THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE REDSTART, 



(Sylvia phccnicurus.) 

 PLATE V. FIGURE V. 



MEANING a bird of the wood, with a purple or red tail. It is a lively 

 and graceful species, whose motions it is always interesting to watch, 

 as it goes in and out of the covert of leafy boughs and thick under- 

 growth, in which it most delights. Out it comes with a flutter and a 

 start, flits or hops a little way, then dives in again, with a flash of the 

 red tail that is quite startling. 



The bird is said to be neither common nor uncommon, shy nor 

 familiar; it is found in at least twelve of the English counties, as well 

 as in Wales and Scotland, and although it dwells chiefly in thickets and 

 woods, yet on acconnt of its restless habits it does not remain hidden 

 long at the time, and invites attention by its eccentric motions; shunning 

 observation, it is yet constantly thrusting itself into notice; although 

 it builds in the closest thickets, yet it is seldom far from some public 

 path or high road. So our pretty Redstart, like many of those who 

 claim to be reasonable beings, has a strangely contradictory character: 

 let us describe his outward appearance. The male is in length generally 

 a little over five inches and a half; in weight about three drachms and 

 three quarters, that is, less than half an ounce; it has a black bill, 

 edged with yellow; the sides of the head, and space about the bill, 

 are black; the upper part of the forehead is white, and there is a streak 

 of the same over each eye; the crown, upper part of the neck, and 

 nape, are bluish grey with a tinge of light brown; the chin and throat 

 are black; the breast a yellowish rust red on the upper part, fading off 

 into a dingy white below; the back is grey on the top, rusty red on 

 the sides; the wings are brown grey, and dull red prettily mingled; 

 the long tail is brown and grey, brightening into orange beneath, 

 hence the name Redstart, from the Saxon steort, a tail. 



This bird, which is but a summer visitant with us, arriving about the 

 middle of April, and departing in August or September, is distributed 

 over the greater part of Europe, north as well as south; it is kuown 



