BIRDS OF 



HAB. North America, north to Fort Simpson, west regularly to the 

 Great Basin, casually to the Pacific coast, breeding from the middle portion 

 of the United States northward. In winter, the West Indies, and from South- 

 ern Mexico through Central America to Northern South America. 



Nest, in the fork of a sapling 6 to 20 feet from the ground ; composed of 

 grape vine bark, grasses and weeds, and lined with fine grass, horse hair or 

 plant down. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; grayish-white, dotted with brown, lavender and purple. 



The Redstart is one of the most active and restless little birds 

 found in the bush, where its glowing garb of black and orange 

 shines to great advantage among the fresh green leaves. It is 

 generally distributed throughout Ontario, and from its manners 

 and markings is well known to all who give any attention to the 

 birds. In spring it arrives from the loth to the i5th of May, the 

 first to appear being the adult male in full costume, after which 

 come the females and young males in plumage nearly alike. 

 While here they are not higher fliers, but like to disport them- 

 selves among the middle and lower branches of deciduous trees, 

 from which they dart off in pursuit of passing insects, making 

 the clicking of the bill distinctly heard. 



The male is so decided in his markings that he is not likely 

 to be mistaken for any other species. The female is plainer, 

 but has the habit of opening and closing the tail feathers, which 

 serves, even at a distance, to indicate the species to which she 

 belongs. 



After the end of August they are seldom seen. 



FAMILY MOTACILLID^. WAGTAILS. 

 GENUS ANTHUS BECHSTEIN. 



SUBGENUS ANTHUS. 



280. ANTHUS PENSILVANICUS (LATH.). 697. 

 American Pipit. 



Points of wings formed by the four outer- primaries, the fifth being 

 abruptly shorter. Hind claw nearly straight, nearly or quite equal to its digit. 

 Above dark brown with a slight olive shade, most of the feathers with dusky 

 centres ; eyelids, superciliary line and under parts pale buffy or ochrey-brown, 



280 



