F? rl t t ^^ G son S f the redstart is superior, though some- 

 what like that of the whitethroat ; some birds have 

 a few more notes than others. Sitting very placidly 

 on the top of a tall tree in a village, the cock sings from morning to 

 night ; he affects neighbourhoods, and avoids solitude, and loves to 

 build in orchards and about houses ; with us he perches on the vane 

 of a tall maypole. 



When redstarts shake their tails, they move them horizontally, 

 as dogs do when they fawn ; the tail of the wagtail, when in 

 motion, bobs up and down, like that of a jaded horse. G. W. 



The Bird with the Tail of Fire 



FROM his fiery red tail, the redstart is known commonly 

 as " fire-tail " : a small bird with a white forehead, 

 bluish grey upper parts, black throat, and rich chestnut 

 tail, which catches the eye as he flirts it about when 

 you see him in his favourite haunt some old wall, 

 or a quiet orchard, or a peaceful and deserted ruin. 

 The nest is often in a hole in a wall ; some sort of 

 covering the redstart must have. The blue eggs are 

 almost like hedge-sparrow's. 



It is very charming to watch the movements of the 

 redtail among blossom-laden orchard trees ; and as 

 the redstart does useful work in destroying insects 

 and caterpillars, he should always be a welcome 

 visitor, when, as Gilbert White says, " he affects 

 neighbourhoods." 



