XXIV. REDSTART. 



(Ruticilla phcenicurus.) 



THE Redstart is common in Moidart in summer. The picture 

 represents the male and female that had a nest in the old garden 

 wall. We first caught the cock alive by placing a piece of net 

 over the hole where the nest was, and when its picture had been 

 taken, and it had been set at liberty, the hen was caught in the 

 same manner. There are many of them about the birch woods 

 as well as in the garden. Firetails they are called in England, 

 from the brilliant appearance of their tails when the birds are 

 flying about after insects. The cock is a showy bird, with its 

 red breast and tail and black throat, contrasting with its grey 

 upper part and white forehead. The hen is pale-brown, nearly 

 white on the throat and under parts, the tail red like that of the 

 cock. I have seen some come on board ship in the Bay of Biscay 

 in rough weather in October. Having already depicted them, I 

 did not care to have them caught. They were in the plumage 

 of the female. The young are spotted like young Robins. 



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