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, chee, ser-wee, swee, swee-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. Apparently 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 up 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 



