AVES—REDSTART. 515 
During the spring, the robin haunts the wood, the grove, and the garden- 
and retires to the thickest and shadiest hedge-rows to breed in, where its nest 
is usually placed among the roots of trees, in some concealed spot near the 
ground. In winter it endeavors to support itself, by chirping round the 
‘warm habitations of mankind, and by coming into those shelters where the 
riger of the season is artificially expelled, and where insects are found in the 
greatest numbers, attracted by the same cause. The female lays from five 
to seven eggs, of a dull white color, diversified with reddish streaks. In- 
sects and worms are the principal food of the redbreast. The latter it very 
dexterously renders fit to be eaten, by taking hold of the extremity of one in 
its beak, and beating it against the ground till the inside comes away, and 
then repeating the operation with the other end, till the outer part is entire’ 
‘leansed. 

THE REDS TART.! 

Tuis bird measures rather more than five inches in length. Its bill and 
eyes are black; its forehead is white; the cheeks, throat, fore part, and sides 
of the neck, are black, which color extends over each eye; the crown of the 
head, hinder part of the neck, and the back, are of a deep blue gray ; insome 
subjects, probably old ones, this gray is almost black; its breast, rump, and 
sides are of a fine glowing red, inclining to orange color, which extends to 
all the feathers of the tail, excepting the two middle ones, which are brown ; 
the belly is white; the feet and claws are black. The female differs consi- 
derably from the male; her colors are not so vivid; the top of her head and 
back are of a gray ash color, and the chin is white. 
The redstart is migratory ; it appears about the middle of April, and de- 
parts in the latter end of September, or beginning of October; to what 
country it retires is not known; it frequents old walls and ruinous edifices, 
where it makes its nest, composed chiefly of moss, lined with hair and 
feathers. It is distinguished by a peculiar quick shake of its tail from side 
to side, on its alighting on a wall or other place. Though a wild and timo- 
rous bird, it is frequently found in the midst of cities, always choosing the 

—_— 
1 Sylvia phenicurus, atu. 
