SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 



197 



hands of a madman. Chapman tells us that in Cuba most 

 of our wood Warblers are known simply as " mariposas " 

 (butterflies), but the Redstart's flaming plumage has won 

 for it the name of " candelita," the "little torch," that flashes 

 in the gloomy depths of the tropical forest. He gives the 



Pig. 66. — American Redstart. Lower figure, male; upper figure, female. 

 One-half natural size. 



song as ching, ching, ehee, ser-wee, sicee, sicee-e-e, and this 

 is a good description of its general character. The song 

 varies, however, like that of other Warblers, but is usually 

 more cheerful than musical. The alarm note of the Redstart 

 is a sharp chirp. 



The insect food of the Redstart is perhaps more varied 

 than that of any other common Warbler. Apparentl}^ there 

 are few forest insects of small size that do not, in some of 

 their forms, fall a prey to this bird. Caterpillars that escape 

 some of the slower birds by spinning down from the branches 

 and hanging by their silken threads are snapped u}) in mid air 

 by the Redstart. It takes its prey from trunk, limbs, twigs, 

 leaves, and also from the air, so that there is no escape for 



