THE KING-BIRD. 319 



legs and feet pale ash. The female differs little from the 

 male in color. 



The American Redstart is another species of the Muscicapa 

 which has been classed by several of our most respectable 

 ornithologists among the warblers, yet in no species are the 

 characteristics of the genus Muscicapa more decisively mark- 

 ed ; and in fact it is one of the most expert flycatchers of its 

 tribe. It is almost perpetually in motion ; and will pursue a 

 retreating party of flies from the tops of the tallest trees, in 

 an almost perpendicular, but zig-zag direction, to the ground, 

 while the clicking of its bill is distinctly heard, and I doubt 

 not but it often secures ten or twelve of these in a descent of 

 three or four seconds. It then alights on an adjoining branch, 

 traverses it lengthwise for a few moments, flirting its ex- 

 panded tail from side to side, and suddenly shoots off, in a 

 direction quite unexpected, after fresh game, which it can 

 discover at a great distance. Its notes, or twitter, though 

 animated and sprightly, are not deserving the name of song ; 

 sometimes they are weese, weese, weese, repeated every quar- 

 ter of a minute, as it skips among the branches. The interior 

 of the forest, the borders of swamps and meadows, deep glens 

 covered with wood, and wherever flying insects abound, there 

 this little bird is sure to be seen. It is very generally found 

 over the whole United States ; and has been taken at sea, in 

 the fall, on its way to St. Domingo, and other of the West 

 India islands, where it winters, along with many more of our 

 summer visitants. 



The American Redstart build frequently in low bushes, in 

 the fork of a small sapling, or on the drooping branches of the 

 elm, within a few feet of the ground ; outwardly it is formed 

 of flax well wound together, and moistened with its saliva, 

 interspersed here and there with pieces of lichen, and lined 

 with a very soft downy substance. The female lays five 

 white eggs, sprinkled with gray, and specks of blackish. The 

 male is extremely anxious for its preservation ; and on a 

 person's approaching the place, will flirt about within a few 

 feet, seeming greatly distressed. 



