, Eur. i. p. 502 (1849). 
Luscinia pheenicurus (Linn.), Sundev. Sv. Fogl. p. 59 (1856). 
This handsome little bird is of somewhat local distribution in the British 
Islands, and can nowhere be said to be of very common occurrence. Its 
Robin-like appearance, short and pleasing song, bright plumage, and 
regularity of appearance in the early spring combine to make it a general 
favourite. It breeds regularly, although locally, in all the counties of 
England and Wales, but becomes rarer in the west, and is commonest in 
the south. In Scotland it is found, though still more sparingly and locally, 
up to Caithness, and occasionally in Shetland; but in the Hebrides it is 
not known. In Ireland the bird may virtually be said to be absent, a few 
instances only being on record of its occurrence, apparently merely acci- 
dental. The Redstart breeds throughout Central Europe as far north as 
_the Arctic circle. In South Europe it is rarely seen, except on spring 
and autumn migration, although a few remain to breed at high elevations, 
usually selecting the pine-regions for this purpose. It winters in North 
Africa. In Asia its range during the breeding-season extends eastwards 
as far as the valley of the Yenesay ; and the winter home of these Asiatic 
birds appears to be in Persia. 
As the Wheatear is the tenant of the cairns, the rocks, and the ruins 
of the wilds, in like manner the Redstart may be designated a bird 
of the ruins and the rocks in the lower, warmer, and more cultivated 
districts. You will find it in orchards and gardens, about old walls, and 
in the more open woods and shrubberies. Another favourite haunt of the 
Redstart is old crumbling ruins, abbeys and castles, on whose battlements 
