358 INSECTIVOIUE. 



the forehead more rounded than in the aquatic warblers ; the 

 throat full and inflated while singing ; the tarsi and toes 

 slender, and the latter with the claws considerably crooked, 

 and much better adapted for perching than for walking. The 

 wings longer, -and not so much rounded as in the aquatic 

 species ; the tail in general longer than in the aquatic ones, 

 but not so much fortified by coverts, and rounded square, or 

 slightly forked (rather lobed\ according to the haunt of the 

 species. 



THE RED WARBLER (CuTTUCa 



As might be inferred from its boldly-contrasted plumage, 

 which, though the cause has not been satisfactorily investi- 

 gated, is always in the inverse ratio of the power of song, the 

 red warbler (called, from one of its habits, red-start) is not 

 the finest songster of the warblers, but it is one of the earliest 

 visitants, and one of those which, though not the most abun- 

 dant perhaps in any locality, is most generally distributed. 

 It is found in the richer parts of the country, and in woods ; 

 but it is not confined to those parts, and the wood is not its 

 peculiar abode. 



A figure of the male in summer plumage, one-third of the 

 lineal dimensions, is given on page 354, from which it will be 

 very easy to recognize the male bird. The remarkable ex- 

 panding and closing of the tail, which is rapidly and also 

 very frequently done, is another character which, taken in 

 conjunction with the colour, cannot be mistaken. 



The female is also easily known, though very different in 

 plumage from the male. The upper parts are brown, the 

 head and sides of the neck a greyish tinge, and the back 

 yellowish. The rump and tail reddish-orange, except the 

 two middle feathers, which are brown ; but neither colour is 

 so bright as in the male bird. The throat, where the black 

 is in the male, is a pale reddish-white, which passes into pale 



