THE RED WARBLER. 361 



about Yarmouth. The high grounds in the midland counties 

 divide them, and the eastern divisions are in a great measure 

 stopped by the heights in Yorkshire, or on the borders of 

 Scotland. The western divisions, which are fewer in num- 

 ber, pass by the valleys of the Severn and Dee ; and as the 

 climate is more humid and productive of insects in West- 

 moreland and Cumberland than on the corresponding parts 

 of the eastern coast, they straggle farther in that way ; and 

 though interrupted by the hills in Dumfries and Galloway, 

 some of them gain the valley of the Clyde, and probably pass 

 that way into Lothian, and even farther to the north. Of 

 course, these observations do not apply equally to all the 

 warblers ; but they do apply to the red-start, which follows 

 the line of the stony places on the margin of the rich lands ; 

 and, unless there are decaying trees, it avoids the level and 

 dry plains. 



Its food consists of insects and larvae, especially the larvae 

 of coleopterous insects, and the other tenants of crumbling 

 stone and rotting wood. When these are thinned by cap- 

 ture, maturity, or drought, the birds (which have generally 

 then reared their broods) come to the garden and gather soft 

 berries and other small summer fruits. Insects are, however, 

 the principal food of these birds ; and their bills are not well 

 adapted for bruising the harder seeds, although, being, like 

 those of the redbreasts, more enlarged at the base than those 

 of most of the other warblers, they are probably more capable 

 than those living upon vegetable diet. 



Besides its singular vibrating motion, which appears as if 

 it took place outwards and inwards, upwards and downwards, 

 all at the same time, the tail is a curious organ, and aids in 

 very peculiar leaps or short flights. When completely shut, 

 it is rounded at the extremity, so that the bird can thread 

 intricate places, as the brake birds do. When opened a little, 

 it is slightly forked, or rather terminates in two circular lobes, 



