164 PASSERES. MUSCICAPAD^. 



Fam.— MUSCICAPAD^.— (ne Flycatchers.) 

 REDSTART FLYCATCHER.* 



Setophaga ruticilla. 



Muscicapa ruticilla^ Linn. Aud. pi. 40. 



Motacilla Jiavicauda^ {fern.) Gmel. 

 Setopluxya ruticilla^ Sw. 



The great family of Flycatchers are distinguished 

 by their depressed beak and rictal bristles, and by 

 their general habit of capturing flying insects on the 

 wing, and returning to a resting place to swallow 

 them. The species, before us, however, a bird of 

 remarkable elegance, both of form and colour, — 

 combines with this habit, those of the Warblers ; 

 Wilson's assertion to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 It is particularly restless, hopping from one twig to 

 another through a wood, so rapidly, that it is 

 difficult to keep it in sight, though conspicuous 

 from its brilliant contrast of colours ; yet it is not 

 a shy bird. A good deal of its insect food it obtains 

 by picking it from the twigs and Howers. About 

 the end of the year, a male was in the habit of 

 frequenting the lawn of Bluefields House, day after 

 day. In the early morning, while the grass was yet 

 wet with dews, it might be seen running on the 

 ground, at which time its long tail being raised at a 



* Length o^ inches, expanse 7^, flexure 2~, tail 2^, rictus ^, tarsus 

 7%, middle toe ^. 



