386 THE BLACK REDSTART. 



151. THE BLACK EEDSTART. 



Sylvia or Motacilla Tithys, LIN. Range Queue, BUF. Der Wistling, 

 BECH. 



Description. The Black Kedstart is five inches and a half in 

 length, of which the tail measures two inches and a quarter. The 

 beak is five lines long, yellow inside and at the corners ; black 

 outside, and very sharp ; the iris is dark brown ; the feet black ; 

 the shanks ten lines high. The upper part of the body is a 

 deep bluish grey; the rump red; the cheeks, throat, and 

 breast, black ; the belly and the sides like the back, but tinged 

 with white ; the vent a reddish yellow. The wing-coverts are 

 blackish, bordered with white ; the quill feathers dark brown, 

 with a similar border ; the hindermost especially, having a 

 broad white edge, which forms a longish spot on the wings ; 

 the tail feathers are a yellowish red, with the exception of the 

 two centre ones, which are dark brown. 



The female is of a dirty ashen grey on the upper part of the 

 body ; on the under part, ashen grey tinged with red ; the 

 chin whitish, and the borders of the wings narrower than in 

 the male, and reddish white. 



The colour of this bird varies during the first eight years. 

 The very old ones are black all over the wings and tail ; coal 

 black on the lower part of the body, but not quite so dark 

 above. In extreme old age they become grey on the breast. 

 A male of one or two years' old, is very like a female, being 

 ashen grey on the upper part of the body, and on the under 

 part reddish grey. The borders of the wings are more dis- 

 tinctly marked. After this period the colour gradually be- 

 comes darker. Many bird-catchers, and even authors, have 

 imagined these varieties of colour, which are dependent upon 

 age and sex, to be characteristic of a difference of species. 



Habitat. This bird is a native of all Europe, and the tem- 

 perate regions of Asia. It prefers mountainous to level re- 

 gions, and is frequently found on bare chalk hills, though also 

 on rocks in the woods, and towns, and villages, perched on the 

 highest buildings, towers, churches, castles, &c. In spring 

 and autumn it frequents the hedges. It arrives from its winter 

 quarters very early, as its song may be heard even in the be- 

 ginning of March. In the middle of October it congregates in 

 small flocks, and takes its departure. It has one peculiarity, 



