8VI,VIC()LII). -T WAlfi-LKUS. ;J2r) 



Its fliirht is jjraooful, onsv, and ra]>i(l, varif^d bv circnmstaiires as it glides 

 in its intricate couist' anionic' small intcilarini^' liranclu's, or darts rapidly lortli 

 into ini»re oi)e'n s])ac(\ As it moves, it is continually openiiiLj out, tlosin^^ or 

 llirtini; from side to side its consjacuous tail, the white spots in its expanded 

 feathers constantly appearini; and disappearing. 



In the construction of the nest there is a irt'iioral uniformity of character, 

 altliou'di the materials dilfer and the localities are far apart. Tiiev are never 

 ]>endent, hut are placed among three or more small u]»riglit branches, i r -und 

 whith it is tirndv woven with vei'etahle flax-like fibres. A nest obtain*Ml in 

 Lynn, by Mr. (leorge (). Welch (S. I. .*^,778), in June, measures two inclies 

 !!' height by three in diameter. It is a small, compact, and homogeneous 

 nest, comjiitsed almost entirely of shreds of sa. in-l)ark intermixed with .*soft 

 vegetable wool. Within art loo.sely intertwined minute vegetable fibres and 

 stri]>s of l)ark, and a lining <jf hoi^ehair, tine j)ine leaves, and dry gras.ses. 

 The ne.st contained four eu'i^'s. Anotlier nest found in(Jrand ^bMian, June 

 L*4, 18.")1, was very similar in size, structure', and materials. It was in the 

 centre of a thick, swam}>y thicket, live feet from the ground, and contained 

 five egijfs. 



Another nest of this bird, obtained in ^ ymi by Mr. AVelch, is only a 

 reconstruction of a nest l)egun by a ]»air of Denilroicn asticn, and either 

 abandonetl bv them, or from which thev had been driven. Al»ove the (>ri''i- 

 nal nest of the Warbler the Redstarts had constructed their own. The base 

 is composed of the downy covering of the under sides of the leaves of ferns, 

 mixed with a few herbaceous stems and leaves. AVithin this was built an 

 entirely distinct nest, composed of long and slender stri])s of bark, pine- 

 needles, and stems of grasses. These are firmly and elaborately interwoven 

 together. 



A nest found in Hingham, built in a tree in an open space near a dwell- 

 ing, was seven feet from the ground, and of the usual size and shape. In 

 this the more usual strips of bark were re])laced by hempen fibres of vege- 

 table.s, thistle-down, bits of newspaper, and other fragments. Within is a 

 strong lining of hair and fine stems of gra.sse.s. In this ne.st there were two 

 young, about half Hedged, and two eggs nearly fresh. The latter were taken, 

 tiie female parent being present and making only a very slight protest, 

 stopping, from time to time, to catch insects. 



The eggs of the lledstart vary considemldy in their size and in tlieir gen- 

 eral ap])earance, but resemble somewhat those of the connnon Summer 

 Yellow-Iiird. They vary in length from .">•'> to .OS of an inch, and in their 

 breadth from .45 to .5.*>. Their ground-color is a grayish-white, blotched 

 and dotted with purj^le, lilac, and brown. 



