REDSTART. 329 



PA SSER ES. S Yh VI I DA\. 



RuTiciLLA PHCENicuRUs (Liniifeus^). 



THE REDSTART. 



Phoeniciwa ruticillah 



The Redstart or Firetail is a summer visitor that comes 

 to this country from the south. It is not very numerous, and 

 in some localities is rather rare. It makes its appearance in 

 the southern counties of England generally about the second 

 week in April, and arrives in the neighboiii-hood of Carlisle 

 by the third week, returning southward towards the end of 

 August ; but the character of the season exercises great in- 

 fluence in determining the time of the appearance of this bird, 

 as well as some others, their movements being generally better 

 indicated by the state of vegetation and temperature than by 

 the almanack. 



In some particulars the Redstart resembles the Bluethroat 

 and the Redbreast. It inhabits the skirts of forests, lanes, 

 • Motucilla phcenicurus, Linnajus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 335 (1766). 

 t "Swainson." Selby, 111. Orn. Ed. 2, i. p. 191 (1833)? 



