94 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



persons, doubtless, when walking along a quiet roadside 

 or near a coppice, may have noticed the peculiar tactics 

 of this almost Orientally-coloured bird, and at the same 

 time wondered as to its name and nationality. 



The plumage of the Redstart is subject to variety, 

 according to the season. That in summer is very striking : 

 the beak is black, except at the corners, which are yellow, 

 as is also the inside ; from the base of the beak towards 

 the eye, and the chin, throat, and upper part of the breast, 

 it is black, the feathers being generally slightly edged with 

 grey. The forehead is white ; the wings are brown, the outer 

 edges of the feathers rather lighter ; the lower part of the 

 breast, the sides, and rump are bright rusty red, the belly 

 much lighter, shading below to rusty yellow; the neck and 

 back are leaden -grey, slightly tinged with red ; the tail is 

 rusty red, with two brown feathers in the centre. In winter, 

 the adult males, as also the young males of the year after 

 their autumnal moult, are not possessed of the white fore- 

 head, the feathers being then edged with brown ; the chin, 

 throat, and breast are tipped with whitish-grey, and the 

 upper part of the body becomes pale reddish-brown, tinged 

 with the grey. The length of the Redstart is about 

 5J inches. 



The female is much less handsome, and is also a trifle 

 smaller, than the male. An uniform greyish-brown per- 

 vades the upper part ; the chin and throat are dusky- white ; 

 the breast is dirty rust colour ; the wings are lighter, but 

 the tail is not quite so bright. 



Its haunts are very varied in their nature, sometimes 

 being a most retired and sequestered spot, or thickets and 

 hedgerows, and again even near to dwelling-houses. The 

 nest is placed in a hole in a tree or wall, or amongst the loose 



