THE COMMON EEDSTAET. 389 



This description applies to both males and females only after 

 the first moulting. Before this the young males are marked 

 with white on the back of the breast, a peculiarity which they 

 lose in the ensuing summer. They have also a white stripe 

 on the forehead ; and on the belly, are rather white than yel- 

 low. 



Habitat. '-The Common Redstart is a native of the same 

 countries as the preceding, and may be met with all over 

 Germany. It is a bird of passage, migrating to a warmer 

 climate in the first half of October, and not returning till the 

 end of March or beginning of April. In spring and autumn, 

 it frequents, for some time, the hedges and low bushes ; in sum- 

 mer it may be found in gardens, near streams overshadowed 

 with willows, in thickets, or even in the deepest woods. The 

 Redstarts which inhabit gardens, frequently delight the inha- 

 bitants of towns with their morning and evening song. 



In confinement they may either be allowed to range the 

 room, or kept in a Nightingale's cage. They thrive, too, in a 

 bell-shaped cage, and delight the eye with their beautiful 

 plumage. 



Food. When wild, the Redstart feeds on various kinds of 

 insects, earth worms, currants, and elderberries. 



If allowed to range the room, they may sometimes in autumn 

 be accustomed to the universal paste, by means of elderberries 

 mingled with it, and an occasional meal worm. In spring the 

 same may be accomplished by means of ants' eggs and meal 

 worms. Being tender birds, ants' eggs and meal worms should 

 be occasionally given to them ; but earth worms very rarely, 

 as this is a food which does not agree with birds in confinement. 

 When caged, they may be fed with Nightingale's paste. Three 

 or four years is the longest period during which they can be 

 preserved on this regimen. They generally die of atrophy. 



Breeding. The Redstart builds its nest, which is carelessly 

 constructed, of grass stalks, feathers, and hair, in the holes of 

 trees and walls, and under the eaves of houses. The female 

 lays twice a year six or seven apple-green eggs. As soon as the 

 tail feathers have begun to grow, the young birds hop out of 

 the nest, and perch on some neighbouring branch, where they 

 are fed by their parents till able to provide for themselves. 

 Till the first moulting the whole of the body is ashen grey, 

 epotted with white. In autumn the young females very closely 



