REDSTART, 169 
back is grayish brown, but this Warbler may always be 
known by its four patches of yellow and its characteristic 
eall-note of tchip. 
The Redstart belongs to the group of fly-catching 
Warblers, and, as an indication of its manner of feeding, 
his bill is much broader and flatter than 
Setophaga ruticitla, is usualin this family. The Redstart is 
Plate LXU. not so patient and methodic a flycatcher 
as the birds to whom this name rightly belongs. They 
sit quietly until some insect comes within reach, and then 
with unerring aim launch out at it, returning to their 
perch to devour it at leisure. But the Redstart darts 
here and there, falls and rises and spins about, catching 
an insect at every turn and at the same time displaying 
his bright colors to such advantage that he seems the 
most beautiful as he is the most animated bird of the 
woods. As he pirouettes from limb to limb, with drooped 
wings and spread tail, he sings ser-wee swee, swee-ce, a 
simple but merry little jingle. 
The Redstart’s bright colors, like some mark of 
special distinction, are not acquire] at once. The young 
male must pass through a period of probation before he 
is worthy to wear the orange-red and black. In the 
meantime he appears first in the costume of the female, 
and by successive changes reaches the full dignity of 
Redstart estate at the age of three years. He nests, 
however, the first year, when his plumage closely re- 
sembles that of his mate. The nest, of fine strips of 
bark, plant-down, and other materials, is built in the 
crotch of a sapling ten to twenty feet from the ground. 
The eggs are grayish white or bluish white, spotted and 
blotched, chiefly at the larger end, with cinnamon and 
olive-brown. They are laid about May 28—four weeks 
after the bird’s arrival from the South. 
All the Warblers thus far mentioned are tree-inhabit- 
